Where do you want Him to be? :-) It may be that mankind invented gods to account for their progress in civilizing themselves and distinguishing themselves from animals or savages but most of all I think the reality of death has forced many in mankind to try to make sense of a limited earthly existence. It could be argued that pride spurs one to desire an extension to the brief time on earth but one could say the same of those who create, build and rule, couldn't one? Then there is the need for an orderly society ususally accomplished through morals and ethics but often by force and how to disemminate them through the population which gave rise to ritual and rote. Of course having invisible gods on ones side added to the power and respectibility of rulers but don't modern "isms" do the very same thing?
Perhaps God/gods are myth and fantasy- I really don't know- except that prayer is a gift in good times and bad for I do think there are too many incidents and challenges in life where reason cannot provide an answer or solution and humans simply have to "give it up/over" to a force/wish beyond themselves. On Sep 20, 7:11 am, Slip Disc <[email protected]> wrote: > Where is God? > > On Sep 20, 5:57 am, gabbydott <[email protected]> wrote: > > > > > One would hope so, my friend. That's how I have modified my > > translation of "in God's image". > > > On 20 Sep., 12:04, "[email protected]" <[email protected]> > > wrote: > > > > All true, except I guess that each human knows what humanity is. > > > > On 19 Sep, 01:46, Alan Wostenberg <[email protected]> wrote: > > > > > On Sep 14, 3:38 am, "[email protected]" <[email protected]> > > > > wrote:> Whilst it is true that one man may not nesscarily know what is > > > > good > > > > > for another man, this is easy to put right by asking 'what can I do > > > > > for you?' > > > > > Only if the recipient knows what man is. If the hungry man is ignorant > > > > of physiology, he may well say "please give me a nice thick steak and > > > > a glass of wine". And he's unable to digest the food. One who does not > > > > know what a man is cannot do good for his neighbor, except by > > > > accident. > > > > > > On 13 Sep, 18:39, Alan Wostenberg <[email protected]> wrote: > > > > > > > Yes, you "can have a feeling of responsibility towards society and > > > > > > consider it your duty towards it and do what is good for you and the > > > > > > others". But what have feelings to do with doing good? > > > > > > > A man comes upon a starving man, knowing little about human nature, > > > > > > offers him a good thick steak and a glass of wine. But the starving > > > > > > man cannot digest the food. The first man had a sincere "feeling of > > > > > > responsibility", and really wanted to "do what is good for the > > > > > > other", > > > > > > but utterly botched it, because he is ignorant of what is really > > > > > > good > > > > > > for the other man. > > > > > > > No doubt those with a "humanitarian mindset" mean well, and act in > > > > > > accord with what they believe is good for fellow humans, just like > > > > > > the > > > > > > Jihadist, or the mercy killer who euthanizes the sick patient, or > > > > > > the > > > > > > abortionist, or Hitler. Everybody does what he /believes/ to be good > > > > > > for his fellow man. But only those who /know/ what is good for their > > > > > > neighbor can consistently deliver. > > > > > > > On the Christian view, if we do not know Christ, we do not know what > > > > > > man is, so it is quite impossible to do good for man, except by > > > > > > accident. > > > > > > > On Sep 13, 10:30 am, RP Singh <[email protected]> wrote: > > > > > > > > A person can have a humanitarian mindset regardless of religion. > > > > > > > You don't > > > > > > > have to believe in God to be good , you can have a feeling of > > > > > > > responsibility > > > > > > > towards society and consider it your duty towards it and do what > > > > > > > is good > > > > > > > for you and the others. Patriots need not be religious , yet they > > > > > > > feel a > > > > > > > great responsibility towards their country. There are so many > > > > > > > motives for a > > > > > > > man to do good to others irrespective of religion. On the other > > > > > > > hand people > > > > > > > are known to indulge in vice and ask God's forgiveness later. > > > > > > > > On Mon, Sep 13, 2010 at 9:00 PM, Alan Wostenberg > > > > > > > <[email protected]> wrote: > > > > > > > > Sure, "helping is primal". But the Jihadist, having a different > > > > > > > > theology than the Christian, believes he is helping you by > > > > > > > > converting > > > > > > > > you to Islam by the sword. Not so the Christian, for whom > > > > > > > > religion is > > > > > > > > the "The voluntary subjection of oneself to God". > > > > > > > > > The island of atheists? Sure, they'd "help others" for some > > > > > > > > definition > > > > > > > > of "help" and "others". I know something about the Christian > > > > > > > > command > > > > > > > > to love my neighbor but don't know the official atheist dogma on > > > > > > > > helping others. If one acted like there were no God why would > > > > > > > > he > > > > > > > > think he has any duty to help others? > > > > > > > > > On Sep 12, 8:28 am, Slip Disc <[email protected]> wrote: > > > > > > > > > AW; > > > > > > > > > Yes there is............. > > > > > > > > > I'll refer you to rigsy's sept. 6 10:15 am post as to my > > > > > > > > > "theistic > > > > > > > > > religiosity" comment. > > > > > > > > > > Also, people use therapy and AA like a religion- in fact, > > > > > > > > > they "use" a > > > > > > > > > lot of things in lieu of religion. What about jingoism? > > > > > > > > > <<<rigsy > > > > > > > > > > Do you think no one would help anyone else on an island of > > > > > > > > > atheists > > > > > > > > > because they didn't have a religion to tell them to do so? > > > > > > > > > Helping > > > > > > > > > is primal and innate as nurturing; religion and faith is human > > > > > > > > > construct and not necessity.- Hide quoted text - > > > > > > > - Show quoted text -- Hide quoted text - > > > > > - Show quoted text -- Hide quoted text - > > - Show quoted text -
