(May 19, 2009 at 4:40 pm)Saerules Wrote: The popular forms of gods (being all-powerful, all-encompasing, all-loving, and/or all-knowing [etc.]) are completely impossible. If one defines their gods without these charicteristics: their gods might be possible.
However, the Christian god is supposedly all-powerful, all-encompasing, all-loving, and all-knowing. This makes the Christian god false. Where there is falsehood... there is also truth. An unwavering will is only possible in those who cannot realize the truth. This is only possible through either extreme lack of inteliigence, or by serrious brainwashing.
icthus, if you have an unwavering will: one or the either must be true.
I'd prefer to see it as the popular forms of gods are completely impossible practically. There are still many things that cannot be explained, e.g. ghosts, U.F.O.s, etc, I think mankind hasn't reached that stage where he's able to completely dismiss a possibility, but rather he has the duty to think and question his belief, and believe accordingly.
Your second point does remind me of a part from Nietzsche's AntiChrist.
I quote, "In order that love may be possible, God must become a person; in order that the lower instincts may take a hand in the matter God must be young. To satisfy the ardor of a woman a beautiful saint must appear on the scene, and to satisfy that of the men there must be a virgin."
Yes, it does seem that the Christian God tends to all classes in society, especially in the distant past where conflict was abound. But nonetheless, if such a being does exist, his power to remain hidden from human eye would be out of the question, the real question would instead be why.
I would attribute a majority of Christians to severe brainwashing; to be brought up in a strict Christian family does leave a mark on a child's mind, so yes, in that sense, Christianity is rearing its head towards the younger generation in order to secure its place in theology in the future.
However, I wouldn't draw lack of intelligence to such beliefs. Some of the Christians I know are quite clever, some are even more versed in Philosophy than most of their age. Perhaps the lack of freedom of will? Or perhaps contempt and apathy within one's religion? Those would be better explanations.
~We, the atheist, in creating a purpose for ourselves where there was none, are greater than God himself.~
