Had to get a word in before I have to leave. I don't want this to be interpreted as a personal attack, or as a dismissal of valid and reasonable concepts. Instead, this is to be seen as simple a perspective on something I hold important to me and that is what most would understand as God.
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Originally Posted by v3d4
when we give basic religious instruction to little kids we talk about God as if God is a person. having this idea of God as a person make it easier for kids to begin thinking about (and developing) their self and the relationship between "self" and the entire universe. so thats why we talk about God as a person.
eventually ppl largely stop believing in God or they stop believing in "God as person"
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I believe this is tragedy. 2000 years ago our cultural knowledge base was completely different. The amount of available information humanity possessed 2000+ years ago was much less then what we have now. This leads to an incredibly narrowed, restricted, and particular way of relating. What I will refer to as the "God concept" is so far and beyond the available information that it cannot be related to. We then develop symbolic representations that are then used to "bridge" these distances that are created by our inability to relate.
The "God concept" represented within the OT, NT, and that sort of time period (not to imply that it is somehow unique to that time period as it is not) are of minimal application to todays society. Back in the day, there's a good chance all of this was taken literal, and it wouldn't be stupid to do so given the context. Now, everything in the bible is open for interpretation, to a degree.
Given the context of modern civilization, I see very little need for this particular God concept to be employed. In fact, I would say that I have on many occasion witnessed situations where it was indeed detrimental. I think it's time we dropped the book, and focused on the meaning, ya know?
I myself use many various concepts that are more efficient to me for relating to this overall God concept. I identify heavily with these concepts and my image as portrayed to others will include these concepts. I do so with the knowledge that these concepts are the ones that are best suited for me. I don't want to replace your concepts, be they Abrahamic or otherwise. I want you to be free to find the concepts that are best suited for you. So along as your freedom in finding these concepts does not in some way inhibit the freedom of another's ability. This would probably be the one possible moral absolute candidate I've come across. Do whatever you want, believe whatever you want, live however you want, so long as it does not inhibit another person's abilities to do the same. Once you inhibit another, you have agreed with God to take part in a dangerous game. However, I feel as if our particular existence is the manifestation of just this agreement on a grandiose scale.