HOW MAN ESTABLISHED 'GOD' IN HIS OWN IMAGINATION ?
"Man is, and always has been, a maker of gods. It has been the most serious and significant occupation of his sojourn in the world."
(John Burroughs / 1837-1921 / American essayist).
"...Jesus was not considered the son of 'god' during his life time. Many years after the death of Jesus ,his stories were written in the Bible.The authors glorified him through poetic exaggeration.Once the magical stories of Jesus were documented in the Bible,the readers considered them as true happenings.Later generations had no way to disapprove these stories. Thus,Jesus was designated as the son of 'god' only after his magical acts were documented in the Bible.
Similarly,the Buddha was not identified as a 'god' in his life time by his disciples or any of the Hindu priests.He was recognized as a great teacher.He himself denied the existence of 'gods'.He never recognized any Hindu 'gods' such as Vishnu,Shiva or Shakti.Neither had he exhibited any magic in his large teaching spell of almost half a century. Five hundred years after his death,the Hindu religious books introduced him as an incarnation of 'god' Vishnu.Besides many Buddhist books also portrayed him as 'god'.These books wrote many magical stories about him.Only then people stated to worship his idol.It is obvious that the people followed the books.
Let's consider another classical example of one of the Hindu 'gods'.Poet Valmiki wrote the Ramayana and portrayed its hero as a great king and human being.Even after the Ramayana,Hindus did not recognize Ram as a 'god' for a long period,since Valimiki did not glorify Ram as a 'god'.After 2000 years,Tulsidas wrote the story again. He glorified the hero Ram as an incarnation of 'god' Vishnu.The new story was written only 400 years ago,after Hindus began recognizing Ram as 'god'.After the new story,people began to worship Ram,Sita and Hanuman.It is evident from the fact that history rarely mention worship of Ram before Tulsidas.Besides,almost all the temples of Ram were built after the new story was written.
The stories of the Bible,the Purana's and other religious books were written almost 2000 years ago.The problem is that people consider these to be legitimate history as there was no alternative.."
[The Evolution of Gods,page 180-181].
"Man is, and always has been, a maker of gods. It has been the most serious and significant occupation of his sojourn in the world."
(John Burroughs / 1837-1921 / American essayist).
"...Jesus was not considered the son of 'god' during his life time. Many years after the death of Jesus ,his stories were written in the Bible.The authors glorified him through poetic exaggeration.Once the magical stories of Jesus were documented in the Bible,the readers considered them as true happenings.Later generations had no way to disapprove these stories. Thus,Jesus was designated as the son of 'god' only after his magical acts were documented in the Bible.
Similarly,the Buddha was not identified as a 'god' in his life time by his disciples or any of the Hindu priests.He was recognized as a great teacher.He himself denied the existence of 'gods'.He never recognized any Hindu 'gods' such as Vishnu,Shiva or Shakti.Neither had he exhibited any magic in his large teaching spell of almost half a century. Five hundred years after his death,the Hindu religious books introduced him as an incarnation of 'god' Vishnu.Besides many Buddhist books also portrayed him as 'god'.These books wrote many magical stories about him.Only then people stated to worship his idol.It is obvious that the people followed the books.
Let's consider another classical example of one of the Hindu 'gods'.Poet Valmiki wrote the Ramayana and portrayed its hero as a great king and human being.Even after the Ramayana,Hindus did not recognize Ram as a 'god' for a long period,since Valimiki did not glorify Ram as a 'god'.After 2000 years,Tulsidas wrote the story again. He glorified the hero Ram as an incarnation of 'god' Vishnu.The new story was written only 400 years ago,after Hindus began recognizing Ram as 'god'.After the new story,people began to worship Ram,Sita and Hanuman.It is evident from the fact that history rarely mention worship of Ram before Tulsidas.Besides,almost all the temples of Ram were built after the new story was written.
The stories of the Bible,the Purana's and other religious books were written almost 2000 years ago.The problem is that people consider these to be legitimate history as there was no alternative.."
[The Evolution of Gods,page 180-181].
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