One of the best ways to explain Ritual Humanism’s philosophy about god is to compare it to the conventional Christian philosophy. We can illustrate the difference with Michelangelo’s The Creation of Adam.
The Christian interpretation of Michelangelo’s The Creation of Adam is generally thought to depict the excerpt "God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him" (Gen 1:26). God is portrayed as an elderly white-bearded man wrapped in a swirling cloak while Adam, is completely nude. God's right arm is outstretched to impart the spark of life from his own finger into that of Adam, whose left arm is extended in a pose mirroring God's, a reminder that man is created in the image and likeness of God.
The Ritual Humanism interpretation is the reverse, Natural Selection (Evolution) created man (depicted in this painting by Adam), and MAN CREATED GOD IN HIS IMAGE!
Many analysts have pointed out hidden messages in Michelangelo’s works. We came upon this one in our research. An Interpretation of Michelangelo’s Creation Of Adam Based On Neuroanatomy, By Frank Lynn Meshberger, MD.
The Christian New Testament revolves around the Resurrection of Jesus. However the first written reports were not made until 200 years after his birth. There are no CDs, no pictures, no writings, not even any Dead Sea scrolls (they were records of earlier events). What was written down was a bunch of personal narrations of stories passed down through some five to ten generations. Somewhat like the collection of German fairy tales first published in 1812 by the Grimm brothers, Jacob and Wilhelm.
There are a lots of positive concepts included in the Bible like Commandments six through eight.
- Thou shalt not kill.
- Thou shalt not commit adultery.
- Thou shalt not steal.
But they are intermixed with absolutely immoral ones like requiring parents of a disobedient son to take him to the gates of the city to be stoned to death, and physical impossible ones like turning Lot’s wife into salt. (In today's (9/12/15) Family Circus even young Jeffy questions the salt bit when he asks Dad "Did God turn Lot's wife into a pillar of salt for real or was it all just done with CGI?")
If God were powerful enough to violate the laws of physics, he would have been able to prevent all, or at least some, of the horrific attacks that have been made upon Christians throughout history.
What is scary are the people who take the bible literally, especially if they are in a position of power like government officials. People like this will deny the well documented theories of natural selection and the big bang by referencing Genesis. They don’t seem to notice that the Bible has two conflicting descriptions of creation.
Maybe with Pope Francis’s Encyclical Letter, LAUDATO Si’, supporting the concept that God created scientists to explain science, politicians will start accepting scientists’ views on global warming and start taking actions to stop humans from destroying our planet.
Ritual Humanism is intended to provide a home for non-believers. However, our explanations and lessons will work for anyone. You do not need to dismiss your belief in a deity, but you must embrace the concept that you are the one who controls your life, not the deity.
If you are strongly religious please do not try to convert us. Any effort to convert us will be treated as spam.
Click to learn who writes the rules If There Is No God.