Inherent in the idea of false gods are that they were invented by humankind. The Christian God is believed to be the originator of the universe and all living things. If, for example, the ancient Greeks invented their gods (such as Zeus), then why not apply the same idea to the Christian god as well? Be logical in your answer.
2007-11-27 04:05:13 · 32 answers · asked by aramos170 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
From a completely secular logical stance, we invented God. Every religion in the past was invented as a means to explain the unexplained. As things were explained by reason and science, the religions either changed or went away. It would make sense that this wouldn't be different for current religions.
2007-11-27 04:12:04 · answer #1 · answered by Take it from Toby 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
God was created in the image of man.
If we accept
1.that the notion of cause-and-effect is tied to time, and that
2. time is a part of our Universe only,
then we cannot accept an external creator. We can only see that time is a part of our Universe; there is no reason to believe that anything outside has to be time-based. We can only refer to causality inside our Universe (by premise 2.). So, what happened before the Universe was started? Well, there is no such thing as "before the Universe". Because there is no "before the universe", the universe cannot have had a cause, as cause is a temporal concept (by 1.).
Under this argument, it is in fact a category error to talk about the universe having a cause, as causal relations are only defined on temporal objects (which only exist inside the universe). It is like trying to perform addition not on numbers, but on sets of numbers.
If this argument holds,God cannot have created the universe, simply because cause is an undefined concept over things not inside the universe (Not even sets are inside themselves). On the other hand, if we accept that the universe and God are part of a temporal meta-universe, then God could indeed have created the universe. The compelling reasons for not doing so are that
a) We cannot detect this meta-universe, so to talk of it is purely metaphysical speculation.
b) We have not made anything simpler, as we can legitimately ask what created the meta-universe, if we consider questions about the origin of the universe to be legitimate.
Further, the above two points hold if we substitute "God" for meta-universe.
The weak point in this argument is the premise that causation is a temporal concept. This sort of thing vexes philosophers mightily. For instance, as Tiefling says, "It could be conceived that the existence of the universe is a function of the existence of God". This does have the problem, however, that that we would have to find some way to detect God, beyond the fact that we (The universe) exist. There is also the issue of how we decide between the universe creating God, and God creating the universe. Then, we have to consider whether or not a God that is not separate from the universe is compatible with our favourite theology.
2007-11-27 04:23:46 · answer #2 · answered by Supergirl 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
we invented god
christianity is not the first religion
gods were first invented to explain things we couldnt explain, such as fire, love, the sun rise, the moon, the ebb and flow of the ocean. Life and death. Most things we have been able to prove through science, thus disproving the multitude of ancient gods. Some however, are almost impossible to disprove, thus some gods still exist. But the fact that gods have been created and disproven throughout the history of mankind, that the very concept of god is a manmade idea, disproves the existance of god.
2007-11-27 04:15:20 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I believe that, originally, humans invented the concept of gods to explain natural events and human tragedies. I believe Judaism also began this way; it takes its roots from the god El, for example.
Christianity, however, begins to take a different approach. I think that, in Christianity, we begin to recognize a more universal and more, in my opinion, accurate concept of deity.
Christianity introduces us to the concept that 'God is Love.' This permits a much greater awareness of individual and mass spirituality. With this concept, some variants of Christianity, such as mysticism, are able to approximate Eastern philosophical interpretations of God which were not possible in the West before Christianity appeared.
I think God was invented by people, but I think the truer interpretation of God is present in all of us.
2007-11-27 04:20:14 · answer #4 · answered by Chantal G 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Many people do apply the same formulae to all civilisations. There is an old saying "If there were no God we would have invented him" I think we did. For the same reason as other cultures that developed in other times and places. We needed him. The butter in the batter.
2007-11-27 04:13:15 · answer #5 · answered by nutsfornouveau 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It would be logical to say that god created us, and a lack of knowledge would say that we created god. However a god has to be created somehow. Thus I present to you the chicken & the egg theory.
There are a few religions that say if you practice tolerance, patience, charity and a few other vertues you may infact reach the point of becoming godlike or your own deity. If we take this approach, it would be safe to say that all gods and goddesses (including the chrisitan god) were once human at the begining of man's existance. Even in christianity we have stories of people doing such good things that they become saints and even assend into becoming angels. (At what point did jesus go from carpenter to god?) Well if one can become a messenger of god could you not then even aspire to become a god yourself?
Then you have gods creating us, putting spirits into bodies. Helping us to cultivate the land to feed ourselves and each other to continue our existance on this planet. So who created who?
2007-11-27 04:27:41 · answer #6 · answered by The Inner Coven 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Man created God because he's suppose to be so powerful but dose not come around or talk to us any more like they say he use to. If God is so good then why don't he help us ? I will not give my life to some stories that man wort. If you want me to believe in God then give me a Bible that man had nothing to do with .
2007-11-27 04:18:54 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Chances are better that we invented god, than they are that god invented us.
Early man (and apparently evolved man) needed (and still needs) a scapegoat for which they can explain those things which they don't understand at that time....
That's all god is.....an irrational explanation for the things that some people can't explain....end of story...
2007-11-27 04:11:15 · answer #8 · answered by Adam G 6 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Man has invented all gods usually as a way of exercising control over others
2007-11-27 04:08:33 · answer #9 · answered by darwinsfriend AM 5 · 6⤊ 0⤋
Definitely we invented God
2007-11-27 04:08:49 · answer #10 · answered by ruriksson 5 · 8⤊ 0⤋