From past to present, people have always tended to believe in something and take shelter. Maybe it was because of questioning too much, maybe because of feeling lonely. Whatever the reason, these pursuits led to the emergence of concepts called religion and belief. Some people chose to worship a statue, others to worship nature. After a while, these beliefs led to wars and even deaths at some points. People began to kill each other for a concept whose existence could be questioned, and the communities became far apart from each other. Sometimes, what people believed in became a guide for them, a way to escape from the loneliness. So, do beliefs liberate or enslave people?
Everything that a person thinks and does is aimed at obtaining something they feel deeply needed or getting rid of something that is causing them deep pain as soon as possible. So, which needs of people does religion meet or what pains does it save people from? Does a person believe in something just to hide their fear? The answers to all these questions may have different answers depending on the point of view we are discussing. However, we know that the reason for the emergence of beliefs was the search for a concept of refuge. Then religion can be a refuge that satisfies one’s need to feel safe, or it can be a tool for someone who is simply afraid and wants to reassure themself. Yes, that’s right, religion can be a refuge. But why do beliefs that should be something one feels comfortable and free have so many limitations and rules? I think we can say for social order, healthy relationships between people; Or we can’t. Because if it was, beliefs wouldn’t have killed so many people throughout history.
I think that a person who is blindly attached to any religion or belief is no different from a gun with the trigger pulled. Because this person is attached to it without knowing what they believe, that is, they can do ridiculous things without questioning and hiding behind various excuses. So, can beliefs also have a compelling effect on people? As it is known, K. Marx and F. Nietzsche viewed religion as a resource that compels people to adapt to current social and economic conditions and criticized them. This is quite true, after all, powerful people in the society can enslave more ignorant people using their beliefs. But the same power can also encourage the same society to research, to realize useful concepts that religion “commands”. Religion is both good and bad, that is, it depends on how the power over it directs religion.
Religion liberates people if those who have the authority to direct religion over society use it for the benefit of society rather than their own. However, if the same people use this power for their own benefit, people become enslaved. Maybe if the society were to rely on their individual strength instead of acting like a herd, there would be no need for those “strong” people or their guidance. Unfortunately, this is highly unlikely as religion, beliefs, and society will always be open to outside influences. In short words, I think religions and beliefs have both an enslaving and liberating effect on society, it just depends on how their power is directed.