[Juancho9]

I just had a weird thought. Let's say we destroyed every single document/image/text(online or print) of anything religious along with wiping every single person's mind of such a concept and memory. Would "God" then be forced to come down and reintroduce himself to us?

Now, I don't really believe in God as he is commonly described(I think we'd be stupid to even try and conceive or understand such a being or entity). And from how he is generally depicted, he would be forced to show himself or bring back zombie Jesus, yeah?

[Arment]

He'd probably just get pissy and flood us again.

[Emitan]

Why would we destroy Morgan Freeman's wonderful movies?

[Horse Detective]

I don't think anything would happen.

[ronito]

so long as there is stuff people don't understand or can't explain there will always be god and religious texts.

[commedieu]

yes

edit;

no.

[Pollux]

Only God knows.

And this thread should be fascinating.

[24FrameDaVinci]

"Homer, this is God....frey Jones..."

[Izick]

If that happened, and there was a god, I guess it would be like a reboot.

[Witchfinder General]

so long as there is stuff people don't understand or can't explain there will always be god and religious texts.

In other words, "God of the Gaps" will always exist.

[Juancho9]

Question, for anyone that knows. Is the bible God suppose to come back ever? Is that a prophecy at all?

"If every trace of any single religion died out and nothing were passed on, it would never be created exactly that way again. There might be some other nonsense in its place, but not that exact nonsense. If all of science were wiped out, it would still be true and someone would find a way to figure it all out again." -Penn Gillette

AMAZING, thanks!

[jdogmoney]

"If every trace of any single religion died out and nothing were passed on, it would never be created exactly that way again. There might be some other nonsense in its place, but not that exact nonsense. If all of science were wiped out, it would still be true and someone would find a way to figure it all out again."

-Penn Gillette

Question, for anyone that knows. Is the bible God suppose to come back ever? Is that a prophecy at all?

In the Christian tradition, yes. A few others as well.

[HeySeuss]

Even if every document were destroyed, we could still communicate with him by knee mail.

[abstract alien]

Considering the amount of control religion wields and how prosperous it is for those involved(at it's core), I'm sure it would arise again.

[foodtaster]

"If every trace of any single religion died out and nothing were passed on, it would never be created exactly that way again. There might be some other nonsense in its place, but not that exact nonsense. If all of science were wiped out, it would still be true and someone would find a way to figure it all out again." -Penn Gillette

I'm skeptical of this. Much of science (though can be deduced) came by chance. If humanity restarted, E=MC^2 might never be found again as the circumstances that led to its discovery will not be present. But, since science is science, I'm sure it would be replaced with a similar formula.

[SalsaShark]

he would probably continue not existing

[BuddyJoeHooker]

We would bring back multiple gods and go to war with those who believe in one god. I would worry about the cultural impact, would discrimination come back? Religion brings morals doesn't it?

[Juancho9]

I'm skeptical of this. Much of science (though can be deduced) came by chance. If humanity restarted, E=MC^2 might never be found again as the circumstances that led to its discovery will not be present. But, since science is science, I'm sure it would be replaced with a similar formula.

True, the naming convention would change, but the laws they were based on would be the same. On the flipside, Jesus would then be renamed Dave.

We would bring back multiple gods and go to war with those who believe in one god. I would worry about the cultural impact, would discrimination come back? Religion brings morals doesn't it?

O shit, I just had a daydream about some new age sci-fi based religious wars where clerics secretly use technology to fool believers into fighting for them and multiple religious factions battle it out over space territory that was believed to have birthed each of their own religions.

[Pollux]

True, the naming convention would change, but the laws they were based on would be the same. On the flipside, Jesus would then be renamed Dave.

Hypothetically, IF that happened, and IF God became human again, and died in some way in the same type of circumstances as he did in the Bible...etc. Does it matter if he's called Dave or Jesus?

[Juancho9]

Hypothetically, IF that happened, and IF God became human again, and died in some way in the same type of circumstances as he did in the Bible...etc. Does it matter if he's called Dave or Jesus?

A lot of hispanics would be named Dave then....

[foodtaster]

Hypothetically, IF that happened, and IF God became human again, and died in some way in the same type of circumstances as he did in the Bible...etc. Does it matter if he's called Dave or Jesus?

The name would matter as the religion is derived from the last name of the savior. Not to mention the cultural changes that stem from the name itself. Though a true God would know this and wouldn't care.

[mclaren777]

Would "God" then be forced to come down and reintroduce himself to us?

Some of us maintain that God needs no reintroduction.

[polyh3dron]

Penn won the thread.

[Juancho9]

Some of us maintain that God needs no reintroduction.

But like I said, if the concept was then removed, do you think you would formulate a sense of God(as he is now) on your own?

[zoukka]

I was about to write about the humans of old who didn't have one big collective religion.

And then I remembered the bible considers they never existed lol. A great base for discussion.

[Pollux]

A lot of hispanics would be named Dave then....

So...?

The name would matter as the religion is derived from the last name of the savior. Not to mention the cultural changes that stem from the name itself. Though a true God would know this and wouldn't care.

The only reason we call him Jesus is because he was Jewish. We call him Christ because the apostles spoke Greek.

