Why Adam and Eve Created GOD

Out of the banks of the riverNilerose a civilization descending from none other nor fathering none later, but exhibiting an endurance never since repeated. The 600-mile long Nile river in northern Africa was isolated enough from the civilizations ofMesopotamiato develop its own unique culture and religion. Egyptians built a profoundly religious civilization that would last over 2000 years, from the first dynasty around 3200 BC, until the end of the 19th dynasty in 1075 BC.  It is unique in the annuls of history for its extensive use of religion as a means to control its masses.  A land full of uneducated people, and no means of mass communications, can be rallied, controlled, and governed in only a very few ways.  How can a central ruling body make certain that cities and tribes 500 miles away obey laws, contribute labor, and pay taxes? Simple military dictatorship could work, but in Egypt, a strong central religion served as well as any sword.

Approximately 6000 years ago, people living in clay-walled cities along the banks of the southern end of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers established the first society to progress beyond the Stone Age. They formed the first empire. A number of times before this, civilizations in other parts of the world may have briefly flourished and then passed away. But it was in this area of Mesopotamia calledSumerthat civilized life took hold, becoming a dominant influence on future civilizations and a major effect on present day society. Although Sumeria’s religious practices, myths, and taboos have generally been forgotten, Sumerian interaction with Hebrews, Canaanites, Phoenicians, Egyptians, Minoans, and Greeks had such a large impact on the development of most religions and western philosophy that it’s importance from a religious point of view is irrefutable.

The transition from the Stone Age to early civilization was marked by the domestication of animals, the manufacture of pottery and cloth, and many other advances that let humans begin to win control over their environment.  These changes, called the Neolithic Revolution, occurred in various places around the world between 10,000 and 3000 BC. Central and South America, Central Europe, and the Middle East went through this phase between about 10,000 to 8000 BC.  East and Southeast Asia and Western Europe went through their Neolithic Revolution between 6000 and 3000 BC.  The actual dates of these transitions depend upon the definition of civilization being used; consequently, it is difficult to precisely place the beginning of civilization.

Things previously ignored became important as man spent more of his time planning his actions and working with others.  Husbandry required people to spend time tending herds, studying predatory animals and local terrain, and finding suitable grazing locations.  Farming required that people learn about the seasons and how to tend the various crops they grew.

As knowledge grew, inquisitiveness did not stop with the task at hand. People learned how to tell the seasons and directions by the position of the stars and the sun, but no one knew what caused the change in seasons.  The sun, moon, and stars played an important role in Neolithic man’s estimation of time and seasons, which eventually created a personal attachment that approached veneration.  Priests used this ignorant reverence of the sun, moon, and stars to deify these bodies, supplanting the ancient totem animal spirits.  The wonder people experienced in a world full of mystery was projected into the religions they developed.

Long before the dawn of civilization, a lack of language skills prevented people from putting original ideas together and to contemplate the world around them.  For hundreds of thousands of years, actions were driven primarily by instinct.  Their sphere of thought did not go beyond their immediate needs.  When they were hungry, they searched for food.  When they were cold and wet, they looked for shelter.  Connecting one event with another or one thought with another was not possible, for without an organized language people’s thoughts were disassociated from one another, rendering them incapable of rational thinking as we know it.  Thoughts, emotions, and desires flashed in their minds like pictures on a flash card.  People could not ponder even the simplest things in life, much less their place in the universe.  But once the human mind, languages, and culture developed past a critical stage, changes came quickly.

The myriad of religions practiced throughout history reveal how man’s perception of God has evolved to adapt to his changing world. His characterization of God differs with each successive society.  Various views of gods and the evolution of religious beliefs have paralleled the development of civilized man, from early primordial man’s image of fierce animal-like gods to modern man’s image of an omniscient, jealous God. Most of the beliefs, stories, and rituals taught today by popular religions have their roots in customs that originated very long ago. The driving factors behind people’s willingness to follow priests, priestesses, shamen, and medicine men thousands of years ago still hold true for most of today’s religious believers. Thus, by closely studying the ancient roots of religious cultures, the psycho pathological and sociological forces behind modern day religions may be revealed. The days when gods and goddesses ruled the temples of Mesopotamia andEgyptare not so far distant, if the period of time between then and now is kept in perspective.

Why do you believe in God?  The question perplexes most of mankind, yet is so simple to answer.  To see the answer, we must just step back and look at our world.  If we ask a thousand people that question, we get a thousand different answers.  But when we look at the distribution of people holding various beliefs, the answer jumps out at us.  95% of people born in Ecuador are Catholic, 97% of people born in Finland are Lutheran, 97% of people born in Greece are Greek Orthodox, 99% of people born in Tunisia are Moslem, 93% of people born in Iran are Shi’a Moslem, and 83% of people born in Israel are Jewish.  Therein lies the answer!  If you live in Ecuador, you would probably be Catholic.  Why?  Your parents, their friends, and the society all hold Catholic beliefs, and this is what you grew up with.  Being Catholic seems totally natural, and you probably wonder why all people aren’t Catholic.  Further reinforcing your convictions are the emotions and psychological reactions you feel when considering other religions, or doubting your own.  Denying your faith would mean denying your parents, friends, and even denying your country.

By looking at how religiously homogenous most nations are, we see a universal trend—children follow their parent’s beliefs.  People are whatever religion their parents made them to be.  Religious traditions, ethnic background, and family legacies are intertwined to form the rope of heritage that ties one generation to its past.  Prior to very recent times, people generally lived out their lives within a small territory.  They had little tolerance of others who would not agree with them politically or religiously.  Fear of foreign ideas, exhibited by intolerance of others, is at the root of most international conflicts and further divides people into factions.  Today, as in the past, international boundaries form along religious territorial lines. The place of birth determines nationality as well as spirituality.  Why do you believe in God? The answer to this question seems so simple—but there is far more to it than mere geography.

This book is a guided tour through the experience mankind calls religion.  Along the journey you will encounter a fascinating array of religious beliefs as diverse as the people on this planet who experience them.  And, more importantly, you will uncover why people were, and still are, so receptive to religious inspiration.  In most educational curricula, very little emphasis is placed on the reasons behind religious beliefs.  History classes teach children numerous lessons about religion’s effect on mankind.  Children learn about the compassion and ambition that spiritual faith brings an individual through studying the examples of Mother Teresa, Martin Luther King, Abraham Lincoln, and the missionaries in the New World.  They also learn about cruelties sparked by religious prejudices such as the Aztec Indian’s human sacrifices, Nazi Germany’s holocaust, and the Spanish Inquisition.  Even today, watching CNN or reading the news, we daily see religion’s grip on people’s lives demonstrated in extraordinary heroics and brutal conflicts as they try to live their lives by a set of sacred rules in which they firmly believe.

I am a big believer in freedom and liberty, and particularily religious freedom.  Religious Freedom is a fundamental human right and everyone should have the right to believe – or not. 

Growing up a Christian and living in America, I understand how important a person’s faith is to them.  Faith in God is vital to so many people we all must defend religio0us freedom.  But when I say religious freedom, I mean freedom in the truest sense of the phrase.  People must be  free to choose their religion and their God as well as free to choose no religion and no God.  Religious freedom is what this site is all about.  Providing people with the information they need to free themselves.

The Price of Freedom

Freedom comes at a price.  Freedom is not free, and every freedom is paid for by some price.  Society pays a price for religious freedom, by allowing anyone who so wishes to maintain a warped sense of reality brought on by blind faith and ancient superstitions.  When the conversation changes to talk of spirits, ghosts, demons, and superstitions – we politely smile.  We put up with people praying for results instead of going out and getting them.  Its a price we can afford to pay.

To choose to believe in a religion is OK in most cases, and even when we feelsomething must done about a religious zealot, we should tread lightly.  But there are times when the price of religious freedom is too high.  We let religions get away with crimes and atrocities that should not be tolerated.  Laws and public policy should be free of religious bias, but time and again we see the faithful protecting faiths that they don’t even agree with.  News about some religious leaders perpetrating sex crimes and hiding corrupt financial misconduct are a routine component of the daily news.  Raped little boys and girls and finances of elderly people should not have to pay for religious freedom. 

Here is a list of some web sites that document the high price some paid for religious freedom:

http://religion_crimes.tripod.com/  Crimes committed in the name of God and religion.
http://www.humanreligions.info/    The association between religion and violence. 
http://www.vaticancrimes.us/    Videos and Articles about Catholic misbehavior
http://stopbaptistpredators.org/index.htm
http://bishopaccountability.org/
 

The Rewards of Religious Freedom

When you finally take the step away from religion, you are rewarded with an exhilarated feeling of relief.  Many religions convince their followers that only believers in God are happy.  After hearing this for years, they believe it.  Its quite the enlightening experience to find out that a person is much happier without religion.  The faithful think that knowing heaven awaits them will make up for years of mental anguish.  They are trained to turn off reason and  listen with blind faith.  Over and over they are told they are happy.  And they usually believe it.  But once a person takes that step away from religion, so many new and truly rewarding experiences make life much more enjoyable.  For example:

No Hell.  Unbelievers do no think that most people are going to hell.  We can look at innocent children with parents of various faiths and smile at them instead of pity them because they’re going to burn in hell. 

Self Determination.  Being in control of your life is very rewarding.   Assuming God will jump in and re-direct it at any moment creates an anxiety and depression.

Pride.  When a person succeeds, it feels great.   Giving all credit to some God, saint, or angel  unfairly diminishes the feeling. 

Compassion.   When bad things happen to others, we can rise up and help for all the right reasons.  Assuming God is punishing someone by harming them makes helpful action unlikely.

Clear Mind.   Understanding how the world really works is amazing.  The superstitions, unreasonable thinking, and bad science required to believe in God is brain numbing. 

More Time.   Having Sunday mornings available for fishing is nice.  The hundreds of hours a nun drills bible verses into children can never be recovered.

More Money.  The extra money we make because we are self-determined, proud, compassionate, and clear thinking can be used for family, charity, or having fun.   Poor widows and unsuspecting believers who fork over as much money as they can to allow some evangelist to buy a new jet is a shame. 

Mercy.  Millions of African lives are saved because good people fight Aids.  Its unlikely a believer will go against what he thinks is Gods will, and help solve the Aids/HIV crisis.

Rationality.  By knowing our limitations, what is possible, probably, likely and unlikely, we embrace the moment and live.  Those who turn over their destiny over to fate, God, or a horoscope are missing out on the adventure ride of life.