Religions are like (fad) diets

Here is my latest insight which, in my opinion, is ingenious. : )

A diet is often, or even usually, a way of eating in order to reach a certain goal, that one person or a (small?) group of people tried. If it "succeeded" (whatever that means), they try to project the outcome on the rest of the society/world/humanity.

OK, so small amount of people try 1 thing. When they decide it's good for themselves, they decide it must be good for everyone, or almost everyone, and so they "sell" it to everyone, or almost everyone.

In turn, when people hear about the "success" of this specific diet, they decide it's worth a try or maybe, even, that finally their savior is here, and they try the diet themselves.

And religion? Well, I'm guessing that most religions are the same. How many people are truly connecting to a deeper truth, as much as is possible for them, through the religious rituals they are doing?

I think most religions are ways of being that someone/a group of people came up with for themselves and when they were at least somewhat "successful" in whichever way they hoped, it sold to others.

So, for example, someone, somewhere worked fervently to come up with these new ways of being Jewish. Reform, Conservative, Reconstructionist... But the people that join afterwards aren't necessarily getting close to what they need to get while practicing within the structure that was built.

A religion is successful, in my opinion, when people practicing it feel they are given as good tools as possible in order to connect in their way and as deeply as they personal can, to as deep a truth possible.

And diets? Well, screw them. They are crap. They don't work and they are a waste of energy, happiness, money and anything else that goes into a diet. People end up more miserable, more unhealthy and with a deeper sense of self-hate than they would if they never stepped into a diet to begin with.

QE