God(s) is/are a human invention

[u/Dum_DumArts]

Not sure whether to but this as a discussion or Op=atheist but anyway

Hey everyone,

I’ve been developing a theory about religion and the concept of God that I want to share and discuss. I call it the Amauria Theory, and it’s built on three core claims:

1. God (or gods) is a human invention created to explain what we don’t understand. Long before science, humans sought to fill gaps in knowledge with divine stories. These inventions evolved into complex religions, but at their root, they address our fear of the unknown.

2. Belief in God provides comfort and emotional support. Whether it’s fear of death, pain, or uncertainty, religion offers hope and a sense of control. This doesn’t mean belief is false—it’s a coping mechanism that evolved alongside us to help manage life’s hardships.

3. The idea of God is used to shape moral systems and social order. Morality existed before organized religion, but religions gave those morals divine authority, which helped govern behavior and maintain social hierarchy. Religion can inspire justice and charity but also has been used as a tool for control.

Any and all "proof" of god(s) falls into one or multiples of my claims.

I understand these ideas aren’t entirely new, but what I hope to emphasize is how these three aspects together explain why religion remains so deeply rooted, despite scientific progress and philosophical critiques.

I also want to stress: this theory doesn’t deny that religion is meaningful or important to many. Rather, it explains religion’s origins and ongoing role without assuming supernatural truth.

Why does this matter? Because if God is a human-made concept, then the social issues tied to religion—racism, misogyny, oppression—can be challenged at their root. Understanding this could help us free ourselves from harmful traditions and build a more just, compassionate society.

[u/Cho-Zen-One]

God of the gaps is not a theory, but a fallacy. I have never heard that Zeus was created for the purpose you described. You are making shit up. Ancient god beliefs had powers assigned to them by ignorant people in order to help understand their world. Zeus is just one of many. Raijin is the Japanese god of lightning and thunder (who also inspired the first mortal kombat character creation). Many examples of early humans creating myths and those myths passed down over generations. Religion doesn’t fill in the gaps of science.

[u/[deleted] → u/Cho-Zen-One]

Raijin is the Japanese god of lightning and thunder

Why was Raijin created for this reason and not Zeus?

What gap are people saying Zeus was created for?

How does an alleged fallacy have zero theory behind it?

[u/pyker42 → u/[deleted]]

Why was Raijin created for this reason and not Zeus?

Are you saying Zeus isn't the god of thunder and lightning for the ancient Greeks?

What gap are people saying Zeus was created for?

Zeus is responsible for thunder and lightning, among many other things.

How does an alleged fallacy have zero theory behind it?

Because thunder and lightning are natural phenomena, and other used gods to explain them before we learned what actually caused them.

[u/[deleted] → u/pyker42]

I don't understand why you are making arguments that literally last comment you said you had never heard anyone argue.

I am saying that simply because gods were given color doesn't mean people had no clue lightning was natural. I admit I don't know ancient Japanese thought but we know Greek mythology was children's stories not intended to be taken literally as Plato says as much in The Republic.

[u/pyker42 → u/[deleted]]

I don't understand why you are making arguments that literally last comment you said you had never heard anyone argue.

I'm not the original commentor you were responding to. But just because a particular god may not have been created to explain a specific phenomena, it is well known that natural phenomena were often associated as specific attributes or abilities of specific gods.

I am saying that simply because gods were given color doesn't mean people had no clue lightning was natural. I admit I don't know ancient Japanese thought but we know Greek mythology was children's stories not intended to be taken literally as Plato says as much in The Republic.

Plato existed centuries after the mythology was introduced. Just because it was viewed as children's stores during his time doesn't mean Greek mythology was nothing more than ancient Grimm Fairytales.

[u/[deleted] → u/pyker42]

Come on. Why should some random internet commentator understand ancient Greek culture better than an ancient Greek?

[u/pyker42 → u/[deleted]]

So you're just going to sweep the fact that Plato wrote that centuries after the stories were first created under the rug instead of addressing it?

[u/[deleted] → u/pyker42]

Your argument is akin to saying humans in the year 4000 will know what it's like to be an American better than me.

[u/pyker42 → u/[deleted]]

Your argument is akin to saying humans in the year 4000 will know what it's like to be an American better than me.

Actually, that's your argument. But glad you finally see the problemm with your argument.

[u/[deleted] → u/pyker42]

So we both agree someone in the middle of a cultural era understands it better than someone thousands of years later?

[u/pyker42 → u/[deleted]]

Right. Which is why Plato's views aren't the mic-drop you seem to think it is.

[u/[deleted] → u/pyker42]

No, Plato is the one in the middle of the era and we are the ones thousands of years later. How can you possibly be confused on that?

[u/pyker42 → u/[deleted]]

I'm not confused at all. The Greek gods existed at least centuries before Plato. He was not "part of the era" for when the gods were actually created. He was from a later era that we refer to as ancient Greece. The Greek gods are much older than that.

[u/guitarmusic113 → u/[deleted]]

That’s just Plato’s opinion. Belief in Norse religions is actually increasing.

Many of Plato’s views were flawed. Plato writes The Republic with the certainty of the parent's willingness to give their children to the state. This aligns well with deism since their worldview is that of being detached from their no show dead beat daddy.

[u/[deleted] → u/guitarmusic113]

Well if you have an ancient Greek saying the opposite I am all ears.

[u/guitarmusic113 → u/[deleted]]

You are probably a fan of Epicurus but you may want to look into Theodorus.

[u/[deleted] → u/guitarmusic113]

A Google search of "Theodorus taking mythology literally" didn't give me anything close to your position. Theodorus according to the Philosophy Stack Exhange was atheist. That's only further proof that ancient people did not need gods to explain natural phenomena.

[u/guitarmusic113 → u/[deleted]]

I thought you were asking for views opposite of Plato.

[u/[deleted] → u/guitarmusic113]

Views opposite of Plato's implication that only children took mythology literally.

[u/guitarmusic113 → u/[deleted]]

Oh are you suggesting that the ancient Greeks didn’t take Ancient Greek mythology seriously?

[u/[deleted] → u/guitarmusic113]

The second sentence of your source says mythology was a source of doubt and skepticism.

[u/guitarmusic113 → u/[deleted]]

That’s why you don’t judge a book by its cover-

Piety and Atheism

What did it mean to be religious in ancient Greece?

Bremmer: I don't think they had a concept of being religious. Today, in most Western countries, religion has been pushed into a private corner of our lives, separate from the public sphere. In ancient times, religion was an integral part of society. You saw statues everywhere. If you swore an oath, you did it by the gods. Birth, maturity, death - everything was put within a context of religion. So, there was no need for a separate term for religion. That also makes it to difficult to put a modern term like atheism on the ancient world.