would you? I mean totally eliminate God, from people's minds, books, all records, everywhere. And to clarify right now, because I can already tell what people are going to to say, eliminating God does not mean that eliminating what God created in this world, so no eliminating God will not eliminate all of existence. I mean just eliminate the idea of God.
So in short-if you could eliminate the idea of God, would you? And what do you think would happen?
2006-07-13 17:28:08 · 31 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
If the idea of God were wiped off the slate of the human imagination, I strongly suspect it would simply develop again. We are hardwired to look to the supernatural to explain the unexplainable. And to anticipate your question, no - even in our enlightened age, there is much that is yet unexplainable.
Consider how the concept of God arose among early civilizations. Early peoples attributed the forces of nature to various deities and attempted to appease those deities in the hopes of obtaining favor (and thus survival) from them.
The human imagination is the origin of the idea of God. Even if it were erased from everyone's consciousness, the unexplainable happenstances of life would lead the imagination to re-imagine God and to attribute the unexplainable to supernatural forces. It is part of our nature.
2006-07-13 18:26:08 · answer #1 · answered by jimbob 6 · 6⤊ 4⤋
To clarify God has nothing to do with conscience, we all have free will and conscience is purely a human idea. Moreover, the idea of God is nothing more than a person's defense mechanism to give purpose to a meaningless existance. It's only a matter of whether one has the ability to come to terms with that or not. However, if theoretically you could dissolve the entire conception of God from the human mind, several problems may arise, such as those who depend on that purpose to live their day to day lives, and if that purpose was non-existant how and what would people find meaning in to help their lives feel fulfilled. Worst-case scenario is that the very fabric that our society is built upon would crumble. But i doubt that would happan, most likely people would simply channel their faith into terrestial activities, or not. But would I get rid of the idea of god? No, it's been working out alright so far, and some people depend on it, as long as it's not disturbing my life i have qualms.
2006-07-14 00:43:11 · answer #2 · answered by hav0c16 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well like you have clarified, you can only eliminate God from your mind and not the existence.
And if one can actually eliminate the idea of God, then nothing GREAT is going to happen. World would still continue to spin, just that you would be missing out on something! So what is tht something? Well the 'knowledge' to appreciate God.
That's my opinion..:)
2006-07-14 00:42:55 · answer #3 · answered by ViNi 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
From discussions I've had with some theists who apparently think the only reason to be moral is because god said so (and is why they think atheists don't bother with morality)...if I eliminated the concept of god randomly without explaining why it's a good idea to be moral for it's own sake...a lot of the ignorant now ex theists would be running around doing whatever they feel like doing.
Would I do it, no. What good would that do? If I could do anything on that scale I'd just make free thought and tolerance something everyone valued.
2006-07-14 00:35:15 · answer #4 · answered by laetusatheos 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Universal brotherhood and love thy neibhour should be the motto coupled with the elimination of the idea of God. For one thing it must be understood that religion is also a controlling force. If the society as a whole, vows for everything good only by thought, word and deed then there is no need for the idea of God which is a near impossibility as the society is driven by desires.
Ramachandran V.
2006-07-14 00:36:43 · answer #5 · answered by sarayu 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, I would not eliminate the "idea" of God from the world. I do not believe anyone could. The "knowledge" of God is internal. That is God does not arise from "logical" proof (as Descartes thought,) nor from material causes, but from "inward" contemplation (as Pascal thought) and "interior" dialog (as Martin Buber proposes.) So there is no real way to "eliminate" the idea of God - look at how many totalitarian nations have tried in the 20th century.
What I would eliminate are:
1) The idea that any one human "has" God's word - and can, therefore, tell everyone what is right or wrong.
2) Organized religion in the sense of organizations that own property, involve themselves as a group in politics and attempt to "control" actions of its members. In other words a church or a mosque or a shrine as a meeting hall / worship center is fine but no material organization.
it is not God or the idea of God that causes the problems of hatred and intolerance from the Catholic Inquisition to Al-Quaida, It is ignorant human beings setting themselves up as God's messenger from Pat Robertson to Osamu bin Laudan that causes the misery that organized religion brings to this world.
2006-07-14 00:47:00 · answer #6 · answered by Mr. Knowitall 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Nothing much would change in my opinion. Most people simply live their lives the way they please, with little regards to anything about God. The term "practical atheists" has been around for a while, and certainly applies to the way most Americans live. It is extremely rare that I have ever encountered anyone who said they did anything because of a belief in God, outside of my church. So, without God, people would simply do what they are doing now.
Would I eliminate the concept of God? No, God does not exist for most people except a "cuss" word.
2006-07-14 00:36:09 · answer #7 · answered by Don H 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hmmm....if i could....i probably shouldnt, i have no right to tamper with the beliefs of others...on the other hand I would and will do it if given the opportunity, to many times through out history has that one 3 letter word been at the heart of many a slaughter and pointless war. People claim to follow gods will and that their violent acts are sanctioned by a higher power, when in truth God is an ideal a name they put out as a cover for their own selfish reasons.
2006-07-14 00:37:46 · answer #8 · answered by rongoodnough 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Impossible to do...
Even if we did eliminate the memory of the word God (and all memories of him) from all the people in the world -- within a few years, many intelligent people would ponder the evidence, and come to the conclusion that God does exist.
Please be aware that there is scientific and intellectual evidence for the existence of God (e.g., see http://www.godsci.org/gs/godsci/evidence.htm)
I used to be an atheist. Over a period of time however, I grew convinced of the existence of the Christian God, and ultimately committed my life to Christ (e.g., see http://www.godsci.org/gs/chri/testimony/seek.html ).
Cordially,
John
2006-07-14 00:31:05 · answer #9 · answered by John 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
By no means would i eliminate God. His very lack of anonyminity makes the world a better place. People strive to follow his commandments and live better lives. Thousands find hope and guidance from his teaching. That would all be gone if he were not in our minds and hearts.
2006-07-14 00:34:29 · answer #10 · answered by Scott 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would not because for one thing,I can see the bigger picture but it is this sort of thinking that will be why people try to eliminate him and religion that will actually be fighting against God, yet what can puny man do to God? They will have sort term succes though, and it will make them feel like it will be long term success, but they are mistaken, then the end will happen! All because of listening to the devil
2006-07-14 00:40:10 · answer #11 · answered by I speak Truth 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