Paper short abstract:

‘Religion’ described as a recent management tool available to governments that can use it to limit a group’s power instead of resorting to genocide as God does in Deuteronomy 20: 16-18. Religions, argues the author, ought to be understood as “vestigial states” within dominant sovereignties.

Paper long abstract:

The paper describes ‘religion’ as an evolved management tool and strategy that governments can now use to classify a group in order to limit its power and influence instead of resorting to genocide. It is proposed that if the God of Deuteronomy 20: 16-18 had access to the modern category of ‘religion,’ he would not have had to order the slaughter of every person in the nearby cities he “gives” to his people. The author then explains her theory that ‘religions’ should be understood as “vestigial states,’ that is, as restricted governments that are denied all access to police and martial violence – powers that dominant states always keep for themselves.