Where Did The Concept of God Originate?
By James Donahue
No matter where in the world one might travel, and no matter what tribe or culture one might visit, there is a common thread. Nearly everybody believes in a God. But the God that is worshiped is often so radically different, and the complex system of expressing worship to that deity is so varied, deep divisive philosophies exist that become so extreme people kill and go to war to defend them.
When we search back through history this same thread exists. It has tended to change in radical ways over the years, yet it never leads to peace among the many believers.
As a sociologist and historian with deep interest in the roots of human concepts, I have had to ask how this strange part of the human personality had its origins. We are sure any others have asked the same question. Theologians explain it as a common rooted understanding that a creator not only exists, but it, he or she maintains an involvement in our daily affairs. Thus we have invented prayer . . . a method of attempting to communicate with our “Creator” in hopes of bringing about a better outcome of our potential future.
Psychologist Paul von Ward, author of Gods, Genes and Consciousness, offers another interesting theory, based on the probability that humans either came from other worlds or that we are the product of genetic manipulation by visiting entities from other worlds.
The so-called “Cargo Cults” that developed among Melanesian islanders after Japanese and American forces built airstrips, landed aircraft and brought supplies for the troops in the midst of World War II is an example of Ward’s theory about religious origins. The troops shared food, clothing and other supplies with the natives while with them on the islands. After the troops left, the tribal leaders built images of aircraft and other objects used by the military, and worshiped them, expecting to be rewarded with more benefits. They perceived these "alien" visitors as gods that came out of the sky and lived briefly among them.
Ward, who has been fascinated by the concept of advanced beings that may have lived among Earthly humanoids in the distant past, says he has studied the Sumerian texts, the Bible and other ancient writings in search of ways in which such visitors might have influenced cultural traditions, plus linguistic and religious patterns.
While all cultures seem to have some form of a religious belief, they also share stories about beings coming down from the sky, living among them, mating with their women and teaching them ways to live.
While the aliens, or “advanced beings” were actively involved with humans on Earth, the people perceived them as parts of a natural universe, Ward theorizes. After they “withdrew from physical positions of power over humans, and humans became kings, the human interpreters for the advanced beings began to serve as an independent priesthood,” he stated.
As priests, they developed cults around such outstanding beings as Ishtar, Marduk, YHVH and Thoth, and created rituals of prayer and offerings in the hope that they would return and rule Earth again. And thus we have the second-coming myth imposed within the cult right from the start.
In an interview with the website Karmapolis, Ward expressed this concept beautifully when he said: “When the Anunnaki ruled what is now the Middle East after the flood, humans became very dependent on them for technical assistance and knowledge. Humans developed a sense of not being self-sufficient, looking to higher beings for direction and a confirmation of value. After the advanced beings ceased direct rule over 4,000 years ago, humans felt deserted and lost. They became psychologically susceptible to manipulation by the people who had been given authority as kings and priests. Most humans in that area were easily swept into advance being-god cults of one kind or the other.”
The early stories about these beings from the stars, such as the Nephilim (Genesis 6), or the Anunnaki (Epic of Gilgamish), were handed down via the Sumerian text that was cut in clay tablets an estimated 6,000 years ago. Later the Gnostics, who came along about 3,000 years later, were still worshiping such beings but in a more supernatural context. The Greeks gave us long lists of gods (Zeus and Apollo) who also came out of the sky and lived and mated with natural humans. The stories were all similar and retold in various ways. Over the years they have been distorted and retold to fit the interpretations of powerful religious leaders who added their own flair to the cult.
These kinds of cults are still appearing today amid a world population that is growing into the multi-billions.
Various teachers and faith leaders like the Buddha and Jesus have made such impressions that powerful new cults have risen from their teachings. In his book Ward points out that Christianity was a misrepresentation of the earlier cult of YHVH and a distortion of the life of Jesus. The Roman Church solidified the concept of super-naturalism.
He wrote that Islam came from the channeled message from an advanced being (angel) called Gabriel to Mohammed. Buddhism, he wrote, is a philosophy but many Westerners treat it as a religion with a supernatural twist.
All of the religions on Earth may be confused representations of messages from more advanced beings from other worlds “with the energy and consciousness that lies at the center of creation.”
