Could be because God is real...

I believe that mankind was created with an inner need to believe in something greater than himself. Thus, the phrase there are no atheists in a fox hole.

Of course there really are some, but the point is that when we are faced with death, we want to call out on a greater power. Further, there are mysteries to life and man searches for meaning and purpose, so it is natural for us to create religions.

That said, I think that there are two kinds of religion. There is man-made religion. The pagan religions are man made. They look to the creation and worship it. They think that God is in things like trees, air, rocks, seasons, and so on.

There is the modern day man made religion of being being "spiritual but not religious." This religious belief gives people the option of feeling spiritual without having any rules.

Atheism is a man made religion. They have faith in themselves and in what they decide to believe, but their religion is just a faith. It too is unprovable. You understand they face a creation with no creator. It is absurd, but they want to believe it so that they feel superior and have no rules telling them what is moral.

Some make science their religion, but ironically, science tells us there are laws that are unbreakable. These laws exist in the physical realm, the emotional realm and the psychological realm, but the worshipers of science refuse to admit that there are laws in the spiritual realm. Spiritually they dead end. They have no sense of purpose for the existence of the creation. They simply strive to understand how it works.

So, some of these are examples of man made religions. They all serve the purpose the people who create them and who believe in them want. However, I believe that there is also a God made religion.

I believe that God's religion is designed by Him for the benefit of His creation. He gave a list of the laws for worship of Him, and for our success in life. Those laws are just like the laws of physics. If you break them they will eventually break you. They never change. When we are in harmony with the laws of creation we can do anything. When we break them, we crash and burn.

So, in like manner, if you have other god's you fool yourself and never find the truth. If you worship various images, yourself, money or things like that, then you are in bondage to those things. They control you. If you take God's name in vain, you cheapen truth, what is right, and good. We lose the respect for that which is holy, and eventually what is noble in man. If we steal, lie, and commit adultery the society degenerates and as history shows incredible empires came to nothing because they failed to keep these laws.

So, God's religion was to help man know what He could only know by revelation. His religion reveals to man what he was created for. It was to give man guidelines for worship and living life successfully.

Of course, man took God's religion and used it for himself to enslave, persecute and control others. But--again--that is man's religion, not God's.

So, I believe that man creates religions to satisfy his needs and desire. And, I believe that God creates religion for unselfish reasons--to direct mankind to the way of life that works and leads to success physically as well as spiritually.

Most who condemn God's religion do so because because of what man has done to it.

Art

I think all the reasons people have been giving have merit, but I think the need to put the fear of God in the population in general to keep them under control is probably the single biggest factor that caused religions to become organized into powerful churches.

People living today don’t seem to have any real clue of how politically powerful the churches used to be in olden times. Often times the churches were the seat of power for kingdoms. Even if a King was the ultimate power, he wielded much of his power through the use of the church. In fact it was King James who basically wrote the Bible by selecting which stories he would include in that canonization.

The problem I have with almost all organized religions is that they focus on what people shouldn’t do rather than focusing on what they should do. They have become very negative philosophies preaching mainly what will make God unhappy or angry with you rather than focusing on what would make God happy.

Think about it. How many religious people do you know who have told you that you’re lifestyle is saintly or that God would really be pleased with how you are living? Unless these people are your immediate family or friends you probably don’t hear this very much. Most people are more likely to point out that you’re lifestyle represents sinful behavior and that all have fallen short of the glory of God. That’s an oppressive authoritarian view that just tries to lay a guilt trip on people. Especially when its focused on the fact that they don’t agree with a particular religion. What better way to brainwash people to follow your lead and joy your organization than to tell them that their very creator will be really peeved at them if they don’t join your way of thinking.

In truth, many religions have actually been using God for their own agendas claiming that they have the mind of God bound in a book that was basically written by a king and his idea of what should be canonized and what should not.

When I think about how religion came to be in this way it makes me very angry. Angry because this method of using God to control the masses is extremely ungodly, and actually gives people a very negative judgmental view of God. It’s a very detrimental way of thinking of God because it suppresses all the good and just focuses on the bad by passing judgment on all who don’t believe in that view.

I personally believe that my creator is a better entity than me. My creator would never stoop to tactics of intimidation and fear. My creator is above that kind of contemptible behavior that can only have arisen from egotistical controlling humans. This is why I denounce any religions that focus on negativity. And any religion that proclaims that all men are sinners and all have fallen short of the glory of God is a contemptible religion. I do not believe that God wants us to have such a negative view of ourselves.

I believe that the creator of this universe really is loving and inspirational. But no organized religion reflects this. Therefore, as far as I’m concerned no organized religion can be of God. They are all the work of man. Men who preach fire and brimstone or who pass judgments on those who refuse to agree with their view are genuinely ungodly themselves.

You may say that this is a judgment in and of itself, and that may be true, but then I don’t claim to speak for God. I speak for myself. They problem with those jerks is that they claim to be speaking for God. What they are ultimately claiming is that God will judge you poorly if you disagree with them. In short preachers are ultimately committing blaspheme if they preach any form of judgment whatsoever.

Amen....brother...

I understand that you feel he is real. The question is why does man create religions. Christianity although one of the most known has only been a "religion" for about 2000 or so years, there have been many religions throughout our history. We have always had religion in a sense throughout the time of modern man and maybe farther back then that. So there is internal need at some point to create religion or name a power/s larger then ourselves.

This does not qusetion the existance or non of a god or gods. All religions around the concept of god are man made. Man builds the rules and doctrines of each religion to fit either a self proclaimed divine message or however else they make them.

I was just asking why we do this as humans. Not questioning any beliefs.

Again a common misconception, its like living, Once you experience it you are lost without it, its not a "need" but a necesity of life

Dragoness, ill answer your question with a question, Why do we as humans question everything? And chose to only believe things with physical/visual proof? Do we lack that much faith, however it seems we as humans put alot of faith in "cosmos" and "The media" but ill leave that one alone

//The problem I have with almost all organized religions is that they focus on what people shouldn’t do rather than focusing on what they should do.//

What church do you go to? Or are you assuming

Just as a personnal note, I don't think 'spiritual' at all belongs in the same group as belief or religion.

If anything, 'spirit' is a dimension of life which humans cannot access from their material-physical-rational dimension. Spirit, could very well represent all that which humans CANNOT define, explain, or appropriate themselves through material-physical-rational means.

Intuitively, humans have had a sense of 'spirit' for the longest time. Some, aboriginals among others, have kept a sacred and pure relation with spirit to this day. Others, noticed the power that the mysterious side of life could have on masses of people.

Over millions of years, many forms of practices, which are still going strong today, have mostly exploited this fascination humans had with the 'unknowable'; with 'spirit'.

Over time, 3 to 4 000 years ago, the cncept of 'organized' religions started showing up.

Interesting side note, the latin roots of the word recognized the link between the 'unknowable', and man.

From latin: 'religio'. Prefix 're' and 'ligare': to join together or bring together.

Essentially to bring together or join man to the 'unknowable', or the divine.

A light study of the origins of religion, and the early formation of organized religions, show both sides of the 'for good', and 'for evil' forms it was to take.

Early on, and on the 'for good' side, religion, way before philosophy, evoked and saw the birth of very basic and primitive moral and ethical standards, at a time where the only reality was 'barbaric' rule.
Some might argue that not much as changed since, but that would be unfair.

On the 'for evil' side, religion quickly was used by some, and quickly became a 'dominate and control for power' tool of predilection (to this day) for megalomaniacs over the masses.

Over time, unquestionable philosophy, and human dialectics have long since evacuated the 'exclusive' role of religions in the domain of moral and ethical standards for contemporary civilizations. While religions keep playing a role for many in this arena, it is no longer alone in the field, and it is more often than not, confronted with 'higher' NON-religious standards, which it finds difficult (impossible) to acknowledge, much less embrace.

