for a few years i've held a theory that all religion is about is control over the main populous.
i mean, what better way to direct people than to use their fear of the unknown and their ultimate demise?
but in environmental anthro we're learning that people think this to be true even in small societies,
such as those still living somewhat solitarily in the rain forests around the world.
religions have evolved that place taboos or limitations on use of a certain resource, be it plant or animal.
this spiritual following has coevolved nicely with the means of conserving resources that might otherwise be overexploited.

so i'm not really saying that religion is bad, but i think that in existence now there are other establishments
such as centralized government, fish and wildlife services, etc that dont really necestiate the need to manipulate people w/o letting them whats going on with the use of some fictional supernatural being.

but i guess every system needs something to maintain its stability.