Why did we stop inventing gods?

Apart from the snake oil salesmen and telemarketing evangelists---whom many of us can see through---what was it that persuaded you that the rest of mainstream Protestantism--the Baptists, Assembly Of God, even Lutheran and Nazarene were also marketing differently than you believe? What about Jesus? Lets examine the GOD whom Jesus markets. Do you believe that GOD as you understand Him/Her/It is vastly different from the Father God that Jesus marketed..according to the Gospels?

Yes, but I was talking about marketing. Would you not agree that every club markets a different product? Do you believe that you market a behavioral belief set? I think you do. Many clubs and churches do also. The intent of my original question was how (according to the stories) did Jesus see God? Would Jesus have said--as you have--that

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My intent is not to market a God since I am very very sure that any God I can imagine or worship is totally different from GOD if GOD exists.

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Lets assume that Jesus would respond--when people asked Him to show us the father by saying "watch and learn".Do you believe that Jesus knew His Father intimately or do you believe that Jesus had no clue how GOD looked or Who He Was?

So Jesus saw Himself as God? Would you behave that way? So Jesus didn't recognize or know His Father? Seems you contradict yourself here...

yes but in the big picture what difference are you making by spending so much time starting so many blogs to discuss this? Are you actually doing anything for people? Do you feed,clothe,or encourage anyone? There will always be people who worship something you disagree with, but if God is not real what difference does it make? What is the god in you doing for humanity?

no, but all he does is start topics with the same old stuff. I can see if a believer discusses God, but how can an unbeliever (or a believer in themselves) talk about what God or god or (insert deity here) does? For example, you comment on truth claims that we make by declaring that God doesnt exist...which is fine. GIA, however, has stated that humans are the "only god there is" and then talks about God as an evil tyrant for killing Jesus. How silly is that?Edited by Phat, : No reason given.

I suppose that technically you have a point...though I wish you would learn how to format. [qs ]insert message here [/ qs]You and jar think similarly...even though jar claims to be a believer and you ...well...you believe that God is a creation of the human mind. Am I close?

I believe He saw himself as Gods son. I believe he knew his Father intimately. I know what you have said. You emphasize Jesus humanity because you feel that a God dying is no big deal and is not a sacrifice. The "was made man" part of the creed supports your position--but does not answer the question as to what the relationship was between the Creator of all seen and unseen and His one and only son. Yes, it is true that we all can follow Jesus in that we all can go and do for the least of these...you never seem to have had a problem with the second part of the greatest commandment. Where you stumble is in not being able to conceive of the Creator of all seen and unseen having a personal relationship with you---in that He listens to your prayers and will help you with whatever you ask---provided it conforms communion-wise with His will. A Father listens to the needs of His son(or daughter) and may not always buy them ice cream or fix their problems but will give them the strength to make it. Again, here is where we disagree. You guys will say that I have an idea of God the father as a disneyland dad...one who magically makes my challenges in life easier. This all stems from our differing ideas concerning the role of a Father.GOD is not simply some unknowable complete abstract.I doubt we will ever agree because you do not respect the Gospel of John, in my opinion. Granted you can provide some evidence as to its authorship but I feel that when it comes right down to where the rubber meets the road, you go with human evidence over the Creed.I go with the Creed.Granted I want the truth to be the way I felt that my own Father was towards me.Perhaps your whole responsibility kick and unknowable God stem from the fact that your Father was somewhat distant and would not rescue you. I dunno...thats personal.

One side wants a Father who rescues us from our problems.The other side wants us to tough it up as we are all spiritual orphans who need to grow and fix our own problems.And you still never get past the idea of a "genocidal son murdering God."The whole point is that you would have been the victim otherwise. Does that make you angry at God?My whole abstract is based on several preconceptions.Both you and jar preach to the atheists in that jar says we are responsible for the future rather than Godand you say that the God in us---(who you believe is us...) can make a better future. Both of you agree that the way God is portrayed in traditional Christianity is harmful.

Who were you on your knees to? Yourself? I can respect your beliefs only so far.You think that belief in a power greater than yourself is scientifically silly...but scripture supports the western concept far more than the cherry picked scrip that supports your eastern concept.When the truth is revealed fully to humanity, the scientific rational mind will be thoroughly blown away.

Why do you call it religion when it is only psychology? OK. First, my full quote,however. I am asserting that you do not believe in God as an external reality but only as an internal rationality. Logic tells us that an internally generated "god" can never be greater than ourselves because it is in fact our self. Quite simply---we humans by nature do not want anyone or anything to be in charge of us---except ourselves. You may assert that the truth has been hidden by organized religion. I would assert that the truth--that Jesus Christ is Lord and is alive today--is scoffed at by much of rationally minded society. Critics will point out that I am presenting my idea of the truth as established objective fact---and i cant argue otherwise. My basic argument is that God is not an invention of the human mind...though gods certainly are.Edited by Phat, : No reason given.

The main reason that people no longer believe this stuff is because there are many more rational reasons not to believe. Logic and rationality will be the last to believe.Belief is the pre requisite---and it logically makes little sense.I believe that there is and will be a rational reason to believe.Call me crazy. Edited by Phat, : spelling

I believe that I have found a rational reason in Jesus Christ. Agreed. In your case, I'm not seeing the negative evidence so much as I am seeing a lack of any evidence. Do you have any negative evidence to present to me? I never count angels.Just blessings. I am not a religious fanatic and thus never waste much time or energy at all---unless you count making these posts as a waste of time!
I do try and behave as a decent person would---and if i met you on the street you may not know I am religious at all. Some of my church would consider that a bad thing, but I believe that my God--if real---will Himself draw you into whatever He wants for you. If I tried to do it it would simply piss you off worse.If I did know you--in person--I would attempt to simply behave as a decent person would behave. I would not try and convert you unless i felt a need to do so.
The reason I try here is because its a Forum. Perhaps now you can try and suggest something for me to improve my life.

why should i worry about how I am being treated? Why not just treat others better ? Guilty. I think I'm my own worst enemy at times. If I listened to my father I would fare better.

Seems our argument is now focused on the concept of fate.Some believe that either God causes it or satan causes it.Others believe in strict determinism...Creator or no creator.Still others believe that we become the decisions that we make.Perhaps you hold to the view that if a God exists, He has the responsibility to micromanage determinism.