As a spiritual-futurist, I have a BA degree majoring in history. One cannot know the future without knowing the past which holds clues to what is on the horizon. The world is in such a rapid expansion of knowledge that we are close to entering a tipping point that will forever change earth as we know it.
Where did we get the concept of a "straw man"? One folk story says that it originated with men who stood outside of courthouses with a straw in their shoe in order to indicate their willingness to be a false witness. Another is that a man made of straw, such as those used in military training, is easy to attack. I'm going to use the latter account.
It's easy for most non-religious individuals to attack modern-day Christianity (and other religions).
Scientists don't need to even give a thought to giving any credibility to God until the major religions of the world can come to a common definition of God. Religions generally are still trying to determine WHAT GOD IS! I believe in "creationism", but not Biblical creationism which is a straw man that's easily attackable even with the likes of another straw man- evolutionism!
The Western straw God(s) are likewise easy targets
>God is a superhuman being living somewhere out there.
>God is sort of a "Grandfatherly figure" who loves to give gifts.
>God is a demanding schoolmaster who is quick to use the "stick" to correct.
>God is a sadistic tyrant who created faulty beings that would never function properly and need to be sent to an eternal hell for some reason that escapes intellectual sincerity.
The "popular God" that encompasses the mentions above and a host of other anthropomorphic concepts can easily be shot down (like the military straw man) when using logic, philosophical integrity, and common sense. Ah, but what well meaning fundamentalist needs to answer to anything other than obedience to what they've been TOLD to BELIEVE? :-(
Over the dozens of centuries religion has become more sophisticated or has attained a higher level of consciousness; however, we have miles to go before we can sleep-rest. The God who created the universe isn't the same God that we've created in our religious imaginations, nor is He-She-It, the same God that we find in most of the Judaeo-Christian Bible. I embrace the view though that the Creator-Father-Consciousness is like Jesus described, as far as his language for the day 2,000 years ago would allow.
If Jesus were to return today, He'd use different language. In fact, He is: the Spirit IS. Why are we resisting what the Spirit-Consciousness is NOW saying? The expansive and ever enlightening illuminations of God are for our benefit, joy, and salvation (don't use that last word as religion has boxed it in!). :-)
Has anyone seen Dorothy or the Tin Man?
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