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Politics : Should God be replaced? -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: PJ Strifas who wrote (7303)	4/14/2001 7:39:29 PM
From: antiquites	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 28931

Peter J Strifas.......... What a nice way to put this. I have to admit I have a tendency to agree you after all. Obviously there is no need to replace God. Maybe, we just need to replace our way of interpreting God. Even though I still have a problem with organized religion at this point in my life, I have no problem with God. May you and every poster here have a Blessed Easter no matter what your concept of God is. antiquites

To: PJ Strifas who wrote (7303)	4/15/2001 5:37:23 PM
From: Solon	Respond to of 28931

I'd also point out that much of the similarities of the ancient religions is not evidence of plagarism but rather proof there is a "higher power" (call it God, Krishna, Yahweh etc). I mean why "borrow" something if it doesn't work or make sense? I don't consider the sharing or appropriation of information to be evidence of "proof" of the accuracy of the information--especially when the information is so fanciful and delightful--but always imaginary. In spite of all the wonderful myths around the flat earth, and of flying too close to the sun, and melting wax wings and so forth--few among us consider the existence of a rich fantasy life (as a counterbalance to the fear of the unknown, and as an expression of natural human wonder)--to be sufficient grounds for believing that imagination proves the supernatural. The supernatural is always imagination...this is what places it beyond the realm of knowledge and reason. Since square one, humans have desired the assistance of those claiming power. They have revelled in various intoxicants throughout various cultures--intoxicating substances, intoxicating words--the intoxication of sexual transcendence. But was there a Hermes, a Zeus, a Saturn, a Thor? Is there a reason why the unknown (now as then) is a sop to following the mightiest power? Is there a reason why (now as then) the leaders of cults often mate with their followers just as the seizing of power in the animal kingdom denotes priviledge?? You and I, when we attempt to conceive of God, probably do not conceive of miscievous goats and satyrs and other such creatures of imagination. Our imagination follows the customs of our peers and our literature and our philosophers. We probably have a dry and rather austere conception of a supernatural good power who is opposed by a supernatural evil power, and who has the power to reward and punish. Is there any reason why this conception should be considered reasonable or necessary? Why should a natural God who just happened to have eternal existence, just happen to have magical powers, thoughts of good, the ability to make something out of nothing, etc.? Why have the limits of God always been the limits of human imagination? Why did the Judaic God cure leprosy by slicing up birds? Why was his error correction a process of thoughtlessly destroying everything and everyone? Why was there no compassion as to how He killed everyone if He had the choice? Why are all the Gods we have imagined always so morally inferior to the best and most reasonable and most giving of our race--while precisely exhibiting the moral qualities of the most superstitious and forest-like of our race? When I ask should God be replaced, I (of course) do not mean to suggest that we would have the power to destroy or replace a Supreme Being. I suggest that if we are to imagine, then we ought to imagine as a Supreme Being would wish us to imagine--not as savages at war to fulfill the ugly imaginations of our predecessors. Does a Supreme Being believe in Chosen People and racism? Does a Supreme Being believe in eternal torture for political, cultural, racial, geographical enemies? I don't know. What do you think, Peter? We can only imagine a Supreme Being...or we can imagine anything in between. What is it that we will imagine? How shall humans live? Shall we tear the hearts out of virgin girls after dosing them with potent drugs, and cast them into the water as the Mayans did? Shall we imagine as a Catholic, as a Lutheran, as a Wiccan? Shall I follow your imagination? Or the imagination of someone with a ritualistic office? Or shall I simply take a walk in the woods and listen to the birds with a lover? Would a Supreme Being require anything of me in terms of empty harmful rituals or swordplay? Or would She simply hope that I live a life that is fair, decent, above board--and non injurious to others? Shall I walk in the woods with a lover...or might that be against the imagination of those humans who believe in POWER, but must give POWER the names of a million GODS?