Yes, indeed! And I endorse them wholeheartedly - except for that unfortunate bit about soldiery. — Vera Mont
Sure, and the people "interpreting" His will. But unlike conquest: you are persuaded to place yourself under their rule: you can't fight back.More to the point of this one reply, doesn't this then mean that we are subjugated to Him? — javra
In religion, by imploring and bribing (with sacrifice) the deity to fix your weather, grow your crops, keep the floods off your land, smite your enemies and win your football games.Otherwise expressed, how can one control the world without in any way subjugating it? — javra
Not Horace - just a nice, clever man who never did any military service.Perhaps you even married him? — universeness
Nice. Is the following still the case?just a nice, clever man who never did any military service. — Vera Mont
Is the following still the case? — universeness
Generalizations are abstractions from immediate reality (opinions ; beliefs), and shouldn't be "pushed" into the realm of "accurate" empirical Facts. However, your "guess" is also a conjecture, and may not apply to specific situations.I think many would agree but I wonder how accurate this is and how far it can be pushed. . . . . My guess is that an intense relationship between gods and people is more likely to be an expression of self-love than a relationship between the corporeal and the transcendent. — Tom Storm
Their meaning-of-life may be more social than religious. — Gnomon
Otherwise expressed, how can one control the world without in any way subjugating it? — javra
In religion, by imploring and bribing (with sacrifice) the deity to fix your weather, grow your crops, keep the floods off your land, smite your enemies and win your football games.
(I never said this part worked!) — Vera Mont
I get your reply above, but with the understanding of terms I've presented, I take it that prayers and such are generally about influencing situations rather than controlling them — javra
Awfully narrow view of divinity as concept. — javra
what exactly is metaphysical about the bible? — javra
I know. Geez! — Vera Mont
Well, of-bloody-course!! Their gods are bullies who approve of subjugation and submission. That's what makes empires great. — Vera Mont
Most religions attempt to answer the question of human life. Probably the Catholic Church is the best at offering a simple solution. “God Made us to love and serve him”. What the heck does that mean. What could little old me do that would be meaningful to a God? Why would a God want 8 billion of us?
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