Discussion » Questions » Religion and Spirituality » Why did people create God?
Stu Spelling Bee

Why did people create God?

By nature man is rebellious.  So rebellious, in fact, that he has to have this “conscience” that decides what is right and wrong for him.  And what’s right for me is wrong for the next person (based on our upbringing).  So please do tell me ... why did man create a Being greater than himself to tell him what he needs to do when, quite frankly, man doesn’t like to be pushed around ... especially by someone that you cannot presumably see? 

What good did man see when he created a god? 

For purposes of this discussion, let's assume that there was nothing once upon a time.  And this nothing was intelligent enough to reproduce itself and everything else we see today (which then begs the question, if a self-reproducing independent organism could replicate itself, why create gender in the first place with women being child bearers?  Why didn’t the organism just leave life as self-producing (like trees and some reptiles are?) 

And then, furthermore, if this organism was so smart that it could create galaxies that go to the n-th power and create the sun, moon, stars, rocks, planets, why create life (be it trees, plants, animals, fish, etc.) on this planet?  And on no other planet?  I mean, really - is this planet that significant to one organism that came from nothing?  Anyway, I’m detracting.

Of course, this reproduction process took millions of years to get us to where we are today so that nobody can really really prove anything (everything is based on assumptions and theories and dating models that we think are correct).  We then turn our focus to man’s evolution over the past two hundred thousand years.

 If Wikipedia’s timeline of homo sapiens' evolution is anything to go by, modern man is a pretty new species, with modern humans being only 200,000 years old.  But religion is, at best, 6- to 10,000 years old (depends on your source).  So why would modern man (called hunter-gatherers) live for 190,000 years with some meager developments such as burial tombs, pitchforks, axes, stone hunting tools, jewelry, the wheel ... and then, one day, just wake up and say, “Today, we shall make god!”

Religion – any religion – is at most 10,000 years old.  So man lived for over 190,000 years and one day just got up and created a god.  Why?  What did man do for 190,000 years when there was no god? Why is there no historical evidence of a god prior to the recorded beginnings of the earth as in the Bible?  And please, having records of burial sites does not denote the existence of a god - even atheists bury their dead!

Posted - May 5, 2018
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Responses


  • 5391
    All words of men. Taken from a fallacious book written by men. All in service of the agenda of man’s lust for power and control. This post was edited by my2cents at May 7, 2018 3:54 PM MDT
      May 6, 2018 7:21 AM MDT
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  • 2657
    Your usual insults have nothing to do with my question to Stu. 

    Obviously you think the Bible is a fallacious book, are you an atheist that goes to religious meetings that supposedly teaches from it like Stu?
      May 6, 2018 7:33 AM MDT
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  • 5391
    My response has everything to do with your response. Still using other people’s words. Still to poor effect. 

    Yes, I’ve been to many religious services, of various denominations, and have learned much from them. 
      May 6, 2018 8:38 AM MDT
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  • 2657
    I beg to differ. My question about Stu going to a synagogue and citing scriptures that are likely included in his meetings was answered by Stu as it should have been as he has always been able to speak for himself. My question to him was sincere and he answered it as such.

    SPEW your hatred elsewhere.
      May 7, 2018 3:07 PM MDT
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  • 13277
    There are many reasons to attend and support such an institution, such as social, financial, and community. Belief in a dogmatic and literal god is completely unnecessary. Many people support churches, mosques, and synagogues to help ensure their availability for life cycle events such as births, Bar and Bat Mitzvot, weddings, and funerals.
      May 6, 2018 7:42 AM MDT
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  • 5391
    Very clearly, if one steps back from the tedious, contradictory and often backward minutiae of scripture, the concepts of God(s) descended from primitive man’s need for answers to larger existential questions he lacked the tools to intelligently discern otherwise.

    Why does the sun rise and set; what are eclipses about; what are the stars for; why does the ground shake sometimes; where did everything come from; where do we go after death; and most importantly, WHO do we thank for it. 

    In realizing his own ignorance of such matters, it was practically inevitable that man would cite a source of “higher power”, one that we also could not understand, as the cause of ”all there is”; over time crafting the imagery of that source into an anthropomorphic figure, and of course, in the paternalistic culture that so dominates our societies, a male (father) figure.
    Think: Zeus, Jupiter, Ra, Odin, Jehovah, et al.

    This proposition really only addresses the larger mysteries with another enigma. No truly serious answers reside in this thinking. It has been said, by some wiser than I, that “God is an ever-receding pocket of our ignorance”, an assertion I agree with and can point to the ever-expanding findings of modern science to support. God was the first hypothesis, an increasingly discredited one in my view, but the one still (reflexively) defaulted to by the lazy, the willfully uncurious and the indoctrinated. 

