Okay. Let's assume that there is a God. He's everything the various one-God religions claim him to be. So God is omnipotent, omnipresent, and decides to use that power for purpose of making us feel better. I guess in a way, when you're as powerful as God, there's probably nothing better to do with your time. So he takes care of humans (I'll conveniently ignore the fact that he doesn't give a damn about to other living creatures, who are much more close to humans than humans to God). Whether this be because he lost a bet, or that we're an experiment he keeps tab on, or it's his job, or hobby, does not matter. So what would an omnipotent being, who toils away taking care of us, want in return? So far, it seems the answer has been 1. Adulation - he wants us to praise him all the time, speak of him highly, use God with a capital G, etc. He especially wants a group that's entirely devoted to singing his praise. 2. Unquestioned loyalty - "Everything is God's Will" Your parents died in a car accident? Because of God's will. Wall Street big cats fail and get a federal bailout while employees are out of work? Because of God's will. War, starvation, child prostitution, hot teachers having sex with other students but never with me? Because of God's will. You recover from cancer? You die from cancer? Both possibilities came about because of God's will. 3. Living a life he wants - Through the concept of Heaven and Hell, God has made it clear. You live the way he wants you to live, or you suffer the consequences. And there is quite literally no worse punishment than Hell. You follow his orders, or repent every time you don't, or there's going to be consequences. Conclusion? God is a freaking despot. The "Big Brother" in 1984. Now I'm not saying he's bad. He can be a good despot. A caring one. Better than what normally the word implies. But in the end, he's still a freaking despot who wishes to rule our entire lives. Doesn't this go against the very foundation of US society? Isn't human rights and freedom the very basis of our society? Isn't this ideal the very opposite of what God preaches?
If he is the only God, why would he care if we believe in him or not? It might only matter if there are other God to compete for our attention. If he can create universe, move planets and travel in time, why would he care what we think of him? We are less than ants are to us to him. It is all these various religions that believe we humans would some how be important to God that are delusional.
The problem with that is religious people generally respond with the "God works in ways beyond our reach" thingy that supposedly explains everything. So I wanted to ask this from man's perspective. Things that you or I can comprehend with our puny little brains.
If God came to us one day and said "yea I'm real and lol I don't care about all the suffering, you guys still gonna worship me right???". How would you answer? Would you say no?
God want us to do the best to fulfill our potentials, hopefully some day evolve to beings that are closer to him in ability.
People starving, dying of disease, or killed in war aren't exactly given a fair chance to contribute to the evolution of our species.
God expects to reach a population level of 10 billion sometime soon, that way he can finally save, screen-shot and then delete this file. I mean damn, that game is LIFE-CONSUMING.
If there is a God, which I tend to doubt, I expect he wants me to live my life to the fullest and pass on what I've learned and experienced so that humanity can reach a higher state of consciousness. But that's just me.
I'm afraid that the current iteration of the human brain is not designed to be able to come up with a competent answer to this question. It's a good question and one I have been struggling with for many years. If anyone's answer to the question helps them to be a better person towards others, it has been worth pondering the question.
I have a hard time with this question, because I get tripped up on the free-will/benevolence vs. destiny/omnipotence thing.
Good question. I used to ask myself this question a lot and here's what I decided. I think people (or at least me) know basic right from wrong. I do my best to make the right decisions and try to be a contributing member of society and not cause pain for others. I don't believe in defining myself by any specific religion or feel like going to sing songs with a bunch of strangers on Sunday mornings is going to somehow impact my chances of getting into heaven/hell. If there is a God, I hope that's enough for him.
God doesn't expect anything from us...anymore. We killed him for being so needy, always sending his annoying friends to tell us some 2,000 year-old "news".
I always think about this in two ways. God gave you a brain, and would be pleased if you think carefully with it. (I know, he also gave you a penis, for instance, but don't go there.) As a friend once relayed, in a homily, faith is knowing that any worthwhile human endeavor will take more than one lifetime. That's God to me, as much as any other concept.
I cant help but think God is an idea of what WE think is ultimate good.... perhaps we are the God we seek. In which case I don't plan on wasting anymore of my 100 or so years chasing my own tail. Oh btw... if there really is a God out there, I'd appreciate if you show up for real, not in some sunday schooly BS situation I can interpret in a million ways
