What if all the gods/goddesses exsist?

Originally posted by Toltec
I feel the fact that the general message of each system of belief is the same speaks volumes its all the same being, presenting hisself in ways, each culture could understand and relate to.

Any thoughts?

That in a way seems very true, that all the god/goddesses exist becuase, maybe they are all the same. That different religions and beliefs happened because everyone can't believe the same way, and the 'god/goddess' knew this, so made it so they were shown as more than one. For they all have the same purpose, to be a better person for your world you can get to heaven or whatever they chose to call it.

lets ask another question here since we're all playing that popular game "hypotheticals".....

what if no gods/goddesses or dieties of any kind exist and they are all just works of fiction?

i'm not a big believer in coincidences but it is completely possible that different cultures came up with beliefs systems that are similar in morals and principles because thats how most humans think to begin with.



not trying to rain on anyones parades but lets try to keep things in some kind of perspective. if one is possible then the opposite is possible and all views should be discussed/looked at.

Originally posted by Seekerof
I have read alot of mythology books....

Oh, and I would have to admit that I was a big reader of Marvel Comic's "Mighty Thor" comic back in my youth....hush...hehehe

regards
seekerof

Forsooth!

Take hold of thy Mystic Mjolnir and maketh haste in pursuit of evil Loki, who but yesterday descendedeth the rainbow bridge to Midgard in pursuit of mischief and ATS mortal women.

He couldst best thee Thor - but not until that day the Jackal defeateth the Lion!


No, no - that's not your Mjolnir - the hammer, Thor, the hammer.

[Edited on 21-8-2003 by MaskedAvatar]

dern.....the secret is out now....

regards
seekerof

Originally posted by ubermunche
Patric Harpur in his book Daimonic Reality postulates that there is some kind of intelligence/entities with the ability to interact with us in our world, manifesting in many different guises from ufo's to fairie and sometimes as religious figures (Marian visions/the god Pan) the disturbing thing is that often these encounters have an element of the trickster about them, causing confusion, deceit and disallusionment amonst those they appear to/interact with. Although I would hesitate to use this to explain all paranormal events as the work of these daimons, it's a sobering thought that we may sometimes be the plaything of the gods.

This is an interesting concept. It also supports some theories I have read on the first interaction between Moses and God. The theory being that Moses, being raised the Egyptian priesthood, was accustomed to the Egyptian gods. These gods were more like "slave-gods" if you will, in that if the priest wanted to envoke the powers of a particular god he would summon that god by name. So when Moses asked God "what shall I tell them your name is?" he was asking from that perspective. The name of the god which would be summoned. Further, the response by God could be viewed as "Moses first lesson" from God...basically, No, I don't work that way. Kind of a don't call me, I'll call you statement.

Originally posted by Toltec
I feel the fact that the general message of each system of belief is the same speaks volumes its all the same being, presenting hisself in ways, each culture could understand and relate to.

Any thoughts?

They all seem to be about peacefullness and becoming a better person for the good of all and the god(s) They all seem to be about the same thing. Yet, what irks me is they won't or they just can't seem to even try and related and understand other cultures and ways!

Actually, most religions (especially Christianity) seem to instill that their followers are slavishly devoted to their deity....not personal enlightenment.

That is mostly only seen in religions such as Buddhism, etc.

Originally posted by Gazrok
Actually, most religions (especially Christianity) seem to instill that their followers are slavishly devoted to their deity....not personal enlightenment.

That is mostly only seen in religions such as Buddhism, etc.

A lot of it is devotion to thier deity. But do you really think that they'd be so devoted if they would recieve none in return? They are promised hope and a better way of 'living' after death, so they show devotion so that they can supposably earn it.

lets ask another question here since we're all playing that popular game "hypotheticals".....
what if no gods/goddesses or dieties of any kind exist and they are all just works of fiction?

That's a good point to bring up. Maybe none of them exsist, maybe only one, maybe them all. I guess we won't find out until we die will we?

Its apparent that so much effort with respect to history has been placed into emphasizing our differences people have in the past as well as in the present believed the similarities are not important.

Which is not a good thing.

Some would even say that what I just placed in print is actually heresy (even today).

I agree, and that's not good at all. I fear since it's been so put into the faiths that people follow it will be hard to get them to accept differences.

Im with seeker on this one. The gods and godesses are facets of the whole of the divine being humanity percieved, but because they could not understand the concept of a great being with multi personalities, both good and evil, they big spook was broken down into little spooks. Thus, each culture created the faces of god they percieved. A human or animal face on the divine makes it easier for people to relate, communicate, and appease. the abstract concept of a god or force was simply too much for ancoent people to comprehend, thus, pantheons and divisions of gods.

I think the great force they were trying to commune with was nature and natural law, from everthing from trees and plants, to life and death, animals, disaters, and strange forces of nature, going beyond this planet and into the infity of space.

That's the thing the Infinity of Space which up until about say 100 years ago was not really even taken seriously.

To whit, our differences in the face of all that, are in reality insignificant.

But with respect to our similarities well, that is a completely different story.

Any thoughts?

[Edited on 23-8-2003 by Toltec]

Originally posted by Skadi_the_Evil_Elf
Im with seeker on this one. The gods and godesses are facets of the whole of the divine being humanity percieved, but because they could not understand the concept of a great being with multi personalities, both good and evil, they big spook was broken down into little spooks. Thus, each culture created the faces of god they percieved. A human or animal face on the divine makes it easier for people to relate, communicate, and appease. the abstract concept of a god or force was simply too much for ancoent people to comprehend, thus, pantheons and divisions of gods.

I think the great force they were trying to commune with was nature and natural law, from everthing from trees and plants, to life and death, animals, disaters, and strange forces of nature, going beyond this planet and into the infity of space.

I agree with you on this fact.

Illmatic, where in the bible does it say we're gods? Please show me..........

I'd like to know exactly why humans stopped worshipping the Sun as their god. That's much more logical. At least you can see it and feel it. And it is responsible for the survival of our solar system, if not much more. Religion was created by early governments to keep people in line. It's no more than the first set of laws, enforced the only way they knew how....by instilling fear. That's the same tactics we use today.

Maybe realigion in a way is true, evan if it was created to make order, or fear. I just think people don't worship the sun because we now know it's a star, and maybe others just had a hunch it wasn't?