What do you think of this theory?

Question

Those of you believers can flame all you want, I don't care.

I think the people of the time of the bible's creation were quite out of hand and almost anarchist. Therefore, the priests were called to put together the bible and to cushion the rules in stories and allegory to make people follow them. The most important part was the consequence of hell. Their eternal soul would be damned and punished forever if they did not obey these rules. The greatest control a government has over it's people is fear. Short of killing the people outright, telling them that the things they were doing damned their souls to a fiery hell for infinity was the only thing that kept them in line.

foxray, read Matthew Chapter 5 and then tell me again they don't mention hell very often.

Answer 1

Your idea is logical, but Jews have never believed in a place of eternal punishment. That was invented by Christians later on.

Older religions such as Greek and Roman (what we now think of as "mythology') were evicted by a very popular branch of the cult of Yahweh, one of the desert gods in the middle east. Historically, Yahweh was only one god in a hierarchy of many, but was honored because he was in charge of storms and rain - vital to the survival of a desert people.

Later Yahweh's image was morphed into a brutal war god, when he was elevated to solitary "God" status by the Jews so that they could organize an army and take land and property for themselves. A few hundred years later a branch of the Yahweh cult, which is called Christianity, usurped the Greek/Roman deity structures with a revitalized hierarchy of Yahweh, his son, angels and saints -- throwing Hades in for good measure.

Answer 2

It's an interesting theory, but it wouldn't work.

For one, if there was no basis in reality for the existence of God, the majority of the people wouldn't believe it. They might have been uneducated, but they were as intelligent as you or I. Bully tactics are much easier for governments and leaders who are actually willing to kill. Such a massive deception would demonstrate a high level of contempt for the masses, and I doubt someone who dislikes the people so much would hold back from violence.

Second, your theory assumes that all the world's societies had the same idea and carried it out in basically the same way. Every major society has religious beliefs about a god or gods. I very much doubt the validity of such a massive coincidence. And the concept that it might have been coordinated wouldn't work, either. People in positions of power can barely agree on anything, much less something so far reaching.

Frankly, the existance of God is more believable than the idea of such a far-reaching conspiracy being successful.

Answer 3

You've given the story of every religion.

But I think of "heaven and hell" in more of a "final justice" perspective.

How do you explain that life is unfair? Why are babies burned to death while tyrants live in palaces? Why are good girls and boys raped and killed while bad people prosper?

The answer that many people came up with is - this isn't the real life, and everything will be set straight in the next life. Bad people will be punished for eternity and good people with be infinately rewarded. So simple, it sounds like a child's fairy tale.

Every culture comes up with some kind of story like this. The Buddhists say that all of life is an illusion and we are just coming back again and again until we reach perfection.

But then the priests get a hold of it. They make up a bunch of rules and conditions so that they will be necessary.

I once worked at an office and there was this guy who basically created a promotion for himself. He convinced the manager that he needed all these reports, and he needed him to generate and organize them. The manager tried it out and eventually forgot that he ever lived without them. Unbelieveable.

That's how I think of religion. It is the worthless, impotent, and completely unnecessary middle-man between us and the unexplainable.

Answer 4

Well, you have a point, people have in the past (and still to this day) use religion and fear as a form of maintaining power, and control. Just the fact that back in the day the average lay person wasn't allowed to read the Bible is a pretty good indication of that. And while I believe there is something along the lines of a hell, I don't think fear of punishment is exactly the most righteous of motivators.

Answer 5

I wouldn't go so far as to say the population was getting out of hand and anarchist. It's more likely that they were a bunch of scattered tribes and villages with each doing what it thought best for themselves.

The Jewish kings needed a way to unite the people. The best way was to create a uniform set of laws that everyone must follow.

The Levite priests were put in charge of creating the laws (which became the book of Leviticus). This was during a time period when there was zero separation of church and state. Religious law was THE law.

Whether the Jews in the land started following the laws during the reigns of Saul and David (the first two kings) for fear of going to hell or for fear of being killed by the king is up for debate.

Without doubt, fear of being killed by the king played a part during the reign of Solomon (the third king). It was his actions (and his son's intent to continue carrying them out) that caused the northern tribes to secede and become their own country.

Answer 6

I think that's actually pretty sound, and interesting. No one really knows why the Torah and such were written in the first place and it is true that after the exodus of the ancient Hebrews who were slaves in Egypt the people were very anarchist and didn't know what to do. So the leaders of the people needed away to establish some order, and what better way than to literally put the fear of God in them? And of course over time...like I said it's interesting. Definitely food for thought.

Answer 7

the way a theory is shaped and is universally ordinary takes time. The video is somewhat informative yet i visit describe how a hypothesis will become a theory. 1st information are accumulated up. those information are irrefutable yet they don't clarify a technique or one among those prevalence. Ex. The sky is blue. fact. in spite of the incontrovertible fact that it would not clarify how the sky grew to become blue. 2d Step is to collect greater information to sort an option hypothesis. There are 2 varieties of hypothesis null and option. To simplify the null hypothesis says the alternative hypothesis is fake. Ex. The sky is blue as a results of fact God made it that way. that's the alternative hypothesis. as a results of fact that God isn't a fact nor could be shown the alternative hypothesis is rejected and null hypothesis is ordinary that "God did not make the sky blue". third Step is that if an option hypothesis is real then it fairly is examined repeatedly. Ex. Erik Erikson psychosocial developmental theory. The hypothesis to Erik Erikson's theory is then examined repeatedly. it sounds as though the belief is precise. 4th as quickly as theories are examined repeatedly it substitute into ordinary via the medical community. in spite of the incontrovertible fact that it would not recommend a theory is often one hundred% ideal. If some scientists detect some flaws the belief slowly will become changed. Ex. Freud theory of penis envy in little females. This theory might have been ordinary an prolonged time in the past in the newborn tiers of psychology yet in on the instant's international it sort of feels ridiculous. theory is examined repeatedly. it particularly is modified slowly and provides a good rationalization of issues. in simple terms as a results of fact something is unknown would not recommend it fairly is an act of God. it fairly is a hypothesis yet to be proposed, examined, and alter into theory. technological know-how is often evolving.

Answer 8

Read the Bible, and see just how much fear mongering about hell is really talked about. Very little.
Jesus continually talked about the Kingdom of God, what it is like, how it is lived and the way God interacts with those who live by these principles. Jesus said the greatest commandment is to love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength and the second is to love your neighbor as yourself. It doesn't sound like He's trying to scare anyone with that statement now does it?

Answer 9

Many Biblical historians and archaeologists believe the Torah was largely created under King Josiah's reign in the 7th century BC in order to consolidate his power. The authors created or embellished myths (Abraham, Moses, etc.) in order to create a united history for the Israelite and Judean people.

Answer 10

It's an old argument rather than a theory. A good theory requires concrete evidence and logical modes of thought. People come up with all manner of stories/beliefs in order to avoid accountability to their loving Father in heaven.