While modern scientific forms of control—such as surveillance tech and AI have the power to control us all, they are still amateur, simpleton & inferior compared to religion.

Historical Religions as Systems of Control: 

A Comparison with Modern Scientific Coercion

In human history, systems of control have evolved in many forms, from religious methods to modern scientific and technological methods. At their core, these systems often try to govern human behavior or behavioral pattern in anticipation of, shaping societies by appealing to authority, fear, or promises of salvation or progress.

When comparing historical religions—particularly those rooted in monotheistic traditions—with modern scientific forms of coercion, a fundamental difference emerges. 

While both aim to exert influence over populations, religion's mastery of mind control and social manipulation has historically been far more potent and sophisticated than anything modern science has achieved so far. This difference is largely due to religion's profound psychological reach and its ability to tap into deep emotional and existential needs.

Religion’s Mastery of Social and Psychological Control

One of the clearest examples of religion's ability to manipulate is found in the biblical story of Abraham and Isaac (Genesis 22). 

In this one, biblical God commands Abraham to kill his son like a goat or camel, to murder his son Isaac, as a test of his loyalty and faith. This lunatic order in my opinion is not only morally troubling but also psychologically devastating. Abraham, being a serious follower, prepares to obey the command, despite the unimaginable emotional toll it must have taken on him and his son. At the last moment, biblical God halts the sacrifice, declaring it was only a test of Abraham’s love and they somehow had the audacity , the gumption to tell us this?

The story proves two crucial points about the nature of religious control: First, it demonstrates how absolute authority, when couched in religious devotion, can lead individuals to perform acts that go against their moral instincts and emotional well being or commit serious crimes warranting homeland security investigation or an equivalent of such in ancient times.

Abraham was going to commit an unspeakable crime—murdering his son—because his belief in God's authority overrode all other logical, moral, parental considerations. Second, it show  the emotional manipulation at play. Abraham's willingness to go through with the act wasn’t born out of mindless obedience; it was born out of love and fear. God exploited these deep emotions to test Abraham’s loyalty, indifferent to the psychological trauma that such a request would undoubtedly cause.

If we compare this case to modern scientific forms of control—such as pharmaceutical companies influencing behavior through medication or AI algorithms shaping decisions—it becomes clear that religion operates on a different, more intimate level. 

Modern science and technology, while certainly influential, generally do not have the ability to manipulate human emotions and instincts as deeply or as effectively as religious narratives like the story of Abraham and Isaac so far.

Biblical Examples of Control and Manipulation

The Bible is filled with so many examples of this type of manipulation that closely mirror psychological coercio, where does one start from is the valid question. 

The story of Moses leading the Israelites out of Egypt (Exodus 13-14) is another starter/ basic example. After the Israelites are freed from slavery, biblical God, instead of leading them on a direct route to the Promised Land, guides them on a 40-year journey through the desert. This decision seems puzzling given that the actual travel distance between Egypt and Canaan could have been covered in a matter of weeks or even days.

OK Accepted the biblical God didn't have GPS or TOM Tom, so what ?

Biblical God’s reasoning for this prolonged journey is unclear, but from a psychological perspective, it can be viewed as a form of arrested development. 

By keeping the Israelites wandering for decades, biblical God ensures that an entire generation remains dependent on him for guidance. 

In this way, bibles God doesn't merely free the Israelites; He makes for certain of their continued worship and submission by creating a situation in which they are constantly tested and kept in a state of uncertainty. 

The people’s loyalty is continuously challenged, as seen in episodes where they complain about hunger or thirst, only to have God respond by providing manna or water from a rock—reinforcing their dependence on Him.

This mirrors the dynamics of modern psychological manipulation. Today, we see similar tactics used by authoritarian regimes or even corporations, where populations are kept in a state of dependence or uncertainty, ensuring their loyalty. 

However, while modern systems of control often rely on external factors like economic pressure or technological dependence, biblical stories like the Exodus appeal directly to human emotions—fear, hope, and the desire for security. This emotional depth is what makes religious manipulation so much more effective than modern scientific forms of control.

The Role of Obedience and Submission in Divine Narratives

Another example is found in the story of Job, where God permits Satan to inflict unimaginable suffering on a loyal servant to test his faith (Job 1-2). Job loses his wealth, his children, and his health, all while maintaining his devotion to God. The story ultimately portrays Job as a righteous man who passes God’s test by remaining loyal despite his suffering. However, from a modern perspective, this sad story demonstrates how so called divine authority in the Bible often disregards basic human concerns for justice and fairness.

God’s treatment of Job—inflicting immense suffering to test his loyalty—is exactly what it is, a  psychological experiment  where individuals are subjected to extreme conditions to observe their breaking points. 

The key difference here is that Job’s suffering is framed as an alleged divine test, meant to showcase the value of obedience and submission to bible God’s will, even when that will is morally questionable. 

This is how religion has historically used suffering, hardship, and sacrifice as tools of control, conditioning followers to endure extreme circumstances in exchange for the promise of future rewards, such as eternal life or divine favor.

In contrast, modern science doesn't currently have the  ability to manipulate on such a profound level. While technology can influence behavior, it rarely taps into the deep existential fears or hopes that religion does. Science and technology are often bound by ethical constraints and empirical methods, limiting their ability to engage with the raw emotional and spiritual dimensions of human experience. Religion, on the other hand, operates in a licenced to do whatever, a 007 type realm where faith can transcend reason, allowing for a deeper form of control.

Similarities With  Modern Scientific Coercion

While modern scientific forms of control—such as pharmaceutical companies, surveillance technologies, and AI—certainly have the potential to influence and manipulate human behavior, they are still in an inferior position compared to historical religions in terms of mind control and social manipulation. Science typically relies on empirical data, logic, and technology, which, while powerful, do not have the same immediate access to the human psyche that religion has.

One area where modern technology is beginning to bridge this gap is through brain-computer interfaces and AI-driven behavioral programming. The idea that a nefarious actor could one day hijack such systems and manipulate individuals to the point of overriding their free will is not entirely far-fetched.

Imagine a future where AI could influence individuals to act against their own interests or moral beliefs, just as Abraham was willing to kill his son at God’s command. In such a scenario, individuals could be driven to take extreme actions—such as leaping off mountains without parachutes—under the belief that they were doing so for some higher purpose.

However, the key difference is: while modern technology may one day have the potential to manipulate behavior on a large scale, it still doesn't have the ability to tap into the deep emotional, psychological, and spiritual needs that religion so expertly exploits. 

Religion has centuries of experience in designing plots, roles, realities,  narratives that speak to the human condition, offering comfort, fear, and salvation all at once. 

Modern science, for all its advancements, is still learning what this level of control is.

Historical religions, particularly those soaked in monotheistic traditions, have long served as systems of control, using mind control tactics and social manipulation that modern science has yet to fully replicate. 

Through starter, simple easy to understand stories like Abraham and Isaac, the Israelites’ journey in the desert, and the suffering of Job, religious stories and tales demonstrate a profound ability to suspend human morality, reason, and emotional wellbeing. 

By appealing to existential fears and offering promises of divine reward, religion has historically been able to manipulate entire populations in ways that modern scientific forms of coercion can only begin to approximate.

Yes modern technology, especially AI and brain-computer interfaces, may one day rival religion’s ability to manipulate, it still doesn't have the psychological and emotional depth that religion has mastered. Until then, historical religions remain unmatched in their skill at controlling the human mind and guiding societies through carefully crafted scripts of fear, faith, and submission.