I think religion is a collection of stories that contain valuable knowledge and moral guidance that gets passed on through storytelling. Over the millenia, these tales become refined through the telling and the religions that collect the most valuable and morally resonant stories are the religions that rise to dominance. As religions gain hold over the hearts and minds of people, the ruling class then starts working to co-opt the message to reinforce their dominance. So major religions tend to end up being golden nuggets scattered throughout mountains of horse poop.
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