10/01/2006 4:19:31 pm
The Most Powerful Propaganda Machine Ever. Weddings and baptisms are some of the most positive manifestations of human spirit that one can visit. Or at least they should be. Love and births are worth celebrating as much as possible. Yet I must confess that the religious ceremonies surrounding most of these normally turn on all my energy to oppose it.

The ceremony is not mainly about love or a new individual coming to the world. It is mostly about the church: it gets a new member (too young to decide for him- or herself) or two people show that they are members. The church instructs them how to live their lives (particularly to always support the church). The ceremony is a confession to a view of humanity based on guilt and not freedom or joy. It is a celebration of superstition and not science. It is about people obeying a higher power and its earthly representatives, not living as they like.

The church as such is a classic propaganda machine, more successful and refined than any party or organisation. It has its symbols, songs, myths, literature, values and view of history. It gets to people that are only months of age. And the people who participate in the ceremonies legitimise everything by their presence, by singing along and praying.

Most people probably just see this as fine old traditions without important meaning. Then, in my view, without knowing they sanction what the church stands for and what it does. And of course its influence in the real world - in politics, economics, security policy and moral matters - is enormous. If you want to sanction it - fine. If you don?t, or just doubt it - don?t take the step.