God needn't be a man-made construct

As a species, when we were younger we anthropomorphised everything. In other words, we translated externalities through our own experience. Hence God in our image etc.

Anthropomorhising is the only way we can relate to something that is outside of our understanding: by dressing it up in a framework we do understand.

The tenets of science rejects anthropomorphising. Objective observations only. Not easy but we are trying.

My point is this: I think having a deity is important, a higher source to inspire, comfort and offset ego.

But why do we not use the one thing that LITERALLY makes us, houses us, feeds us, protects us and offers us so much wonder and inspiration? Earth. 

Why is Earth not our principal god? There would be no atheists if it were. There would also be no elitism and I think that has to be the point. Obfuscation is the truth behind power.

Principal god: Earth (not even going to anthropomorphise it into her into Gaia)

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Permalink Reply by Unseen on June 28, 2013 at 9:10am

People don't care that much about God, they care about religion and the particular God described by that religion. The God described by Christians is different from the one described by Jews and Muslims. And they all supposedly worship the same God. What unites them in their own faith and differentiates them from each other is different catechisms and theologies. God comes into the picture later through the way the religions describe their particular version of God. 

Permalink Reply by Martin Navnihal on June 28, 2013 at 1:52pm
Is this insistence to have a deity not a sort of brief escapism from self? The self that is fundamentally accountable for his or her life. A hope that somebody or something will carry the psychological weight of our existence for a little while. A supra - nurturing Mother Gaia or Father that can give provide us with a sense of external psychological security. Something external that can validate our existence when we are doubting yourself? I don't think we need to idolize nature. We can embrace it without worshiping it.
Permalink Reply by Strega on June 28, 2013 at 1:55pm

Nicely said, Martin, and welcome to TA :)

Permalink Reply by Reg The Fronkey Farmer on June 28, 2013 at 3:57pm

I suppose if someone is unable to get comfort or solace from whatever god they believe in they can always press this Magic Button.

archaeopteryxPermalink Reply by archaeopteryx on June 28, 2013 at 8:21pm

I did, and got this:

"Everything is OK now

If everything is still not OK, try checking your settings of perception of objective reality."

archaeopteryxPermalink Reply by archaeopteryx on June 28, 2013 at 9:20pm

According to the magic button on Reg's site, I am, or my perception of objective reality is set too high --

archaeopteryxPermalink Reply by archaeopteryx on June 28, 2013 at 9:17pm

Like the old Virginia Slims commercial used to say, "You've come a long way, Baby --"

archaeopteryxPermalink Reply by archaeopteryx on June 28, 2013 at 9:37pm

No ay de que, mija --

Permalink Reply by Dave G on June 28, 2013 at 9:27pm

Nicely put, Belle.

archaeopteryxPermalink Reply by archaeopteryx on June 28, 2013 at 9:29pm

RE: "I think having a deity is important, a higher source to inspire, comfort and offset ego."

It's not the Ego you need concern yourself about offsetting, it's the Id, and you have just such a deity, built in, it's called the Super-ego, directing you to what you "should," "must," "s'posed to" do, then you have a built-in arbitrator between the two - THAT's the function of the Ego, to arbitrate between the childlike, ("I want what I want, and I want it NOW!") Id, and the moralizing Superego.

You need only look inside yourself for your deity, Grasshopper, you are self-contained.

Permalink Reply by Unseen on June 28, 2013 at 10:19pm

I think having a deity is important, a higher source to inspire, comfort and offset ego.

Hmm. What's inspirational about God? He's mean, jealous, immature, and certainly doesn't care much about us humans. He lets children be abused and run over by cars. He gives/allows people to die horrific deaths from cancer, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and other diseases. He deforms babies in the womb. Where's the inspirational material there?

I think I covered the comfort issue pretty well there, too. 

Permalink Reply by Strega on June 28, 2013 at 11:01pm

Yes, I'm feeling all warm and fuzzy now, thank you.

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