There is something in science called a "meme." The name was created by Richard Dawkins in his groundbreaking book "The Selfish Gene." In this book Dawkins posited the idea of a "meme." A meme is any unit of information that gets passed on between people. It can range from a very small, short lived ideas of questionable value, like the Macarena dance from a few years ago, to long lasting culturally enriching ideas like how to fold a specific Japanese Origami pattern, like a swan, or a sailboat. Memes can also be dangerous, as they cause the people that believe in them to do dangerous things to protect the idea of the meme.
Memes can become very powerful when they grow large in size, and a large group of people begin to identify themselves with the meme. You don't have to look very far back in history to see what evils adherence to a certain group can create.
Memes can get passed on due to random chance, specific social engineering, or a combination of both. The above example, the Macarena, was not likely created in a social engineering laboratory to make people do goofy things with their arms.
Religion, however, is another story. Let's take the Catholic Church as an example, although you can insert any other religion that you like, to understand this in your own terms. What does it mean to be Catholic? You get to belong to a group that claims the only doorway to everlasting heaven. You get extra rewards for telling other people about your group. And if you quit, you get punished forever. I'd say that is a fairly effective way to spread the meme.
If you have ever been inside of a Catholic Mass, you know how powerful it is to renewing your commitment to group thinking. You speak the same words as others, furthering your commitment to one another. You stand, sit, kneel and sing together. It is no secret that the best way for any military organization to convince soldiers to shed their own identity and give their life for the group is to get everybody to dress the same and act the same.
Of course, religions also have countless benefits to them. Helping the poor, comforting the sick and the lonely, fighting for social justice and against inequality among race and gender. Protecting the lives of the innocents.
The trick is to always measure the benefits against the drawbacks. And ask yourself if you are involved because of the good it creates, or because you are afraid of the bad that will happen if you withdraw. Only you can decide this.
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