So if he was born in Indiana or something, and his name was Dave, we would call him Dave the Anointed One. It doesn't matter what his name is.

Some of us maintain that God needs no reintroduction.

I agree with you. In the end it doesn't matter what we call God because God is. I Am Who I Am and all that.

[Juancho9]

So...?

Was a joke lol

But no, I suppose it wouldn't matter to me.

[Uchip]

A new god and religion may rise
but im guessing that the level of intelligence and reasoning ability are so far improved in modern times that it would have an insignificantly small following, closer to a cult.

[Pollux]

Was a joke lol But no, I suppose it wouldn't matter to me.

lol, I put that as a place holder to think of something witty and just left it since I'm not that funny apparently.

My only point is, it doesn't matter if we get another religion called Catholicism or w/e...if we still get the same message...it's the same. Names, words, titles, those are cultural. The revelation is what matters, and that can be called anything.

[Citation needed]

For which part

[jdogmoney]

So...? The only reason we call him Jesus is because he was Jewish. We call him Christ because the apostles spoke Greek. So if he was born in Indiana or something, and his name was Dave, we would call him Dave the Anointed One. It doesn't matter what his name is. I agree with you. In the end it doesn't matter what we call God because God is. I Am Who I Am and all that.

[Citation needed]

[mclaren777]

But like I said, if the concept was then removed, do you think you would formulate a sense of God(as he is now) on your own?

This question ranks up there with "Could God make a rock so heavy he couldn't lift it?" for me – it might be a fun intellectual challenge for some people, but I find it patently ridiculous.

[jaxword]

This question ranks up there with "Could God make a rock so heavy he couldn't lift it?" for me – it might be a fun intellectual challenge for some people, but I find it patently ridiculous.

Why?

[shidoshi]

I believe the only connection humans need to God is themselves, and that everything else gets in the way of that connection. So, from my point of view, God would prefer to have all of those things you mention destroyed.

Some of us maintain that God needs no reintroduction.

God absolutely needs an introduction, because humans have done nothing but corrupt God for our own uses and abuses. A clean wiping of the slate is definitely in order.

[Juancho9]

I believe the only connection humans need to God is themselves, and that everything else yes in the way of that connection. So, from my point of view, God would prefer to have all of those things you mention destroyed.

LETS DO EEEEEET

[maxxpower]

Well, when the Spanish burned everything having to do with the Mayas and other native cultures their gods didn't come down and introduced themselves, so I don't think it would happen with God.

[mrpoopy]

I always wondered if we could put all the world's religious leaders on a lie detector and ask them if they believe in god how many would fail.

[Orayn]

Something about how he's "revealed through nature" or whatever.

[Bombadil]

The worst elements of religion exist in politics, sports, book clubs, video game culture, music culture, and a whole raft of other groupings and mediums of expression and entertainment.

Removing all mention of god(s) and all other supernatural things would do very little if anything.

Derek Jeter makes 16 million dollars a year and I'm supposed to worry about the negative effects of believing in a meaningful entity?

[Casp0r]

I just had a weird thought. Let's say we destroyed every single document/image/text(online or print) of anything religious along with wiping every single person's mind of such a concept and memory. Would "God" then be forced to come down and reintroduce himself to us? Now, I don't really believe in God as he is commonly described(I think we'd be stupid to even try and conceive or understand such a being or entity). And from how he is generally depicted, he would be forced to show himself or bring back zombie Jesus, yeah?

I really wonder sometimes if any 'atheists' really understand the meaning behind faith.

[FatalT]

I see athiest-GAF is in full force tonight.

[zoukka]

I've always been fascinated by people growing in solitary enviroments cut from civilization.

[Log4Girlz]

If all traces of religion were wiped out, the Mormons would still be the chosen ones and the book of Mormon will spontaneously appear and its worshipers will be saved again.

[likeGdid]

That sounds like an awesome premise. People destroying all religious works to summon God down to Earth.

And when he does descend from that beam of light, we will fight.

[Resilient]

How can you call that which doesn't exist?

[Scullibundo]

[shidoshi]

I really wonder sometimes if any 'atheists' really understand the meaning behind faith.

I wonder the same about people who attach themselves to religion.

[BocoDragon]

There will always be those who claim to know about some "hidden reality" behind our own in order to gain some sort of additional power in their lives. (whether that power is self-confidance, authority/respect/control over peers, etc).

[Buckethead]

I really wonder sometimes if any 'atheists' really understand the meaning behind faith.

Define faith.

Then explain the meaning.

[mescalineeyes]

I really wonder sometimes if any 'atheists' really understand the meaning behind faith.

Evidence and logic and reason are just fine by me.

[jdogmoney]

I really wonder sometimes if any 'atheists' really understand the meaning behind faith.

Why did you use apostrophes? If you're going to use scare quotes, at least go full quotation.

And yes, we do. Faith is clinging to a belief without evidence or despite contradicting evidence.

I see athiest-GAF is in full force tonight.

I'm pretty sure I'm the only person in the thread so far with an openly atheistic response. Hardly full force.

EDIT: well, I was.

That sounds like an awesome premise. People destroying all religious works to summon God down to Earth. And when he does descend from that beam of light, we will fight.