What if?

[Buttons*]

heehee, you think i'd have been around long enough to know where this thread belongs. If it's stuck in the wrong place, I'd like to kindly ask the Mods to move it to it's proper destination. Thanks.

this is a DISCUSSION:

So let's think about it... I'd like you all to clear your head of what you know, or think you know for this. My question is - What if religion (I mean books, dogma... well anything religious) had never existed.

Suppose for this discussion we assume that evolution happened and that people weren't created from God. What if we had never been introduced to religions? How do you think the world would be today?

I really dont know... I just was thinking about this just a few moments ago, and I thought I'd ask other people's opinions.

 

[Hema]

I think there would be no universe.

 

[Buttons*]

I think there would be no universe.

*nods* possibly...

but what if there was a universe without God?

 

[Hema]

*nods* possibly...

but what if there was a universe without God?

I don't think so because everything in the universe came out of God.

 

[Buttons*]

I don't think so because everything in the universe came out of God.

Well then you wouldn't be able to really participate in this discussion.... for the sake of it, we're supposed to pretend he doesnt. Thanks for your time though

 

[Hema]

Well then you wouldn't be able to really participate in this discussion.... for the sake of it, we're supposed to pretend he doesnt. Thanks for your time though

Hyuk hyuk. You crack me up! Sorry about that though.

 

[Scuba Pete]

Religion was created to deal with the reality of GOD. God existed before religion. Religion often gets in the way of loving God.

 

[Buttons*]

Religion was created to deal with the reality of GOD. God existed before religion. Religion often gets in the way of loving God.

so true *hug*

 

[Bishka]

The world would either be in one of two directions, horribly violent, murderous, etc., or amazingly peaceful.

But that's just my thoughts on it.

 

[Gentoo]

I can't say for other people, but I know that I would be very lonely without my concept of God.

 

[dawny0826]

I imagine two types of peoples...

I think you'd have people who would feel dead and lost inside...yearning, searching for something beyond themselves. Imagine the void one would feel if there was no religion. I mean, people have so many questions now...imagine the questions if there was nothing...no structure...

And I think there would be those who lived happily without desiring anything beyond their physical/tangible lives.

Like Becky, I can also imagine that a world w/ no religion, dogma, etc...could be one of two extremes...either totally peaceful or completely chaotic. I'm leaning towards chaotic, as it's likely that people wouldn't have any ethical senses.

I can't kick the word "BARBARIC" out of my head but then...you know...it's not as if there aren't present day Barbarians.

 

[Awen]

What if religion (I mean books, dogma... well anything religious) had never existed.

I believe it was Voltaire who said,

"If God did not exist, it would be necessary to invent him".

I agree, in part. Even without religion, death would have still existed. After all, death is a part of life ~ it cannot be avoided or escaped by anybody. Humans have always strived for power and/or control...over other people, nature, life itself. The lack of control we have over our deaths, though, creates elements of both fear and powerlessness ~ which, in my opinion, would have driven us to create a belief system/religion anyway (Although perhaps the dogma and even the term 'religion' may have differed from what we understand it to mean today).

Ever since humans became self aware, they have been desperate to find some comfort in the forboding reality of death. They also have a great need to understand and to problem-solve. Attempts to explain/comprehend life and death, the seen and unseen, also brings us this comfort. Religion is certainly a way to explore all aspects of life, including death.

 

[Ody]

So let's think about it... I'd like you all to clear your head of what you know, or think you know for this. My question is - What if religion (I mean books, dogma... well anything religious) had never existed.

Depends on your view on mankind. Is mankind capable? Or a bunch of depraved savages.

 

[Buttons*]

Depends on your view on mankind. Is mankind capable? Or a bunch of depraved savages.

you tell me *shrug* i dont know

 

[YmirGF]

I believe in the inherent goodness of not only man, but all beings. I would rather expect you would end up with a lot of Christlike people who were just content exploring what they wished. Sometimes working alone, often in concert with others. I think they would naturally gravitate to a harmonious co-existence with the rest of the species on the planet and would not mistakenly view themselves as caretakers to an absentee landlord. I think it would be great.

Then again, what do I know?

 

[Ozzie]

heehee, you think i'd have been around long enough to know where this thread belongs. If it's stuck in the wrong place, I'd like to kindly ask the Mods to move it to it's proper destination. Thanks.

this is a DISCUSSION:

So let's think about it... I'd like you all to clear your head of what you know, or think you know for this. My question is - What if religion (I mean books, dogma... well anything religious) had never existed.

Suppose for this discussion we assume that evolution happened and that people weren't created from God. What if we had never been introduced to religions? How do you think the world would be today?

I really dont know... I just was thinking about this just a few moments ago, and I thought I'd ask other people's opinions.

Books and dogma are a product of language. So assuming we can keep our capacity for language intact in your scenario, perhaps an absence of dogma would have allowed for verbal tradition to dominate. Which would have been a good thing IMO resulting in a more peaceful evolution to the present day.

 

[BucephalusBB]

We would have more rascism and wars over footbalclubs as we lost one more reason to make war about.

For the rest I think it would run pretty fine. we would make up another theory at each question we have, only the answer will be different. For the rest, I am pretty sure we would have the same amount of love and respect.