Did God create laws to control men; or did some men create God to justify laws and control other men?

Question

Brad: An Athiest refuses to believe in God.
I do not refuse to believe in God; I am only questioning his existence.
I do not believe in blind faith anymore than I believe in uneducated and blind denial.
Shouldn't a person be informed and thoughtful when deciding if they are going to live their life and control their actions based on what someone else tells them is right.

Answer 1

Heh. Are you sure you want to look for such a complex answer on Yahoo! Answers? This a site where your question is placed on the same level of 'Why is my dog pooping green?'

You're better off exploring the world if you want to find the real answer.

Answer 2

All rulers throughout history have invoked a god in order to increase their power over those they rule. Which of them chose a true, and which a false god is a matter for theologians.
Religions often strengthen the force of civil laws that people of all religions (or none) agree are better than anarchy. For example, anyone would rather live in a country where his possessions are secure and thieves jailed, regardless of whether the courthouse has an inscription above its door saying 'Thou Shalt Not Steal'

Answer 3

I agree that blind belief in something is plain stupid. You must need a logical reason to believe in something other than the fact that: People are the religion they are because that's what they were brought up as by their parents. Most people fit in this category. You must be different and use your brain.

If a religion cannot be supported by stone cold, unemotional logic and facts, it is only an opinion. Trust me when I say, read "Apologetics and Catholic Doctrine" by Archbishop Michael Sheehan. The logic is flawless.

Secondly, visit the website http://www.livingmiracles.net/ and click on the links in the "knowledgebase." Read. Ask yourself why God would testify to the Catholic Church's authenticity with so many RECENT, WELL DOCUMENTED miracles not found in any other religion.

Trust me my friend. I have researched many different religions for a very long time, and the only one that can be backed up by fact rather than opinion is the Catholic religion. Many religions seem on the surface to be legitimate, but after research you will figure out why each religion, except for the Catholic, falls flat on its face. Read the book. The logic and reason for believing is flawless. It's stone cold, unemotional, factual, methodical and above all logical.

Everyone else will hit you up with opinions on God's existence. Most religious individuals can't back up the reason they believe with a logical argument. I can.

Answer 4

The latter.

Emperor Constantine wanted an authoritative doctrine for Christianity -- he had (allegedly) recently converted and wanted to make Christianity the state religion of the Roman Empire. He called together all the Christian leaders in what became known as the Council of Nicea, in the year 325 A.D. The following year, Christianity became the state religion of the Roman Empire.

There were many pagan religions at that time. They were far and away the most popular religions. Christianity had been splintering into many groups, polarized by significant differences in doctrine. Emperor Constantine needed Christianity to help control his subjects. He was politically motivated to unite the Christians before making Christianity (and its morality) the state religion.

Needless to say, becoming the state religion of the Roman Empire brought Christianity out of relative obscurity and into the limelight. The sanction of the most powerful ruler on Earth gave Christianity a boost and a legitimacy that made it far easier to gain converts.

Emperor Constantine was following the lead of rulers before him who used religion to control the unruly masses. It's a standard tool of power for the ruling elite.

"What luck for rulers, that men do not think." ~Adolph Hitler

"Morality is the best of all devices for leading mankind by the nose." ~Friedrich Nietzsche

Answer 5

The latter.

People in Biblical times and prior lived in fear of everyday natural occurrances. Earthquakes, thunderstorms, tornados, hurricanes, etc. They explained that if something bad happened, a certain "god" was angry with them and they usually sacrificed something to that "god". A few men took advantage of the scared masses and claimed that they could talk to the gods and that if they weren't appeased, then worse things would happen. Eventually, these men were treated like gods on Earth because of the way people viewed them and became the first kings, queens, pharoahs, etc. of their respective lands.

Even all the way out in ancient China, the Emperors were thought to have been assigned by a "Mandate of Heaven" and when an opposing ruler succeeded in overthrowing that family, then THEY gained the "Mandate of Heaven".

Answer 6

God created laws out of love for His people the same way a parent will set a rule in order to keep his child safe. Any parent out there will tell you that you can make all the rules in the world but eventually that child will defy you and go out on his own...there is no control. If that is what you get from His commandment..."thou shalt not kill..." when that is all men are about doing to each other then I really don't know what would help you to see...

Answer 7

The limits of freedom are set up by God to ensure a happy life for the human person who chooses to live by them

Answer 8

I believe God wrote the laws (ten commandments on stone tablets) for man, to bring about civilization. Not to control man, because we all still have the choice of making decisions of whether to follow them or not. More like a parent, who knows the consequences of such actions, and tries to warn their children of the consequences of such decisions.
Now it sounds like you don't like the idea of some laws, or maybe you don't like restrictions on what you can do, but the basic laws laid down will benefit you. Because it wouldn't be just you getting to do whatever you want, running amuck and creating havoc, but everyone would be running around doing whatever they want, without thought to laws or a conscience (God) to guide them.

Answer 9

God made laws to help us to live together without hurting each other. Most of his laws protected us from each other.
Don't lie, steal, commit adultry, or murder was not controlling but for man's benefit. Honor your parents was to take care of us in our old age, which everyone experiences. Sitting aside one day to rest and be with our familys was also a protection.
Not to want everything you see would also keep us from stealing other peoples things they had worked hard to acquire.
Then men added to those laws to further help mankind.
LIke speed limits on driving, road conditions and fire hazzards. Helping the poor, small, orphans, widows and others who have no other protection.
It is not laws that hurt us, it is people who break the laws who hurt us.

Answer 10

Well, i believe that men say that god put forth laws only to control men. They just say that God put them forth to scare other men with God's Wrath.