Why Not Test Drive a Different God

There is no certain way to predict the future of religion. We can only be quite certain it will be different than the past.

The link discusses several of the different gods people have worshiped and different ways the current Christian God has been perceived. Every god that has ever been worshiped has had a shelf life and it is inevitable this God's clock is ticking.

It's interesting to read how aware the ancients were of a precarious god. We can contrast their way of selling their god versus some ways of selling in capitalism.

Recently the industrial icon, Lee Iacocca, died. He left a library of good ideas and clever quotes. One of his accomplishments was turning Chrysler around by becoming the company's pitchman. He challenged customers to shop around, to look at other cars as well as Chryslers. Then, he said, "If you find a better car, buy it."

Those who wrote the Bible wanted no shopping around. One of the 10 Commandments warns, "You shalt have no other gods before you."

You can understand the concern those ancients had. They had pitched their god as offering some invisible goodies. Join the company because we offer you life after you are dead.

They might have worried some other gods might be upping the ante. Maybe those selling another god would offer not only life after death but free tickets to concerts anywhere. You will be able to watch any concert you want so long as you remain invisible, the other gods might have said.

Today it is said Islam offers men not only life after death but 20 virgins. Mormons offer eternity with one's original wife, but not with the second wife.

So while other gods might have something better to offer, the Christian faith prefers you never hear about them.


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