2006-10-21 16:38:26 · 19 answers · asked by notaglumguy 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Yes, that's about it. God was conceived by people in order to explain the inexplicable. The afterlife was invented in order to stave off the fear of death - the ultimate dread. God has also been used to justify the otherwise unjustifiable (God is on our side etc.). I think a 'coping mechanism' is good way of putting it.
But just because God is in the mind does not mean to say it is not real. What is in a persons mind is real to them. If it is in the minds of everyone in a whole society, then it is a very real factor in the life of that society (e.g. the mid-west bible belt in the US); this why Jesus said that when three people are gathered in his name there is a church. The believers reinforce each others’ belief, and if one ever doubts then s/he is outnumbered by the other two, which can be very uncomfortable and tends to lead to conformity with the dominant (most popular) view. It take great courage to be an isolated non-believer, and most people don’t have that much courage.
But there's more to it. People have also worked out that being nice to each other leads to a happier life for all, and hence the synthesis between ‘God’ and ‘good’. For example, many religions state that 'God is love', so acting in love is the same as acting in God and vice versa. This is why all religions have codes of behaviour (ten commandments etc) which give people a set of rules to live by that is better for everyone, and is the main benefit of religions and a belief in God; so that is also a coping mechanism for peacefully managing human social life (e.g. don't covet your neighbours' wife) and the dangers of nature (e.g. eating unclean food). It's similar to a highway code. If there were no rules of the road we'd all go about crashing into each other. By synthesising behaviour codes with the authority that they come from an imagined God two things happen. Firstly, no-one can point the finger and say ‘that’s just your opinion and I don’t have to follow it’ and, secondly, people are more likely to follow the rules if they think they will overcome death and go to heaven. But heaven and hell are actually states of mind and modes of existence on Earth. If everyone treated each other with love and respect it would be heaven on Earth - that is what is really meant by the Kingdom of God - the kingdom of good(ness); conversely, war is hell.
Of course, there is a massive downside in that a mass delusion like religion makes people much easier to manipulate and control if you can control their belief (the opium of the people), hence the power of the churches, imams etc. Secondly, if you do not perceive a problem accurately, it reduces your chances of coming up with an effective solution. For example, there’s little chance of a peaceful solution to the middle east crises whilst there is a significant number of people who believe God stood on a hill in Jerusalem and created the Earth in six days; or that if you give your life as martyr in the Jihad you will go to warrior heaven.
So yes, it is a coping mechanism but it has serious drawbacks.
2006-10-21 21:53:18 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
This statement has been said by many who don't believe in God and who falsely believe that God is a coping mechanism (a cruch as it is sometimes called) for those who believe. I will say that some people use CHURCH as their crutch but I don't think a lot would say God is a crutch.
This shows the unknowing of the unbeliever because that person doesn't understand what a believer goes through. First of all, believers all over the world are persecuted against. Second, believers obstain for what they call "inappropriate behaviors". This is not something people would do if they just wanted a cruch. Believers are suppose to obstain from drugs, premarital sex, obsessive drinking, lust, greed, jealously, gossip, cursing, etc. These "fun" things are thrown out as not being good to a person. Third, a person strives towards perfection. That means the person always fails. No matter how hard believers try they always fall short. They are always failing and always having to get back up again and failing. They even have knowledge that they will constantly fail. This isn't a crutch in the least bit.
If anything is a coping mechanism it's the believe that there are no consequences, no moral absolutes, no wrong behaviors. Another is at the funeral saying "He/she will be in a better place" when we really know how they lives (if an unbeliever). People make their own gods even if they claim not to believe in God. It could be drugs, gossip, sex, even their own person definitions of who god is. These are the true coping mechanisms.
If God is a crutch then He is a bad one.
2006-10-21 23:52:55 · answer #2 · answered by X M 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There are 2 answers to this complex question:
- God is real, and fulfills our need.
- The God of the gaps.
The reason I provide you with 2 answers is to choose which ever answer you deem most logical.
God is real. The Bible has not been proven incapable or wrong in any way more than any other theory.
God of the gaps. This theory, proclaimed by Dan Brown himself, explains that because we have no scientific answer, we fill the gaps with "God of the gaps" such as the almighty Thor, which has been proven wrong with the theory of positive and negatively charged electrons; however, the "God of the gaps" does not in fact apply to the God of Christians, because nothing has proved teachings in Christianity wrong yet, or never will be.
2006-10-22 00:17:04 · answer #3 · answered by kyleissuper 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My answer would have to be:
If God is a coping mechanism, I hope you all get the right model soon - We're gonna need it real soon.
If you reduce God to a mental process, then you would have to have created the universe and everything in it....
2006-10-21 23:42:42 · answer #4 · answered by davezathome 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Finally, an easy question. God is a Presence which may be addressed within yourself and Which will respond to you. How It works is beyond me. But I have asked God to help me and God has. I have asked God to help me with specific personal issues and God has. I therefore believe God hears and answers prayer.I know for certain, like you know two plus two is four, that God has answered me. I have eighteen years of sobriety to give witness to that one. And I take just a moment to Thank Him here for it.
2006-10-21 23:44:06 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can have a personal relationship with God through His Son Jesus Christ. Jesus is the answer for the world today. I have known Him for the past 37 years, and He has been with me through the difficult and the happy times of life. He truly is a faithful friend, who will never let you down.
If you would like to know more go to
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/seeking_reality
2006-10-22 05:21:34 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
We all have a soul and therefore the capability to believe in a higher power. Perhaps one needs to look at humanity with a different perspective. We all have strengths and weaknesses try concentrating on the former. Be happy.
2006-10-22 00:16:51 · answer #7 · answered by alec c 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I pray everynight, but I'm not sure who I'm praying to. I've never been to church and believe strongly in the theory of evolution. So, yes, it most probably is a coping mechanism ... cue the religious nutters to shout me down and condemn me to hell.
2006-10-21 23:42:41 · answer #8 · answered by Billy 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
God is not in the mind. For some He is someone to blame when things go wrong. For others it is the thankfulness to Him for His only Son to suffer and die for us.
2006-10-21 23:42:31 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Do you think you are the only creature on universe?
What about the others, aren't they were created by GOD like you?
look around and just say seriously pls. guide me to you, and you will find GOD there to guide you.
2006-10-21 23:47:28 · answer #10 · answered by zajil 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