I agree it is an "aging way of controlling people" but I think that religion, when separate but with powers of its own, provides a good balance to government power. It should control its areas but be powerless in others and visa-versa. I good example of this is the Roman Catholic Church during the Middle Ages. Now when we think of Catholicism during the middle ages we think, witch hunts inquisition, crusades, And yes these were not good things, but I think that the church provided an important power balance. That's my opinion anyway.