Do we really need a God?

Can people live without it? I think we can.

The idea of God is slavery. Mental slavery. It's a restriction of our thoughts. They say, "God has created you, therefore he own you" and "God will destroy you when you die, because he own you". What we see here by these words? Our life is flowing between birth and death. If our birth and death is owned by someone, then how life itself can be free? No way. If person is not free in thoughts then he/she cannot be really free.

What does real freedom mean?

Does it mean that when all people are really free, they can do anything they want. The answer is yes. But there is a pre-requisite to it. Enlightement. If people are not enlightened then giving them freedom is worse than what they have today. Because that will make them worser than animals. People have to understand what is good and what is bad before they gain freedom.

What is the source of good and bad?

Definetly not religious books. However there are some things in those books that are part of enlightement. For example; humanism, kindness, compassion etc. Past experienses of others and history also proves to be a good source of good and bad. Despotism, fashism, tyranny, slavery all of these are past experiences that humans learned to name them as bad. Those are our best sources of good and bad, because unless they have experienced, religious books still cannot stop them. Then why we need those books and therefore God to understand what is the bad and good if they are useless until we experience them?

If people will focus themselves on enlightening them and therefore being themselves then why do we need a God?

Agree, Disagree, Comments.

I agree with what you said... AND I appreciate it immensely. I think too few people question the religion that has been handed down by years of tradition and in some unfortunate cases, been forced upon us.

I dont know that I want to have an opinion as to whether people need a God or not, simply because I think people DO NEED an answer to the question... 'Why are we here?' Furthermore... 'What happens after we die?' Nothing instills fear and reaction more than the unknown. And who of us REALLY knows why we are here and what happens afterwards. God is a simple, almost failproof, historically supported answer to that question. God has a following unlike any other belief, or theory in the history of mankind and what do the masses know how to do better than to follow the crowd without question.

I'm not entirely a skeptic either. I have my own struggles with faith. I used to be a zealous holy roller myself. But somewhere in the last few years I started thinking for myself rather than believing everything I read, heard and saw.

Everyone of us went through childhood being told... Dont do drugs! And there's no question, they are bad for you. In many cases, even perscription drugs are bad. But I tried it all anyways... because I wanted to know what I was saying 'No' to.

I've taken a similar stance and interest towards religion now. I'd rather have an informed opinion or decision on it. If I read the bible, it's for understanding the faith. I also make sure to read what is written against the bible. Same will go for any other religion as I come across it. Even the occult and esoteric beliefs.

I just feel like religion is an answer to everyone's burning question... 'why'. At least everyone who thinks to ask themselves 'why.'

How unnerving is it to think to yourself... 'after I die, then that's it. there will be nothing else.' I don't know about anyone else, but that just makes me feel so insignificant. It freaks me out! Is that egotistical of me? or insecure of me? I think it is spiritual of me. But I know as much as anyone else... nothing.

I do feel like there is an existence higher than what we are, or I am individually. And I dont mean 'higher existence' in the sense of an all powerful being like the Christian faith has trained our minds to think of. More like a uniting spirit, or something. That is just a feeling though, a gut instinct.