by Marcia Smith

Created on: January 17, 2009

God is a concept, and that concept has evolved over time.

Back when man's thinking state began; when he had time for thoughts outside of how he was going to make it through another day, he began to wonder just how things worked perhaps. He may have noticed that at times, when things were supposed to be going smoothly, they somehow did not. Perhaps he missed that shot at the night's meal. Perhaps the well ran dry and he began to have ideas about the causes of things. Then there were times when the skies opened up, and the forces of nature had their way for the moment. Whatever,whoever, was the cause of these events was more powerful than he.

He looked around. He was not outside the effects of life going on round him, rather he was simply another player on the field. There were animals larger, stronger, and perhaps even smarter, and more cleaver. What was different? Men worked together with others of his kind in order to better the chances for his survival. He was a social creature. His concept of God was no less. His first ideas of God was plural. There was not just a God, but any Gods and Goddesses assigned to hold court over all the affairs of mankind. Not only was the Gods responsible for the outcome of the affairs of man but they had relationships with each other. The Gods and Goddesses could be benevolent, angry, kind, just, unjust, tricky, sneaky and so on. They had lovers and were fighters, and fathers, and mothers. In short, man made God in his own image.

Later, man began to see the problems with trying to control the actions of others through the use of many Gods, and Goddesses and began to assign everything to "One True God". Everything outside that concept became "pagan" and unacceptable to those that would control. It is much easier to assign desireable traits, and wants and needs to one God than to try to appease many. So, for the sake of better control, many Gods became One God. A peson that is being looked on by many God and Goddesses cares less for trying to worship each of those and became more interested in honoring them or recognizing the benefits of that recognition. Then because further control was required man created the idea that there was a being responsible for anything outside the favorable consideration of the One True God and this was part of the process of convincing people that the God they were worshipping (a horned God named Cernunos or Herne) was actually a demon or devil (Satan) and anything that was not acceptable to the leaders

• 1
• 2
• Next Page >>