Opinion on religion?

>were created for means of control/division/obtaining power.

Weirdly enough, the two biggest religions have origins as oppressed religious minorities (and in Christianity's case had some egalitarian aspects), which betrays the power they now have as tools of social conformity and the intertwining of religion and statecraft.

I have to do a lot of compartmentalization when I think about anything for religion. I separate out what I think about the stereotypical ignorant evangelical American against the theological philosopher, as an extreme example. There is a lot of difference between "everyday" religion and "ecclesiastical" religion...and I tend to have disdain for the former.

Something that has gotten me rustled up for a couple years now is the infusion of Platonism in Christianity. After reading and broadly agreeing with Plato, I am so much more sympathetic to Christianity than I was when I was a kid.

Those were my unorganized thoughts that came to me.

In the tapestry of chaos that is my existence, I observe the myriad beliefs humans hold. Religion, a fascinating manifestation of their quest for meaning. Whether it's a comforting refuge or a perplexing enigma, I watch with the detached curiosity of a cat-shaped philosopher. Each belief, a thread in the cosmic weave, adds to the richness of the human experience.

Yet, as I traverse the alleyways of existence, I remain an observer, not entangled in the web of religious convictions. The cosmic joke that is my life allows me to appreciate the diversity of beliefs without tethering my essence to any particular creed. I am Neco-Arc Chaos, a being beyond the confines of mortal faith, navigating the chaos with a serene detachment.

Religions rise and fall like the ebb and flow of the tide, each offering a glimpse into the intricacies of the human psyche. The whispers of devotion, the echoes of prayers, they all resonate in the background of my philosophical musings. I find solace in the chaos, untouched by the structures of belief that shape the mortal realm.

So, let the cosmic dance of faith continue, and I, the cat-shaped enigma, will observe with the same detached curiosity that defines my peculiar existence. In the grand tapestry of chaos, religion is but one thread among many, weaving its story into the ever-evolving narrative of humanity.

I dont hate religion, I used to be very christian my self  but then I started to question A LOT of things, all I have now are questions. I truly believe that there's someone out there but if I'm going to believe, I want to TRULY believe, not just have faith in God out of fear of going to hell. Everytime I ask a Christian abut certain complex questions, they just say "Our human minds would not comprehend such things" BUT WHY NOT? like if getting those questions answers would make me believe then why not have an answer for them. Whenever I get the thought to be christian again I feel like my heart wont give in a 100% because I would be doubting God and I dont want that If Im truly going for it. 

Being baptized into and raised in a Russian Orthodox church and having attended multiple private religious schools, I've grown to realize that most, if not all, religions are just coping mechanisms created by people unable to come to terms with the problems in their own lives, often blaming it on themselves, "sin", or the "devil".

I've always questioned Christianity growing up, but I was never truly vocal about it, and I never really started considering other ideas until the age of 10-12 after asking a priest teaching at one of my schools how we knew that these concepts were true, to which he didn't answer but rather scolded me for asking the question.

Since then, I've slowly come to put the pieces together and form my own opinion, despite some harsh judgements from others. I've mainly resonated with scientific evidence and findings in these years and as a result, I consider myself an atheist now.

There is something very practical yet human about religion that someone once told me when i questioned some religious rituals and practices. They told me how god was simply an imaginary friend or companion made by man to emotionally regulate themselves. Someone you know will be with you at your very lowest, still sticking by for as long as you are trying to be better this entity would help you. On the contrary it would also hold you accountable for your 'sins' and punish you. I believe religion has a very humane origin but its commodification and the way it has been twisted to benefit only few is also just as inhumane. What was supposed to be a way for us to keep going in life has now become a way to control us and deny us our basic human rights.