Do you believe that “If God didn’t exist, it would be necessary to invent him”?

[LaFemmeFatale_1]

Looking back at my life, I was raised as a Christian, but later on became an agnostic. Not believing in God, has been the only sane explanation I found about life.

And I was always more or less in control of my life and I didn’t ever need to “invent” God to help myself overcome any obstacles. My life hasn’t been easy but I have always found a way or have dealt with whatever lose or hardship I went through.

However, I noticed that in the hardest periods of my life, when I totally lose control and I feel like my life has been stuck by an earthquake and then a flood and I have no one but myself to drag myself out of this, I have found myself praying and it’s funny because I don’t believe in God.

But regardless of that praying - has helped me feel that I am not alone and to accept whatever is going to happen - it’s okay.

At those moments I have kind of felt sympathy to people who are strong believers, life must be hard for them if they need to “invent” the God everyday.

I don’t say it exists or not, since I have no idea and I don’t judge people who do or don’t believe.

I just think, did we invent God because we were so lonely and so vulnerable, that in a way the idea of existing God - gave us a peace of mind that we really needed even for a moment and gave us the power to meet whatever is going to come our way and get up again no matter how strong the life hits.

[caring__1]

We all started out as nomadic people. Depending on the seasons and conditions, we would wander to better hunting grounds. Eventually, we found a place that was lush with plenty of food, so we decided to settle down rather than roam. Unfortunately, that led to us being at the whim of nature... something out of our control.

The place we settled happened to be at the base of a volcano. On occasion, the volcano would rumble, and people would be scared. One day, a man came to the settlement and claimed he was the high priest of the volcano god. He told people the volcano god would be appeased if they followed certain rituals. The people eagerly followed the rituals, as it allowed them to feel in control of their lives.

One day, the volcano started rumbling again. Everyone ran to the high priest and asked what was happening and what to do. The high priest said "Not everyone has been following the rituals precisely, so the volcano god is angry." To make amends, the high priest established new requirements to satisfy the god. Now they would need to give the high priest their best crops, their first born sons and their virgin daughters. Needing to feel in control of their lives again, the people obeyed.

God is what people seek in order to feel in control of the unknown and things out of their control. Blind faith and obedience to those who speak for the god have allowed those who speak to take advantage of the fearful followers. Fear leads us to believe that which can't be proven.

[strateguy632]

to car, your echoing of that silly theory only shows that you and the critic never studied the complexity of religion. be like dawkins: read the religious book before criticism.

[MementoMori777]

We didn't invent him, he invented us, but I personally believe because I've experience spiritual warfare, I've had demonic presences in my home, supernatural as well, personally it's a reality to me and inventing God seems somewhat of a disrespectful way to put it because it's a way of calling me weak, just indirectly, the truth is you aren't alone cause God is there, if you want to believe it's in our imaginations then I guess that's what makes us different but I can't turn my back on God like I'm not aware of his existance, he's helped me through so much and it's why my faith is so strong, after all if you called out to him once and he helped you, you'll at some point call out to him again and he will help you, it's not always in a way you won't understand, sometimes his response is right infront of you but it slipped past you or you refuse to listen somehow, I'll tell you one thing, everyone finds God through bad experiences, even if you are born in the believes, you can eventually lose faith and when you run into a rough path, you call out.

[strateguy632]

to mem, excellent presentation.

[MementoMori777]

Appreciate that G 💯🙌

[Poliker]

People just want someone to believe in, even if it is not themselves. When I think about religion like that, I just pity the believers

[strateguy632]

to pol, only if religion is for mystery, like "why thunder?" mystery must be zeus". but religions are more complex. you "pity" believers, as if they are suffering. those who lack hope called agnostic deserve your pity more.

[Daniela1982]

Well if we did, so did every other culture on Earth - past and present, as mostly every other culture believes in a god or gods.

[strateguy632]

to dan, actually books preserved the OPPOSITE order. people claimed to bring messages from god. in the example of jews they did not accept the prophecy and got punished again n again see leviticus chapter 26 or at least 26:35-48.

