Religion, Power, and Illusion: A Genealogy of Religious Belief

Religion originated in the Neolithic period when people abandoned the hunter-gatherer lifestyle and settled down in communities. By the time of the ancient Egyptians, religion had reached a significant level of development, with spirits of the seeds and the weather evolving into gods. The Christian god took an additional three hundred years to reach its final form through the work of dozens of bishops who wrestled with the problem of how a god consisting of three persons could be one entity. Religious orthodoxy is the result of the countless solutions proposed by priests, not necessarily as the result of primary texts or teachings, with various bishops condemning various proposals as heretical and blessing others as conventional. Priestly power is so firmly rooted in the human condition that religion is not likely to disappear any time soon, and the defective logic used by religious promoters is explored.

Format: Hardback
Length: 368 pages
Publication date: 07 February 2023
Publisher: Prometheus Books

According to anthropologists, religion emerged during the Neolithic period, which began 12,000 years ago when people abandoned the hunter-gatherer lifestyle and settled in communities. By the time of the ancient Egyptians, religion had reached a significant level of development. The spirits of seeds and weather had evolved into gods. Eventually, the gods numbered over a thousand, each requiring a temple and a priest. For the Christian god to reach its final form, it took an additional three hundred years. This transformation was accomplished through the work of dozens of bishops who grappled with the challenge of how a god consisting of three persons could be considered one entity.

Religion, Power & Illusion: A Genealogy of Religious Belief posits that modern concepts of God are intricately linked to the generations of mortal priests who shaped biblical and religious ideas.

Religious orthodoxy, as we understand it today, emerged as a result of the countless solutions proposed by priests, rather than solely relying on primary texts or teachings. Different bishops condemned some proposals as heretical and blessed others as conventional. However, the distinction between orthodoxy and heresy was based on any position that increased the power of the bishops, while any position that undermined it was deemed heretical. Thus, the Christian god that we have today is a construct assembled over many years, serving to augment and solidify the power of the bishops who created it and maintain it for two thousand years.

Religion, Power & Illusion concludes that priestly power is deeply ingrained in the human condition, making religion unlikely to disappear anytime soon. It also delves into the deleterious effects of priestly power, including the exploitation of the faithful and the perpetuation of harmful beliefs and practices.

In conclusion, religion's origins can be traced back to the Neolithic period when people abandoned the hunter-gatherer lifestyle and settled in communities. Over time, religion evolved, with the spirits of seeds and weather becoming gods. The Christian god, in its final form, took hundreds of years to develop, with bishops playing a crucial role in shaping its beliefs and practices. The power of priests has been a significant factor in the establishment and maintenance of religious orthodoxy, and it is unlikely to disappear anytime soon. The book "Religion, Power & Illusion" explores the genealogy of religious belief and highlights the deleterious effects of priestly power.

Weight: 612g
Dimension: 161 x 236 x 31 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781633888401