I got this from another forum I visit regularly.


In the old days, the Gods were all over the place, acting in time and doing many things, they were regularly smiting people left and right, causing earthquakes, floods, volcanic eruptions, pestilence, burning down cities, feeding the people directly, fighting off their enemies when they engage them in battles , writing things on walls for the people etc. Nowadays, the Gods are still believed to be all-powerful (by the faithful), but the best they can muster is helping someone find their car keys or a parking spot or little favors in the sight of their bosses at work.

Before:
If you defied a God's orders, even with something as simple as looking behind you, you got turned into a pillar of salt or had your liver eaten out every day.
If a God favored you, your armies were unstoppable, you succeeded at everything in life.
The holy books were the be all and end all of knowledge, perfect in every way.
The Gods would make the sun stand still or shake the planet just to show off their power, their messengersor prohets could divide the moon in two havles. If you doubted them, they'd prove their power immediately, and then smite and/or curse you for eternity.
The Gods openly exerted their influence upon the planet and all on it, often presenting themselves to their believers and showing their abilities and might immediately.
The Gods would spread their own message in person, or send out supernatural messengers to do it for them, so that people will see and believe. At least this was what we read or were taught about how the God operated in the past when men were mostly primitive and without much knowledge of how the forces of nature operated.

Nowadays:
All the God's have ran away. They don't act or do anything at all. All they do is depend on their believers to do everything for them.
If you defy a God's orders, you piss off some of its believers. No God will show you that he is piss ed with you. Only his followers will wail, cry and sometimes kill on its behalf.
If a God favors you, you win at sports events in a manner no different from random chance. You still lose battles and wars even with God's favor. If you enemies or adversaries have superior military power, you are helpless and doomed no matter how much your God favors you.
The holy books contain "all the answers", except for the "tough" (non-rhetorical) questions that people ask (i.e.: any), and are full of contradictions.
The Gods can do anything, but it's indistinguishable from random chance, and these supposed actions are simply the expected outcome based on the circumstances (finding your car keys where you left them, being cured of a disease while taking medication, getting a Job after struggling to obtain all the necessary qualifications etc.). If you doubt them, you piss off some of their believers.
"Do not put the Lord your God to the test".
The Gods need and rely solely on humans to reach anyone who hasn't heard of them, because they haven't figured out email or direct messages yet.

When did the Gods become so powerless? I mean, when someone says "God", I'm expecting stuff from the first list, not something that's indistinguishable from an idea, made by humans and spread by humans.

A God that needs fallible humans to spread and/or interpret its message just comes across as weak and incompetent. Hell, HOLLYWOOD does a better job advertising itself than any God. Who hasn't heard of Hollywood, in the entire planet? Compare that with those who have never heard of a specific religion, which is everyone outside the region where it popped up.

How come we hear all this amazing stuff in the holy books that never occurs nowadays? Even the stuff in the books left behind zero proof, which some would claim is somehow "proof" of the Gods' power. Nowadays it seems like the Gods are deliberately covering up their existence and covering your own existence is a poor way of trying to make sure people know you exist. Surely anyone with two neurons to rub together would know this.

Now adays Gods have become so pathetically weak that they're indistinguishable from random chance.

Nowadays believers have to constatly make up new reasons why their Gods can't do anything at all, by inventing new "interpretations" of their religious books, adding whole new parts where they can excuse their impotent and evidently, imaginary God. These tactics have to be used by every believer, and this is quite a good example of it and how these believers can tie themselves up in knots because their prior claims don't match with the new claims they've had to make up.

