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 this page last updated September 5, 2008 All Rights Reserved Text: World Copyright GWBAA Copyright of pictures acknowledged where possible |
So, if the Bible does not tell us that Jesus was divine, where did that idea come from? The answer lies in the early church, which spent centuries debating the nature of God and deciding which of the many books written at the time were the authoritative Word of God. Organised religion, like any other activity which brings people together for a common goal, is both a means of co-operation and a political power structure. For three hundred years after Christ's death, individuals and groups argued over theology. Many of these discussions focused on Jesus - was he fully God, only partly human (Apollinarianism), less than God, more than human (Arianism), fully God and not human (Docetism), only a prophet (Ebionitism)? - and such questions naturally led to the nature of God.
Worship of the Virgin grew and was one of the reasons underlying the Reformation, as Protestants rejected the implicit view that she was god-like. For the same reasons, Protestants rejected the notion of prayer to saints - holy men and women that Catholic and Orthodox Christians believe have a special relationship with God and can intercede with him on their behalf. Whatever the history of the church and whatever the reality of God, the key point being made here is people's conception of the deity. Although officially monotheist, Christians are closer to polytheist Hindus - who worship many gods on the understanding that each individual god is only a manifestation of The One God. Christians who want to interact with God chose the "personality" most suited to their needs - which may be God the Father, Jesus, Mary or one of the saints. The aspect of God that receives least attention is the Holy Spirit, because his (her? its?) personality remains almost undefined. This polytheism arises because Christians consider God to be knowable - and if you know someone you know their personality. In contrast, Jews and Muslims worship a single, unknowable God. Yet even in Islam, believers do not present united front. Like Catholics and their saints, many Shia Muslims pray to the historical imams in the belief that they carry special favour with God. We have seen that the Christian Trinity weakens the case for a monotheistic God. This is another step in understanding that our concepts of God may be unrelated to God himself, if he exists. Now it is time to look at the Muslim version of the deity. Next: Chapter One: Section 7 Allah 
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If God existed, he would... admire the beauty of a universe that he did not create recognize that eternity is meaningless deny both heaven and hell disown all men and women who speak in his name denounce the harm caused by religious "morality" help the human race to thrive without him If God existed, he would be an atheist. What is the difference between science and faith? science is certain of nothing and requires proof of everything faith is certain of everything and requires proof of nothing Which do you trust? "I know there is no God" or "I believe there is no God" ??? Check the answer |
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