What if god is something manmade and not the other way around?

Question

Seriously, if there is no god, how sad are all the lives of all the people that pray to him on a regular basis, or attend church, or have actually been martyred in god's name.

And to the mindless response of "I'd rather pray to god and take my chances, because I will have lost nothing if there is no god", Yeah! Actually you would have lost ALOT of time doing ridiculous rituals!

Answer 1

Of course "god" is just ideas made up by men -- there is no evidence of any kind that there is a god, and plenty of evidence that all gods have been made up by humans.

That said, and even though I don't believe any of the god fairy-tales, I don't believe that it is entirely a waste of time. Religion and devotion to made-up gods have served *some* good purposes throughout history -- giving people hope (false hope, but hope nonetheless) that can ameliorate fear of dying, giving them a moral framework to guide their lives, giving them rituals and associations which make them feel part of a larger "something", whether that's community or the brotherhood of all mankind. Most of those things aren't bad per se.

The idea of god can be comforting, helpful, worthwhile. I get that. And those things can help fearful people get through their lives -- that's good.

Unfortunately, religion has also been used IN EVERY SINGLE RELIGION to control people, to try to prevent them from questioning their leaders, as an incentive to war against "unbelievers," as a way to keep the masses in line. Many religious people will brush those abuses aside, saying that the religion is pure but there are just bad people that abuse it...unfortunately, all we have to judge the value of any particular philosophy or "guide to life" is by the outward actions it induces in its followers. Religion has a horrible track record when it comes to seeing what actions it produces in its followers. For every "good christian" who selflessly gives to help the needy, there are dozens more who spew hatred, start wars, condemn all who don't believe as they do, and do not follow the teachings of their own religion's founder. Even the bible says, "by their works shall ye know them" -- that being the case, the "works" produced by those who follow religion can only lead it to be roundly condemned as a terrible guide to living a good life, and as more an incentive to hatred and violence than to anything good. That a small percentage of religious individuals let their philosophy lead them to good lives doesn't offset the monstrous evil done by the rest of the religious crowd. On the whole, and judging by the works of its followers, religion has shown itself to be one of the worst guides to peaceful living in the history of the world. A failed experiment that should be abandoned by anyone who actually thinks and looks at what religion has done.

Answer 2

I understand what you are saying. Try seeing it this way: There is something bigger outthere. Man needs to put a name on everything.
But I have experienced so many things starting from ghost, messages of warning etc. that I know there is something greater bigger after this VR life.
And think about it, if people really knew there was a god and a heaven, they would all kill themselves the first time they fell in love and get heart broken or they loose a loved one, **** earth would be empty.
Question have you never heard messages from your guardian angel?
How about when you leave the house and the weather channel said NO Rain Sunshine the whole day, but you get that feeling from inside to take an umbrella along but your mind starts up and says No the weather man said it would not rain. So you leave the house without the umbrella and what happens - it rains. Or what about when you find something in a drawer and think I will never need this I will throw it out, and that little voice says no, what do you do throw it out. And, one day after the garbage men come you need the damm thing.
Does this help??

Answer 3

Ridiculous Rituals! obviously you're not religious. There were objective (non-biased) historians who reported that at the time of Jessus's death, The sky darkened and the souls of the dead were visible rising to heaven. Also, I have personally been praying and had a feeling of openness of my thoughts. Like God was listening in to my thoughts. If you still don't believe, go to a catholic church and ask when their next retreat is. When you are away from civilization for a whole weekend and go into Adoration, most likely you'll see why people believe.

Answer 4

who said anything about rituals? yes, i admit some people go a little to far and go all crazy with rituals and traditions, but the majority of us simply have faith and pray when we feel like it.

but lets just take a step back for a minute and say there is no god. then i would have lived my life believing in a god that doesnt exist. so what? because i believed in this god, i woke up every morning believng that if i died today, i know whats coming after death. even if there is no god, whats so bad with a person having faith and feeling assured about life after death? i hope im making sense.. it makes sense in my head :)

Answer 5

My Grandmother was a laying there at the nursing home. she had cancer.suddenly her eyes got bright.looking up she smiled. raised her arms up. Cried JESUS and passed on.she had someone. come to take her to heaven I believe.I have actually seen mighty miracles.Its not religion. Its the spirit of Gods guidance. you know nothing about it because you have never excepted the spirit of God into you. its like going to college, you know nothing much really about it till you walk thru the doors.you have to open up the flow of the spirit thru love and faith, you don't have that. so the spirit cant work thru you. simple.you have to knock on the door, for it to be opened to you.theres a whole new world when you have the spirit of God in you and working thru you . you can do Gods will and go to heaven when your body dies. and continue on with your spiritual journey. .doesn't matter what religion. or no religion you choose. the Spirit of God is for everyone. I wish you well and the very best..

Answer 6

Just because there may be no god, doesn't mean that those people have sad lives.

Part of the reason for religion is to give people hope, and something to live for (ironic really, seeing as holy "rewards" don't happen until you're dead).

IMO religion was invented as a way for humans to control other humans, with the threat (or promise) of holy justice keeping them in line.

Answer 7

Actually if there is no God it won't matter. Those who believe in God and live a loving life of acceptance and kindness will be no worse off than an atheist who lived a loving life of acceptance and kindness.

The ones who should be careful are the atheists and religious extremists who live lives of separation and judgment. They are squandering their precious lives day by day arguing with and insulting each other.

Life is precious and the more we find ways to separate ourselves from the notion of "other" the more we waste our time here.

Answer 8

each and all the motives for God being authentic are no longer "excuses", they are authentic motives. God is authentic, he's everywhere and in each and every thing. the only reason you breathe is because of the fact God facilitates you to accomplish that. stream.... each and all the animals, human beings, bugs, vegetation and timber.... all top occasion of the existence of God. Why would we could stay, if no longer for God? What would be the element in an in any different case pointless existence? It merely does no longer make experience. all of us have a objective and we are all mandatory.

Answer 9

The god of Abraham is obviously manmade. Jealous, proud, vengeful, spiteful - just a plain bully. That is how man would behave if he had godlike powers. "A" god would be above human complexes like these. It would truly not matter if you kissed his ***. All these people that go to church "in case", are not using their brains. But that's what religion asks...for you to not think.
If god exists, don't worry, he doesn't need you to believe in him.

Answer 10

people who really believe in God, who really believe in Jesus, who really believe in the Holy Spirit & the Bible...already know that they are to be pitied more than any other men if what they believed in is not true.

you can check that out in the first letter that Paul of Tarsus (who wrote majority of the New Testament Bible) addressed to the Corinthian Church...

"we are to be pitied more than all men....
If there is no resurrection of the dead...
if Christ has not been raised...
If only for this life we have hope in Christ."

then all of the New Testament writers & the early disciples all suffered & died horrible deaths for nothing. (including Paul who was beheaded after being imprisoned for years)