Freiheit

No, I haven't put anyone on the ignore list. I saw the post, I just don't see why you think that is a prediction come true or why it is amazing--so I wasn't sure what you were talking about.

Anyone could perform the same actions as the man described easily, so how is it amazing?

By prediction, do you mean that he was predicting his own actions? I do that all the time. I don't personally find anything impressive about someone saying "God is on the way" and then "I am God."

Nor was I aware that John was trying to suggest in any way that the man he was describing was making accurate statements. John?

Freiheit

Just because it is comforting doesn't mean that it is necessary. I would argue that on the whole much more harm is done by the concept than good. Some people might need heroine because they have become addicted--but it is something that overall they probably would have been better off without.

No, I didn't. People don't believe because an actual need exists--they believe because they have been told it is the case and have not thoughtfully examined the situation. Also, Christianity attempts to trick people into thinking that they are in a state of need.

Satan is an essential character for Christianity, possibly even more so than Jesus. Without the threat of Satan, Sin, and Hell, Jesus would serve no purpose. In order to convince people that they need God to be connected to Life, one first has to convince them that they are not already connected to Life, and this has been the great goal of the missionaries. That this is ultimately a manipulative fear tactic in order to control people and gain institutional power should be obvious.

What need does God fulfill that could not be fulfilled better in other ways? I would argue none.

Freiheit

Please show your work and explain your conclusion. Do you mean that people like John and I know more about people like you and other Monotheists than you or other Monotheists do? I would tend to agree.

Also, here's your quiz:

Based on the essay:
1) How does the concept of self develop? How is this related to the concept of limitlessness and "should"?
2) Why is a hatred of death evolutionarily advantageous? How does this lead to the concept of immortality?
3) How did the concept of a perfect God evolve?

911

It was just a joke.

911

Based on what essay?

Freiheit

the one from this post--it's at the bottom:

911

OK I have read it. The first impression I have is that, yes that is how religion developed.

A private meeting with God is another matter altogether.

Spiritual Awakening if you may.

Freiheit

The essay wasn't about the development of religion--it was about the development of god concepts. Your experience is filtered through--and possibly created by--your god concepts.

But what is more, it is you that asserted that we should look at the evidence:

You claim that people need a god--yet you have failed to provide evidence for this assertion. Billions of people have concepts of gods through various religious institutions. I have provided you with the way and reason that these ideas have developed.

So we have two things: 1. your personal experience which you interpret as an experience of some god, and 2. billions of people that are to some extent associated with some kind of religion that is in some way associated with some kind of god.

You use 2 to justify 1, but when called on 2 you say it is unimportant. Please reconcile this.