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Fear Factor
Sep. 10th, 2004 08:12 amI'm going to try not to over write (nee, overthink) this next statement (besides, I need to go to work!). If I get to deep, I might muck it up.
If the creator, God, whatever - I'm sort of noncommittal to any one religion, really wanted his creations to worship him day and night, he wouldn't have allowed free will. I'm personally of the opinion that the creator is sitting there watching the largest reality TV program, and only steps in when necessary. Is there a reward system? It's not made entirely clear. People have faith, people believe that there is a reason to stay in the "producer's" favor, but beyond that belief, there is little evidence that you'll win.
Good is good for society, of course.
Religion for too many centuries has been used to hold people in their current situation. Often Christianity was oriented to a past that included serfs, indentured servants, and lords. What better way to keep the serfs from overthrowing the lords than telling them that their true reward comes from staying in the faith, and not rocking the boat in this world. It's only after the Enlightenment of the 17th-18th centuries that you find the true revolts of the people.
When people take control of their own lives, people succeed. It's a tough statement for many. It's much easier to hope that a benefactor will come and take you away from where you are now, be it the state, Donald Trump, or the aforementioned creator.
To quote Nancy Griffith, channeled by Bette Midler, "God is watching us, from a distance"
If the creator, God, whatever - I'm sort of noncommittal to any one religion, really wanted his creations to worship him day and night, he wouldn't have allowed free will. I'm personally of the opinion that the creator is sitting there watching the largest reality TV program, and only steps in when necessary. Is there a reward system? It's not made entirely clear. People have faith, people believe that there is a reason to stay in the "producer's" favor, but beyond that belief, there is little evidence that you'll win.
Good is good for society, of course.
Religion for too many centuries has been used to hold people in their current situation. Often Christianity was oriented to a past that included serfs, indentured servants, and lords. What better way to keep the serfs from overthrowing the lords than telling them that their true reward comes from staying in the faith, and not rocking the boat in this world. It's only after the Enlightenment of the 17th-18th centuries that you find the true revolts of the people.
When people take control of their own lives, people succeed. It's a tough statement for many. It's much easier to hope that a benefactor will come and take you away from where you are now, be it the state, Donald Trump, or the aforementioned creator.
To quote Nancy Griffith, channeled by Bette Midler, "God is watching us, from a distance"