This is a very good OP

I think gods became powerless as our knowledge increased due to the fact that gods were created out of ignorance about things we now see as basic. ALL gods have always been god of the gaps, this is why you'll remember where I asked a Christian to tell us ONE single testable sign that can only happen to someone that's abandoned by Yahweh and he really couldn't give a sensible answer. That's because their god is also useless but the idea is too stubborn to be wiped out like Sopona, Amun-Ra, Apollo/Zeus, Quetzalcoatl, Pratibhanapratisamvit etc

Not so very long ago religion answered a lot more questions than it does today, because science has shown that more or less all of religion's answers were completely wrong. Given that track record I cannot understand why people would trust religion with answering any question at all, let alone big ones

As our knowledge increased god is now left to fight for the unimportant scraps and redefined to a position of irrelevancy. Why couldn't Yahweh/Allah reveal to these guys that things like rainfall aren't something he's entirely responsible for before scientists made the discovery? why couldn't these gods tell people that guy struck by thunder didn't get struck for his blasphemy but he was simply at the wrong place at the wrong time? why couldn't these gods tell the people something, anything nobody couldn't have known back then? like telling them to wash their hands to prevent many diseases rather Yahweh told them to go to the elders and get anointed when sick!

these gods didn't reveal anything groundbreaking because these gods knew just as much as the people that invented them.

When hubble looked through his telescope and discovered many distant galaxies, he also discovered that the universe was expanding. He was doing science and his religious beliefs had nothing at all to do with his work. These days some religionist (Muslims especially ) will now tell you that Allah stated that the universe is expanding after convinietly interpreting some vague verses after the fact have been revealed. That is how religious people are now trying to make their religious books relevant.

dalaman:
When hubble looked through his telescope and discovered many distant galaxies, he also discovered that the universe was expanding. He was doing science and his religious beliefs had nothing at all to do with his work. These days some religionist (Muslims especially ) will now tell you that Allah stated that the universe is expanding after convinietly interpreting some vague verses after the fact have been revealed. That is how religious people are now trying to make their religious books relevant.

Yes o! majority of the bible has now turned "Metamorphic" "Allegorical" "Symbolic" etc due to social pressures and the continuing pressures of scientific discovery.
Remember when someone here saw how evolution is making the bible irrelevant that he invented "Preadamites"? remember when the same person said there was a portal Jesus used to fly to heaven and the portal is now " defunct "? these assertions would've gotten him stoned to death some millennia ago for being heretic

I see a future where majority of people in developed countries regard the ENTIRE BuyBull and Koran to be Allegorical from Genesis to revelation

hopefulLandlord:


Yes o! majority of the bible has now turned "Metamorphic" "Allegorical" "Symbolic" etc due to social pressures and the continuing pressures of scientific discovery.
Remember when someone here saw how evolution is making the bible irrelevant that he invented "Preadamites"? remember when the same person said there was a portal Jesus used to fly to heaven and the portal is now " defunct "? these assertions would've gotten him stoned to death some millennia ago for being heretic

I see a future where majority of people in developed countries regard the ENTIRE BuyBull and Koran to be Allegorical from Genesis to revelation

Most of the famous Christian apologist I know from William Craig to Gary Herbermas regard most part of Genesis as an allegory. From the creation account, to tower of babel and the flood story. Many are taking that route. Pastors that claim to have supernatural abilities are treated like comedians and not taking seriously the west.

Even Jesus ascended through a defunct portal as you alluded to.

The wrath of the holy God against sinful mankind have been pacified by the precious blood of Jesus who took the place of humanity.

God is now calling everyone to repentance through Christ. Those who refuse such a great gift from God have no other option than to face the wrath of the holy and righteous God themselves.

Which is total and complete extermination from among the living. I heard, though I don't know how true it is, that you there not refuse the gift of the King of Saudi Arabia. How much the supreme King of kings.

In summary, we are in the hour of grace.

bloodofthelamb:
The wrath of the holy God against sinful mankind have been pacified by the precious blood of Jesus who took the place of humanity.

God is now calling everyone to repentance through Christ. Those who refuse such a great gift from God have no other option than to face the wrath of the holy and righteous God themselves.

Which is total and complete extermination from among the living. I heard, though I don't know how true it is, that you there not refuse the gift of the King of Saudi Arabia. How much the supreme King of kings.

