Praying Doesn’t Fix Things, But It Feels Good Anyway

Heretic Movie on Prime

Praying... doesn’t work. Have you ever heard of the Great Prayer Experiment? They divided patients into groups. Those who received prayers and those who didn’t... But I think it’s beautiful that we all pray for each other, even though we all probably know it doesn’t make a difference. It’s just nice to think about someone other than yourself.”

Those words hit me hard. They make me think about why we pray, why we believe, and whether religion—like Hinduism, Christianity, or anything else—is just a big trick to keep us in line. Someone once told me, “Religion is just a system of control,” and I’ve been chewing on that idea ever since. Is it true? Or is there more to faith? Let’s talk about it like we’re sitting over coffee, no fancy terms, just real thoughts.

Is Religion Just a Way to Control Us?

The idea that “Religion is just a system of control” feels like a punch to the gut. It’s like saying all the temples, churches, and mosques out there are just made-up games to boss us around. Someone put it this way: “All ten thousand verifiable religions that exist in the world today are as artificial as the symbolic church you're currently standing in. It is a farce.” Ouch. They’re saying religions—whether it’s Hinduism with its gods like Krishna or Islam with its prayers—are just tools to make us follow rules, like a teacher telling kids to sit still.

You can see where they’re coming from. Back in the day, the Catholic Church basically ran Europe, deciding who could marry or go to war. In India, some old Hindu texts were used to justify the caste system, keeping people in their “place.” Even now, politicians use religion—Hindu nationalism, for example—to get votes or push laws. It’s like being told you can choose between two doors, one for “Belief” and one for “No Belief,” but both lead to the same locked room. That’s the vibe of “the bottom line of religion is control.” They say “Truth is just a twisted version of what we want to see,” meaning the “truth” in holy books might just be what powerful people want us to buy into. If “Belief is just another word for fear,” maybe religion works because we’re scared of death, of messing up, of not fitting in—so we follow along to feel safe.

I get why people think this. It reminds me of times I’ve wondered if I’m praying because I really believe or just because it’s what I was taught. But then, I think there’s more to the story.

Faith Feels Like More Than Rules

That quote about praying not working but being beautiful anyway? It stops me in my tracks. It’s like, yeah, maybe praying doesn’t heal someone’s sickness, but it’s still special to care enough to try. It’s not about getting something—it’s about thinking of someone else. That’s where I start to push back on the “control” idea. Religion, whether it’s chanting in a Hindu temple or singing in a church, isn’t always about being told what to do. Sometimes it’s about feeling connected, finding hope, or just making sense of life.

Take Hinduism, for example. Lighting a lamp during Diwali or praying to Ganesha before a big day—it’s not just following orders. It’s a way to feel close to something bigger, to your family, your roots. I’ve seen people at Kumbh Mela, millions of them, dipping in the river, not because someone forced them but because it means something to them. It’s like imagining your soul as “a butterfly, just to follow around the people I love. I’ll land right on their fingertip, so they know it’s me.” That’s not control—that’s love, hope, a way to say, “I’m still here for you, even after I’m gone.” It reminds me of how my mother prays for me, not to “fix” anything but just to show she cares.

I read somewhere that people who follow a religion—any religion—tend to feel happier and less alone. That makes sense. Whether it’s a Hindu festival or a Sunday service, it’s about being together, sharing something bigger than yourself. It’s not always about someone controlling you—it’s about finding a place to belong.

Control Isn’t Just a Religion Thing

Here’s where it gets tricky. The folks who say “every religion is based on controlling people, regardless of what the denomination’s beliefs are” have a point, but they’re missing something. Control isn’t just a religion problem—it’s everywhere. The person saying “control is the one true religion” is kind of trying to control how I think, right? It’s like, okay, you’re calling out priests, but what about politicians, ads, or those apps that decide what videos I see? Here in India, some leaders use Hindu pride to win elections, just like companies use ads to make us buy stuff. It’s all control, in a way.

But here’s the cool part: we’re not robots. “Control is never complete, as human nature and free will create subtle changes.” People don’t just swallow everything. Hindus today question old rules about caste or women’s roles. Christians, Muslims, everyone—they bend the rules, find their own meaning. It’s like my cousin who loves yoga and meditation but doesn’t care for temple rituals. She’s still Hindu, just on her own terms. We’re messy like that, always finding ways to be ourselves, no matter what system tries to box us in.

This whole debate feels personal because we’re all trying to figure out what’s real in a world full of noise. When someone says, “The Truth is just a twisted version of what we want to see,” it’s like they’re talking about fake news, TikTok trends, or even my own doubts. But writing off religion—Hindu or anything else—as just control feels too easy. It’s not just about rules. It’s about why my mom lights a diya every evening or why I feel calm chanting a mantra. It’s about answering big questions: Why am I here? What happens when I die?

If you don’t believe, this idea pushes you to look at other things controlling you, like your phone or your job. If you do believe, it’s a nudge to make sure your faith is yours, not just what someone told you to follow. Either way, it’s about being awake to what’s shaping you.

So, is “Religion is just a system of control” true? Kind of, but not the whole story. Religion can be used to control, no doubt—Hinduism, Christianity, you name it. But it’s also about love, hope, and finding your place in a crazy world. The real question is: what’s running your life? A temple, a screen, or something else? For me, the beauty of praying, even if it “doesn’t work,” is that it’s a way to care, to dream, like imagining a butterfly landing on someone’s finger to say, “I’m still here.”

What do you think? Is religion just a big boss telling us what to do, or is it something deeper? Let’s chat about it—I’d love to hear your take! Watch the movie "Heretic" on Amazon Prime. See if you get some answers to your own why