Origins of Religion (warning, may cause drowsiness)
Discussion
The thread on the speed of light has got me thinking (probably too much)... I know there are plenty of religious people on here, but I've always held an open mind.
I believe in a God in some sense, and I feel our inherent need and search for a purpose in life is evidence enought that there is more to life than meets the eye. I also think we're each blessed with a moral compass and that people should be allowed to lead their own lives how they wish, and accept the consequences whatever they may be based on their own judgement.
However, I also believe that all the crap that goes on in God's name is ridiculous. By all means use religion as a guide for morality but unless the actions of another are directly affecting your well being, then leave them to their own actions and beliefs.
If God intended us to be a race of grovelling servants then is there the distinct possibility he is not worth worshipping? If so he is likely worth fearing. But I don't believe that, worth respecting, but not fearing.
Anyway, to my point. I'm of the belief that all of that mythology surrounding the middle east cannot be baseless. Something odd went on back then, God or not. Religion may or may not be misguided, but I refuse to believe that it can transpire from the exaggeration of dreams and hallucinations of a few individuals.
Perhaps it is taken too literally, and was intended as a representation of the power of a community, as was suggested in the other thread. Perhaps God really did come down at a time where we had lost our direction (or moral compass) to guide us. Perhaps it was Aliens??
What does everyone else think?
Purely a philosophical discussion, so if anyone can be bothered to respond, it'd be nice to keep it Troll free and arguments polite!
I believe in a God in some sense, and I feel our inherent need and search for a purpose in life is evidence enought that there is more to life than meets the eye. I also think we're each blessed with a moral compass and that people should be allowed to lead their own lives how they wish, and accept the consequences whatever they may be based on their own judgement.
However, I also believe that all the crap that goes on in God's name is ridiculous. By all means use religion as a guide for morality but unless the actions of another are directly affecting your well being, then leave them to their own actions and beliefs.
If God intended us to be a race of grovelling servants then is there the distinct possibility he is not worth worshipping? If so he is likely worth fearing. But I don't believe that, worth respecting, but not fearing.
Anyway, to my point. I'm of the belief that all of that mythology surrounding the middle east cannot be baseless. Something odd went on back then, God or not. Religion may or may not be misguided, but I refuse to believe that it can transpire from the exaggeration of dreams and hallucinations of a few individuals.
Perhaps it is taken too literally, and was intended as a representation of the power of a community, as was suggested in the other thread. Perhaps God really did come down at a time where we had lost our direction (or moral compass) to guide us. Perhaps it was Aliens??
What does everyone else think?
Purely a philosophical discussion, so if anyone can be bothered to respond, it'd be nice to keep it Troll free and arguments polite!
OJ said:
Anyway, to my point. I'm of the belief that all of that mythology surrounding the middle east cannot be baseless. Something odd went on back then, God or not. Religion may or may not be misguided, but I refuse to believe that it can transpire from the exaggeration of dreams and hallucinations of a few individuals.
To me it seems simple. People living in the desert, wonder where they came from, made up stories.Same as happened, well, everywhere else in the world. Why do you accept that there may be a christian god (which blatantly has the same origin as the muslim allah), but not the egyptian's osiris and ra? Or the north american indians giant crow who found the first humans in a clam shell? Or the ancient gods who (presumably) inspired people to build stonehenge, and bury their dead in great barrows, with the bones neatly cleaned and separated into different piles?
Humans just have difficulty accepting that they are here by accident and that there is no "purpose". IMO.
OJ said:
Anyway, to my point. I'm of the belief that all of that mythology surrounding the middle east cannot be baseless. Something odd went on back then, God or not. Religion may or may not be misguided, but I refuse to believe that it can transpire from the exaggeration of dreams and hallucinations of a few individuals.
I'm afraid I disagree with you. A few weird peoples rantings got tied up with a selection of 'how to live your life rules', these stories got told and retold a bunch of times being exaggerated each time. Someone then wrote them them down in an even more twisted form. Throw in a bit of less than faithful copying and a bit of dodgy translation here and there and you get modern religion.How anyone can take 2000 year old 'messiah' myths seriously I don't know. Check out cargo cults; specifically those guys who worship 'John Frum' or Prince Phillip to see how willing we are to attribute divinity.
The Black Flash said:
Why do you accept that there may be a christian god (which blatantly has the same origin as the muslim allah), but not the egyptian's osiris and ra? Or the north american indians giant crow who found the first humans in a clam shell? Or the ancient gods who (presumably) inspired people to build stonehenge, and bury their dead in great barrows, with the bones neatly cleaned and separated into different piles?
Ah but, I didn't state I belived in any particular god, just a god of some sort. I believe the different interpretations of God are just that. Interpretations of the same thing based on the culture of those who observe it. What that thing actualy is is what I'm trying to get at. Was it an actual encounter, or was it a misinterpretation of events as divine intervention? What were those events?hairykrishna said:
I'm afraid I disagree with you. A few weird peoples rantings got tied up with a selection of 'how to live your life rules', these stories got told and retold a bunch of times being exaggerated each time.
That's what I'm looking for! The part about things being taken too literally
OJ said:
I believe the different interpretations of God are just that. Interpretations of the same thing based on the culture of those who observe it. What that thing actualy is is what I'm trying to get at.
I would suspect that that 'thing' would be...The Black Flash said:
Humans just have difficulty accepting that they are here by accident and that there is no "purpose".
Einion Yrth said:
I would suspect that that 'thing' would be...
Why is that though? Why don't we just wake up in the morning and thing 'meh, another day, I'll just make some more money/work out so I can lure a mate and reproduce some more'The Black Flash said:
Humans just have difficulty accepting that they are here by accident and that there is no "purpose".
IainT said:
OJ said:
I believe in a God in some sense, and I feel our inherent need and search for a purpose in life is evidence enought that there is more to life than meets the eye.
Why? Upon what do you base this assumption?Yugguy said:
IainT said:
OJ said:
I believe in a God in some sense, and I feel our inherent need and search for a purpose in life is evidence enought that there is more to life than meets the eye.
Why? Upon what do you base this assumption?Einion Yrth said:
Yugguy said:
IainT said:
OJ said:
I believe in a God in some sense, and I feel our inherent need and search for a purpose in life is evidence enought that there is more to life than meets the eye.
Why? Upon what do you base this assumption?Gassing Station | The Pie & Piston Archive | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff