02 Oct '07 15:17>
Originally posted by vistesd... the desire not to face up to mortality. Or the desire for relief from our existential fears generally.
One could say that the desire for a god (at least a particular kind of god) stems from the desire not to face up to mortality. Or the desire for relief from our existential fears generally. Or the desire to have answers to existential questions that are not answered simply by examining nature—or at least answers that we find satisfactory. Or the desire to ...[text shortened]... sthetics and our epistemology, beyond the fact that both are informed by our sense of coherency.
And yet unique among man's fear--- real and/or imagined--- is this one about God.
... the plethora of religious views does not point to a singular existent that satisfies those needs/desires.
I was thinking more along the lines of the universality/pervasiveness of the supernatural view as the compelling part. While I see the religious view agreeing with your described fear factor, the fact that man has always been overwhelmingly burdened with the God question demands consideration.
... beyond the fact that both are informed by our sense of coherency.
Just the psychological necessity for integrity ought to be enough to tell us something real is afoot.