It freaks me out sometimes how easily people brush off the uniqueness of God and the Judeo-Christian history because people are sometimes really fast on the draw to say the Jews were better “myth makers” than anyone else before or since…and that the whole monotheistic faith that they spearheaded was simply great marketing. But is just doesn’t jive for me.
Why try to create a “better religious mousetrap” especially several thousand years ago? There was nothing “broken” in the multiple gods model that so many other folks were using. It suited humans well. And the early Jews were certainly not so durned brilliant as to foresee that we would unlock most of the secrets of nature and genetics and all that and knew “We just gotta create a God that can handle the new world order coming up in a few thousand years.”
I understand that so many gods were “imagined” by people to explain things we take for granted like rain and emotions and stuff. They were what passed for science before science came along but I don’t see why the kind of God that the Jews and I and even the Muslims worship is something ANYONE would WANT to create.
This wasn’t a God who wasn’t particularly keen on doling out a bunch of favors. He wasn’t easy to get ahold of. He expected a heck of a lot. He set high standards. He was not the kind of God that would appeal to the masses unlike most gods that were pretty much just messed up beings with a lot of power…they were just like humans except with cosmic bad-mama-jamma-ness. Gods that people could relate to. So why create the God known as Yahweh (and other things) Unless of course he was a god that actually existed, showed his power to his first chosen people, and set them on the path to reveal his glory and show the world what they needed to return to…which is his loving embrace and his eternal family.
Men and women didn’t “imagine God.” The did their part to reveal him, though, that’s for sure. And its a shame that so many people are willing to write that off and reduce God to merely being a better made myth.
Deacon Blue
Inda Pink
Holy Sh!+ from Deacon Blue 
Men and women didn’t “imagine God.” The did their part to reveal him, though, that’s for sure. And its a shame that so many people are willing to write that off and reduce God to merely being a better made myth.
Well I guess just the fact that you use male terms to describe a creator lends credence to the myth idea. Firstly if you classify your idea of God under any type of absolute, then the best you can hope for is Myth, because the truth of the matter is there is no proof for a religious claim. Now if you want to say there is/was a creative starting point then that at least has some logic to it. But as soon as you think you know what it is, well, get ready for explaining why your story is not a myth but everyone elses is.
What I find interesting is that I rarely see Jews and Muslims and Hindus and Buddhists called upon to explain themselves…but I often see the Christians singled out.
But, if nothing else, I guess one reason I give a lot of credence to the Judeo-Chrsitian tradition is that it’s stood the test of time better than just about any other religion out there.
Sure, that’s not proof, but it’s certainly a starting point.
What I find interesting is that I rarely see Jews and Muslims and Hindus and Buddhists called upon to explain themselves…but I often see the Christians singled out.(Deacon)
Well for the most part you dont see Jews trying to evangelize the world so they dont bring much attention to themselves other than when Christians and Muslims want to kill them. And well muslims pretty much are showing how whacked their religion is. Now for the most part Christians hide their dysfunction better but they still havnt figured out the rest of the world doesnt want to be saved.
stood the test of time better than just about any other religion out there.(Deacon)
Not true. there are many religions that are older. They just arent as aggresive about getting the word out about their faith. Also you should allow for the fact that you live in a Judeo Christian culture. In some parts of the world they dont even know who Jesus is. But dont worry the missionaries will eventually find them and inflict “their” brand of God on them. 😉
And many, many, MANY more religions that have long since died out. I never said there were NONE older. I do have some small knowledge of comparative religious theory. 😉
Look, I understand that being Christian probably does draw a bigger spotlight for criticism, skepticism and examination because of the evangelistic aspect.
But then again, no other religion I know of has as its core a savior who reconciles flawed humans to the divine. The world may say, “we don’t want to be saved” in many cases, but many Christians are simply saying, “I’m not trying to save you personally. I’m just letting you know about the cure for your condition you have been unaware of. Do with that information what you will.” 😛
Deacon
You are too funny. I think Im going to have to take another trip to the States and have you and your better half take me and the wife out for a pint. Thats of course if you drink, you know, being Christian and all. 😉
I don’t drink much, but that has more to do with never having time thanks to work and daddyhood…as well as a healthy fear of driving with a whiff of anything on my breath aside from breath mints or coffee.
To be honest, though, I not only love myself a good brew (India Pale Ale and red ales being my preference, with lagers right behind…stouts just sit a bit too heavy with me)….but also, in point of fact, if I’m at a bar/pub/etc., I consider a pint glass to be the only proper way to enjoy my beverage. Mugs only in a pinch…and bottles only in extremis.