Throughout history, governments
of different civilizations -be they  Egyptian ,
 Medieval  ,  Byzantine , Mongolian, or American-
have utilized various methods of
control over the peoples' religious beliefs
and practices.
1000 a.d.- Indians are forced to convert
    to Islam "by the sword."
1429- Joan of Arc is burned at the stake
    for "witchcraft."
1500-1524- Safavids make Persian
    Sunnites accept Shiite religion through
    threats of death
1658-1707- Aurangzeb becomes Mongolian
    ruler and begins persecution of Hindu
    religion; makes Muslim the predominant
    religion in Mongolian India

            .... and the list goes on ....

The government seems to have been able to alter
and sometimes eliminate the religious beliefs and
customs of  people. But as you read the following
pages, ask yourself, did the government alter
the religious beliefs and customs, or did the
civiliztions themselves grow tired of
their religion? Or did the government
force them to change?