Why are religions hard to eliminate?

[Greco]

Once a religion is established it's almost impossible to eradicate, why so? For number of reasons.
Successful religious movements are:


a. very aggressive in getting followers.

b. raise alot of money

c. threaten members with punishment if they become apostates

d. promise the followers a big reward after death.

e.become so rich that they become nations within nations.

f. promote and reward members that zealously get followers.

Can anybody else think of anything else that makes religions powerful and long lived?

 

[DJSupreme23]

Originally posted by Greco
>Once a religion is established it's almost impossible to eradicate, why so? For number of reasons.
Successful religious movements are:


>a. very aggressive in getting followers.

True! Examples: Jehovas Witnesses, $cientology, certain US christian factions

>b. raise alot of money

True for most organised religions

>c. threaten members with punishment if they become apostates

True! Examples: Jehovas Witnesses, $cientology, Islam

>d. promise the followers a big reward after death.

True, for monotheist religions (Christianity/Catholicism, Islam, etc).

>e.become so rich that they become nations within nations.

Certainly true for Catholicism - the Vatican, which has its own national economy, in tens of millions of US$. How about the Mormons in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA?

>f. promote and reward members that zealously get followers.

True! This is actually a requirement for advancing within $cientology.

>Can anybody else think of anything else that makes religions powerful and long lived?

The natural tendency for the human mind to dwell on fantasies and foolishness when ignorant or improperly trained in scientific theory.