The Inherent Guilt of Consciousness

Most religious practices are developed for the alleviation of guilt. Ideological religions handled the guilt question far more efficiently than spiritual ones. Nations direct people's feelings of existential guilt towards service. Interpersonal religions have all sorts of rituals and sacrifices designed to make people feel they deserve to be loved. The beauty of a religion is that the more you promise your followers' salvation, enlightenment, world peace, perfect happiness, or whatever, the more they will fail to live up to that promise.