When it is so obvious that deity based religions were created by humans why do we still believe them?

Question

This is not a jab at anyone particular religion, just an honest queery.
Take, for example, the gender of your chosen deity. Now, for me, gender implies reproduction which in turn implies a linear life span whereas most deities are considered to be immortal. The idea of any immortal (was/is/will be, all at the same time) having gender is a direct contradiction. Also, omnipresence. If your deity is in everything and is everywhere, how can it be confined to any one physical form? Therefore, how are we created in it's image (to make an example of the christian view point)? Both of these core concepts seem at odds with themselves and would make it clear to most thinking persons that these religions are anything but divine, more outmoded social control mechanisms. Just to add, I'm not interested in recieving any "shut up, Thats why!" style answers such as "you've got to have faith" etc.

Answer 1

Good freaking question! I often wonderthe same thing. It's obvious that religions are a tool to control the masses The promotion of God as a man was a tool to keep women in their place. MEn themselves twisted the religion to surpress women. EVE WAS THE ORIGINAL SINNER! IT"S ALL A WOMAN's FAULT! I'll go you one further and talk about churches! Yes going to church isn't neccessarily a bad thing but to me it's almost like brain washing. Religion is hard for most people simply because it isn't based on facts. It's all about what you "Believe" and when I say that most people believe BLINDLY!!!! Open your eyes people. Jesus Christ was VOTED into being the son of God by who? MAN! The bible was a book put together by who? MAN! Now I'm not saying there isn't a higher power. Nor am I encouraging people to not believe in a deity. Just please do it with an open mind. One that is open to FACTS! And please don't let religion be a tool to drive you to war! Now a days that statement was directed to the Muslims. But if you look back thru history Religion has been the basis or a tool used for almost every major war in history. I.e. The Crusades, Kamikazee pilots, Suicide bombers, etc.... You get the idea. I was raised Catholic and I was an alter boy for 12 years. All I can say about the Catholic church now is that it is the world's greatest business plan. And that it is the biggest corporation in the world. In contrast to that statement, I am a believer in God. I believe in a higher power and a higher plane of existance. I just don't believe in another man's ability to tell me what God says and what God doens't say. I take all "Organized Religion" with a grain of salt. I believe the Dead Sea Scrolls are truth. I believe that archeologists probably did find the body of Christ in the controversial tomb. And for those of you who didn't know Jesus never proclaimed to be a God himself. The Council of Nicea decided that for him way AFTER his death. The bible wasn't fully put together for hundreds of years after the death of christ. how were the stories kept alive. BY WORD OF MOUTH!!! Haven't you people ever played that game where everyone gets in a circle and whispers in the ear of the person next to you something and then see what it sounds like when it gets back to you? It's a horrible thing but can you imagine hundreds of years of that? Not to mention the hundreds upon hundreds of translations. Did you know that the Commandment is not "Thou shalt not kill" it is more closely translated as "Thou shalt not murder"! There is a HUGE DIfference in those two words. (Talk to Gene Simmons from KISS about it, he'll tell you.) Seriously, I think the basis of religion...the gist of religion if you will...is a good thing. It teaches kids the moral values we wish them to have. But to not encourage your kid to be a free thinker is the worst sin of all. So the next time a Southern Baptist preaches something to you because "The bible says it" First fo all challenge them to prove to you that the bible says what they are telling you. Practically none of them can do that by the way. And secondly debate with them about the bible itself like I just did with you. It's fun to watch their heads explode! And that is my brief discourse about the facts and follies of religion in today's world. You guys are lucky I don't really have that much to say about it.

Answer 2

You are partially correct. All deity based religions were created by humans except for one. The Bible is clear over and over again that there is only ONE God & Creator. He has no form or gender. We use terms like "He" & "Him" because we have to describe Him somehow. Furthermore, we give other physical characteristics to God such as "speak","see", "hear", etc. although we do not think He has a physical mouth, eyes and ears. God did come to earth in a physical form as the Son of God as Jesus the Christ, but that is a different subject.

So to your point about being created in His image... Since we know that God is spiritual not physical, we have to be able to figure out that the reference is obviously not physical. Spiritually, we are created in God's image. We love, anger, get sad, appreciate beauty. We have a free will and can figure out good & bad and choose which way we want to go (consequences for our decisions is another subject).

Not even in my wildest imagination can I figure how people cannot look at the evidences around us -- the solar system, earth's eco system, our bodies, especially DNA -- and not realize that NONE of these things could be in existence without intelligent design. We cannot scientifically demonstrate ANYTHING that would lead us to believe that any of those things could come about randomly. General evolution takes such great faith!

So yes, there is a Creator & God. We are made in "His" image. All other deities were created by human imaginations.

Hope this helps your understanding and quest for truth.

Think about it -- figure it out!

Answer 3

why does gender imply reproduction - if you had an accident and lost some gender parts are you still male or female and then it must mean a linear life span- why? you are just putting two things together that have no connection
again omnipresence and physical form - you put 2 things together that dont have any connection - God is not physical He is spiritual why He chose to be a He does not matter
there is no logical pattern in your argument - you need to rethink this and try again

Answer 4

I think that people still believe for the psychological benefits. It gives people a sense of community, comforts them on issues of mortality, makes them feel there is a powerful invisible force in their life looking out for them, in some cases gives them feelings of superiority over out groups, etc... These are powerful motivators for some people. Also, if you are brought up in a strongly religious family and environment it becomes second nature to accept what everyone has told you your whole life is true. I agree with your reasoning on this issue but for some the need and desire to believe makes them impervious to reasoning. Nothing really needs to make sense if you want to believe you just dismiss the implausibility and obvious flaws with a wave of your hand and the word faith.

Answer 5

Some humans need something to believe in and to tell them how to live in fear they will do something wrong. Those people only need guide lines to live by and rules to follow. If the people believe in god and it keeps them from going insane or anything that might happen if they live life on there own I am all for it. While I do not have a religion I am not against some people needing religion.

Answer 6

G-d has no "image" or physical form nor is G-d male or female. Made in the Image G-d does not mean physical in any sense of the word. You are looking at terms that were translated by men and then taken them literally.

Answer 7

1. It's just not that obvious to most of the people in the world, sorry.

2. To post a question and then tell people what they cannot put in their answers is just a tad intellectually dishonest.

3. It's called free will. You have it and you choose to exercise it in a way that you will regret one day. That's your own fault.

Answer 8

Good points. Wouldn't a universal god be known by *all* people? Why would a creator limit itself to a chosen few or curse generations based on a slip up by an individual?

Answer 9

Because people fear death, of there being nothing after death so they believe this deity will immortalize and take them to a place of their own paradise. In reality it just shows how frail and fearful we humans actually are.

Answer 10

We humans have a need to feel like we are part of something, so whenever a group, club, religion.... raise its head to be the most popular thing to do at the time of its presentation we merge towards whats moving, when it become boring we find something else to occupy our time.