did god create man, or did man create god? if god created man, which god? every different group of people have a different god,are there more than one god, or are all gods different faces of the same god, or is there no god and we invented it to explain the unexplainable, and to control the masses?

The anthropomorphic (human characteristics given to non-human things) gods of many religions does seem to indicate that many gods/goddesses are made by their people (for example the Gods of Thrace had Blue eyes and Blonde hair in accordance with thats races view of what was superior/beautiful and what they were aware of).

If triangles had gods their gods would have three sides.

In the end though its a pretty good indication that you've made God in your own image when God hates all the same people and things that you do.

I am of the camp that gives a resounding yes to the "we invented it to explain the unexplainable, and to control the masses?" we've found religion to be a tool many times that explained what was then unexplainable (to some anyway, the ancient greeks had some absolutely brilliant intellectuals who did understand things that seemed supernatural to other such as weather and pointed it out often until they were killed)

I have another question.

I can see that many people seem to have a deep need to believe in something higher, more powerful and omniscient than themselves. I respect that need and see how it can help those deep believers get through hard emotional situations.

What I do not understand is why these same people find it impossible to understand that not all of us have that same need. I was never taught to trust in anything higher, invisible, etc. I was just given tools to get out of trouble by myself whenever possible or accept the inevitable. But I was never taught to believe and I find it impossible. I can see it is a useful psychological tool for those who manage, but for me there is no way to learn it once you have your beliefs and personality formed. I do not feel a need to believe in anything, I feel no emptiness, as they say I must. I just cannot explain to them what it is to be free of the need to believe.

I am not saying one situation is better than the other, just that it is very hard to change from one to the other if you cannot feel or even understand the other side.

Going back to the original question in this topic, I believe men in power will use whatever is more handy in order to control the masses. For a long time it was religion (it still is in many countries) and now it is science, nutrition, health, education and any other issues they can lay hands on.

you have a point there Pirbid, religion was seen as the opiate for the masses.  Make them work very hard, for almost no pay for the promise of a better life after death.  If you question this ethos then your a sinner and you won't get that better life after death!  Have lots of children to further this ethos to make sure the word gets out good and strong.  Now a days the media is the opiate of the masses and we are told what to think now through a much more powerful medium.  No need for religion now, the money you would pay to the church now goes on the must have latest thing thats being advertised on tv or to the latest political party or gadjet thats going to make your life better......


Boy do i sound  cynical lol!

There is a problem. God can exist without religion, so to use the religion and man's quest for power and control as excuses to denigrate the idea of God is not a useful one.