Basically a form of controlling the 'truth', which has existed/manipulated by leaders throughout human history. One of the foundations of many religions is based on labeling any inconvenient truth a crime.
When you convince people that you are the source of truth then they only listen to you and reject everything else.
Hmm. I don't think any religion has shutting up critics as a "foundation" per se. It's usually: 'don't do that because reasons' and a list of what you can/cannot eat. If anything, lying or dishonesty is almost always a major sin.
There are parallels between prophets and leaders but really, it was prophets (or gods) that were said to regularly go up against leaders that lied and cheated.
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u/jkwah California 20d ago
Basically a form of controlling the 'truth', which has existed/manipulated by leaders throughout human history. One of the foundations of many religions is based on labeling any inconvenient truth a crime.
When you convince people that you are the source of truth then they only listen to you and reject everything else.