The universe is complex and probably required a Creator. But which one? It seems that all cultures throughout human history have recognized the role of a Creator God.
The Creator defined by the North American Native Americans only asked that humans live in harmony with all nature. In exchange, the Creator provided plants and animals for humans to use as food, clothing, shelter, and medicine. Early Native Americans showed their respect and appreciation to the Creator by making small offerings of tobacco.
The Creator God defined by Hebrew scholars, 6000 years ago in the Middle East, was a jealous, and often cruel God. He demanded that humans make sacrifices of animal blood in order to appease Him, and set out Old Testament laws of behavior that often required the stoning-to-death of your neighbor for sins as minor as eating shell fish or working on the Sabbath. These laws remained in effect for over 4000 years until Emperor Constantine made Christianity the official religion of the Roman Empire and commissioned the first Bible from a collection of Hebrew scrolls and stories of Jesus. Religious scholars of today claim that the Old Testament God decided to change his original requirements for animal sacrifice and for stoning-your-neighbor-to-death for disobeying His written laws. This God, rather than having his human scribes re-write the laws on new scrolls, he decided to have His only Son sent to earth to be tortured and murdered.
I believe there is a Creator God. I just believe that his personality is more like the compassionate Creator God of the early Native Americans. If He turns out to be the cruel Middle Eastern God, and He throws me in Hell for thinking He is more loving than He really is, then I’m willing to accept with that fate.
2007-02-24 07:48:48 · 13 answers · asked by Honest Opinion 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
After teaching World Religions for many years, I've wondered about this, myself. Since my ancestors were of Anglo/Saon descent, I've thought of adhering to the old, Norse Gods or good witches who heal.
2007-02-24 07:54:38 · answer #1 · answered by Buffy 5 · 3⤊ 1⤋
First, to answer your question, Americans follow a Middle East God because the belief in that God spread through the Roman Empire nearly two thousand years ago. As other nations grew out of the fallen Roman Empire, the people found comfort and strength in that religious tradition.
Second, to be fair, the "Hebrew Scholar's" God has a disadvantage, in that it was worshiped by People who had a written language. Therefore, every aspect of God that fit a previous time, but not now, is still preserved in written scripture.
Native American Spirituality doesn't have that problem. Since most Native Americans didn't have a written system until after the Europeans had invaded, there are very few awkward inter-tribal and intra-tribal conflicts preserved which need to be justified.
2007-02-24 08:05:05 · answer #2 · answered by Mr. Bad Day 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Isn't it obvious?
America was only "discovered" by Europeans about 450 years ago. Its made up of people from around the globe but the original settlers were all pretty much Christian, Atheists, or Deists.
So, its been passed on through the generations.
But the Christian religion is losing ground. People are starting to realize that its all a bunch of crap and join other religions.
2007-02-24 08:00:35 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
I'm American, and I follow the Flying Spaghetti Monster. He's not Middle Eastern. He's probably Italian - Italy is the pasta capital of the world.
RAmen!
2007-02-24 08:03:43 · answer #4 · answered by catrionn 6 · 2⤊ 2⤋
Then hell is your fate. The Old Testament God was trying to get Israel to be His people with His characteristics and traits, but they kept rebelling. He wanted His people loving, kind, obedient, caring, lawful, just and patient. Israel was everything but what God wanted. God knew if they didn't obey they would end up in eternal hell and one sour apple could ruin the whole lot as it does today. God was trying to purge the sin out of Israel.
He was a jealous God because Israel mixed with the Canaanites and made idols for gods and forgot Him.
God killed an animal of His creation to clothe Adam and Eve after they sinned against Him in the Garden of Eden. This set the standard for blood sacrifices for the remission of sins. The animal's blood COVERED their sins so God could look upon them. Jesus' blood WASHED AWAY their sins and took away the sins of the world ONCE AND FOR ALL. Adam and Eve lost eternal life with God by eating the forbidden fruit. Jesus won eternal life with God by offering His blood as a sacrifice and ransom for all. Only a sinless, perfect Jesus could do this. No man would have qualified. If you'll remember the old Testament animals had to be perfect and without blemish. Jesus was that perfect without blemish sacrifice for all time.
Doesn't matter what you believe, Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life, and no one comes to the Father God except by Me." You must believe on Jesus Christ as your Savior and believe what He did on the cross for you and me.
2007-02-24 08:15:46 · answer #5 · answered by Jeancommunicates 7 · 0⤊ 5⤋
The God of Jacob(Israel) asked something so simple which his Son later on said is one of the greatest commandments.
"Love your God with all your heart, mind and soul".
But, as most humans present and current, few listen to that.
2007-02-24 07:55:55 · answer #6 · answered by Molly 6 · 2⤊ 2⤋
I concur with you, it too puzzles me why so many follow a Middle Eastern God. I do not, I follow the beliefs of my ancestors.
2007-02-24 08:11:53 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋
They dont follow Him. But i do. They worship some other god on sunday. The God of Israel says to worship him on saturday (the sabbath) He is wonderful to those who keep his commandments, yet he can be cruel, he can be a destroyer, and he is a jealous God. Not one to be played with. America has turned Jesus (the King of the Jews) into a cream puff. He is terrible because we (negroes) were disobedient.
2007-02-24 08:00:48 · answer #8 · answered by melymel12345 1 · 0⤊ 5⤋
Brother....I say unto you that the ONLY way to get off this planet when the aliens come is to acquire slack through J.R. "Bob" Dobbs. "Bob" won't absolve your sins, but "Bob" will help you live with your sins. And live in sin. Sir...when the aliens come..you can perish on this planet....or you can use slack to book your passage to see the sex goddess. The only source of slack is "Bob".
Praise him.
2007-02-24 07:53:59 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 3⤋
I think you misunderstand the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
Would you consider it a cruel God who warned Israel for 150 years that He would bring another nation in to take them into captivity if they continued to disobey Him. Didn't they have time to change their wicked ways?
Would you consider it a cruel God who after hearing the prayers of His people brought His people our of bondage in Egypt for the purpose of giving them a land of their own. If they hadn't rebelled against Him, they would not have had to wander in the desert for 40 years?
Would you consider it a cruel God who wiped the earth clean of a population of people whose thoughts were evil every day?
grace2u
2007-02-24 08:06:37 · answer #10 · answered by Theophilus 6 · 1⤊ 5⤋