This then leaves the field wide open to the manipulative and dark side of religions, which, as 'abra' often eludes to, categorically refuse to come clean on their 'dominate and control for power' over the masses regime of old.

Religions, like humans: ... the most honorable of intentions at the onset, and the worst of delivery in the end.

People want something to believe in. We want to feel there is a purpose for our life and that it doesn't end in death (for most religions)

I forgot to suggest that the 'industry' of religions, like anyhting human, has and still IS EVOLVING.

Here's a telling metaphor.

If you look at industry, the 'giants' of old, in the automotive industry were once thought to be installed at the top forever.

In the 50's, the American trio WAS the automotive industry. People hadn't even heard the sound of names like 'Toyota', 'Honda' and 'Datsun' (aka Nissan).

A solid metaphor for the religious industry. The big Detroit trio remained stubbornly and categorically convinced, in spite of all signs to the contrary, that theirs, was the only way !!! The divine 'Chariot' was on their side they figured.

Like it has for the big Detroit trio, ... cast in stone, 'word for word' myths and dogma has governed over the decline of the 'Abraham's trio'.

And like the Toyotas, Hondas, and Nissans, the emergence of philosophies, 'closer' to what is true to spirit, are fast displacing the sclerosed Abrahamic 'trio'.

A TEDDY BEAR GOD

Does it make you angry that your parents used the threat of punishment to control you? Does it make you angry that the state makes laws to control you and punishes you for breaking them? Of course not. You recognize this as necessary, at least I hope! Those rules and the state laws are to protect you as well as others.

If I read you right, you have created and worship a god of anarchy. Your god is there to reassure you that you are right. Your god is there to inspire you, to make you feel good about yourself. But He never says your are wrong. If He did, He would then be a bad god. But, but, but--what if--just what if -you were wrong? How would you ever know? You god is there validating you all the time and never correcting?

Of course, it is ok to make up any god you like. You can make up a god like that. You can also bash false teachers who have come in the name of Christ. However, if I had my druthers, I wish you would stop denigrating the true God who has rules of decency. Him--you don't know. Why not leave Him alone. Pick on the evil acts of men. Of course if these men are like you, they won't hear your complaint. Why? Because their god never corrects them either. They can only be right.

Then on another level, speaking of those "wonderful men of the cloth" (not serious you realize) you state:



PREACHERS

I am just sort of kind of thinking that you might be possibly overstating this just a tiny bit.

No question the religious teachers are sometimes bad guys. Again, they don't really teach what God says though. They teach what people want to hear. On some levels it is that everyone else but them is wicked. Others want to hear how good they are and how much God loves them and wants to prosper them so send your money to them, right???? Of course I agree with you here, you would think people would read the book and see that it does not say anything like what they teach. I am shocked how some do not seem to have enough sense to know they are being misled.

However, in your highly judgmental way, you are painting everyone with the same brush. All atheists are not wicked. All professing Christians are not wicked.


REGARDING JUDGMENT

All that said, and all that understood--think. Is it possible you might be wrong about this issue of judgment? There is judgment every minute of every day. All paths don't lead to the same place. If you go the wrong way, you get lost. If you make an error on your checking account, you pay the price. If you commit a crime, you pay the price. We understand that for every aspect of life. But you think that a real God would be so stupid as not have a judgment. There is no cost to wrong living? I actually thought you were smarter than this. Certainly your god isn't.

The God of the Bible is true. He is real, and there is a place for rules. There is a place for discipline. There is right and there is wrong.

Give is some thought, but not angry knee jerk stuff, try to understand the principle I am speaking about.

Art

I too believe that the evolution of religion is showing. The religions will either change to conform or the "new" religions will take their place. Good or bad? Who will know until after they have been around for a while.

