Humans are not the perfect measure of "god's" crea

Post by **_Cooper** » Mon Mar 05, 2007 4:05 am

The notion that Adam, Eve, and humans in general are perfect creates expectations that are impossible to fill. Humans/Homo sapiens are the result of an evolutionary process that selects characteristics that are adequate for survival. The key word is adequate. Perfection is not the result of evolution. Evolution can only "select" from the traits that are presented by genetic mutations that are not goal directed. Often these mutations are better than prior configurations but not necessarily optimal. Here are some examples of how humans are the result of an imperfect evolutionary process.

1. We have eyes that are subject to myopia, presbyopia, etc that in effect render one blind without the aid of modern corrective lenses.
2. Prior to the advent of stable, nutritious food supplies and modern medicine humans tended to only live long enough to reproduce and raise their children.
3. We are basically hairless and adapted to living in tropical climates. Living anywhere outside of the tropics requires protective clothing and adequate shelter to survive the elements. The tendency toward Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) also seems to indicate that humans are not the best adapted for non-equatorial living.
4. The patterns of genetically determined or influenced problems are indicative of a system that is not overly robust or perfect. Again the “goal” of the system is reproduction which only demands adequate but not perfect health to survive to the age of roughly 30.
5. Cardiovascular systems in humans are often subject to clogging and damage after several decades of life in many cases regardless of diet and exercise.
6. Bone and muscle mass tend to peak around the age of 25 and then gradually decline.

One real problem that I often see with assuming that humans are designed to be perfect is the expectation that a “righteous” person will be devoid of any illness. Alternatively, it is assumed that praying and/or fasting will result in a cure to illness. The fact of the matter is that human frailties are the result of physical weaknesses and vulnerabilities that are common among our species. There is often little or nothing a person can do to their lifestyle to avoid these issues. For instance; depression, anger, and sadness are common emotions in all humans and not the result of sin or a weak constitution. These emotions and many other “ailments” are facts of life and need to be addressed for what they are rather than being assigned mythical and ineffective cures.

Post by **_truth dancer** » Mon Mar 05, 2007 2:44 pm

Welcome to the board Cooper...

Nice post!

What never worked for me was the idea that God is a male human being.

It just so doesn't make sense to me that an advanced primate, who evolved for very specific reasons based on our specific world and environment would be the ultimate form for a God.

And if one goes with the idea that God looks like a human male at this particular moment in history (Caucasian man with a beard), it means that after life evolving for four billion years, it just all of a sudden stopped evolving at this exact moment in the history of the universe. Humans certainly won't look the same in another few millennia, let alone a few million years hence.

It just doesn't make sense to me. :-)

~dancer~

Post by **_Jason Bourne** » Mon Mar 05, 2007 3:03 pm

truth dancer wrote:Welcome to the board Cooper...

Nice post!

What never worked for me was the idea that God is a male human being.

It just so doesn't make sense to me that an advanced primate, who evolved for very specific reasons based on our specific world and environment would be the ultimate form for a God.

And if one goes with the idea that God looks like a human male at this particular moment in history (Caucasian man with a beard), it means that after life evolving for four billion years, it just all of a sudden stopped evolving at this exact moment in the history of the universe. Humans certainly won't look the same in another few millennia, let alone a few million years hence.

It just doesn't make sense to me. :-)

~dancer~

Most religions do not believe God is a human male in form. The LDS Church, I believe, is unique in believing God is a glorified corporal man.

Orthodox Christianity believes God is an omnipresent spirit outside of the bounds of time and space.

Post by **_truth dancer** » Mon Mar 05, 2007 3:19 pm

Hi Jason,

Most religions do not believe God is a human male in form. The LDS Church, I believe, is unique in believing God is a glorified corporal man.

Yes... I understand this! :-)

It doesn't make sense to me.

~dancer~

Post by **_Trinity** » Mon Mar 05, 2007 4:00 pm

Jason Bourne wrote:
truth dancer wrote:
Most religions do not believe God is a human male in form. The LDS Church, I believe, is unique in believing God is a glorified corporal man.

Orthodox Christianity believes God is an omnipresent spirit outside of the bounds of time and space.

It is the one thing, I think, that sends most people who deconvert from Mormonism into the throes of agnosticism/atheism. They have related to a "mortal" God to the extent that they have imposed mortal traits onto him. It is nearly impossible to let God off the hook against those biblical traits that are so morally incomprehensible and repulsive. Or, even more Mormon, the mortal parent/child relationship is conflated with the God the Father/mortal child relationship. Also a poor reflection on God the Father.