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Why is God considered the good guy when Satan is clearly morally superior?

RoboGraham 8 Nov 19
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I have no way of knowing what was in the mind of the person or organization that made the ad. They may have been as unaware of the psychological underpinnings of Christianity as many atheists are, but, at minimum, there are different ways to read their statement.

Yes, the fundamentalist interpretation might be advocating abandoning one’s own sovereignty and worshiping a supernatural father surrogate, but I don’t think the fundamentalists got it right.

I think the original text was a product of the collective unconscious of early agrarian societies, grappling with the psychological mismatch between nomadic and settled lifestyles.

Satan, usually depicted with horns, hooves, and a tail, symbolized evolved animal instincts that must be subdued in order to live peacefully and productively in large groups of strangers.

God represented, among other things, the abstract ideal of higher human aspirations such as tolerance, forgiveness, selflessness, etc., which were not adequately provided by our animal origins, but needed to be added culturally in order for H.sapiens to make the leap to civilization.

In this interpretation, Satan was whispering “Do whatever your selfish desires urge you to do, and ignore the ideals that enable complex societies to function.” “Take no heed of the collective; just satisfy yourself.”

You know, like Republicans say today.

Republicans (fundamentalists) needed to completely invert the original, very egalitarian message of Christianity in order to continue serving their instinctual need for hoarding resources.

Their program was so successful it has convinced believers and unbelievers alike that it was the original meaning of the scriptures.

A clear-eyed look at the evidence says otherwise.

*Acts 4.32 (KJV)
32 And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.

34 Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold,

35 and laid them down at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.*

Looks like straight up Marxism to me. Fundamentalists can’t afford to be the actual literalists they claim to be or their heads would explode in death-by-cognitive-dissonance. Their interpretation of scripture is always, necessarily a complete reversal of the original intent.

skado Level 9 Nov 19, 2020
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Do you also debate the merits ofthe Easter Bunny vs. Santa Claus?

Santa is more generous but the Easter Bunny is less gluttonous.

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