In summary, we are in the hour of grace.

It's not about God's wrath alone. Remember that Yahweh was all over the place when men were primitive and without serious knowledge of how things worked in nature. According to the story he even came down as a human being and did many many wonders for people to see(raised the dead, healed the sick, walked on water, turned water into wine, calmed the stormetc) and PROMISED those of you that believe in him the ability to do GREATER things than him. I am putting it to you that you can NOT do any of the things they said Jesus did talk more of doing greater things than him despite the promise he made to you. You can't do it for a reason and that is very telling.

The "God" of your bible is Not omnipresent.

Genesis 4:16

"16 And Cain went out from the presence of the LORD, and dwelt in the land of Nod, on the east of Eden."

How can Cain went out from the presence of the LORD if he is omnipresent?.

dalaman:


It's not about God's wrath alone. Remember that Yahweh was all over the place when men were primitive and without serious knowledge of how things worked in nature. According to the story he even came down as a human being and did many many wonders for people to see(raised the dead, healed the sick, walked on water, turned water into wine, calmed the stormetc) and PROMISED those of you that believe in him the ability to do GREATER things than him. I am putting it to you that you can NOT do any of the things they said Jesus did talk more of doing greater things than him despite the promise he made to you. You can't do it for a reason and that is very telling.

Jesus did not lie, when He said those that received Him will do the work that He did. His promise is fulfilled in my life and in the life of thousands of my brothers, who has the Spirit of God upon them.

You guys don't normally believe such works for you guys have programmed yourselves to believe lies.

bloodofthelamb:


Jesus did not lie, when He said those that received Him will do the work that He did. His promise is fulfilled in my life and in the life of thousands of my brothers, who has the Spirit of God upon them.

You guys don't normally believe such works for you guys have programmed yourselves to believe lies.

Which among the great works written about Jesus have you done? Have you walked on water? Feed thousands with two fish and 5 bread? Healed an amputee? Raised the dead? Which one have you done? Stop telling lies.

dalaman:


Which among the great works written about Jesus have you done? Have you walked on water? Feed thousands with two fish and 5 bread? Healed an amputee? Raised the dead? Which one have you done? Stop telling lies.

Even if it staring at you in the eyes you will make up an excuse for it or will declare that it was staged.

I opened the thread expecting a nice debate, with people willing to search for a higher truth. I even intended to air my opinion. Unfortunately these days we only have religious people on nairaland: The Christians and muslims convinced about their god, the atheists convinced about the non existence of gods, each group crusading against the other.

To believe systematically or disbelieve systematically are both easy solutions that prevent us from the hard task of seeking Truth.

Oga answer the simple question. Which one have you done. I bet you see a lot of paralysed people, go to one and let God do the healing through you.

bloodofthelamb:


Jesus did not lie, when He said those that received Him will do the work that He did. His promise is fulfilled in my life and in the life of thousands of my brothers, who has the Spirit of God upon them.

You guys don't normally believe such works for you guys have programmed yourselves to believe lies.

bloodofthelamb:


Even if it staring at you in the eyes you will make up an excuse for it or will declare that it was staged.

Jesus lied. You can NOT do anything they said Jesus did because his promise to you remains a lie lie promise. You can NOT do it.

Back in the days we were told that Jesus was all over the place doing wonderful and incredible miraculous works, he even promised those of you that believe in him.the ability to do greater things than him, instead of demonstrating that and silencing us, you are busy saying that Jesus did not lie when you can NOT show that what he promised you is not a lie.

The series, American gods, has something to do with your thread.

LoJ:
I opened the thread expecting a nice debate, with people willing to search for a higher truth. I even intended to air my opinion. Unfortunately these says we only have religious people on nairaland: The Christians and muslims convinced about their god, the atheists convinced about the non existence of gods, each group crusading against the other.

To believe systematically or disbelieve systematically are both easy solutions that prevent us from the hard task of seeking Truth.

