11 Jan 23
@fmf saidIt does.
Perceiving God figures that are variously made in man's image seems to be a common theme down through human history and across cultures
Does this not tell us more about the human condition than it does about the nature of the universe and the nature of the entity that possibly created it.
There are black Madonnas in Africa, and I have seen blond, blue-eyed Jesuses in Bavarian chapels.
Islam, on the other hand, forbids any graphic representation of the deity.
11 Jan 23
@kevin-eleven saidGreek/Roman paganism comes readily to mind. Egyptian pharaohs were considered gods, and several Egyptian deities had human bodies with animal heads, or v.v. The Norse gods (Odin et al) had human form.
Please list five religions of Earth (excluding Christianity) which have humaniform God figures.
I'll grant that Hinduism does have some, so you would only need to list four others. Too bad for you that Judaism and Islam do not have such humaniform God figures!
Good luck!
@moonbus saidBeing "made in the image of God" clearly is not about beards, penises, and arms and legs etcetera i.e. representation; instead, it's about the emotions, motivations, and cognition of the purported God figures which is little other than rather clumsy or obvious anthropomorphization: human attributes projected onto a "superhuman"... "Oh no, God is angry, vengeful, jealous, lonely, sad, etc. Hence: the making of Gods in man's image - a throughline, it would seem, for human history.
It does.
There are black Madonnas in Africa, and I have seen blond, blue-eyed Jesuses in Bavarian chapels.
Islam, on the other hand, forbids any graphic representation of the deity.
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@fmf said"Clearly" how?
Being "made in the image of God" clearly is not about beards, penises, and arms and legs etcetera i.e. representation; instead, it's about the emotions, motivations, and cognition of the purported God figures which is little other than rather clumsy or obvious anthropomorphization: human attributes projected onto a "superhuman"... "Oh no, God is angry, vengeful, jealous, lonely, ...[text shortened]... . Hence: the making of Gods in man's image - a throughline, it would seem, for human history.
13 Jan 23
@fmf saidI agree that God does not have a pancreas or a beard. Man is made in God's image in the sense that man is conscious of having a purpose in life and moral responsibility for his actions, which plants and animals do not. Gods are made in man's image in the sense of anthropomorphizing human attributes (anger, vengeance, jealousy, etc.).
Being "made in the image of God" clearly is not about beards, penises, and arms and legs etcetera i.e. representation; instead, it's about the emotions, motivations, and cognition of the purported God figures which is little other than rather clumsy or obvious anthropomorphization: human attributes projected onto a "superhuman"... "Oh no, God is angry, vengeful, jealous, lonely, ...[text shortened]... . Hence: the making of Gods in man's image - a throughline, it would seem, for human history.
@kevin-eleven saidGood idea - the Buddhist Rabbis probably wouldn't be interested in the subject. 😏
If there are any Jewish rabbis near you, and if you are sincerely interested in exploring the various facets of this question, I would suggest you engage in sincere conversation with them.
@kevin-eleven saidThe Greek gods, and Roman gods, and the Norse pantheon. Most all the Celtic gods. I reach back to the ancient times here, when religions were as yet not quite as organized and largely isolated from one another. The Mayan gods, the Incan gods...well, the list goes on.
Please list five religions of Earth (excluding Christianity) which have humaniform God figures.
I'll grant that Hinduism does have some, so you would only need to list four others. Too bad for you that Judaism and Islam do not have such humaniform God figures!
Good luck!
The point is that humans have indeed been inventing (or discovering!) gods in their own image since prehistoric times.
@soothfast said“Mankind wouldn’t know how to create a maggot, yet he invents gods by the dozens.”
The Greek gods, and Roman gods, and the Norse pantheon. Most all the Celtic gods. I reach back to the ancient times here, when religions were as yet not quite as organized and largely isolated from one another. The Mayan gods, the Incan gods...well, the list goes on.
The point is that humans have indeed been inventing (or discovering!) gods in their own image since prehistoric times.
~~ Michael de Montaigne
17 Jan 23
@kevin-eleven saidWhat do you think these 'serious seekers' are seeking for?
Because they might teach you some lessons in how such questions are turned over among serious seekers as opposed to solitary, prideful internet clowns whose only goal is to fluff their transitory little selves up by making others look bad.
14 Feb 23
@fmf saidFrailty of human critical thinking comes to mind with this question. I am happily ignorant of the religion of the many cultures, however with Christianity it is clear that the nature of their God as it is written in the bible does commit such atrocities that one would think was unworthy of worship. Conditional love attained by fear by a reward/punishment system also is normal in the good book. A woman named Christy Lane sang a song and one of the lines said "you've got the power to save me and it makes me love you so much". I would hope that she had deeper love for her husband than that. I think people are better than that of the God they create. The worshiping readers seem to gloss over the many parts of the bible that give them cognizant dissonance and move on to the parts they like. It is easy to say if God did it, it must have been good. On another note, prayer for things such as getting a job, healing relationships, winning football games etc... with the expectation God might answer them if he so desires all the while young Billy down the street died from leukemia and millions of children have died from mosquito vectored disease despite prayers for them does seem to be the condition of man.
Perceiving God figures that are variously made in man's image seems to be a common theme down through human history and across cultures
Does this not tell us more about the human condition than it does about the nature of the universe and the nature of the entity that possibly created it.
26 Feb 23
@excited-exile saidYou’ve got till October 2025 to research it; don’t forget to let us know how it pans out.
Has anyone been in touch with the dolphins and the whales to ask what they think about this question?
26 Feb 23
@joe-beyser saidThis sound like petty talk you’re doing there.
Frailty of human critical thinking comes to mind with this question. I am happily ignorant of the religion of the many cultures, however with Christianity it is clear that the nature of their God as it is written in the bible does commit such atrocities that one would think was unworthy of worship. Conditional love attained by fear by a reward/punishment system also is no ...[text shortened]... e died from mosquito vectored disease despite prayers for them does seem to be the condition of man.