How can humanity get rid of god?

Question

This is a technical question not a religious debate. I'm sorry if it offends you but I'm not inviting preaching or answers that are themselves questions (like "why would you want to?").

Here are the options I've come up with but all seem inadequate:

1) Education - yes it can work but it is slow and easily subverted by "education" (ie. religous domga). If "real" education (based on reason and the scientific process) is allowed to grow, continue, and flourish then perhaps many centuires from now the idea of a "soul" an and afterlife will be thought quaint and primative

2) Authoritairan Government - It could work but probably would not. Forcing people to "think rationally" often excites a martyr complex in crazy people who then become religious leaders. Also, I'm against supressing basic human rights so this option is out for me.

3) War - Just won't work. First, I'm a pacifist so I'm not going to participate, secondly it would create two religous people for every one killed.

oh, I forgot option #4, medication or physical alteration of the brain. This is very promising especially if we can find a god "gene" (I suspect, as a total medical layperson of course that there is no genetic marker for religious belief and that it is more of a "software" gene) then this could be corrected but then there is the whole basic human rights thing and my unwillingness to force people to have the surgery or to take the medication.

So far only S.H and Red_Samurai have offered actual answers. I'd love to hear some more answers and less posturing.

Answer 1

FORGET IT..
occupy their time.
if people forget it, it never existed.
If people forget it, they dont know they are being manipulated and wont resist like they would if an Authoritairan Gov would.
Education will let people know it exists and let people know you are actively doing something to erase it. People dont wanna be dumb and would investigate why. It would also start up radical groups like in the middle east fighting and it would be chaos.

Answer 2

As far as I can see, the first option is the most effective. And in a way, it is already in effect. As long as religion is kept out of schools, and teachers are not giving in to pressure from the community, more and more people will begin to think for themselves.

However, another option would be to prove the theory of abiogenesis. This theory would eliminate most thought of a god in society. There would be those who cling to their beliefs, but so many people would be forced to concede due to the proof of science, that anyone who still believes in god would be considered stupid, and shunned by society.

Another way would be to continually eat away at all the mistakes and inconsistencies with the, "god hypothesis." Bit by bit, the idea of a god will be destroyed. Anyone still believing in god thereafter, will be thought of as nothing but illogical.

Answer 3

Telling people God doesn't exist does not change the reality. The same for a brick wall, or perhaps even for a person, say..., George Washington. You may can convince some that old George doesn't exist but it will not effect the truth. He did.

God is not mortal, God is not flesh and Blood or anything you can kill or touch. However your every breath is in his hands and you are too backward and primitive to realize it.

But hey - I'm talking to a person who thinks he can change reality so perhaps we should see about having you lobotomized before you hurt yourself or someone else.

Answer 4

All those have been tried and failed.
If God does not exist you can't get rid of what isn't there.
If God does exist then you will be opposing something infinitely stronger than you are, this will fail.
Through history people have tried and failed. The most recent has been the Soviet Union (who certainly tried points 1 and 2) - that has gone but God still lives.
Face the facts and the lessons of history: you have set yourself an impossible task!

Answer 5

That would be great. I think that the better choice would be option one, but it’ll be really hard to stick to the teaching analytically and not impose some kind of dogma.

Even though I don’t believe in God, the notion of it doesn’t bother me (except when followers become extremists). I think it helps some people get by, just like an imaginary friend for adults…

Answer 6

Well, you could destroy the earth with a big ole bomb, that would get rid of the earth, but God would still be here. And probably really ticked off at you lol

You could try to "educate" people, but everytime there was a math test, children would pray.

You could take everything that was beautiful in this world, and destroy all love on the planet, that might do it, but you'd have take me on first :)

Answer 7

You can not force people to believe anything and have that stick for long. The ideas people have must change and evolve naturally.

This means we must mature beyond the point of a tyrantical God barking threats and demanding love. This can only occur on a personal level!

Answer 8

There are two simple ways to answer this question. Both suggest that it is impossible.

The first assumes you do not believe that "god" exists. If you are correct in this belief then all you need to do is kill everyone that believes in God, or that will ever believe in God and destroy every reference ever recorded that pertains to God. If no one is left that believes in something that doesn't exist, than it is truly gone. Logistically or theoretically, this would be impossible. Theoretically, all it would take is one liar who professeses to not believe in God. If he survived you would have failed in your mission.

The second answer presumes you believe there is a "god". I could not help noticing that while you spelled "god" with a small "g" (presumambly to lessen his, her or its significance), you still referred to "god" as a singular entity. Thus, you have already acknowledged his, her or its exisistence as a "singular" supreme being in the minds of some segment of society. After all, you didn't ask, "Can we get rid of 'all gods' or a particular 'God'"?

So since you would have already acknowledged the existence of some singular, supreme being in this scenario, we can begin to explore how to get rid him, her or it. But before we try to get rid of something we need to know what it is, right?

Well, Webster's Dictionary defines the "singular" God to which you seem to be referring as:

"the supreme or ultimate reality: as a : the Being perfect in power, wisdom, and goodness who is worshipped as creator and ruler of the universe b Christian Science : the incorporeal divine Principle ruling over all as eternal Spirit : infinite Mind"

This definition describes a "supreme being." If we assume that the singular god you wish to destroy does, in fact, exist then it is reasonable to assume that he, she or it is an entity with no equal. Whomever or whatever was successful in destroying this "supreme being" would in fact become the supreme being. So, in this scenario, you also would have failed in your ultimate goal. You would have replaced "god" with another "god".

Answer 9

Prove that God does not exist with an undeniable evidence, which would explain all the things that happen to a christian(a true christian) - wonders, blessings etc - and then you would get rid of Him...but hurry up cause He'll be back soon:)

Answer 10

I think time is the only answer...more and more people are forgetting old teachings and learning to think on their own. I do believe that religious teachings will become obsolete in the future.

Answer 11

Impossible!

People make up their own 'gods' whether they care to say they are religious or not.

What we do - our lifestyles - are religions of themselves, so it is difficult to omit religion in answering your question.

By the way, I do believe God but I felt compelled to respond as dispassionately as possible, regardless of your reason for asking, since you took the time to explain your thoughts.