    Further, the perpetuation of this evolving, omnipotent deity concept was propelled over the millennia by the whim and agenda of a class of psuedo-nobility -the Clergy- arisen from and fed by the power of mass manipulation, bestowed unto themselves by the self-serving tenets and influence of their crafted religious doctrines. Power to assert authority over kings, to claim treasure, to command armies, and to control the minds and destinies of the servile, often illiterate masses. This, in the context of insinuating the role of Theistic beliefs in the good of the world, while cultivating themes of fear, shame and guilt to ensure unquestioned adherence. This post was edited by Don Barzini at May 7, 2018 11:27 AM MDT
      May 6, 2018 7:58 AM MDT
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  • 7280
    A quite reasonable explanation of available facts.
      May 7, 2018 11:12 AM MDT
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  • 5391
    That’s how I get down, Tom. Just bein‘ me. 
      May 7, 2018 3:33 PM MDT
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  • 2657
    You really are desperate to have the approval of one that views the Bible as you do, eh?

    You do realize his comment applies to you and your Church as well, yes?

    [...It has been said, by some wiser than I, that “God is an ever-receding pocket of our ignorance”, an assertion I agree with and can point to the ever-expanding findings of modern science to support. God was the first hypothesis, an increasingly discredited one in my view, but the one still (reflexively) defaulted to by the lazy, the willfully uncurious and the indoctrinated. 

    Further, the perpetuation of this evolving, omnipotent deity concept was propelled over the millennia by the whim and agenda of a class of psuedo-nobility -the Clergy- arisen from and fed by the power of mass manipulation, bestowed unto themselves by the self-serving tenets and influence of their crafted religious doctrines. Power to assert authority over kings, to claim treasure, to command armies, and to control the minds and destinies of the servile, often illiterate masses. This, in the context of insinuating the role of Theistic beliefs in the good of the world, while cultivating themes of fear, shame and guilt to ensure unquestioned adherence. ]
      May 7, 2018 4:53 PM MDT
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  • 5391
    There you have it. You’re now a shameless spammer as well as a purile plagiarist. Congrats. 
      May 12, 2018 6:29 AM MDT
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  • 2657
    Ooooh, that hurts sooo bad.

    Are you a closet Catholic?
      May 12, 2018 6:14 PM MDT
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  • 7280
    Don Barzini and I have been trading thoughts, ideas, and conclusions for a number of years on two other sites before coming to this one.

    We have both well and clearly stated our positions on atheism and Catholicism---much to the benefit of those who followed our posts and comments.

    We have a great deal of respect for each other, for our extensive knowledge, and for our Mensa over qualification.

    And we are less than convinced that what you say about the bible either as the word of God or as one of Aesop's fables has any significant value.

    Anyone's judgment is only as good as one's information---so I'm just giving you some information that you apparently have not had until this very moment. Use it or discard it as you will. This post was edited by tom jackson at May 22, 2018 11:57 PM MDT
      May 22, 2018 10:53 PM MDT
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  • 2657
    I am sure he respects your lack of respect for and belief in the Bible. On that ya'll agree. Unfortunately, when he wan'ts to point out bad fruitage of the Bible using supposed Christian violence as proof, he often points to Catholic atrocities. I show contrast between the Christian Greek Scriptures and inquisitions and such while he tries to show harmony.

    (2 Peter 2:2) Furthermore, many will follow their brazen conduct, and because of them the way of the truth will be spoken of abusively.
    (Jude 4) My reason is that certain men have slipped in among you who were long ago appointed to this judgment by the Scriptures; they are ungodly men who turn the undeserved kindness of our God into an excuse for brazen conduct and who prove false to our only owner and Lord, Jesus Christ.

    (Romans 12:17-21) Return evil for evil to no one. Take into consideration what is fine from the viewpoint of all men. 18 If possible, as far as it depends on you, be peaceable with all men. 19 Do not avenge yourselves, beloved, but yield place to the wrath; for it is written: “‘Vengeance is mine; I will repay,’ says Jehovah.” 20 But “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by doing this you will heap fiery coals on his head.” 21 Do not let yourself be conquered by the evil, but keep conquering the evil with the good.
      May 23, 2018 6:46 AM MDT
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  • 7280
    A description and warning about the JW's---God knew that it needs be that scandal must come, but woe to him through whom scandal does come.

    So God wrote: 

    (2 Peter 2:2) Furthermore, many will follow their brazen conduct, and because of them the way of the truth will be spoken of abusively.
    (Jude 4) My reason is that certain men have slipped in among you who were long ago appointed to this judgment by the Scriptures; they are ungodly men who turn the undeserved kindness of our God into an excuse for brazen conduct and who prove false to our only owner and Lord, Jesus Christ.

    And it is the though of those coals upon your head that makes me continue to point out your errors.  The longer you deny the truth, the longer those coals will burn. This post was edited by tom jackson at May 23, 2018 6:43 PM MDT
      May 23, 2018 6:41 PM MDT
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  • 2657
    What atrocities have JW's committed?
    Participation in the holocaust like Catholics? No
    Participation in burning people to death for disagreeing with them like Catholics? No
    Participation in the inquisitions like Catholics? No
    Participation in the Rwandan genocide like Catholics? No

    But you can make the frivolous claim and assume your Church has the truth sense you were born in to it and unscriptural traditions make you happy, for now.

