"Religionns were set up as a means of control from a minority onto a majorty.... especially using manipulation techniques."
Religions were set up and used for a variety of things. Although they are all hierarchies to a degree, often that is only a recognition that certain decisions or understandings are not something that can be arrived casually, but require significant thought and discussion which is simply beyond the interest or time constraints of the general public, and so is best done by a group of specialists dedicated to the task.
Once such hierarchies are established, it does become possible to manipulate them just as any other hierarchies among people, such as government (democratic or monarchic or dictatorial), police, corporations, media, justice systems, and so on.
The result is that propoganda in the name of religion can persuade people to do things which they believe is in their own interests but aren't, while accomplishing things in the interests of a smaller controlling group, in the same way as patriotism or nationalism in the name of one's country (witness the U.S government's linking of terrorism with the war against Iraq, which was very carefully crafted to be non-religious).
I wouldn't hold religion blameless, as fundimentally it promotes belief through faith rather than rationality, and so is more easily suceptible to manipulation, but it is also a victim of these manipulations at the same time.
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