GeoTheo

Suppose God is an idealized version of humanity and nothing more. Will he exist eventually? If this were indeed the case-people's conception of God would evolve over time and improve. People would be projecting this idealized version of themselves and at the same time seeking to emulate it. This would create a positive feedback system assuming mankind made some gains in this emulation. If humanity made some gains in improving themselves the idealized version of themselves they projected would also improve. This would propel them through time constantly improving their collective morality.
At some point they would perhaps resemble the god they originally concieved. At this point would God exist?

Goliath

GeoTheo,

I have no idea what you mean by this.

Sincerely,

Goliath

Darkblade

Since you defined "God" as "an idealized version of humanity", yes, supposing that things really worked out as you posted. However, most people think of "God" as a being, not as an idealized version of humanity, which, by the way, I think pure atheism could better achieve than all these "gods", which tend to actually cause many problems.

Darth Dane

Geotheo, sounds plausible doesn't it?

When we have a high Goal, we can see that we can evolve towards that indefinately. Until, if, we reach it.

But what then?




DD - Love Spliff

Theli

Although I agree with you that gods are based on human ideals (gods of beauty, war, wisdom, power, creation and destruction), having the attributes that we as small humans seek, these ideals are not all good for us.
How many people have died because their ideal gods have inspired them (or someone else) to commit genocide and war?
I'm positive that the more powerfull and perfect (in our own eyes) we become the less need we will have for gods and idols.

But, is it the best way to achieve this perfection? no.

Jinto

Is "God" just an idealized version of mankind? Perhaps - I have found very few religions do not anthromorphize God to a significant degree, so it becomes obvious that the concept of God is at least related to our concept of ourselves. As for whether mankind could eventually become God, I would have to answer in the negative. Our ideals are based off of imperfections, and it is inherently contradictory to perfectly achieve an imperfect ideal. Perhaps it is just as well - if Man were ever to achieve absolute perfection, we'd have absolutely nthing to live for, since everything we want we would already have.

Jobar

GeoTheo, do you read science fiction? If so, let me direct you to a pair of truly excellent novels by Greg Bear- Eon and its sequel, Eternity. Particularly the second of those has a main plot element about how the human race evolves into a state which we, today, could only call godlike. It's not an uncommon idea in modern sf, going all the way back to Olaf Stapledon's Last and First Men.

I don't know if we can say that God is in some way a goal to aspire to, though. While it's true that the OT God had the entire panoply of human emotions and graces, He also had all the many failings of a warlike and primitive culture. And given the way that most religions cling to past ideas- "Give me that oldtime religion!"- I don't see our ideas about God proceeding before the ethical aspirations of the human race. Rather the opposite, really...

GeoTheo

Jobar,
Yes I do read Science Fiction and I will check those books out. I plan to do some reading this summer as I am taking a break from school instead of attendind summer classes. Thanks.
I see your point about the "Old time religion"
I do see religions evolving over time though and I see a kind of cross polinization between different ones occassionally. There is always a conservative element within each religion and one that probably makes up the majority. Change seems to be a process that happens slowly because of the conservative element. It kind of reminds me of DNA. DNA replication is a conservative process but there is an element that allows for change over time.

GeoTheo

I'm looking at the concept of God as somthing that evolves along with the population of mankind. Each person's concept of God is unique to them. But they can loosely be devided into groups roughly corresponding with the various religions who provide an outline for who they believe God to be.
Each of these groups have within them theologians that interpret religious texts and give shape to their respective religions concept of God.
I would say that Jesus Christ would be a good example of a religious figure that has been created for people to emulate. Then you have the whole idea of WWJD. People have had a lot of fun with this, WWJ wear, drive, sexual themes, etc. but When people(Christians) ask themselves this question are they not saying "What would the most moral, compassionate, loving person do in this situation?" IOW If I want to strive to be the most moral,compassionate, loving person I can be what should I do?
I am looking this from the perspective of what exactly do people mean when they say "GOD" and what exactly is going on here with religions and so forth.
The IPU is fine and everything if all you are concerned about is proving God'd existence in space, but God's existence in space is not really the primary interest for theists. Obviously, there is the idea that God must exist in space somwhere, but the primary focus seems to be on the implications of the existence of God in daily life.