I would personally treat people the same, and I would more or less live my life the same. I myself do not believe in an afterlife and I also do not believe in a deity at all.
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If You Knew There Were No God
- Thread starter PackJason
- Start date
I would personally treat people the same, and I would more or less live my life the same. I myself do not believe in an afterlife and I also do not believe in a deity at all.
No. The practices I do/want to do are not dependent on the Gods' literal existence.
If you ever went to a Shinto Shrine, would you still pray correctly even if you "knew" the enshrined Kami wasn't literal? I would.
The Gods have nothing to do with how I treat people.
Demonslayer
Well-Known Member
In what way specifically would you live differently?
That too.
Or rather, it doesn't affect it in the manner the OP likely supposes. When one believes all things are sacred and of value - that all is gods - all things are then appreciated and honored for what they are. Pluralism and tolerance become central values.
Another way to take the scenario would be as coming to the realization that the things you currently consider to be gods aren't actually gods.
"Sacred and of value" does not necessarily mean "god".
Not for me, and each person decides what the gods mean for them.
I didn't say it was necessary. It does for me, and for some others.
...that makes no sense. That's kind of like saying "coming to the realization that the things you consider to be personally valuable aren't personally valuable."
Not necessarily. For many people, there are specific expectations associated to deification. The OP proposes a scenario where somehow a person has been convinced that the deification is unjustified.
That may mean that the expectations are somehow proven vain, without making the object of the deification any less real.
Because only gods are valuable?
And you're unwilling to entertain, for the purposes of the discussion, the idea that you might ever decide differently?
Ah... I could see how that could work in the presence of such expectations, which hadn't occurred to me because they're generally things I try to avoid.
Because only gods are valuable?
Uh... no? What?
If something has personal value to someone, then it doesn't matter whether anyone else agrees: that thing has personal value to that person. Likewise, deification is often a very personal thing, and so the same thing might be a God to one person or group, while not being so to another, and neither is necessarily wrong.
I'm gonna stop you right there, because if that's all you're basing your judgment of all Hindu religions on, then it betrays a HUGE misunderstanding of every single one of them. Brahma isn't even present except maybe as a footnote in many of them, nor is he even worshiped very much (iirc, I think he's got... only two temples dedicated to him in India?)
The label on the surface - the word "god" - has never been what's important. It's the substance behind it. And, if the substance behind it ever disappeared - the awe and wonder at this beautiful world we live in - I would be clinically depressed and probably commit suicide. No, that's not something I'm willing to entertain, and I'm trying not to be appalled by the suggestion.
Jabar
“Strive always to excel in virtue and truth.”
I am not basing it on all Hindu beliefs, the only religious scriptures i approve is the Vedas which has the same beliefs as Quran. @Riverwolf I am just stating that to the Hindus who worship Brahma. You say barely? That is the most popular belief in Hindus.
Shadow Wolf
Certified People sTabber & Business Owner
God is such a low priority on my list that it wouldn't change anything.
...how much have you actually researched the historical Vedic religion?
Since when? I used to practice Shaiva Hinduism and barely ever came across passing mentions of him.
No, they are not.
Quite on the contrary really.
Not everyone feels the need for Islamic-shaped religion.
It is no big deal at all. But you are not really asking for my take on it, now are you?