Man Created God: This will stir up a hornets nest, as God is my witness.

[graywarrior]

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=97634437

[malaise]

1. So who else created all these gods but

men?

[Madspirit]

2. ...and we created Her in our own likeness..n/t

[GeorgeGist]

3. Surprise, surprise ...

another moron who can't tell the difference between God and religion.

[RaleighNCDUer]

12. If all religions are proven equally false

what is the point of a god?

[liberalEd]

27. Religion exists, gods highly unlikely to

Do I win a prize?

[durrrty libby]

4. George Carlin was ahead of his time

[BlooInBloo]

5. Man would rather will nothing than not will at all.

[rurallib]

6. Way back in the early 70s I heard an atheist on a call in show in Chicago

He stated that "God was created in man's image and likeness." Being recently removed from a catholic education, this threw me. I thought on it for a long time. Along with other things that happened around that time, this started me down the path to being a non-believer.

[Sequoia]

34. Those original Start Trek shows.....

where they go to a planet and the people had this "god" they obeyed who in the end turned out to be a computer. "But who will we worship now." they cried "Why, me of course. I'm Cap'n Kirk."

[bryant69]

7. Where is this hornets nest going to be stirred up?

You might be interested to know that DU has an entire forum set aside for the study of Religious topics - the Religion Forum. There is also a forum for Atheists and Agnostics if memory serves.

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[graywarrior]

9. I must have been in "waiting" mode when I asked for such a forum.

[PATRICK]

8. Jesus has an interesting take

for which he was accused of blasphemy, taking God's side, I guess.

The commandments were made by and for man, because of man's failings. Institutional religion abrogated by man is not God. The conservative huff by the "authorities" or gurus of course is to attack the critic and his authority. As Gamaliel said, in such a circumstance one could find oneself attacking God to silence the critic. Of course, Gamaliel could be ignored. the whole idea of idolatry was more clear cut. An idol for every human interest opposed to truth. There are lots of small g gods. Leading the midget pantheon is Mammon. Hard to make an avatar out of science(Wisdom or Knowledge) or pantheism with our better(?) education and reasoning.

If God is evasive that makes idolatry both possible and easy to spot. At least one God has carved out some limits to let people breathe on their own. The one who does or does not exist, Paul's useful "Invisible God" which failed to wow the crowd during one ingenious sermon.

Man's invention and ownership of a "god" is indeed something to be wary of and opposed to. God Himself, should He exist,would agree. Which is why atheism is closer to 'truth", or true religion if there is any,
than many vocal super confident believers. Truth and the highest living unselfish values and finest passions above all and the courage to be free. That is where humanity belongs and to be otherwise is an impossible retreat into the darkness of the cave.

[Javaman]

10. ...

:popcorn:

once it's understood the rest is easy.

[Az]

11. Not sure what hornets nest you expect this to stir

DU/Democratic Party is a big tent. We got atheists and fundamentalists. We got Jews and Christians. We got Muslims and Wiccans. We even got Unitarian Universalists trying to get everyone to just share in the journey.

In the end its not what you believe but what you do with it. Believe in Smurfs for all I care as long as you fight for tolerance and compassion.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

13. Man created God...and did a piss poor job of it.

The one the "Judeo/Christian/Muslim" inventors came up with is an egomaniacal, thin skinned, incompetent, always broke, sadist, with no sense of humor and a proclivity for self delusion.

I mean, what kind of omniscient, omnipotent, and omnipresent deity would build a "perfect" world, and then throw a snake and a tree full of poison apples in it to fuck it all up?

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

16. So You're Mocking Others Religious Beliefs Now? How Tolerant Of You.

Some DU'ers displays of outright intolerance towards others faiths is just downright disgusting.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

22. Try this for "intolerance".

"The Bible is a book with some beautiful poetry, a blood stained history, a wealth of obscenity, and upwards of 10,000 lies." - Mark Twain

"As I understand the Christian religion, it was, and is, a revelation. But how has it happened that millions of fables, tales, legends, have been blended with both Jewish and Christian revelation that have made them the most bloody religion that ever existed?" - John Adams, letter to F.A. Van der Kamp, Dec. 27, 1816

"I almost shudder at the thought of alluding to the most fatal example of the abuses of grief which the history of mankind has preserved--the Cross. Consider what calamities that engine of grief has produced!" - John Adams, letter to Thomas Jefferson

"Shake off all the fears of servile prejudices, under which weak minds are servilely crouched. Fix reason firmly in her seat, and call on her tribunal for every fact, every opinion. Question with boldness even the existence of a God; because, if there be one, he must more approve of the homage of reason than that of blindfolded fear." - Thomas Jefferson, letter to Peter Carr, Aug. 10, 1787

"Sacred cows make the best hamburger." - Mark Twain

If there is a god, you'd think that he/she/it would be able to fend for him/her/itself and not need the protection and applause of his/her/it's creation.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

33. Don't Deflect. I'm Uninterested In The Intolerance Of The Dead. I'm Interested In Your Blatant

intolerance here.

What's even worse, is that you seem to be taking pride in the display. Intolerance = Ignorance

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

40. I'm just agreeing with those other intolerant guys.

And, since when are beliefs of any group immune to questioning? Do you hold the same "tolerant" attitude toward other belief systems? Fascism? Communism? Satanism? Capitalism? Socialism?

And, you might take note that the beliefs of Christians, Jews, and Muslims, are all based on the "intolerance of dead men".

