Did man create God to have a reason to live?

Question

Question from Fyodor Dostoevsky, an existential philosopher.

Do you think that God existed and created man, the world, etc?
Or do you think that man created God (or other higher being) to have a reason to live and to be reassured with an afterlife?

I heard something about how humans (modern, homo sapiens sapiens) have a section in their brains that makes them want to believe in a higher power/religion. So maybe it is scientific and the latter is true?

Not all existentialists deny the existence of a god. There are both Theistic and Atheistic Existentialists.

(check out http://www.angelfire.com/az/experiment/existentialism.html)

Answer 1

I personally am not sure there is a God or higher being, so my point of view is very different. I believe that religion is meant for people who need something to have faith in, and therefore God or HB was created for that purpose. Faith is in human nature. I have faith in myself, but others may feel the need to have faith in some greater power, some higher force. As for the afterlife, I know many people like me who believe that whatever happens then, happens. But many others want to be reassured that everything will be either the same or better later on. It's also a system that provides a reason for behaving morally. With this in mind, it could be considered a reason to live and to be reassured with one's own self, and with the afterlife. However, especially in the modern world, it doesn't apply to everyone.

Answer 2

Its a very logical conclusion. However, it is also a useless conclusion.

It has as much use as saying, "Eggs invented chickens so they could get laid."

Man doesn't need to create God in order to have a reason to live. It would be far easier and much more philosophically sound to create a simpler reason to live.

Logic has its limitations. Have you asked yourself if logic can completely satisfy the human race? And to that answer, why or why not?

Man created logic to have a way of understanding life, but logic doesn't cover all aspects. It doesn't even explain another man-made phenomena - art.

To all I say, don't worship logic. Far easier to worship chickens, eggs, cows and grass.

Answer 3

If you belong to the group of people who categorically deny or assert the existence of God, then the answer is simple yes or no and discussion stops there.

Other than that, it is possible to demonstrate, with numerous examples from everyday life, that great many people, who claim to be religious, invoke God to justify and give meaning and authority to their opinions, decisions and actions, including the reason to live.

I think that even considering the possibility that their life may be meaningless and is a one-time, unrepeatable, finite-duration event is painful for some people. This pain may be the cause for them becoming religious, rather than any experience of God.

It is also more pleasant to be socially acceptable and have anything you say carry weight just by claiming your belief in God.

More pleasant life easily translates into more meaningful life as humans are not just meaning-seekers but pleasure-seekers as well.

Answer 4

We must first settle the question of the existence of God. Is He real? If you believe He is, then your second question about man creating God to have a reason to live (and probably to have a meaningful afterlife)... is now unnecessary but good for another long conversation.

With the vastness and infiniteness of the universe, it is logical to believe that we are just finite beings and we don't know everything. And since logically we do not know everything, it is then a little possible (and logical) to conclude that indeed anything is possible outside the finite knowledge and comprehention that we have including the possibilty that an infinite Being exists somewhere out there.

Answer 5

People are affraid of the end and so yes the afterlife thing I think plays a major role in the creation of God.
And yes it plays an important role in reason to live. The reason to live is because of the afterlife...how you live is where you will end up after death. This is almost true in all religions.
Religion mostly sets up the scene where physical life is meerly a test and a path to the after life.
Even those who believe in something like reincarnation persuade people to do well in thier current life so that they will have a good life when they are reborn.

Answer 6

Perhaps God created us to prove his greatness and experience a mortal life. Maybe HE wanted the company. Perhaps he was better defining himself. Maybe that's just what he does, without trying, creates. I think God created man but was not all he intended to be until he was realized. (by man)

Answer 7

The latter makes more sense. Humans are constantly referring to coincidences and lucky happenings as "miraculous" and "an act of God". For God's sake (no pun intended), we christen a peice of f u cking toast as holy because it has what looks to be the face of the virgin Marry.

Obviously, all that is a bunch of steaming horse crap. Coincidences are much more common than what we realize and toast apparitions are really only in the eye of the beholder. I sure as hell can't see Jesus' face in my underwear stains but I'm sure a bible thumpin' lunatic could make something out of 'em.

Religion is an evolutionary fabrication humanbeings' subconscious created in order to cope with and explain their surroundings. It also establishes unity within the clan or tribe and stands as a sociological beaker that humans flock to like moths. Sceptical cavemen were few and sparce because it further disassociated them from the tribe and they resultingly died out. So natural selection said, for the time being, believers are more fit to survive than nonbelievers.

Now that society has evolved to allow for sceptics, nonbelievers, agnostics, secular figures and atheists such as myself to exist, their ideas are being heard more and consiquently more widely accepted; beginning, of course, with ancient Hellenistic figures such as Plato, Socrates and Aristotle, and re-emerging through enlightenment figures during the Renaissance.

Answer 8

Well I believe God created everyone of us because each of us have a place in everybody's lives.
It is the universal mind. Perhaps a person somewhere in the world you never will know had made a difference in your life because they knew some who knew someone who knew someone that had made a difference in your life and that person you didn't know had been the reason... Everybody, EVERYBODY has a place in our lives.

Answer 9

No, God created humans to have another reason to love.

Answer 10

According to Grog of the Cave Bear Clan, in the Year 39,663 BC, God and his afterlife was created to bribe the tribe with heaven and threaten them with a hell...if they didn't stay in line. Some call it social order putting them above their ape-like predecessors.