Would We Be Better Off Without God And Religion?

[Skydancing]

Religion been the cause of wars, mayhem and abuse throughout the centuries. People try to impose their view of the deity on others with disastrous results, I wonder if human beings would have been better off if people had not ever thought of the God concept?

 

[Im_A]

Religion been the cause of wars, mayhem and abuse throughout the centuries. People try to impose their view of the deity on others with disastrous results, I wonder if human beings would have been better off if people had not ever thought of the God concept?

(i don't mean to be offensive here.)
well would we be better without the wars that are fought over political systems, so maybe we need to get rid of our political idealogy because of all the turmoil it has caused.

what about freedom? the cause of wars, sadness because of the loss of life, all in the name of freedom. maybe freedom should be something that isn't look at to cause wars.

what about expansion to other lands and provinces? we have killed and shed blood because we want property. so is personal advancement something that should be wiped away?

many ideas, beliefs in whatever has caused loss of life and innocent blood being spilled, right along with religions fighting over details.

i think people are the root causes of this stuff.

this reminds me of a quote Jean-Paul Sartre that i recently came across and has really been giving me a lot to think about:

"Man is condemned to be free; because once thrown into the world, he is responsible for everything he does. It is up to you to give [life] a meaning."



and sadly enough people abuse that. they abuse their responsibility of being put into existence by believeing that everyone must be like them, to a very far point, of pushing it on other people and causing harm.

i don't believe God, religion, political ideas, freedom, personal prosperity or any other vice is to blame, people are to blame for not fulfilling their duty of being put into existence and doing it rightly.

 

[Skydancing]

I don't blame God as I don't think he can intervene in the world, I blame the ideas people have about God!!!

 

[elman]

Religion been the cause of wars, mayhem and abuse throughout the centuries. People try to impose their view of the deity on others with disastrous results, I wonder if human beings would have been better off if people had not ever thought of the God concept?

Most wars even when religion was used to get the cannon fodder involved were not really about religion. Loving your neighbor never caused any wars.

 

[Im_A]

I don't blame God as I don't think he can intervene in the world, I blame the ideas people have about God!!!

oh, ok. sorry if i misunderstood your post.

so with this, and with your OP, what do you exactly mean?

i kind of slump God with religion. since all religions are searching for God, it's easy for me to slump those two together. but if you could maybe clarrify what you mean, since you don't blame God? my apologies for misunderstanding.

 

[Skydancing]

I think people create God in their own image rather than the other way around. We don't have much idea as to the nature of the deity. The Bible documents the authors' idea of God, it doesn't mean it has any basis in reality.

 

[Im_A]

I think people create God in their own image rather than the other way around. We don't have much idea as to the nature of the deity. The Bible documents the authors' idea of God, it doesn't mean it has any basis in reality.

so basically what your saying is to somehow, leave all that stuff behind, and then focus on God how?

i mean, i at least think, that's how God was first introduced to humanity. people's experience with the Divine Creator, in whatever way shape or form. and then things evolve. but as always in steps of progress, you have a bump and rocky road.

 

[God_of_Mercy]

No, we would be much worse off.

 

[mark53]

I think people create God in their own image rather than the other way around. We don't have much idea as to the nature of the deity. The Bible documents the authors' idea of God, it doesn't mean it has any basis in reality.

3 underlined phrases says it all!

 

[truthquest]

We wouldn't be better off without God but we'd be better off without the human concept of what God is (ie. religion). I think spirituality does a better job of describing God than religion does. I think when we all die we are going to find out that God is greater than anything we ever fathomed. When I look at extreme fundamentalism, I see a God that is very limited. Limited in forgiveness, love and compassion. I will make the bold claim that I am more forgiving, loving and compassionate than the extreme fundamentalist picture of God. No matter what my children did, I would never subject them to eternal torment. I wouldn't even want Sadaam Hussein or George Bush subjected to torture even after all the atrocities those men have caused the world. I don't want women stoned for extramarital affairs, I don't want people killed for picking up sticks on Sunday and I don't want children killed for not listening to their parents and acting like drunkards. Those things were commanded by the extreme picture of a fundamentalist God. I don't think it is possible for me to be more loving, forgiving and compassionate than my creator.

God is not bound to the limitations of what we think, write or believe about him. When we die we will see that God is greater than all our imaginings about him. I will be praising that day when God is revealed to not be anything like what man has made him out to be.

In the beginning, God created man in his own image. Man has been returning the favor ever since by creating God in man's image.

Brian

 

[truthquest]

To further emphasize my post, here are two short plays that I just wrote starring Truthquest as daddy and starring truthquest's four year old son, Chase.

Play 1 (Fundamentalist version)
Fundamentalist Daddy: Now Chase, look ahead and you will see one hundred doors. We will call these doors 'religions'. I am going to go stand behind one of those doors. You won't be able to see me but be sure to pick the right door in order to find me.

Chase: But daddy, I'll be scared if I can't find you.

Fundamentalist Daddy: That's why you need to be extra careful when picking the door. Because if you pick the wrong one, you won't find me and I will see to it that you are burned and tormented forever.

(Chase cries) (Chase picks the wrong door) (Daddy burns Chase)

Play 2 (Spiritual version)
Spiritual Daddy: Now, Chase, look ahead of you and you will see one hundred doors. I will be standing behind the doors. You won't be able to see me but always keep searching and you will find me.

Chase: But daddy, I'll be scared if I can't find you.

Spiritual Daddy: Chase, if you honestly search and truly want to find me then you will find me.

(Chase opens a door but Daddy isn't there)

Chase: Daddy I can't find you! (cries)

Spiritual Daddy: Chase, I'm over here!

(Chase follows the voice and opens another door but still doesn't see Daddy)

Spiritual Daddy: Chase, you are getting closer, keep looking!

(Chase opens the door and finds Daddy. Chase jumps in his arms and hugs him not ever wanting to let him go)

Spiritual Daddy: Chase, I love you so much!

Chase: I thought I'd lost you!

Spiritual Daddy: Honey, I would never abandon you.

(Chase now realizes how much he loves his daddy. He didn't realize the extent of his love until he thought he had lost him.)