If God created everything and has infinite power and ability, why do religious people put so many restrictions on how, when, and why God can interact with us? Sounds a little TOO convenient. The sooner we realize that the God story is a just a myth, the sooner we can realize we're on our own here and maybe we should start by stop killing each other over these stupid myths and start working together to create a better place for our children to grow up in. There is no grand plan no eye in the sky...and even if there was, he's not playing a big role in letting us know what he wants so might as well, start making our own destiny....lets start by creating a heaven on Earth for everyone to enjoy.
2006-10-25 08:49:10 · 11 answers · asked by ULTIMATEMEANING 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
It sounds like your atheism is motivated by love, in that you want humanity to start taking responsibility for solving its problems instead of invoking God as a diversion.
However, your question is not simply rhetorical. You really are asking why religious people put restrictions on God's interactions with humanity, and there is a real answer: People create religious traditions, rituals, and all the rest, in an effort to address the problems of existence. Different groups use these traditions for different ends, to unite their members, to increase their political/social/economic power, to increase their understanding of the universe, etc. The underlying thread is that religions lay out a path to follow, a set of guidelines by which to live your life. Religious practitioners believe that following these guidelines will bring them closer to God.
Of course the focus of religion is not God, but humanity. The human race needs to believe in a path, a set of guidelines, a telos, to unify us. Some scientists believe it is a residual herd instinct which helped us survive at an earlier evolutionary stage. Whatever the source of this need, it still exists in us, no matter how much we encourage the ideal of the rational individual.
So, if you want us humans to "start making our own destiny" you first have to accept humanity's need for religion as part of our genetic construction, not an aberration, a conspiracy, or an act of stupidity. It's unfortunate, perhaps, that we need religion, just as it's unfortunate that our bodies break, grow old, and die. But that is what we have to work with.
If you are looking for an example of a religious path that doesn't just continue the cycle of ignorance and violence, the recent convergence of christianity and environmentalism offers something new to the mythological mix.
2006-10-25 09:16:45 · answer #1 · answered by PAUL K 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You know, there should be more people in the world like you who say things like:
"...the sooner we can realize we're on our own here and maybe we should start by stop killing each other over these stupid myths and start working together to create a better place for our children to grow up in."
That's a nice idea. It means action instead of talking, which leads me onto this:
I noticed your other questions.
Why do you feel the need to get everyone out of religion - no matter what religion?
What is it that is driving you to constantly type questions stating holes and lies in these religions?
Why are you constantly questioning the faith of others?
Why do you feel so strongly about this?
Is it because you want action?
Is it because you want everyone to grow up and "start making our own destiny..."?
"...let's start by creating a heaven on Earth for everyone to enjoy."
You know, maybe that is exactly what God wants us to do... and maybe that is why you are driven so - to put this point across...
2006-10-25 17:14:34 · answer #2 · answered by anon 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I have to say I concur with you about putting limitations on how God can interact with us. I personally feel it takes lot of audacity - or perhaps just a lot of sheer stupidity - to tell God what He can and can't do and how He can reach out to someone.
And the utopia sounds nice and all, but why is it that after all these milleniums we have not been able to create it? Could it be that we need help? Has man been able to help? Somewhat. But, overall, are the inherent problems that prevent us from creating this utopia solved?
That one isn't hard to answer. Look around.
Then where is the answer? Many have found it in Jesus Christ in the work that He accomplished at the cross. Many have found that their inherent problems were crucified there, and many have found absolute freedom from these inherent problems there at the cross. I am one. And then there are those who've simply made Jesus their icon - their poster child as it were - for their self-righteous crusade of hate.
Did you know that God Himself told the people of Israel that if they would follow the commandments that He gave to Moses they would have days of heaven upon the earth?
2006-10-25 09:15:42 · answer #3 · answered by Carol L 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I agree with you. I often wondered to myself how is that we think that somehow we can reach heaven if we do not know how to reach it in ourselves. It would seem that when you die, that if their is a heaven wouldnt it be through the next leve of conciousness. What if I told you I have felt heaven right here. Everytime I see my sons face. Everytime another person reveals their soul to me and I feel a connection of pieces that have been scattered all over the universe. When my husband touches me,
And when I get to connect with someone who does not believe the way I do, but still holds respect. That is heaven to me, and what is hell? The personification of our own fears(hell)
I wish you well
2006-10-25 09:11:21 · answer #4 · answered by fryedaddy 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you have it backwards. The religions the two dedicate to the minister or priest or it does no longer. you notice, if the priest of minister steps exterior the limitations of what's appropriate by potential of the faith in any way, the faith excommunicates them. it quite is not a count of their dedication. it quite is an argument of no longer crossing the line and doing all your job. do no longer little one your self, faith is a employer and between the main profitable on earth, What different employer can take pennies from the damaging and provide them no longer something in any respect in return yet an empty promise. it quite is surely merciless what religions are allowed to do interior the call of God.
2016-12-28 04:53:39 · answer #5 · answered by boynton 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Wow. There are no "restrictions on how, when, and why God can interact with us", you know.
About the heaven on earth thing, I'm weary of this idea, because whenever it was tried out, it failed. Look at communism.
2006-10-25 22:00:17 · answer #6 · answered by todaywiserthanyesterday 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
people don't put restrictions on when, where and how God (Christian) interacts with us. who does this? sounds like you have everything figured out though. all we need to do is live in abject peace and harmony with each other. good luck with that.
2006-10-25 08:54:02 · answer #7 · answered by practicalwizard 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
its a matter of control isnt it. a certain group of people who are arrogant enough to think that they know the "mind" of god and have convinced others of this, use this influence to control others.
2006-10-25 08:53:03 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
sounds more like a suggestion than a question. Nobody will change their beliefs for anyone else, thats what faith is all about.
2006-10-25 08:51:49 · answer #9 · answered by thats it 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
b-b-but jesus? um, g-g-god's will? I'm telling my pastor on you!?!?!?--god is love! u-r bad! y r u goin ta hel?
don't try to make them think, dude, you'll only be frightfully disappointed when you fail.....
2006-10-25 08:59:30 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