Religion
Unfortunately religion has been used to control people for hundreds of years. To that end, the texts and references to past events were altered to better suit the people that wanted control en masse.
After so much meddling, it is beyond me why so many people still believe blindly in something so unfounded. The texts are no longer how they were meant to be. Their real meaning, even more blurred.
Of course, people need something to believe in. It's in our nature, and it's what keeps us going. But why not believe in the greater good? Why not believe in your fellow men and women and children? Believe in yourself.
For me, and many others, religion has been the reason for innumerable wars. The number of deaths in the name of 'religion' must enter into the billions. How can people support such hypocrisy?
An Alternative View on Religion
Have you ever thought that religion could be more of a historical record that has been warped over time? A memory passed down through human conscious that along the way has grown and split into multiple religions? Muslim's and Christians fought and fight in the name of their religion and their god. I've always found this ridiculous their beliefs would appear to be one and the same. Religion is almost completely blind. "Almost", because it carries with it stories that were probably based on fact somewhere in distant history.
To base teachings on 'morals' would be better than pushing children into religion, surely? So, teach them to do right to each other? Learn to forgive one another? (But at the same time instil a sense of punishment to refrain from turning everyone into do-gooders that try to save those that would do others harm.)
If everyone lived by one principal that they could do anything they liked as long as it did no one else any harm would that not solve every problem ever encountered? Its idealistic I know, but a good foundation. Of course "doing harm" can be expanded significantly to include physical harm as well as mental harm and indirect harm (through an action that leads indirectly to someone being hurt).
Ancient Races, Ancient Astronauts, Destroyed Civilisations
If we consider that the Watchers or 'Elohim' (mentioned in various guises in many religions) were perhaps an ancient and almost forgotten race (possibly of giants) that died or were wiped out, then the figure of god was more likely then a leader of his race. Whether this ancient race was terrestrial or extra-terrestrial doesn't matter. Unless of course, you want to consider the ideas that Mars may have once been inhabited and whether this was once the cradle of humanity Eden (one of many names) maybe. Atlantis possibly?
Extra-terrestrial or not, the ideas that advanced ancient races that we are largely unaware of once lived on Earth is still big.
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Someone did suggest this possibility and made a link between religion, the story of Atlantis and its destruction, to referring to the destruction of Mars. There are ancient artefacts and images that exist that show 'astronaut-like' features on human-looking models. Could we have not been visited by such advanced races that came here from elsewhere? Mars maybe before it was destroyed? Maybe further away?
Humanity's Many Destructions
Humanity and other 'older' races might have been wiped out many times throughout the life of the planet, losing all knowledge of their existence - although we 'feel' they may once have existed. It sounds crazy to suggest something can be felt, but anything is possible.
Atlantis for example sparks enormous interest and sparks the imagination. Surely 'just' a story couldn't do this?
First, entertain the idea that Atlantis (or a similarly technologically advanced civilisation) was located on Antarctic continent. Then consider that pole shift theorem is a possibility which moved the continent to its current pole position. After all, religions developed from such changes did they not? Or did they develop from other actual events even further back in history?
Even if such a technologically advanced civilisation did exist elsewhere in the world and not on the Antarctic continent to the west of Africa, past the Gibraltar Straits, then with all of the changes in the Earth, its quite feasible a series of earthquakes and a large tsunami wiped out the island?
Humanity might have been destroyed a few times as the Mayan/Olmecs suggest (about various epochs of humanity that last around 4/5000 years?). We're coming to the end of the fifth epoch on the winter solstice in December, 2012. It's said that this date represents a certain alignment of the stars, marking the date, and also a certain angle of the Earths poles alignment. At this point, its expected that the poles will shift.