You can air your opinion regardless.

I think the Gods are scared of cameras and social media.

If Gods existed, and acted the way the holy books say, there would be no atheists. The video below makes the point very effectively:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eLhkPTQvMzQ

oyetpel:
The series, American gods, has something to do with your thread.

I've heard so much about that show, is it worth giving a shot?

hopefulLandlord:
I've heard so much about that show, is it worth giving a shot?

Yes, they are done with season 1.

It talks about how gods are loosing their relevance in this century because they are less talked about and worshipped by people. So they have to create a niche among their surviving worshippers to preserve their existence.


It also talks about how new gods like technology, media, social media are growing strong and emerging to take over from old gods like YHWH, Odin, Volkan, e.t.c because they are the gods people now talks about and worship.



If you decide to watch it, you can go through this thread(spoilers though)

www.nairaland.com/3789629/watching-american-gods

And also catch up on Reddit.

oyetpel:


Yes, they are done with season 1.

It talks about how gods are loosing their relevance in this century because they are less talked about and worshipped by people. So they have to create a niche among their surviving worshippers to preserve their existence.


It also talks about how new gods like technology, media, social media are growing strong and emerging to take over from old gods like YHWH, Odin, Volkan, e.t.c because they are the gods people now talks about and worship.



If you decide to watch it, you can go through this thread(spoilers though)

www.nairaland.com/3789629/watching-american-gods

And also catch up on Reddit.

Okay thanks

dalaman:


You can air your opinion regardless.

Let me attempt to throw bread on water, not even because I expect any good out of it, but just from a sincere desire to see deep people remain on nairaland.

The divine entities -should one be aware of their existence -are not more or less powerful today than in the past. They only seem so for2 main reasons:

1- many of the feats attributed to them were mere superstition and ignorance;
2- the age we live in / the evolution of mankind.

Point 1 is very easy to understand and it is the argument of many an atheist. It is true but incomplete.

Point 2 is what many skeptics fail to understand.

The microcosm is a reflection of the macrocosm. Mankind is like a baby trying to find its way to Maturity. Although at the beginning the baby is pampered and taken care of, there comes a time where he will gradually learn to do everything by himself.

We can therefore say the gods died - more exactly left - so that the superhuman can arise.

essay123:
Oga answer the simple question. Which one have you done. I bet you see a lot of paralysed people, go to one and let God do the healing through you.

Wicked generation asking for a miracle. What you guys need is not a miracle but a new heart. A heart of flesh, a circumsized heart.

Even, if God should make an amputee grow back you will still not believe.

bloodofthelamb:


Wicked generation asking for a miracle. What you guys need is not a miracle but a new heart. A heart of flesh, a circumsized heart.

Even, if God should make an amputee grow back you will still not believe.

it would help if the gods acted a bit more efficiently.
e.g. instead of earthquakes and tsunamis, homosexuals should maybe experience coma simultaneously, or all atheist lose their sense of speech simultaneously to show the gods displeasure with them.

The gods of the ancient ages were on rampage because men lost their right when Adam and eve sinned against God . With the coming of Jesus Christ, their (false gods) powers were obliterated, and power was given to the believers in Christ.

At the mention of the name of Jesus Christ, every knee shall bow. The false gods, which are nothing but fallen angels marauding about decieving and threatening men, capitalized on the ignorance of people. But with the spread of the gospel, and the knowledge of the power in the name of Jesus, these demons, com gods, had to quit. They can no longer freely operate, else, they'll be roasted.

Let any false god show up, and let a Christian, who knows his/her right in Christ Jesus appear, and say the name of Jesus Christ or plead the blood of Jesus Christ, and see how they'll flee. The absence of this knowledge and right, gave the so called gods, the freedom to misbehave.

Anybody, who claims that this is because they have advanced in knowledge by themselves, is simply not telling the truth. Come on, how do you think, that you can over power the force that created you?, Or outsmart the source of your wisdom. People are actually thinking they are wise, but all the while are increasingly becoming unreasonable.