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

41. Since The Thread Was Moved As Requested, I No Longer Feel The Need To Discuss This With You.

You can be as intolerant as you want now.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

42. God Bless you.

[Goblinmonger]

47. Yeah, because nobody is intolerant

in GD. :rofl: So why is religion immune to the intolerance of GD? I relize there is a R/T forum, but why can people be complete pricks in GD but just not about religion?

[OlderButWiser]

48. How does...

Intolerance equals Ignorance?

If I won't tolerate someone abusing a child does that make me ignorant? Ignorant to what? All the positive benefits of child abuse?

[skepticscott]

44. You're mistaking tolerance for respect

Tolerance is about letting other people's activities and beliefs go on without interference, even though you may find them silly or offensive, as long as they don't harm others or restrict their freedoms. On other words, the exact opposite of what the religious right shows towards homosexuals. How many DUers have you seen advocating the banning of other people's PRIVATE religious beliefs and practices that harm no one? Precious few, if any, I'll wager. What is objected to strenuously by all reasonable people is the funding of religious practices by government and the imposition of what should be personal religious beliefs on the population at large by legislation or executive fiat, with no other justification than "the Bible says so".

Respect, on the other hand, is what many people here do not have for religion, mainly because it hasn't earned it. When religious folk advocate silly, idiotic, nonsensical, irrational things six times before breakfast every day, and if they can't defend their beliefs with more than "but I believe this" they should expect to hear about it. If you're afraid or unwilling to defend your beliefs in an open, public forum, then keep them to yourself and we'll all be happier.

[WhollyHeretic]

45. Well stated.

A lot of people have trouble with that concept. Everyone has a right to their opinion but that doesn't mean I have to respect silly or dangerous beliefs.

[DeSwiss]

49. Actually....

...I think it was summed up quite nicely. Its not "intolerant" to be disgusted by these religions. Nor to vocalize that disgust. The intolerance comes about by those who bristle at such descriptions and then say that because others don't show proper respect for such beliefs that they are somehow intolerant.

Remaining quiet about religions while they manipulate and insinuate themselves into every facet of society and government without challenge? Now that's what's really disgusting....

IMHO

DeSwiss :)

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

14. Some Believe So, Some Believe Otherwise. Nothing Wrong With Believing Either.

The only thing ever wrong is when one side shows intolerance towards another side.

[L. Coyote]

15. Whaaaaat about woman?? Did woman create the devil??

HuMANs cannot create gods, devils, etc., only supernatural ideation.

[RaleighNCDUer]

20. That's the point.

The only gods and devils that exist are supernatural ideation.

[sinkingfeeling]

17. Yes, and in his own image. Is there a term for attributing human characteristics to gods?

[uberllama42]

46. Anthropomorphization n/t

[johnnie]

18. Everyone worships their own god

They just have different names for it. Money, sex, success, appearances, material goods, intelligence and so on. These are the things that create the person.

[Az]

19. Kind of stretching that word worship aren't ya

Kind of loses its meaning if you stretch it too far.

[johnnie]

24. Naw, I don't think so

Worshiping isn't really only for religion. To love something other than another living thing is "worship" to me. It isn't really a bad thing necessarily.

[Az]

25. Um then call that love

Seems odd to try to tie it to the baggage of worship which definitely entails some specific images.

[johnnie]

28. Why does the term "worship" have baggage?

What specific images do you think of when you hear the word "worship"?

[Az]

30. Generally speaking

it refers to submitting oneself to another or a doctrine. I think you will find that many reject this connotation in relation to the things they respect.

[johnnie]

32. Of course many will reject this connotation

Not many people want to be known as someone who "worships other gods before me". When I think of "worship" I think more of an excessive devotion to something or someone. Of course that is excessive to me, not to the person who is doing it.

I don't find my tie-in to it odd at all, but maybe it is just the way I think. It just seems to me that everyone has something that they "love" a little more than is probably necessary. But on the other hand, who am I to tell people who or what to love?

[Az]

35. I think the word excessive is key here

It may not be your view of it but I think some others view worship as an excessive term.

[RaleighNCDUer]

26. Otherwise known as 'fetishism'. nt

[johnnie]

37. Interesting definition I found for "fetishism"

1. Worship of or belief in magical fetishes.

[Random_Australian]

43. Well, I don't. Looks like your principle needs a bit of re-doing.

Worship? Puh! Anything that could be meaningfully construed as worship has no place in my life. I prefer accuracy.... but I don't worship it. ;)

[Hubert Flottz]

21. Man created Gawd and nobody has been able to rest since then!

[Elwood P Dowd]

23. "Religion is what keeps the poor from murdering the rich."

Napoleon Bonaparte

[Swede]

29. You'll enjoy XTC's Dear God.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gpsaLP6TJjo

[Az]

31. hehe was actually listening to it right now

:D

[Solly Mack]

36. I hold the copyright - pay up!

[Az]

38. An hour and a half! Who had an hour and a half? Bets are closed.

:evilgrin:

[ruiner4u]

39. Yup!...

When ancient man first encountered bad weather and was starving, God<s> *poofed* into existence to serve as a scapegoat for what was not understood.

[and-justice-for-all]

50. Religion is the biggest fraud in human history...nt

[Manifestor_of_Light]

51. Freud said man created God to fulfill his emotional needs.

Man needed a Big Sky Daddy to protect him from his enemies and tell him he was right, if he did was Big Sky Daddy said to do.

Ever read Freud's
"Religious Faith as an expression of Neurosis"??? Interesting.

I agree with him.

I learned about this in my Nature & Function of Religion class. It was contrasted with Ludwig Feuerbach, who said that God created man.