a repost:religion seems to me to, in part, do the following:-...

a repost:

religion seems to me to, in part, do the following:

- establish relatively clear guidelines for social interactions within the community. This tends to provide a certain background of predicability for social interactions that is essential for the smooth function of a community. Overall assists in the smooth functioning of a community.

- establish relatively clear guidelines for interaction with and treatment of various social classes with the community, This tends to reinforce whatever social order is desired, or pre-existing, by the power-brokers in the community. Overall assists in the smooth functioning of a community.

-establish generally the desriability and value of forgoing instant gratification wby use of the prospect of a greater reward waiting inthe afterlife for those who sacrifice their needs today for the needs of others. This tends to establish the components of the society with a slightly negative feedback loop on some of their actions.
Generally a social-stabilizer in most cases. Overall assists in the smooth functioning of a community.

-sometimes establish the current rulling classes as thos with a divine right to rule and maybe to interpret the word of good. The intention of this one is fairly obvious, keep the rulers and their progeny in unquestioned power and wealth for as long as they can convince the rest of this. Overall assists in the smooth functioning of a community, and is of course highly advantageous for those in power who probably invented the religion for this purpose anyway.