Thor, Zeus and Jesus (rituals, Earth, beliefs, communion, God)

[tom_mich]

The ancient greeks had Thor, God of lightening to explain the unexplainable. (lightening in this case).

Today we wonder at the ignorance of the ancient greeks. Of course, they were not bad people, only their knowledge of the natural word was severely lacking.

Today, we know what causes lightening, but there are other unanswered questions, so, again, we give credit to a god, to explain the unexplainable.

If in time we know that life can occur completely naturally in time, where everything is understood and explained, we will realize that we invented god to give us an answer to things we don't know.

I wonder if in 5,000 or 20,000 years, we will look back and discuss our ancient history with these beliefs in gods (christian, hindu, islam, gods, etc. citing these invisible magic beings in the sky).

We have religion, but we have also always searched for answers, and where there are none, we have just written off the question as (the mysteries of god).

But, surely these old rituals can only last for so long?

[Merlin]

Originally Posted by tom_mich

The ancient greeks had Thor, God of lightening to explain the unexplainable. (lightening in this case).

Today we wonder at the ignorance of the ancient greeks. Of course, they were not bad people, only their knowledge of the natural word was severely lacking.

Today, we know what causes lightening, but there are other unanswered questions, so, again, we give credit to a god, to explain the unexplainable.

If in time we know that life can occur completely naturally in time, where everything is understood and explained, we will realize that we invented god to give us an answer to things we don't know.

I wonder if in 5,000 or 20,000 years, we will look back and discuss our ancient history with these beliefs in gods (christian, hindu, islam, gods, etc. citing these invisible magic beings in the sky).

We have religion, but we have also always searched for answers, and where there are none, we have just written off the question as (the mysteries of god).

But, surely these old rituals can only last for so long?

We are being guided. God is only releasing to us the information we can handle at our level of development. Our job is to move to the next level.

In 5000 years time, if we are successful, we will be closer to making full communion with God. This is a process that has been going on for a long time, certainly since documented history in ancient Egyptian times.

[michel]

Hi tom_mich,


Welcome to the forum; perhaps you might like to post on:-

Are you new to ReligiousForums.com? , so as to introduce yourself to the other members.

As regards your question

But, surely these old rituals can only last for so long?

I think science has wiped its hands of the 'God bits'; whilst science can explain everything that has happened from a second or so before the Big bang, I think they will admit that they have hit a brick wall there...........I believe that we will never understand the full story.

[Pah]

Originally Posted by Merlin

We are being guided. God is only releasing to us the information we can handle at our level of development. Our job is to move to the next level.
...

I disagree. I don't think the capabilty of the mind has changed very much since Homo sapiens. What has changed is the knowledge base upon which that mind operates. If, as you say, God is giving out bits and pieces, he is belittling our capabilty. There is no reason to withold information unless it pleases God to keep us misinformed.

[Halcyon]

Originally Posted by Merlin

We are being guided. God is only releasing to us the information we can handle at our level of development. Our job is to move to the next level.

In 5000 years time, if we are successful, we will be closer to making full communion with God. This is a process that has been going on for a long time, certainly since documented history in ancient Egyptian times.

I too disagree, but for different reasons. I believe eveything you care to know about God, life, the universe and everything is right there for the taking, you just need to become aware of it.

[Darkdale]

Originally Posted by tom_mich

But, surely these old rituals can only last for so long?

As long as religion is enjoyable, it will continue.

[painted wolf]

The ancient greeks had Thor, God of lightening to explain the unexplainable. (lightening in this case).

actually they had Zeus... the Norse had Thor...

The old rituals (ie belief in something 'spritual') have survived for over 60,000 years, and been a part of not only our species but that of the Neandertals as well.

Modern knowledge has not wiped out this 'old' way of thinking but instead freed it for more abstract purpose and encouraged it adapt to the 'new' world around it.

I think its safe to say that should we still be here 20,000 years from know Religion of some form or another will remain with us.

wa:do

[tom_mich]

yes, 60,000 years. But, in the first 58,000 years we still thought thunder, volcanos and earthquakes were god's anger. Now we know better. Modern technology is merely 100 years old (computers, light waves (ie. lazers, xrays). I think we all agree the next 20,000 will be unimaginely vastly different from the past 60,000.

Especaially now we do not throw rocks at the moon like the Neanderthals.

[Jayhawker Soule]

Originally Posted by Darkdale

As long as religion is enjoyable, it will continue.

Bravo - that is superbly sensible!

[Darkdale]

Originally Posted by tom_mich

yes, 60,000 years. But, in the first 58,000 years we still thought thunder, volcanos and earthquakes were god's anger. Now we know better. Modern technology is merely 100 years old (computers, light waves (ie. lazers, xrays). I think we all agree the next 20,000 will be unimaginely vastly different from the past 60,000.

Especaially now we do not throw rocks at the moon like the Neanderthals.

Religion has no business trying to describe the "natural world". You won't find many religious people these days that still use religion for such purposes. You are arguing against a false dilemma. I know there are a lot of folk that believe in intelligent design, but that's only because Science hasn't come up with that great a theory. The idea that God created the universe and the idea that the universe just popped out of nothing seems just as ridiculous to me.