Earlier this week, I was watching one of the Christian-content religious channels on television (there are two such ‘church channels’ in my city) and I was listening to the televangelist say that “even if you have no friends in this world, God will be your friend.” Immediately after hearing these words, I was struck by how much “God” sounds like the imaginary friends that children sometimes invent to keep themselves company. If your child were to tell you that she played with “Magna” all afternoon, and you know she was alone in her bedroom the whole time, you might worry about your child’s emotional well-being. What, then, should we think when adults say they talk with “God” (or “Jesus”)? Given that there is no more tangible proof for the existence of “God” (or “Jesus”) than there is for “Magna,” are we not justified in asking if “God” (or “Jesus”) is merely an imaginary friend for adults? Indeed, “God” appears to serve the same purpose for adults that “Magna” serves for little children: providing comfort and companionship when no actual human is available.
Is God merely an imaginary friend for adults? – Dangerous Intersection
So, people have experiences with God that they are convinced is real. I don't doubt this, having had such experiences myself. A real issue though is adults when claim to know the difference between real and imaginary. The difference being they would conscious of creating an imaginary deity and having this knowledge of conscious creation, they'd know positively themselves as being the source of the character.
However what if it is not a conscious creation? What if the unconscious mind were capable of creating the experience of such a deity/entity unaware to our conscious knowledge?
Consider when you dream, you dream of someone you know or perhaps a stranger. You didn't consciously create them, are not directly controlling their actions. They act completely autonomous of your thoughts, you have no direct control over these individuals you experience in your dreams.
Is it not possible for the God or gods you experience to be one such creation of your unconscious mind? And/or if you do not believe this is the case, how would you know. How could you test it?
Is God merely an imaginary friend for adults? – Dangerous Intersection
So, people have experiences with God that they are convinced is real. I don't doubt this, having had such experiences myself. A real issue though is adults when claim to know the difference between real and imaginary. The difference being they would conscious of creating an imaginary deity and having this knowledge of conscious creation, they'd know positively themselves as being the source of the character.
However what if it is not a conscious creation? What if the unconscious mind were capable of creating the experience of such a deity/entity unaware to our conscious knowledge?
Consider when you dream, you dream of someone you know or perhaps a stranger. You didn't consciously create them, are not directly controlling their actions. They act completely autonomous of your thoughts, you have no direct control over these individuals you experience in your dreams.
Is it not possible for the God or gods you experience to be one such creation of your unconscious mind? And/or if you do not believe this is the case, how would you know. How could you test it?