The Concept of God

A rational approach to religion

For simplicity sake lets make ourselves religiously independent for the length of our reading and change our  perceptions to that of a practical man. What is religion? How did it come to exist?   

It is the rational man who truly made religion. Religion was made to counter man's inability to foresee future.(No wonder religious leaders were called prophets). Its a system created to protect our average teenager from making mistakes they will regret in future(sermons/analogies/stories). Its a system synthesized to make common man understand the limits of his egoism (selfishness) and the value of coexistence(to teach service to man through service to god). Its a system that helps you coordinate and perform myriads of day to day things in the right manner to maximize your effectiveness (religious rituals and practices). Its a system that draws the boundaries for your indulgences and prevents you from crossing it (concept of hell/heaven).. Its a system that helps you control your intransigence and see the bigger picture (sin and righteousness).  

Religion is teaching somebody a way of life. It is like the story that a mother tells her baby growing up as to what to do and what not to. Sometimes its harder for the baby to understand at its age. So the mother invents analogies, stories, myths and practices for it to comprehend and establish a guiding path during the growing phase. Religion is somewhat similar; it was invented by our elders to establish a guiding path for the future generation during their growing phase. (However Its much more complicated as its easy to teach a child to walk than to teach man to live). Technically for every child their parents are their first religious leaders. 

Are Religions perfect? No it is not. Religions were invented and compiled by some of the wisest elders of their time. However as time changes, humans evolve. And as humans evolve so should their religions. It is important for us to understand and evolve our religious practices with time.

Can a religious man ever be truly rational? Why not. It's like asking 'will the child ever grow up?'. Of course it will, or rather it should. It is upto us to grow up and understand the truth behind the path and interpret the analogies, practices and stories for its true purpose rather than following it by rote. 

So what is the concept God? There is no single unique answer. But here is my theory for it.

There are three types of confidence in life.

1. The confidence you have in your abilities to perform something (self confidence)

2. The confidence others have in your abilities to perform something (secondary confidence)

And when both these fail you search for the 3. Third Confidence - GOD

God is a concept created to help you perform well when the odds are really stacked against you. When there is no faith from both inside yourself or from others close to you, you want to put your faith in something external, dump your self doubts and lean against something for support and perform your best, you rely on your third confidence - GOD.

Author's Note

Any review is welcome

Reviews

[Willard Wells]

Try "up to" rather than "upto". I make the same mistake day after day. Without dealing with the story as you said the structure and flow is fine. Nothing else jumped out at me but I expect part of that was the content.

Keep writing.

[Gorgon]

Thank you again for the review...