The Religion and Philosophy Room
First of all religion or a belief in the sacred is far older than civilization. "Powerful beings" (whatever we may mean by that) and an "invisible, intelligent all powerful being" are two different things. The gods (however we want to understand that term) of "primitive" religion did not create the world or stand outside of it. They were part of it, were not responsible for it and did not control its fate. The transcendent God of monotheism is a different animal. So is the Greek Logos. What you should have said is that "child like" societies perceived the world as infused with the sacred. Was that what you were trying to ridicule? Anyway, what we see historically is a progression toward the attitude you mock not away from it. That is the essential point.Not at all. The earliest known civilizations of which we have records had their superstitions about powerful beings controlling their fate, and very often their pantheon of deities or spirits had an overall ruler. Or, as in classic Hinduism, all of the lesser gods were recognized as aspects or reflections of a single, omniscient being. In any case, the point is not whether a society worshiped one god or a dozen, but the fact that they found it necessary to worship any at all.Gleaned? What do you mean? You can prove them? They're real rather than mere human sentiment that varies across cultures, time and place? What are you talking about? Are you confusing useful with real and true?Far from being "myths", those are concepts we have gleaned from millennia of human interactions. They are a large part of what makes a society work, develop and thrive - justice in particular.I'm sorry you feel that way about Scripture but it's not what I asked. Are you child like? Do myths about equality, human dignity, justice, right and wrong etc. comfort you? Do you cling to them like a teddy bear in your in bewilderment? They certainly aren't truths. What would that even mean n your worldview?? How could they be true? Useful? Perhaps...but real and true? Nonsense.The Judeo-Christian Scriptures, including the lessons they contain, were written by human beings; their interpretation, along with the imposition of the corresponding rules therein, was also the work of people, masquerading as "God's messengers". For every advancement in justice, every understanding of truth, Christianity, as it has been practiced, has been responsible for an instance (or several) of injustice, persecution and death.If that is what you meant to say you said it poorly. To suggest that religion is cultural is to say not much of anything. In any case, how do you know this? Secondly, you shouldn't be so quick to criticize. After all, you believe in a great many things without giving them any serious thought. Some of them were listed above.It means that many people - in the U.S. and Western Europe, I daresay a majority - who profess a belief in a supernatural "god" do so insincerely or without serious thought. They do so in order to "fit in" with family and co-workers, or because in many situations non-believers are not welcome or trusted. (Does anyone really believe that Kristen Synema is the first atheist in the U.S. Senate?) Or they identify as "Christians" in much the same way they would tell you that they are "German-Americans" or "Patriots fans" or members of a fraternal organization they haven't attended a meeting of in thirty years.
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Originally Posted by Chris
