Blue, that is a fascinating duality. When you say that God and religion are not the same thing you posit the existence of a god as separate from religion. Yet, as soon as tell me that a god of some sort exists you have set down a series of religious beliefs based on the existence of that God.
I can imagine some people contending that God is a euphemism for the ultimate cause of the universe, a prime mover. I would reply that such a view is a tautology and is therefore meaningless -- it is simply a substitution of words. Would such a believer seriously consider worshipping the hydrogen ion?
No, when we speak of God we imply some sort of "intelligence" per force, and as soon as we admit that we must also speak of events that violate the laws of nature. I take this kind of view of God as axiomatic.
Why would any sane person worship such a God, if not as an attempt to somehow influence the god's behavior? Otherwise, what would be the point? Hence incantations (which we call prayer), and all manner of arcane rituals which we either invent on an ad hoc basis, or which are handed down to us by our ancestors. In any case, since these actions are all designed to influence the behavior of the deity, I think it is fair to say it is magic.
Suppose one were to substitute the concept of a tooth fairy for God, and now all of the behaviors that people exhibit in relation to God were now made in favor of the tooth fairy. Wouldn't that constitute an exercise in magic? And isn't the real difference your belief in God and your disbelief in the tooth fairy?
TTFN,
CTC |