[richardcory]

When you consider all the different gods people have believed in over time, the only explanation is that almost all of them were invented. Otherwise we'd have Thor, and Mictlantecuhtli and Athena, Yahweh, Marduk, Taiowa, Chang'e, Shiva, and thousands more wandering around. You wouldn't be able to take a step without tripping on a diety.

So most can't be real. From my point of view that means that while there could be a real god or gods, I have no reason to pick one above any other.

[strateguy632]

to ric, wandering around? surely you know the gods are "up" on mount olympus or hymdale or asgard or heaven. if you "have no reason" that is called ignorance. not that no preference existed. ever heard of the course degree named "comparative religion".

[richardcory]

@strateguy632 Yes, I've heard of comparative religion - but just because I happen to prefer one god over another, that doesn't mean the former is real and the latter false. I don't see any reason to believe any of the gods is more or less likely to be real.

[jshm2]

Don't be fucking stupid.

The whole point of God (with the capital "G") is that he cannot be created or destroyed. The gods (with small g and plural) are what we invented to create myths and stories around that we were not technologically able to do.

People are too small minded and insular to know the difference. Though these are the same people who think putting a penis on a female, now makes her a "male". Little wonder these idiots aren't going to be on the path to understanding.

[Bricealan]

I am somewhere between agnostic and atheist and always have been. Our deaths are inevitable, no matter what we feel and believe, even though Michael Jackson said he 'would live forever" (and we all know how that worked out) I hear persons say: "I'm not afraid of dying"... but I'm am afraid of not living any more, and try to enjoy every moment, every sunrise, every sunset, every smile, sun on my face, wonder companions, animals included.

For me I don't believe in a 'Divine Creator" and have no need for that belief/faith in my life.

[strateguy632]

to bri, content "inevitable" good challenge to taoism but... most religions differ from taoism. the issue is not thirst, if not thirsty dont drink, the issue is if god commanded something we are in big trouble if we did not sesrch what was commanded.

[Anonymous]

God exist. I've studied the topic enough to know God exist surely. The problem is humans have created God in their image. God is nothing you think. People prefer to accept the religious view of God. Even non-believers sit there trying to disprove religious Gods but never ask themselves what he God exist but is different than any religion thinks. Well I can tell you God exist and God is amoral and impersonal. And that is largely the reason people dont believe in God. We want God to be human well God isn't and never has been. That wouldn't even make sense considering God is impersonal.

[Googlemyahoo]

People have invented many myths and fables to explain things they don’t understand. The big difference with Christianity s monotheism. Belief in one in contrast to Roman Gods, who represented numerous things.

Along comes weird Christians worshiping a dead guy telling everyone they’re not getting into the shiny happy place if they don’t worship him too.

Now we have these lunatics here today thinking they’re fucking special

[strateguy632]

to goo, such a good start... but the logical follow is, "differ therefore not opium. 2 "a dead guy" if they agreed with you then they wouldn't worship a dead guy. MORE importantly your 3 paragraph conflicted your second? how can you not notice your own words. in simple terms not "special" if anyone can join. agnostics ONLY mock and name call... as we see here "lunatics weird" dawkins used bizar, too lazy instead of philosophy.

[Googlemyahoo]

@strateguy632 triggered much? I equate you religiolunatics the same as star wars fanboys. Doesn’t matter how bad the movies are you’re still trying to tell everyone they’re wrong for disagreeing. Star Wars has about as much credence as the bible

[TonyMetal___86]

It's a matter of faith, personally i'm a proud christian and proud of my belief in god because does exists whether i chose to believe in him or not...
If god didn't exist than for sure i wouldn't invent a god to worship him because that's insane and imaginary, you can't worship something or someone who ain't real or comes from your imagination...

I believe in the teachings of jesus christ and i do believe in god and miracles but as humans we will never understand how god works and what how he interfers in our daily lives...

You found yourself praying is a sign from god that he wants you to be close from him to have your faith back again because you're lost and god never leaves his lost sheep...

Here on earth, you have to expect anything from good to bad and from bad to good, it's just life, do what needs to be done and be a good person and leave the rest on god...
Always remember that god ain't a genie in the lamp, he ain't there to fullfill all our wishes...

[TonyMetal___86]

I looked at your profile picture and i can feel what you have been through, there's a lot of meanings in what i saw in your profile photo but stay strong and keep going because when you're a good person, no evil can bring you down...

