tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4703627441238114292.post4440230237514805069..comments2023-05-02T02:56:53.394-07:00Comments on The Praxy Project: But Why a Good God?JewishGadflyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03531540800635608198noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4703627441238114292.post-59145205216491371522010-07-07T21:38:16.469-07:002010-07-07T21:38:16.469-07:00Huh. Interesting.Huh. Interesting.JewishGadflyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03531540800635608198noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4703627441238114292.post-6352112030189955662010-07-07T05:04:31.988-07:002010-07-07T05:04:31.988-07:00> Essentialism. … Probably useful for categoriz...> Essentialism. … Probably useful for categorization of things.<br /><br />And for recognizing things as themselves and not different but identical objects. It also helps us recognize things as themselves even if they are somewhat changed <br /><br />> Admittedly, the gods did bad things in Greek myths, but as far as I know, they still expected piety from humans.<br /><br />That depends on your definition of “piety.” Most pagan gods have their particular likes and dislikes, and one can curry favor with a god by trying not to annoy him and by doing things that please him. (These things may or may not have social benefits.) The gods each had their own personality, and some were more “good” than others, but on the whole they weren’t the sort of people you’d invite to your house.<br /><br />The conception of God as omni-benevolent is most likely something that evolved as Judaism formed, building on Jewish mythology and borrowing from the cultures around it. One theory I’ve seen suggests that some of Judaism’s early ideas were borrowed from Zoroastrianism, which is a dualistic religion (there are two gods in control of the world, on good, one evil). The Jewish God was identified with Ahura Mazda, the good god, leaving Him lopsided and creating the ‘problem of evil.’G*3https://www.blogger.com/profile/06104739087560005056noreply@blogger.com