    EDIT: I showed how those scriptures relate to the Catholic Church. Funny you tried to throw them back at me, did you hit bottom?

    https://answermug.com/forums/topic/56354/at-the-end-of-the-thousand-years-described-in-revelation-20-is/view/post_id/480319


     
    When someone tries to throw something I've thrown at them back at me, it's a sure sign they are close to hitting bottom.

    When you finally do, perhaps we can successfully extract you from any cult you may belong too.
       May 22, 2018 11:12 AM
    This post was edited by texasescimo at May 24, 2018 12:26 PM MDT
      May 23, 2018 6:51 PM MDT
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  • 7280
    Amusing, now when I quote a bible verse as alluding to you and not me you consider that you be an example of my throwing something back at you---apparently you think the bible is for your use only.

    ("Jehovah’s Witnesses...compose less than 1 percent of U.S. adults....They also also tend to be less educated, with a solid majority of adult Jehovah’s Witnesses (63 percent) having no more than a high school diploma.")

    You commit atrocities of the mind.  You kill the truth in your ministry---your misinterpretation of the Bible is well known.  You are polytheists---And you challenge God Himself when you refuse to recognize the Church He established and that He chose to work with imperfect men who would most likely---as most men will---commit errors in judgment.

    Since the release of the NT translation in 1950, this version has been criticized for changing the meaning and words of the text to fit JW doctrine. A prime example is John 1:1. Both the ESV and NIV translate that verse as, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” The NWT version translates the passage as “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was a god.” The addition of the indefinite article “a” is added to avoid the conclusion that Jesus is God. Referring to this verse, Bruce M. Metzger wrote in 1953, “It must be stated quite frankly that, if the Jehovah’s Witnesses take this translation seriously, they are polytheists.” 









      May 25, 2018 1:43 PM MDT
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  • 7280
    A description and warning about the JW's---God knew that it needs be hat scandal must come, but woe to him through whom scandal does come.

    So God wrote: 

    (2 Peter 2:2) Furthermore, many will follow their brazen conduct, and because of them the way of the truth will be spoken of abusively.
    (Jude 4) My reason is that certain men have slipped in among you who were long ago appointed to this judgment by the Scriptures; they are ungodly men who turn the undeserved kindness of our God into an excuse for brazen conduct and who prove false to our only owner and Lord, Jesus Christ.

    And it is the though of those coals upon your head that makes me continue to point out your errors.  The longer you deny the truth, the longer those coals will burn. 
      May 23, 2018 6:41 PM MDT
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  • 22891
    they didnt , god created himself
      May 6, 2018 4:48 PM MDT
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  • 13277
    All available evidence points to people creating gods.
      May 6, 2018 8:30 PM MDT
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  • 5835
    Stu, you have not even looked at all the evidence. There are dozens of web site displaying a few of the hundreds of thousands of records carved into rocks and examining the resemblance to known astronomical phenomena. I have a book of forty chapters examining verbal traditions passed down in tribes for thousands of years. They all tell the same stories and they all agree in all details. You have only your own assumptions and bullsnot made up by random preachers.

    2 Timothy 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

    Please remember you are talking to people who have been given a sound mind, and you have not.
      May 7, 2018 8:25 AM MDT
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  • 13277
    Scripture written by human beings as part of the process of creating God is not proof of God's existence before God was created by humans. Sorry, but that is circular logic and is completely invalid. That's just like saying that the description of creation in Genesis is incontrovertible proof that it happened that way, in only six days. No, that was written by humans as an attempt at explaining how we got here. It proves nothing.
      May 7, 2018 9:14 AM MDT
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  • 5835
    There, see what I mean? You can't answer the argument so you make up a sillier argument that you can easily knock down.
      May 7, 2018 4:46 PM MDT
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  • 13277
    No argument is sillier than your circular logic.
      May 7, 2018 7:03 PM MDT
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  • 7280
    Actually, God has always existed.
      May 7, 2018 11:13 AM MDT
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  • 2657
    Yup, God has always existed. Jesus was the first of God's creations.

    (Colossians 1:15) He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation;
    (Revelation 3:14) “To the angel of the congregation in La·o·di·ceʹa write: These are the things that the Amen says, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation by God:
    (Proverbs 8:22) Jehovah produced me as the beginning of his way, The earliest of his achievements of long ago.
    (Micah 5:2) And you, O Bethʹle·hem Ephʹra·thah, The one too little to be among the thousands of Judah, From you will come out for me the one to be ruler in Israel, Whose origin is from ancient times, from the days of long ago.
    (John 6:57) Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so also the one who feeds on me will live because of me.
      May 24, 2018 6:01 PM MDT
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