Question by Think for yourself: Are all religions and forms of spirituality fictional or is there any truth to be found in them?
To those of you who would disagree with me that Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Catholicism, Buddhism, and some of the other world religions are simply fictional human creations lacking truth regarding any deities and the “way things are” in general, then I ask that you write “BLAH” at the beginning of your answer.
For everybody else, I ask you what are your opinions on the common beliefs of average people in society pertaining to the “way things are” and what are your opinions on “the way things are”?
When I say “the way things are” I am referring to many different philosophical (and religious) views that you and others have pertaining to such questions as…
Is there or are there any gods?
Is there free will (do humans have free will)?
Is there fate/destiny (is the universe deterministic)?
… as well as many other questions concerning the metaphysical state of the universe.
I realize that most people don’t put too much thought into the above questions and often jump to conclusions far too soon. I would say that most people believe that there is free will (we have control over our actions and decisions) most people say there is a “God” (but the majority of people are most likely almost entirely wrong about what this “God” is), and I also would say that most people reject the idea that there is fate/destiny (this obviously ties in with free will).
Most of views tend to be very different from the most common views regarding these subjects:
I would guess that there is a god or gods (i.e. I think this universe was created), but see the Christian God and the “God” that most people refer to as nothing more than a fictional human creation used to control the masses long ago by keeping them in order and doing such things as lessening crime and “evil” acts.
And also, I currently am a believer in absolute fate and am a hard determinist (I don’t think that humans have free will).
I am a junior and high school and have only very recently begun to figure out what everybody’s opinions are on these matters. I hope that you will share with me yours. Thanks in advance.
Best answer:
Answer by Fireball
ALL TRINITY CHURCHES HAVE TRUTH….TAKE YOUR PICK…
Im Mehtodist
Add your own answer in the comments!
BLAH BLAH BLAH. You are very young and will eventually come to your senses. BLAH.
It may not be the truth, but there are lessons to be learned. Just separate the reality from the fiction.
I don’t believe in an omnipotent diety, I do think we are all quantumly entangled (Physics). I think there IS truth in religion, but that truth is symbolic, allegorical, mythological – not literal. Using words to describe internal experience is like using a tooth pick to carve a roast beef. We create shared ideas based on common languages as our best attempt to share in the personal experience of the numinous.
Is there or are there any gods? no, god is made up by man
Is there free will (do humans have free will)? sure but it doesnt matter, we will all die
Is there fate/destiny (is the universe deterministic)? no and yes, if your a poor drug addict you probably wont get too far.
Dude you rock.
Gods and religious systems are memetic parasites that are hosted by minds capable of conceiving their own nonexistence. They are not entirely without virtue for the individual, particularly since they can ease otherwise disabling indecision and paralyzing grief. Unfortunately, their own necessary rigidity (or, at least, very low viscosity) is causing conflict as our technological society nears the technological singularity (at which the ever-accelerating rate of technological change becomes infinite).
As to hard determinism, it becomes a mute point since, in practice, even if our thoughts and actions are algorithmically determined, it is beyond the capability of any computing machine smaller than the universe to make that determination. It is indistinguishable from true random (hence the simplifying assumption of quantum theory that it is true random). Since true randomness must be the source of free will, we can act as if we have free will, and, as you’ve probably noticed, do just that in practice.
Study Chaos Theory a bit, the limits of algorithmic pattern detection are hard to overcome even in principle, let alone in practice. But it is certainly worth the effort to do so, and it sounds like you have IQ to burn, so go for it!
BLAH
1) Is there or are there any gods?
“I would guess that there is a god or gods (i.e. I think this universe was created), but see the Christian God and the “God” that most people refer to as nothing more than a fictional human creation used to control the masses long ago by keeping them in order and doing such things as lessening crime and “evil” acts.”
1) Yes I could see where that idea would come from however the facts contradict this thought people were more barbaric back then. Religion doesn’t stop crime and evil acts police officers do. There are several accounts in the bible of cities that were populated by rappist (these people new about God). If not for cops it would be the same today I am sure.
2) Is there free will (do humans have free will)?
2) Yes
3) Is there fate/destiny (is the universe deterministic)?
3) Yes
2&3) I know it sounds impossible to have freewill and fate but consider the following…
In chemistry different atoms act differently. Hydrogen is a gas, Oxygen is a gas but you put them together and get a liquid (water).
The scientist doing this does not force them to become water he/she simply knows thats what will happen because he/she knows the elements. (Knowing something isn’t the same as controlling it)
As for Gods control
It says in the Bible that you were speciffically created for your specific time and place. God knowing what you will do will put you where he needs you (like the hydrogen and oxygen). If you are a hydrogen and God wants water he will place you near oxygen.
I hope you can see its not God controling you its God knowing you.