The atheist – preacher:
Religion and the state have always been the strongest structures in human society. Sometimes they competed with each other, but more often they collaborated.
At the dawn of human history, shaman priests occupied a significant position in the tribal hierarchy, as they allegedly had the ability to communicate with spirits and gods. Most often they did not interfere with the leaders, even helped. The leader allowed his tribesmen to give offerings to the gods to the priests, and the priest helped the leader to lead the tribe into battle, convincing him that the gods blessed him for victory. Such cooperation was beneficial to both sides.
In the future, the interaction continued with some advantage in leadership in one direction or the other, and sometimes even turned to confrontation, but not for long.
For example, there was a period in the history of Europe when the King of France came into conflict with the Catholic Church and expelled its leadership from the capital. During this period, the state assumed full power.
There are opposite cases, when, for example, Islamic leaders have more weight in society than state leaders, and dictate their attitudes to them.
But in most cases in the modern world, the state and religion peacefully coexist and cooperate. The principles of their cooperation have remained roughly the same as in primitive communal times: religion keeps people’s minds and moods in a predictable framework, directing them in the right direction for the state, and the state helps the clergy financially and organizationally, at the same time sometimes removing competitors from the way in the face of other faiths.
The listener – atheist:
But in our and many other countries, according to the Constitution, the state is separated from religion. Isn’t that right?
The atheist – preacher:
Yes, technically it is. But in fact, the state supports religion in every possible way. The presidents of the countries demonstratively participate in religious ceremonies, turn religious holidays into state holidays, secretly instruct businessmen to build churches, mosques and other places of worship.
The listener – atheist:
But why should the state? Wouldn’t it have been wiser to direct the funds spent on the construction of huge and luxurious mosques and churches, on the construction of schools, hospitals, roads?
The atheist – preacher:
The leaders of the states feel the need of society for religion and indulge people in their aspirations. Since the desire of people to believe in God is indestructible, it is better to direct it into an understandable channel of the largest confessions and put a loyal person at the head of this movement.
Absolutely the same scheme as that of the ancient Egyptian pharaohs and their priests.
The listener – atheist:
But there were periods in the history of mankind when states existed absolutely without religion. For example, the Soviet Union.
The atheist – preacher:
Yes, such periods existed. But they are characterized by a strong state power, or rather, a dictatorship, and a strong alternative ideology. In the Soviet Union, it was the idea of communism. It has practically replaced faith in God. People believed in the imminent onset of universal prosperity, no worse than heaven in heaven. And the communist postulates were mostly biblical: to help people, to share the latter for the sake of a loved one, to live in peace, etc.
But personally, it seems to me that excommunication from religion at the cost of freedom is not the best way to educate the modern world.
The listener – atheist:
But there are other options. For example, nowadays the Scandinavian countries are the most democratic, educated and the most non-religious.
The atheist – preacher:
I agree. I consider this path the most favorable for the development of mankind: enlightenment, democracy and prosperity. Religions do not usually flourish on such a basis. At the same time, the state does not fight religion. It weakens by itself due to lack of need. There is no need to seek consolation and justice somewhere in heaven, if everything is fair in the surrounding reality, and you can influence your fate.
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