A random thought on religion

[valarltd]

Today someone on my flist was speaking of a holy site that was once used for an indigenous goddess and co-opted by the Virgin Mary. She said something about the first being a false religion preparing the way. (I refrained from saying in her journal that Mother is always worshiped on the high places, regardless of what name she's called. Mary, Ashteroth, etc. It's all Mother)

But that got me thinking...
I say there is no such thing as a false religion.
All religions serve the purpose they were meant to, or they die.

Religion serves several purposes.
The mythology explains the world to humans.
The ritual allows humans some control over their world.
The religious laws allows the priest class control over people.

Any religion that stops serving one of these purposes tends to get replaced with a newer and more vibrant religion.