YOUR GOD IS TOO SMALL - MAN CREATED GOD IN HIS OWN IMAGE

My God can't fit into a book or a building. He can't be "owned" by anyone, and he does not want blood sacrifices. If you thump a bible, you will see "He" says so right there. Isaiah 1:11 -

"To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? saith the LORD: I am full of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he goats."

It is surprising that, with all the facts we now have about the enormous complexity of the universes, millions of people still cling to the image of a god created by men thousands of years ago. People are afraid to let go of the stories that have been ingrained in families and cultures by men for their own benefit.

The image of "God" serves the purpose of men to hold power over great masses of people, their minds and their wealth. People cling to community. They are afraid of think and reason and question and re-design their thinking to fit reality.

We need community, and that engages and holds people. The same method that holds people to the olde-time religions, also attracts young people today to Islamic terrorism. A "god" - a cause - the death of Jesus or the plight of Palestine - promises of paradise - the glory of Jesus or a whole bunch of sexy little virgins - controlling the mind by using a powerful "god" image and providing the support of community to empty people.

Who dares to question God, especially if you may be shunned - or even slaughtered - for thinking and asking? At the Anglican Church in Montreal, where I was baptized, I attended many bible studies. One evening I asked the speaker which version of the bible he was quoting. A member of the congregation - a sweet, gentle man - stunned me when he suddenly stood up and accused me of being sent by the devil to disrupt the study.

It takes courage to speak the truth. Rudyard Kipling comes to mind, "If you can keep your head when all about are losing theirs and blaming it on you ..... you are a man, my son". That goes for women too.