Would you prefer that a BENEVOLENT god (not the god of the Bible, mind you) did exist- and proved himself from time to time just to keep us understanding of his presence and purposes?
By benevolent, I mean that he/she just oversaw and helped out along the way with the evolutionary process- and occasionally stepped in to take care of bigger issues when we needed him/her?
2007-08-03 09:00:30 · 16 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Diane- I don't believe in them either- I was suggesting that a kind of "last ditch" helping hand type god that just pulled our fat out of the fire when we're burning our backsides type god- one that we could prove AND one that wasn't a tyrant.
2007-08-03 09:12:05 · update #1
Unrealistic is damn right!
2007-08-03 09:12:22 · update #2
Santa Clause and the Tooth Fairy would also be nice- I personally would prefer a wish-crapping leprechaun...
2007-08-03 09:14:09 · update #3
I wouldn't give a s h i t what he has planned.
2007-08-03 09:05:01 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Large scale cosmic altruism would lead to utopia... which would be "icky". I think if a god were truly benevolent they would end up being diagnosed with adult depression, or something of the like. People are drowning in problems that they create, or run into, and are incapable, or too dumb to solve. I think a benevolent god would be overwhelmed despite he/she/its god-ness.
Also helping out with the evolutionary process might not be a positive thing. Look at where evolution has gotten us now? The world is fairly well hosed and sapped of most of its goodies, and we are spiraling towards our own extinction. If our brains got bigger we might even speed that process along. Prior less evolved species didn't have these problems. I think it stands to reason that a higher level of cognizance leads way to a larger amount of problems rather than a solution to current ones.
That's my five cents worth at least.
2007-08-05 18:12:51 · answer #2 · answered by Capitão Darius Emboabas 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ahh yes, the concept of the "Benevolent Dictator" only I think you mean more of a benevolent Superintelligence whom we might be able to turn to for the resolution of issues for the greatest good, when our own lesser mind-skills aren't quite up to the job.
I like that thought.. A sort of Super-Ombudsman. The only problem I see, of course, has to do with the fact that down through all the ages, Man has really only been obedient to the traditional "Sky God" because he has been governed by the twin doctrines of fear and threat. Fear of the wrath of this Mysterious Invisible Omnipotence if he steps just one bit off that narrow path of total obedience; and the threat of being whisked after death into a place of utmost horror where he will scream and holler in excrutiating agony for aaaaaaaall of Eternity.
If this "God Lite" came to be the new reality, he/she/it would absolutely not be the mean, spiteful, vindictive, wrathful, angry, unrelenting, punitive, sadistic, narcissistic sonofaB. that this guy is in the Bible, and the one we all grew up being warned about by our elders. So, once the fear and threat elements were taken out of the equation, I wonder if Humanity would be quite so ready to accept "God-Lite's" rulings on those matters put before him/her/it for resolution. Perhaps humanity will have to evolve a long ways yet to acquire that level of wisdom and maturity. But by that time, perhaps we will have gotten wise and mature enough to be able to solve all of our own problems anyway.
2007-08-03 09:31:25 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No I wouldn't. Part of the fun and beauty of life is struggle. I find having a limited and turbulent existence gives meaning to life and were there nothing to gain from living it (because something like what you describe would assure there were no risks) then what would be the point?
I am perfectly happy with struggling to understand how I came to be here and where here is. I am also perfectly happy without the concept of an afterlife.
Where is the fun in being a child or a pet to someone else?
2007-08-03 09:06:09 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
If I have irrefutable proof, then I suppose that I could believe, but first I would want to look at it at all sides, and if anything doesn't fit, I wouldn't...and if I really DID need something important (like the strength to carry on after a break-up or something, some more money to pay off a bill or taxes or whatever) that he may be able to help me out...so far when I was a Christian, no one helped me but me...so if the above could happen...I guess.
2007-08-03 09:05:20 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Nope...
It's not about preference it's about belief.. I believe there have never been and will never be any deities.. Benevolent or otherwise..
It's not a question of believing one type of deity over another that makes me Atheist it's believing that no deity at all ever existed or will ever exist that makes me Atheist..
2007-08-03 09:06:59 · answer #6 · answered by Diane (PFLAG) 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
well yes although I don't think that such an entity would demand worship
but it's clear that one does because no one steps in to take care of the bigger issues - tsunamis, earthquakes, bridges falling etc
2007-08-04 02:55:37 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Of course...
I'd hate to think of a sadistic God... That would mean Satan would've been right to rebel and that I've been a good person all my life for nothing...
2007-08-03 09:05:19 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Wouldn't it be nice if the tooth fairy were real. I could use the nickels.
2007-08-03 09:10:43 · answer #9 · answered by Fred 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I wish as much as the next man that God, heaven (maybe not hell) and eternal paradise were real. I also wish santa was real.
2007-08-03 09:05:28 · answer #10 · answered by Om 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
What if the TAO is right and we are all "God" all part Of the TAO. Which in my opinion might just be an "Awakened" universe.
2007-08-03 09:16:51 · answer #11 · answered by The true face of religion 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