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Peter Emer

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Is God Real?

Its human nature to seek superiority and its human nature to seek an authoritative entity to take responsibility and control of one's life. So i often wonder if God is just that idea. The idea of a god that is all powerful and all knowing and just superior in everyday than any human being, is the very idea that makes me question the legitimacy of a God. We tend to subscribe to a divine command or an authoritative figure. The creator of the universe gets to set the rules and do anything it likes with its creations like sending them for eternal punishment.

And lastly, everyone that believes in a divine command gets the same satisfaction from believing in something that everyone else gets no matter what they believe in.

I am just interested in the TED community's input on this. I am a student of life, so i take no biases even if it sounds like it sometimes. :)

Related Talks:
Topics: Cognitive philosophy Existence of God freedom of choice religion
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    Pabitra Mukhopadhyay 30+

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    Feb 20 2013: Of course it is. Aren't dream, love and poetry real?
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      Obey No1kinobe 50+

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      Feb 25 2013: So is god a dream or another word for the concept of love?
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        Pabitra Mukhopadhyay 30+

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        Feb 25 2013: If one agrees to accept that God is an idea created by humans, it can be thought of as a source of everything good, kind and compassionate - that's pretty much the essence of love, so why not? Such a personal god does not have to be any less important than the God of religions, may be more because we will not place the burden of the creation or the duty of a conductor of everything but will still seek solace and inspiration from. This god is blissfully real - a friend.
        The God of books, however, is an authority who watches over you for your every act and sends you to eternal damnation if you don't obey his commandments. This god is a ruler.
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          Obey No1kinobe 50+

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          Feb 26 2013: I would agree that it is most likely that the typical god concepts are man made and do not exist outside our minds as independent beings.

          The word god is fairly loaded. If you are using it as the substitute for concepts such as love or goodness, that's your choice, but it seems reasonable to be suspicious that the intent is to attach more to it than this.

          If you start assigning agency, or personifying this concept without reasonable evidence than we diverge.

          I agree this is just as valid as more conventional monotheistic, polytheist or Deistic god concepts i.e. a human concept with no compelling evidence it exists as an entity in itself.

          You are welcome to imagine and personify this concept, call it friend, add meaning to your life, but if you want to demonstrate it exists independent of your mind, as anything more than a human construct, you'll need something more than wishful thinking.

          Personally I value the truth and try not to knowingly delude myself. The natural universe is difficult enough to understand, without inventing gods. Anyway, if it does no harm, fair enough. Perhaps there is an argument that this type of subjective thinking holds us back or leads to negative consequences that outweigh any benefits. Perhaps not.

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