The idea of religion has been with us for quite some time. Almost all known cultures have some form of it, influencing every society to different extents. I am of two viewpoints as to the origins of religion. For a while I was a staunch believer in the theory that religion sprouted from the need for a better way to control the masses. You take people and convince them that they no longer have to worry about earthly rewards, ie. fun, happiness, survival, etc., but rather that all they need worry about is the rewards that they will receive after the fact, ie: heaven, Nirvana, Valhalla, etc. Thus can someone treat another as cruelly as necessary for the task at hand (farming, laying railroads, working in dangerous factories) and face no fear of uprising because the underling feels that he must bear the burdens without complaint or retribution (as Jesus would) because he will be well rewarded in the afterlife. It is a great system. Once you have convinced the masses that this life has no purpose other than to serve God...I have to go out now...I will continue this shortly. I promise.