The fierce wrath of God against the wicked and against His enemies, will soon begin to manifest with full force.

Expect climatic shake up, revolting oceans, rumbling earth, and the rage of Satan, why?, because man in his warped wisdom, has rejected his source, which is God. Like a fish taken out of the water, death will result.

Let no man fool you, Jesus is the Lord. The end is near, can you not see it, as predict by God's word?,. Repent and seek the Lord now.

Good or bad, in God we trust!

I would believe, seeing is believing and what is wicked about that.
What is wicked is little children dying due to earth disasters, hunger across the world, wicked people triumphing. When you walk around don't you see little children with sick parents begging for food. Don't you see little kids with cancer, what sins have they committed, Don't you watch the news. That is wickedness. We need miracle for people like that, we need to be sure what you are saying exists so that we can reach out to everyone who needs help.

Why not buy your own 5 loafs of bread and 2 fish to feed all these children. Talking trash about some wicked generation

Wicked generation asking for miracle my foot, Jesus turned water to wine a miracle, Fed 5000 with 5 loafs and two fish a miracle, healed a blind man a miracle, even after a mans ear was cut he fixed it. Miracle after miracle

Now people that try to do the real miracle get burnt, like the pastor that had Faith to enter Lions den that got killed by Lions. All you keep saying is that even if we see we won't believe, how do you know I won't believe , can you read my mind.

All you care about is yourself and what you believe. I care about people in trouble, people who are sick, people who need a miracle and don't have it, am worried God is silent about their situation.
That is why I asked the question, which miracle has God done through you. You might be saving a soul

bloodofthelamb:


Wicked generation asking for a miracle. What you guys need is not a miracle but a new heart. A heart of flesh, a circumsized heart.

Even, if God should make an amputee grow back you will still not believe.

LoJ:
I opened the thread expecting a nice debate, with people willing to search for a higher truth. I even intended to air my opinion. Unfortunately these days we only have religious people on nairaland: The Christians and muslims convinced about their god, the atheists convinced about the non existence of gods, each group crusading against the other.

To believe systematically or disbelieve systematically are both easy solutions that prevent us from the hard task of seeking Truth.

So what truth are you seeking? And how would you recognize this truth?

Evangkatsoulis:
So what truth are you seeking? And how would you recognize this truth?

I read an interesting proverb here on nairaland, I think it should be a Nigerian proverb as I have never seen it anywhere else. It goes like this or close to that:

" it is the foot that wears the shoe that know where it pinches"


By the effects experience and consistency of any hypothesis, you know its value.

You and your likes has make it a job to condemn every form of miracle that you witness or heard. What makes you think you won't do the same again? Where I come from seeing is not believing. It is the other way round.

God is not responsible for the world's pain and suffering. The world stepped into suffering when it declared independence from God. What do you think will be the state of a fish when it refuse to stay in water?

God is the one graciously giving us back what we willing threw away and you are here accusing Him through your ignorance.

bloodofthelamb:
You and your likes has make it a job to condemn every form of miracle that you witness or heard. What makes you think you won't do the same again? Where I come from seeing is not believing. It is the other way round.

God is not responsible for the world's pain and suffering. The world stepped into suffering when it declared independence from God. What do you think will be the state of a fish when it refuse to stay in water?

God is the one graciously giving us back what we willing threw away and you are here accusing Him through your ignorance.

Jesus promised those of you the ability to do greater things than he did if only you believe. Instead of proving that Jesus was not a liar you are here blabbing and going off point. You are now trying to make the claim that your God is undetectable.
Your God didn't act in undetectable ways in the bible. He even promised you the ability to do greater things than him. Trying to claim that his actions are undetectable now is just a mechanism for self delusion. Just prove that Jesus isn't a liar.

Why are the Gods so powerless Now ?

That actually is the theme of the movie American Gods...