By James Donahue
No matter where in the world one might travel, and no matter what tribe or culture one might visit, there is a common thread. Nearly everybody believes in a God. But the God that is worshiped is often so radically different, and the complex system of expressing worship to that deity is so varied, deep divisive philosophies exist that become so extreme people kill and go to war to defend them.
When we search back through history this same thread exists. It has tended to change in radical ways over the years, yet it never leads to peace among the many believers.
As a sociologist and historian with deep interest in the roots of human concepts, I have had to ask how this strange part of the human personality had its origins. We are sure any others have asked the same question. Theologians explain it as a common rooted understanding that a creator not only exists, but it, he or she maintains an involvement in our daily affairs. Thus we have invented prayer . . . a method of attempting to communicate with our “Creator” in hopes of bringing about a better outcome of our potential future.
Psychologist Paul von Ward, author of Gods, Genes and Consciousness, offers another interesting theory, based on the probability that humans either came from other worlds or that we are the product of genetic manipulation by visiting entities from other worlds.
The so-called “Cargo Cults” that developed among Melanesian islanders after Japanese and American forces built airstrips, landed aircraft and brought supplies for the troops in the midst of World War II is an example of Ward’s theory about religious origins. The troops shared food, clothing and other supplies with the natives while with them on the islands. After the troops left, the tribal leaders built images of aircraft and other objects used by the military, and worshiped them, expecting to be rewarded with more benefits. They perceived these "alien" visitors as gods that came out of the sky and lived briefly among them.
Ward, who has been fascinated by the concept of advanced beings that may have lived among Earthly humanoids in the distant past, says he has studied the Sumerian texts, the Bible and other ancient writings in search of ways in which such visitors might have influenced cultural traditions, plus linguistic and religious patterns.
While all cultures seem to have some form of a religious belief, they also share stories about beings coming down from the sky, living among them, mating with their women and teaching them ways to live.
While the aliens, or “advanced beings” were actively involved with humans on Earth, the people perceived them as parts of a natural universe, Ward theorizes. After they “withdrew from physical positions of power over humans, and humans became kings, the human interpreters for the advanced beings began to serve as an independent priesthood,” he stated.
As priests, they developed cults around such outstanding beings as Ishtar, Marduk, YHVH and Thoth, and created rituals of prayer and offerings in the hope that they would return and rule Earth again. And thus we have the second-coming myth imposed within the cult right from the start.
In an interview with the website Karmapolis, Ward expressed this concept beautifully when he said: “When the Anunnaki ruled what is now the Middle East after the flood, humans became very dependent on them for technical assistance and knowledge. Humans developed a sense of not being self-sufficient, looking to higher beings for direction and a confirmation of value. After the advanced beings ceased direct rule over 4,000 years ago, humans felt deserted and lost. They became psychologically susceptible to manipulation by the people who had been given authority as kings and priests. Most humans in that area were easily swept into advance being-god cults of one kind or the other.”
The early stories about these beings from the stars, such as the Nephilim (Genesis 6), or the Anunnaki (Epic of Gilgamish), were handed down via the Sumerian text that was cut in clay tablets an estimated 6,000 years ago. Later the Gnostics, who came along about 3,000 years later, were still worshiping such beings but in a more supernatural context. The Greeks gave us long lists of gods (Zeus and Apollo) who also came out of the sky and lived and mated with natural humans. The stories were all similar and retold in various ways. Over the years they have been distorted and retold to fit the interpretations of powerful religious leaders who added their own flair to the cult.
These kinds of cults are still appearing today amid a world population that is growing into the multi-billions.
Various teachers and faith leaders like the Buddha and Jesus have made such impressions that powerful new cults have risen from their teachings. In his book Ward points out that Christianity was a misrepresentation of the earlier cult of YHVH and a distortion of the life of Jesus. The Roman Church solidified the concept of super-naturalism.
He wrote that Islam came from the channeled message from an advanced being (angel) called Gabriel to Mohammed. Buddhism, he wrote, is a philosophy but many Westerners treat it as a religion with a supernatural twist.
All of the religions on Earth may be confused representations of messages from more advanced beings from other worlds “with the energy and consciousness that lies at the center of creation.”