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January 10, 2009 12:13 AM

Were all religions founded by con artists?

Scientology: L. Ron Hubbard -- con artist
Mormonism: Joseph Smith -- con artist
Roman Catholicism: Jesus Christ -- con artist?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_founders_of_religious_traditions
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January 10, 2009 03:35 AM
While many religions were indeed founded by con artists, the answer to your question has to be no.

Many older religions were not founded by specific people and instead developed over time as a combination of a people's tradition and the thoughts of their wise men that seemed to stand the test of time. The Jewish and Hindu religions would be examples. Of course that does not stop con men from abusing the religion at a later point.

A good rule of thumb would be a religion is a con if its leaders ask for money in return for untestable benefits. For example, you would not be in a position to ask for your money back if you did not get into heaven after death as promised. So religions that promise benefits after death are highly suspect.

Another example of a religion which is not a con is Pastafarianism. This is clear because it does not ask for money or promise anything at all. You can buy t-shirts or automobile "fish" from its advocates, but you get what you pay for.
Source(s):
www.venganza.org

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January 10, 2009 03:48 AM
ahahahahaha a hahahahaahaha ahaha

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January 10, 2009 08:24 PM
It's impossible to know. Suppose a religion was founded by a con artist, and later evolved into something beneficial to its practitioners. Would that religion be invalidated by the fact that its founder was not sincere? I don't think so.

Further consider a religion founded by a genuine prophet. If that religion were subsequently taken over by con artists, would the fact that its founder was genuine be of any comfort to the people harmed by the con artists?

So the test for a religion has to be whether or not it works for you, right here, right now. If there is no way to tell, that should be a red flag.

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January 11, 2009 12:07 AM
There are some religions whose founder gave their life instead of denying their teachings were anything except what they said they were.

Example, Joseph Smith was tarred and feathered, imprisoned on false charges and finally murdered and never denied what he claimed. If he were a a con artist, he would have denied his claims far before it got to that point.

There are many other examples of this throughout religious histories. Sounds like you have a very cynical view about religion, sorry to hear that.

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January 11, 2009 12:56 AM
How do you think they would have reacted if he had admitted it?

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January 11, 2009 01:38 AM
Maybe he didn't deny it because it was true?

Your question is very biased and demeaning. If you were trying to get an answer there are better ways to ask. People are more than willing to explain but not when you start out by putting them on the defensive.

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January 11, 2009 09:21 AM
A helpful reference would be "Varieties of Religious Experience" by William James. He doesn't take a position (in the book) on the truth of religion, just looks at the experiences many people have had over the centuries. William James is a noted philosopher and probably the founder of psychology in America.

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January 11, 2009 07:27 PM
there is one and only relegion in the world

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January 11, 2009 09:12 PM
Does it have anything to do with powdered toast?

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January 11, 2009 09:28 PM
I think "Con-Artist" is the wrong word. Most religions are propagated on shakey ground since you can't prove many of the intangibles of the various faiths. Since religions are started by humans you cannot discount human nature. Conformity, self preservation, religion often seeks to curb our less than pious natures with threats of hell fire and damnation. But like dieting, suppressing urges can have adverse effects down the line and fear is a poor motivator.

But why throw the baby out with the bath water, even a scoundrel can come up with a better way to peel a potato. It would be apropos for some Con Artist to devise a religion for less than honorable reasons but have that religion actually grow into something positive and inspiring. Imagine the hell that guy has to go through trying to live up to the sham he created under the watchful eye of his followers. Dylan plugging in anyone?

Something beneficial can be culled from most of the worlds religion so like myths one could say that every religion has at least a grain of truth in it. Unite the grains like Voltron!
Source(s):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haile_Selassie
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0104797/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/


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