*NOTE: Please be aware that I will more than likely be using additional information to finish this question, so please wait a few moments before answering. Feel free to reserve your spot.
Before I begin, I would like to make a few statements:
1) I am not trying to pick a fight with anyone on here with this topic.
2) This is an honest question that I have often wondered about and would like to know peoples opinions on.
3) I do not want to be flamed. Please, keep this civil, give good, thoughtful answers.
Modern day Religion verus ancient religion-
As far back as our written history goes, there have always been gods. Most of the ancients seemed to have their own gods, some of which were handed down to other nations in later times.
2000 bc, the egyptians had their gods. They passed these down, in one form or another to the Greeks, who lent their Gods, again, in one form or another, to the romans. The Romans believed in their guards until the early 300AD time, when
2006-09-17 05:24:28 · 12 answers · asked by iswd1 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Emperor Constatine stated that he had seen God in a dream the eve before a battle and he won the battle. He converted Rome into Christianity.
My question, or statement whichever the case may be, is...
All of these ancient cultures had their gods and they were as devoted to their gods as Christians are today. They believed in them, they lived by what they were told "By the gods", and in most other aspects, they were much like Religion is today.
Yet, in the end, their gods no longer exist. They are catagorized as Mythology, thought of not as gods, but as stories, legends, untruths.
Today, Christianity is roughly 2000 years old. Give or take a bit. The ancient gods lasted much longer than this, all in all, yet they vanished.
What I would really like to know is... How do we kow we're right this time? How do we know that the god you pray to now is really there, when you feel the same way towards him as the ancients did towards their gods who are no longer there?
2006-09-17 05:29:13 · update #1
How do we know that 1000 years from now, modern day Christianity will not just be another religion thrown into the group of mythology with the rest of them?
You guys can quote from a book all you want, but it's not answering my question. You can say because you truely believe it is so, yet, the ancients believed with just as much faith as you have now, and where did it get them? I would like a REAL answer to my questions. How do you know? How can you be sure, and what if this really is just another phase we're going through?
2006-09-17 05:31:42 · update #2
Helzabet -
Sorry, when I said gods, naturally I meant gods and godesses... kind of like today, all of them wanting to be actors and actresses... did not mean to offend.
2006-09-17 05:41:00 · update #3
Celticwoman,
again, that is only your opinion, not a proven fact. The ancients believed just as much in their gods as you do in yours.
Many people today also believe that the current christian god is also man made, after all, the bible was written by man, regardless whether or not you believe it was divinely inspired, that doesn't change the fact.
If their beliefs were as strong as yours is, and they were still proven wrong, or, more to the point, they abandoned their gods, what makes todays religions any different?
2006-09-18 06:18:23 · update #4
The ancient Gods & Goddess' have always been there. Immoralized in stone statues and temples. And they are making a comeback in the New Age religion. Did you intentionally leave out the Goddess' or is that just your social programing kicking in?
The point here, is that it matters not which symbolic metaphors you choose to believe. If it makes you a better person then...
Blessed Be...
2006-09-17 05:38:27 · answer #1 · answered by Helzabet 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Why just Gods? The same argument could apply to any belief held today. The belief that earth was at the centre of the solar system has been replaced by the belief that the sun is at the centre. But some might say that this is a matter of fact not belief and is different. But I do not think it is. The earth could just as easiliy be regarded as at the centre of the solar system it just requires a more complicated set of equations to describe what is observed. Occams Razor is not proof just a sensible practical device.
The point I am making is that we believe all kinds of things which change as time progesses. These days many current beliefs are contained in political correctness. For example if somebody says something derogatory about a black person ones whole body flinches and it corresponds to what I imagine was felt during the 60's when sombody blasphemed. However the same person makes a joke about an Australian and if its a good one you laugh for you know that political correctness hasnt yet dared offer its protection to our Australian friends for fear of being told what to do with it.
You cannot live your life except by the beliefs that you have today.
Therefore if you are Christian live according to your present belief in God dont worry about the past or the future evolution of belief. Remember you do not live in the past or in the future in fact these are both very dodgy concepts they might not exist at all they too might simply be a matter of current belief.
2006-09-19 07:04:54 · answer #2 · answered by Douglas M 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Just marking a place. Caught the topic, and since my username is ragnarok, thought it might be interesting to note the Scandinavians invented the word Hel, from whence came the name Hell.
Edit: I must have done something wrong. My computer crashed right after I posted.
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Now then. Your basic premise appears to be that people's impressions of God has been changing through the ages.
My premise would be that we, as humans, lack the capacity to comprehend God. As humanity has travelled through history, many things have changed, and our cultural contexts simply do not correspond to the culture of 2 or 4 thousand years ago.
But The Church is the Anchor in a great many peoples lives. The Church has changed over the past 2000 years, albeit very slowly.
2006-09-17 05:35:09 · answer #3 · answered by Ragnarok 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Christianity may be only 2,000 years old, but God has always existed. The ancient gods and goddesses were human creations. People worshiped statues. These gods and goddesses had no power. Our knowledge of the One True God has existed for between 4,000 and 5,000 years. God spoke through Moses, telling us the history of humankind and what preceded it. The reason those other gods no longer exist is that they never did exist. They never had any power. Yet Jews and Christians continue to worship the One True God, Yahweh, Jehovah and have done so for literally thousands of years. The same cannot be said for any of the false gods/goddesses. They are evil fabrications and lies, a product of Satan's hand. He is the father of lies.
2006-09-17 05:52:24 · answer #4 · answered by celticwoman777 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Kabbalah and Gnosticism: Both address these issues. I look at it as I'm a Christian, but I am also human. I have no doubt as to the existence of God. I do have doubts if I'm "right." I think there has been much added to all religions my men for their benefit and power. I don't think that it is all manmade. Just perverted by man. Maybe God upstarts a new religion every now and then to maintain purity of morality? Maybe. I will admit I don't have all the answers, but I still believe.
2006-09-17 05:26:36 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
you cannot know until you die. That's the problem. So i would be wary of any religion that tries to scare you into thinking they are the right ones (christain, islam). A true god would not be so cruel as to make you guess which religion is the right one and then send you to an eternal hell for not choosing the right one due to a guess. There is no straight proof that any of them are correct and a lot of evidence to say that none of them are likely.
2016-01-04 14:17:24 · answer #6 · answered by logan 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Actually, it doesn't matter. The old gods are now on the scrap heap of faith and the current ones will end up there eventually. Hopefully they won't be replaced this time with a new superstition.
2006-09-17 05:26:59 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
"God" or "Jesus" or "Mohammed" or "E=Meter" or any other kind of religion is very subjective. There is no point in trying to convince any one else of a religious thought. Religion is by nature not interested in facts, it is interested in faith. Therefore, the entire concept of discussing religion is moot. That is why there is no answer to your question. ;-)
2006-09-21 02:20:18 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Exodus 20:3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
Exodus 23:13 And in all things that I have said unto you be circumspect: and make no mention of the name of other gods, neither let it be heard out of thy mouth.
Judges 10:13 Yet ye have forsaken me, and served other gods: wherefore I will deliver you no more.
2006-09-17 05:27:10 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
imagine, when we are kids, friend call our name, give a nick name, after grown up, you being called by your sweet heart, and after graduated, officially, something added in your name, and at work, your co worker call you by what you do...
but every body still can shout "Hey" and you turn your face,
above all religion and believe, we can't define God,
2006-09-17 05:45:01 · answer #10 · answered by Henry W 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