It seems that all human societies wherever situated historically or geographically have developed some sort of belief system which usually involves a "God" or "Gods", and some sort of sacred text claiming to emanate in some way from them.
Most systems have a creation myth and a belief in different types of afterlife for the soul after it leaves the body.
There is usually a priesthood of some sort which acts as a go-between in the day-to-day transactions between the ordinary people and their God. The priesthood normally have responsibility for instructing the people in how to interpret the sacred texts, and also for ensuring that any criticism of the status-quo is punished in some way. They are also responsible for conducting the rituals surrounding the observances required by the system. They also act as gatekeepers to the afterlife.
Prophets claim to have information revealed directly to them by God for dissemination to the believers.
These belief systems have invariably been used in conjuction with political power as a means of social control.
Most systems have a creation myth and a belief in different types of afterlife for the soul after it leaves the body.
There is usually a priesthood of some sort which acts as a go-between in the day-to-day transactions between the ordinary people and their God. The priesthood normally have responsibility for instructing the people in how to interpret the sacred texts, and also for ensuring that any criticism of the status-quo is punished in some way. They are also responsible for conducting the rituals surrounding the observances required by the system. They also act as gatekeepers to the afterlife.
Prophets claim to have information revealed directly to them by God for dissemination to the believers.
These belief systems have invariably been used in conjuction with political power as a means of social control.
The form and content of these many belief systems is very diverse indeed, but they all share one thing in common. There is no factual evidence to support or validate that any of these beliefs are based in truth.
The usual position adopted by each system is that their own religion is validated by "faith", which then negates the need for any proof. By definition of course, a faith-based belief in one particular religion means that from that point of view all other religions must be false.
Obviously the many different religions each have lots of followers who believe, through "faith", that their religion is true, and that all others are false. This usually comes about because belief systems tend to be passed from generation to generation through cultural indoctrination.
So where exactly does that bring us to.
Well I think it brings us to the realisation which I first experienced when I was about eleven years old: As it appears impossible to provide any rational proof which would privilege any one religious belief system above all the others, they must all be of equal worth.
Now, you can pick you own opinions but you can't pick your own truth.
If all the religions ever followed on this planet are of equal worth, and they can't all be true, then they must all be false.
It's not really rocket science is it!
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