Throughout history we have seen the general population wanting to look up to some leader, some god -- wanting some kind of leadership and something to place their worries upon. Individuals who notice humans' susceptibility to this "phenomenon" have managed to use it to their advantage, such as by using religion to control a mass of people, such as by managing to impose and portray themselves as an all powerful leader where everyone can look up to and place their worries upon. I have nothing against religious beliefs, but like almost anything else, it can be abused and throughout history, people have used it to control others.
Which leads me to three separate points:
I) Why do us humans desire or in some sense, need a leader, a god or something to look up to and guide us. Can't we be more independent, enjoy the days that we have on earth and seek peace and happiness? Why do we need anyone or a religion to guide us in our lives?
II) Why do humans desire power, and control over others?
III) As Bertrand Russell said,
From the beginning of civilization until the Industrial Revolution, a man could, as a rule, produce by hard work little more than was required for the subsistence of himself and his family, although his wife worked at least as hard as he did, and his children added their labor as soon as they were old enough to do so.
Whilst mentioning
One of the commonest things to do with savings is to lend them to some Government. In view of the fact that the bulk of the public expenditure of most civilized Governments consists in payment for past wars or preparation for future wars,
In bold, it relates to point II), which I wonder, why do humans desire power and control over others?
Whilst Bertrand Russell was talking below about what would happen if no one was compelled to work more than four hours a day, I wonder, why can't us human beings just enjoy the simple pleasures of life and not crave for power, and hopefully:
Ordinary men and women, having the opportunity of a happy life, will become more kindly and less persecuting and less inclined to view others with suspicion. The taste for war will die out, partly for this reason, and partly because it will involve long and severe work for all. Good nature is, of all moral qualities, the one that the world needs most, and good nature is the result of ease and security, not of a life of arduous struggle.