"So in a sense if it's a, sleeping tablet or a pacifier, it is purely self-centred, thus ego based and in complete opposition to the general edicts of Scripture?"
As you know, there is a difference between the initial message and what a religion quickly becomes after that.
What was given as a serious wakeup call to a different way of living becomes a "pacifier" for the worldly ego to go back to sleep reassured that all is put right and so and so has paid for your ticket.
The religion becomes a question of what form might result in social practices that give the least harm whilst still offering some small guidance for those seriously questioning "why am I here".
It is no analogy that the analogy of "sheep", "flock" and "shepherd" etc are so often used.
