Evolution of God Concept
Millions of years ago, when man first looked at the heavens and wondered at the majesty of the earth, the moon and stars --- he thought there must be unseen powers responsible for all these. In his superstition and ignorance, he thought of gods and spirits who could do him harm or as equally do him good.
Today in the 21st century, most of us still believe in a god or gods, disembodied spirits, or supernatural forces.
Why is it that thru the centuries, despite the debates among thinkers, philosophers, and scientists, yes, even among scientists --- we still continue to argue about the god question?
When primitive man was shivering inside his cave, huddled with his family around the fire while outside the storm was raging and streaks of lightning ripped the sky --- he implored the gods to spare him and his family.
And the storm passed and the sun brought in a bright new day, and the seasons changed with clockwork regularity --- so did man’s concept of god change and evolve.
God is a human construct
I propose that the god concept is a human construct --- it begins in the mind and ends in the mind. It does not exist outside the mind. This is not a new or unique idea. The concept came about from early man’s deep seated need to explain what in his primitive mind were “deep mysteries” of nature.
Reduced to its basics, theology is philosophy. We have a field of study called the philosophy of religion. To argue your kind of philosophy, for example, you have to prove it by logical reasoning. And you base your reasoning by assumptions which may or may not be based on reality. Like when one argues how many angels can dance on the head of a needle.
Now of all species, man is the only one who can think, analyze, discern, to remember and to transfer acquired knowledge thru the generations, and to improve on this knowledge from generation to generation.
The child as she comes into this world, begins to respond to stimuli around her --- the blinking light, the moving object, the ringing bell. As the years go by, she becomes aware of herself and conscious of her existence and the existence of those around her.
In her childish mind, her imaginary friend, for example, is as real as she is real. As real as her parents respond to her cries when she is hungry or tired, and later when she wants something. Her parents understand this, and they tell her that she should not be naughty but nice if she wants Santa Claus to bring her gifts. That she should pray to her guardian angel to keep her from harm and the devil. She believes without question in the fairy godmother, the tooth fairy and easter bunny. She believes in the good witch and the bad witch.
Now as she grows up to adulthood, she throws away these childish beliefs, although she may not object to telling the same things to her future children.
Now as an adult, she begins to question her religious teachers not because what they teach is morally wrong but because they are intrinsically inadequate. Why accept for example a religious teacher’s reasoning that the 9/11 tragedy was God’s punishment to homosexuals, lesbians and transgenders? What about those thousands who were not gays and lesbians who perished in the same tragedy? This leader --- has he heard of religious fundamentalism?
Now as an adult, as she goes thru life, she knows she must rely on herself to think things thru. That her mind is adequate. That even if she is religious and believes in a supernatural being, ultimately it depends on her will and personal power to get thru life.
The ever-changing god
From recorded history, gods have been conceived in hundreds of different forms in myriads of ways. They have been given human- or animal-like qualities, only more powerful and immortal. Those that went out of favor became myths and legends. Those that still attract believers modify their core beliefs in order to remain relevant to growing acculturation of the global society.
Consider the following:
Evolutionary Pope
In 1996, the pope said there was no conflict between evolution and creation, that evolution was process in God’s creation. He had also said that hell is not a place but a state, implying heaven is not a place either but a state of mind. And he had also debunked purgatory as a half-way house to heaven, and limbo as heaven for infants who died before being baptized. Putting to question, among believers, if there ever was a soul. The pope having said this, the Church does not anymore mention or emphasize these discredited beliefs in the priests’ sermons and church teachings.
The Pragmatic Dalai Lama
In an interview, the Dalai Lama said he would remain as the spiritual leader of the Tibetan people as long as they believe in him, meaning that he would renounce his reincarnation the moment they cease to believe in his divinity.
After the Second World War, the Japanese Emperor, as part of unconditional surrender, renounced his divinity as descendant of the sun god.
The Atheist Jew
In some Jewish sects, they accept professed atheists as members. As one rabbi said, “I told the rich atheist, “God does not care if you don’t believe in him as long as you do good to your fellowmen. Faith is action. So you are welcome to finance our charitable projects.”
Secular Muslims
The Arab Spring showed that tyranny, under any form of government, will burst into spontaneous uprising among an oppressed people. As witnessed the events in Tunisia, Libya, Syria, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia. These countries are predominantly Islamic and are governed by Islamic law. These countries do not follow separation of church and state. In Libya for example, the victorious rebels demanded the implementation of the Sharia law where a Muslim could have as many as four wives.
Future of Religion
In light of global developments where the ordinary citizen demands his share of his country’s wealth and resources --- we shall see the rise of a more humanistic religion.
Traditional faiths will de-emphasize if not eliminate altogether supernatural beliefs, and there shall be more cooperation among religions to promote social justice. Religions shall be less and less like exclusive groups but more and more like community groups for social amelioration.
Religions that cannot or will not change will split into subgroups or disband altogether. Followers who do not feel comfortable with their old faith will form their own.
The New Religion
The new religion will derive from the scriptures their sacred ideals and aspirations but god is no longer a supernatural being. God has become a metaphor, man’s highest aspiration, symbol of everlasting hope and eternal love.
There will still be wars and violence but he will wage these wars less on religious grounds. There shall still be violence but this comes not from some religious fanaticism from man’s greed and lust for power.
Moral Ascendancy
In every generation, we see moral ascendancy. From feudalism to capitalism, from theocracy to democracy, from slavery to free men and women everywhere --- today’s liberalizing religions will spearhead the ascent of man.
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