[strateguy632]

to tony, you made good points, good thing for me you are on my side. i would have trouble refuting the rare thinker.

[TonyMetal___86]

@strateguy632 thanks 🙂

[Kaneki05]

Well yeah. The rational argument to why people have faith is all based upon their dependency of needing that faith to cope with their life. Cults and Religions feed off people's bad emotions to give them fake hope to help them feel better.
I only see that as a negative thing than helpful hence why religion to me is something awful.

[strateguy632]

to kane that silly theory is ignorant of the CONTENTS of religions. only after reading a religions faith then criticise it.

[Kaneki05]

@strateguy632 A rational argument is the opposite of ignorant. What would be ignorant is putting people's beliefs before evidence and logic.

[Grond21]

I think the reason people can claim others need to invent God is because they believe they have a good life they are in control of. But that is temporary at best, and an illusion at worst. Because the reason prayer helps in the hard times is because he is actually real. Because he loves you

[love_conquers_lust]

I challenge you to tell someone on their death bed there is no light at the end of the tunnel. I’ve dealt with this situation too many times in recent years, and it won’t be stopping.

So when I tell them we don’t know and we’re not allowed to know because it would corrupt our purpose, it drives people to fight for life.

[AmeerX]

We don't invent God. God is there, eternally. God made humans despite knowing that most will bring misfortune in the world.

I refuse to believe that there is no God. I see people suffering a lot more than me and be firmer believers while I having little hardship abandoned rituals but I still believe in God to this day

[mommymommymommy]

People believe in god, to help them believe life can get better. But then when it does, they don't use it

You ever see the family guy episode where the scientologists are talking about how they won't vaccinate their child, because "it's against god", yet, when lois tells them that maybe the vaccines WERE an answer from god. They decided to vaccinate their kid after that

[Berethor]

Clap your hands if you believe trope? yea believing in God can make people feel less scared.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/ODetOE6cbbc

[strateguy632]

to ber, less scared? the religions almost all motivate fear, not less scared, jew deuteronomy, painful hell in most religions. so ghe lazy atheists mocks and "talks for god" like a straw man. how bout actual quotes? even shallow family guy series bothered to quote.

[xColinx]

The thought of dying someday is scary. It's cool to think of a make-believe place to go if we follow skybeard's rules.

[strateguy632]

good start... but ever since different skybeards offered different paths the "hope n coolness" is in doubt which one? how can i hope for hindu glory if Christian might be correct. the hope is not achieved. that is why missionary succeed to pull hindu to christian but hindu don't have counter-proofs.

[behnam1999]

If God didn't exist, we also wouldn't exist to invent anything!!

[strateguy632]

wise guy, sarcasm

[slatyb]

No, I don't. Many people live happily without God, and there are more every day.

[strateguy632]

to sla, despite you are right happily, but happily for themselves. what about the damage and harm to others that atheists try to justify "just a clump of cells" to kill an undoubtedly human fetus even after it has organs. the victim the fetus gets harm and death due to atheism.

[slatyb]

Are you vegetarian?

[Hispanic-Cool-Guy]

Somehow you exist and animals exist but a superior being God/creator) can't exist or you like to pretend it doesn't exist?

You atheists and agnostics are just seriously silly.

[LiamJHayden]

I do believe in a God, but your point seems reasonable. If there were not one and we just were born by chance and were destined for oblivion, it would drive many insane.

[HaveNoName]

Do you believe in Prophets and Prophethood? Perhaps you just read about them as "stories".

[najekim]

Religion was created to suck gullible people in as a crutch to lean on and therefor obeying the clergy in everything they say. Hence, total control over someone's live.

[Anonymous]

If your religion requires you to hate someone, you need a new religion.

[strateguy632]

to ano, content hate" such generalization and ignorance... you BLAME catholic inquisition and muslim jihad on all religions. do u think budhists persecuted atheists? but sadly atheism is VERY harmful. from subjective morality to LITERAL PHYSICAL HARM to fetus... millions harmed due to the "justification" called atheism. more humans died due to atheism than centuries of catholic inquisition. p. s. if u claim a religion hates quote the book.