Chapman Cohen, in his "Theism or Atheism," clearly states: "We know that man does not discover God, he invents him, and an invention is properly discarded when a better instrument is forthcoming. To-day, the hypothesis of God stands in just the same relation to the better life of to-day as the fire drill of the savage does to the modern method of obtaining a light. The belief in God may continue awhile in virtue of the lack of intelligence of some, of the carelessness of others, and of the conservative character of the mass. But no amount of apologizing can make up for the absence of genuine knowledge, nor can the flow of the finest eloquence do aught but clothe in regal raiment the body of a corpse."
Religion arose as a means of explanation of natural phenomena at a time when no other explanation of the origin of natural phenomena had been ascertained. God is always what Spinoza called it, "the asylum of ignorance. “When causes are unknown, God is brought forward; when causes are known, God retires into the background. In an age of ignorance, God is active; in an age of science, he is impotent. History attests this fact.
RE:Chapman Cohen on God
by Virgo on Jun 18, 2008 10:04 AM Permalink
That's it! Religion is the creation of man. Only fools will believe that their religion is the very word of God. What is surprising is that in this 21st century of scientific enlightenment, even educated people believe that their religion is directly from God!
Cultists such as Branch Davidians, Jonestowners, Heaven's Gate and so on believe that their leader is/was a prophet and their teachings came directly from God's inspiration. If these characters were there in there 1400 years ago, there will now be millions of their followers all over the earth claiming their "religion" is the only true religion directly from God!
I hope every dogmatic religionists, especially the Muslims, think about it and contemplate on it. One cannot logically claim that some old book was written by God or his direct agent. That is utterly foolish. Once we accept religions are man-made, the dogmatism will immediately vanish.
RE:RE:Chapman Cohen on God
by shaker on Jun 18, 2008 11:35 AM Permalink
Salahudeen, first can you challenge whether you great grandmother was raped or not. Do not be sure of anything you do not know your own identity and you talk of things which happened long before,that too which you have adopted just recently by sheer misfortune.
RE:Chapman Cohen on God
by salahu deen on Jun 18, 2008 11:03 AM Permalink
If you can challenge any of the things written in the Holy Quran, then you are right. But from the day it revealed, no body on earth could challenge it and this is the magic of Quran. If you have any doubt, please try to understand what is written in Quran(At least the 1st and 2nd Chapters). There are translations of Quran availble in almost all the languages. So please try to understand what actually Quran is and the true ISLAM. And also do not think that whatever all muslims do is Islam.
RE:RE:Chapman Cohen on God
by JGN on Jun 18, 2008 11:24 AM Permalink
These are some of the verses from The Glorious Quran. Is there any thing that is to be challenged or magical in these?
"Spend your wealth for the cause of Allah." 2:195
Those who fail in their duty to Allah are proud and sinful. They will all go to hell. 2:206
War is ordained by Allah, and all Muslims must be willing to fight, whether they like it or not. 2:216
Those who die in their disbelief will burn forever in the Fire. 2:217
Those who marry unbelievers will burn in the Fire. 2:221
The disbelievers, they are the wrong-doers. 2:254
Disbelievers worship false gods. The will burn forever in the Fire. 2:257
Allah does not guide disbelievers. 2:264
"Those who swallow usury ... are rightful owners of the Fire." 2:275
"Give us victory over the disbelieving folk." 2:286
RE:Chapman Cohen on God
by JGN on Jun 18, 2008 11:21 AM Permalink
Mr.salahu deen, I have read two versions (English translations) of The Quran and know for sure what its contents are. There are any number of contradictins, absurdities, hatred, etc in the same. As a beliver you might not have observed the same. Pl search for The Skpetics Annotated Bible. It has category-wise verses like Absurdities, Contradictions, Hatred, Good-stuff, etcfrom The Bible, The Quran and The Book of Mormon. Pl read the same and understand for yourself. Anythng that would be written today would a thousand times better than The Quran. Even the teachings of Gautama the Buddha (pre-dates Quran by more than 900 years) are much better than the principles of any other religion in the world. The buddhists think of the well being of all living things (not only humanbeings).
