Religion/church is the biggest scam and has manipulated mankind early on when we didn't know better.

If you have studied the past of many religions, especially christianity, you should know that the church has been involved in many money making scams, created to gain personal wealth even if it goes against the principles of the religion itself. Not so much today, but in the past, the beloved religion Christianity used its power to manipulate the minds of all its followers to pay money, and other sinister acts such as the selling of indulgences. I'm pretty sure, that the founders of the religion did not have intention of using their religion to take money from their followers for their own good. That fact that a church had ANY power in past times is astounding. How could a fictional belief be of one to hold any power in a way such as the power to kill people because of committing heresy. The church tried so hard in those times to kill and quiet anyone who was brave enough to speak out against the Churches absurdity. They were constantly trying to cover up everything to keep it the way it was, keep the money flowing. The church liked having tons of money keep coming in from their followers not only so the official of the church could live in luxury but especially the pope. In those times, people paid to keep themselves out of "hell" so the money could be spent on the popes new furniture. The pope is a figure of such a nonsense belief and yet he somehow gets more power than others in today's society. He is ruler of nothing. Back when people weren't as educated, the church tricked them into joining the religion, believing the churches teachings, and giving the church money. In fact, one of the Holy Roman Emperors officially declared the church interpretation of the bible is final, therefore being able to do anything they want with their followers, which they did. Today, more and more people, as we get smarter are realizing the sad truth that god is a completely fictional character. Let's be real there is no god, heaven, or hell, and people are getting smarter, realizing the world isn't flat, global warming is real (that's for another debate), and finally, hopefully accepting that their religion is complete bogus. God is the center the of most religion, and keeping it real, there is no god, and the places of worship are desperate to keep people in their religions. Without a god, religion is not real. Don't get me wrong, i DEFIANTLY do like some of the moral of some religions and most certainly like some of today's teachings and communities. Today, the scams really aren't as imminent as they were in the past, which is good. Maybe do to the causes, people have realized the church is entitled to no power in the real world. Less and less people are religious today, or at least deeply religious not jus using their religion as a show name. This is because we aren't falling for any of their nonsense and starting to disapprove of common ideas like the idea of a "god". Almost every major religion was built around the idea of god. Now since we've realized or at least admitted there is no, there is no foundation. I think some of the teaching and ideas built around the religion are understandable but the center is disproved causing everything else to not be real. Everything about religion is a conspiracy that many have fallen victim to and it is sad to see what an early age of immature minds and the common belief can do to people. Not saying christians or any people that practice religion are bad or anything just saying they are a little stubborn and arrogant if they still do truly practice the religion they follow.