Well, my answer to this would have to be that logic serves us well. If you experience something and logic out the action, event and result the next time you experience this event you know from previous experience what it is and what happens. If you are told of an unseen thing and told the "logic" of it and how it is supposed to work and never actually get a sense of it other then that which is told to you with a threat of death sometimes, one cannot get the same logical reaction from ones mind. Religion is, in and of itself, conjecture.

Conjecture of others views of what should and should not be or be allowed and why.

Logic is easier to discern and comprehend.

I watched a woman die one time, she had been run over by her own car trying to work on it. She was a little bitty thing and the car crushed her middle. She never cried out for her god or a god, she was in extreme pain until the very end. We lived far out of town and the ambulance and helicopter took a while to get there. The only thing she asked me to do was to take care of her children as their father was at work and she had noone else. She died right there in front of me. The life just slipped right out of her. Final breath and that was it. They attempted to bring her back in the helicopter but to no avail. I do know that she was slightly religious. The point here is that not all call for god at their death. I would be like her, more concerned for others then myself.

I believe we are just gone at that point and I am okay with it. My life will end there. My spirit will enter the energy of the universe and I be gone. My only fear is that I will leave others unable to care for themselves.

I believe the original question has been answered- religion arose from a need to explain nature, the universe, and what happens after death etc. and "evolved" to include moral instructions, control the people, extort money, justify war, etc. etc.

But I wondered Dragoness, in your view what happens to "your spirit" after it enters the "energy of the universe"?

Is it not reused somehow? Or where would it go?

Just curious. I'm not at all certain I know what happens when we die... but I think we continue in other forms- reincarnation- I wondered why you were so certain we don't...

Peace.

1. look into space and feel small in the dark. does it not seem certain that there is much beyond ourselves?

2. there are only two really important questions in life: a) what is virtuous? and b) how shall i spend my time? (or is this just one question?)

I do not have an issue with reincarnation or after life for that matter, I just do not believe in it. To think of us living on is a nice thought, a comforting thought, etc... I just do not believe of the seperate entity of the soul. I believe our life energy is part of the energy of universe because it cannot help but be so as everything is a part of everything in the universe. And energy dispenses when it is expelled from an object so our life energy would be the same. I just do not see a soul as an entity of itself that lives on.
I do not discount others viewing it that way though. I believe the thought of it living on is a comfort to many and should be allowed if it comforts. But that is just my interpretation of the spirituality that I have felt in my life. It is not a universal view by a long shot.

When I look into the universe, the part I can see which is probably a millimicronano (my own word I believe) portion, I feel like a microscopic organism that is part of it all regardless to my size compared to it. Do I feel there is much out there that we do not know, hell yes. Do I feel that there is a larger than life being that created all of this as his personal playground, no.

As for my purpose, I never really pondered my purpose in life. I am here and I live, that in an of itself is a purpose. I do feel a purpose though and it is a simple one, I feel that I must be a positive influence to all living beings on this planet that I affect by being here. It is not grand or divine, it is just the fact that all life effects all other life and it either effects it in a negative way or a positve way and I chose the positive. Virtuousness is subjective.

the way i look at it, a single life is one thing, multiple lives and their interactions is a larger existence, the totality of all life and interactions is godlike.

i conceive of God as the origin of life. i consider this one God entity to be the equivalent or synonymous with the Old Testament God - or any monotheistic concept of God for that matter.

i do not believe that virtue is subjective. there are qualitative and measureable differences between what Josef Stalin considered virtuous and what Mahatma Ghandi considered virtuous. There has to be a standard by which good is differentiated from evil. Some people might refer to this standard as God as well while others might say that it is merely human consensus opinion. However, the human consensus argument does not wash since a group of humans is just as capable of having an arbitrary ethical standard as any individual - e.g. Lord of the Flies.

The Bible(s) of the world are interesting and worthy of examination and study by anyone truly interested in learning about such issues as they are humankind's earliest written record of our attempts to deal with these fundamental problems. Although as of this writing the jury (i would have to say) is still out.