We had an interesting discussion on "Institutions" in one of my classes where I was explaining about the quality processes that has to be inculcated in an organization, and work towards insitutionalization of the same to reap the benefits. Well this blog is not about it, but about religions.
Religions serve as an excellent example of institutionalization - institutionalization of beliefs on God, and the processes represent the rituals and customs carried out by the followers of that religion. Now the question: Does institutionalization really benefit here? My answer: NO.
When we institutionalize the beliefs on god, and evolve them as religions, it becomes one more identity for a person. However the purpose of any religion is to lead its followers to the spiritual path, and largely that requires an individual's own effort and will.
A religion can provide an identity, impose conditions of behavior, that might lead to the spiritual path, but can't guarantee it. Also here we are dealing with abstractness and results or effects would not be tangible always to measure. A goodness of a person has to be judged over his/her lifetime giving appropriate weight to their environments and circumstances - well that's what GOD would supposedly do in one's after life, according to many religions.
In quality processes, there is a scope for review and continuous improvement, which can lead to new and different processes over time. However today's religions does not allow to redefine or re-orient or even re-look at the changing needs and hence constrain you to the same beliefs that were set long ago, often justified by saying that all of the processes (rituals, beliefs, and customs) followed in a religion relate to "core values" and hence are sacrosanct and there's only one choice - either you subscribe to it or get left out.
Disclaimer: I am NOT an atheist.
