It seems to me that in the context of the Bible, either many gods exist or no gods exist. Hear me out. [Spirituality & Religion]

If the god of Abraham was a real being and all other "gods" were false then why would there be any competition? Why would god have devoted one of only 10 cardinal rules that he handed down to humanity to not worshiping other gods? Surely that would be a waste of time because fake gods of wood and stone could not actually perform miracles the way Yahweh could and people would quickly abandon them.
Furthermore, if the god of Abraham is really slaughtering the enemies of his people by the thousands and parting oceans and so on...why are people still putting up Asherah poles? And why are they doing so again and again even after God has ostensibly proven his power?

So that brings us to the "no gods exist" interpretation. Of course other religions would have had stories and legends about their own gods and believe that their gods were guiding and protecting them (otherwise what is the point of believing in a god?).
Since that belief could not [i]possibly[/i] remain if their gods did nothing and the god of Abraham kept doing miracle after sign after plague, isn't it reasonable to conclude that actually that's all propaganda and that the god of the Israelites was doing just as much/as little as the gods of surrounding nations?

Thoughts?

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Picklebobble2 · 56-60, M

Ultimately, i think people choose to believe in some sort of deity because they just can't stand the idea that life is as random as anything else in nature.

When it comes to religions, i think most of those were created and developed so that a small group of humans could enforce dominion over the rest upon fear of the consequences.

The older i get there seems no rhyme or reason to much of life.
Of all the things man has created, by far the most destructive is religion.
It divides nations; families; communities; individuals.
Makes some feel crazed with power and others in fear for their lives.

What kind of all seeing. All knowing deity would allow such monstrous acts against his own creations without showing folk the how or why ?

Pikachu

@Picklebobble2

I think that's a legitimate explanation.
People really want order over randomness. We crave structure. It's the same reason why conspiracy nuts would rather believe that there's a sinister cabal of elites controlling everything than accept that shit happens.

JimboSaturn · 51-55, M

@Picklebobble2 I agree. I've been in a debate with mean spirited ones for a week now

Picklebobble2 · 56-60, M

@Pikachu I think that gets to the heart of it. People can't stand not knowing !

For me, it makes far more sense that there be a God of rain and a God of war and a God of.....whatever you like !
At least THAT way you can identify WHY bad things happen.

Oversimplified but you get what i mean ?

JimboSaturn · 51-55, M

@Picklebobble2 people have a need for agency someone must have started everything there must be a reason

Pikachu

@Picklebobble2

Yeah like i've said, it would be far easier to believe in the god of the bible if we didn't insist on saying that he was infallible and omnipotent.

Picklebobble2 · 56-60, M

@JimboSaturn I just keep thinking of all those poor people in.....the former Yugoslavia or Russia or Northern Ireland or the Crusades for goodness sake !
ALL those people killed for not believing what the majority did.

JimboSaturn · 51-55, M

@Picklebobble2 all that killing and dying for nothing