Wednesday, February 8, 2012

FIT FOR A GOD

I was amused at the meeting Sunday when Richard Dawkins jokingly commented that if he were god,  Sedona is where he would want to live.  He had never been to Sedona before and I'm certain the spectacular red rock cliff backdrop of the house in which we gathered was overwhelming in its impact.

It got me thinking about how theistic myths about "gods" get started.  They always get associated with spectacular and awe inspiring settings.  The Greek gods were centered on Mt. Olmpus.  I've never seen it, but I'm certain it was awesome, especially in the pristine state it had when the Greeks first settled there.   The Sioux of the great plains placed their Great Spirit in the spectacular Black Hills.  Arizona Native Americans chose spectacular mountain settings in this state.  They are still very contentious about using reclaimed water to make snow on some of those "sacred" sites.

Once we invent a god or gods, he or they have to have some place to reside or make his/their presence known or manifest.  Hence temples, sacred groves, mountains, planets, etc.  Ancient astrologers peopled the heavens with god-dedicated constellations, planets, whatever.  Comets became feared harbingers of doom sent by the gods.  Thor was associated with storms from which he hurled his mighty hammer and created lightning.    

Cathedrals and other exalted places of worship have to be the most awe-inspiring edifices around.  Your god can't reside in a hovel, you know.

Modern day Christians are still impressed by spectacular "sacred" sites.  On the whole, they are not inclined to view them as permanent habitations for any of their three gods.  They have a more nebulous view of their god being somewhere "up there."  I've dealt with that concept in other blogs.

The plain facts of the matter are that all "gods" are conceptual (and/or actual) idols concocted in human minds to explain the mysteries of nature.  Their habitations are just as imaginary and illusory as are they. 

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