What If Man Created God-Lord of the Flies

@mansha (6298)
India
February 22, 2007 4:07am CST
What if Man made God and not the other way round?What if humans created God to overcome their own fears about the unknown and not the other way round? This discussion I have started based on william Golding's "lord of the Flies". Have you read "Lord of the flies" by william Golding .Its a story about a group of children deserted on an uninhabited island,where they are alone without adult supervision. The novel begins with the aftermath of the crash, once the boys have reached the island.they must develop their own society, in essence constructing a sociological experiment in which these boys must develop without any societal influences to shape them. In fact the beginning chapters of the novel parallel assumptions about human evolution, as the characters "discover" fire and form levels of political authority.However, what concerns Golding in the story is the nature of evil as demonstrated by the boys on the island. The "beast" becomes a sign of the children's unrest It goes from being a nightmare in some little boy's dreams in the beginning of the novel to something very real that requires sacrifice if one is to be safe.he beast represents the children's superstitious fears which become so overpowering that it eventually takes control of the situation.They make sacrifices to "the beast" to appease it and keep themselves safe. The sequence of killing can be used to track the children's turning from innocence to savagery . First, the boy with the birth mark accidentally dies in a fire .Then, Simon dies in a violent act committed by a group of people.Finally the change is complete and the children have become complete savages. They choose to hunt Ralph down near the end of the novel, knowing full well that the hunt will end in murder and sacrifice.William Golding uses Lord of the Flies to teach us that the most dangerous enemy is not the evil found without, but the evil found within each of us.In the novel he displays the two different personalities that mankind possesses, one civilized, the other primitive.The story's setting is essential for the evolution of both sides of man. The story's characters serve as archetypes that display the struggle between man's quest for civilization and his urges to become primitive. This has made me draw parallels between how the concept and need of God must have originated with the primitive man. Can you see the similarities. please comment. If you have not read the book then read it- it may change your perception of religion and God forever.
3 people like this
5 responses
@ESKARENA1 (18261)
22 Feb 07
i am absolutely convinced man created god in his own image.What better way is there to control individuals when there is no one watching than inventing the concept of a all seeing, judgemental god, ready to condem anyone not following his will? Some individual will kill for the words writen down to ram the lie home. Very strange. blessed be
2 people like this
@mansha (6298)
• India
22 Feb 07
yes I think that too, how else could have men instilled value of being civilised i a bunch of savaged that were walking earth in that primitive era. but the person who thought iof that must be some brilliant man.
1 person likes this
@ESKARENA1 (18261)
22 Feb 07
or woman. I mean we get blamed for every other mistake, so why not the big one? blessed be
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@mansha (6298)
• India
27 Feb 07
lol yes why not women
@wmg2006 (5381)
• United States
27 Feb 07
I read this book many years ago and all I remember about it at that time was how easy it would be for a group of people to become these savages. I was glad I lived in an established society that already gone through all these tribulations of time. I have always believed in order for man to survive they must have a GOD in their midst. It is very important to believe in and worship a higher power, there is so much man can not do by themselves. Evil has been around forever due to the jelousy of man. As long a man wants what his neigh has there will be evil.
1 person likes this
@mansha (6298)
• India
27 Feb 07
yes I also compare this book withthe time when man had not yet learned to live in groups and civil socirty has not been established. we do see such people weven today who we call tribal people who have their own laws and rules. I feel God was created to control the beast in ourselves and explain a lot of unexplained things.
@jricbt (1454)
• Brazil
22 Feb 07
Very nice discussion, I will add Lord of the Flies for me to read list. On the subject of the discussion, I cannot really add anything. Only agree, in my opinion gods are creations of human mind. And what interesting book this one seems to be.
1 person likes this
@mansha (6298)
• India
22 Feb 07
Its really nice book do read it and analyse , I was fascinated by what it had to say.
• United States
24 Feb 07
I believe in God. He created man, but lately, mankind is turning away from God and creating new gods, in technology, television, the internet...Another book to add to the to-read list is American Gods by Neil Gaiman. God creates Man. Then Man creates God.
1 person likes this
• United States
25 Feb 07
I don't know many books that deal with the subject of Man creating God, but it's a popular theme in anime. Neon Genesis Evangelion, Ghost in the Shell, Akira, to name a few.
24 Feb 07
I read Lord of the Flies for GCSE English - I'm not sure I'd describe it as a "nice" book though! Powerful, thrilling, disturbing, compelling, and I can still remember a lot about it from about 8 years ago. I think we need explanations for things that happen, some things are too big to get your head round. From the moment we start to explore things as a child we need explanations for why things happen and how things work. Sometimes the explanations we get are not entirely accurate, or complete - like explaining where babies come from. Small children don't need all the intimate details, but a basic understanding that can be built on. The same with God. God works as a lot of the answers to questions of "Why?" Throughout cultures there have been stories, myths and figures that are used to explain all sorts, good and bad. I think the fact that these stories are cyclical, that you see the same stories and themes repeated throughout different cultures and religions shows that rather than being accurate and true accounts of a deity, they are things that it makes sense to believe. It's a case of security I guess - you can't tell a child "that's just the way it is," and have them be satisfied with it. As you grow up you may challenge that story, or make up stories of your own, or dispense with stories altogether - it's what works best for you. I teach 8-10 year olds; some of them still believe in God unwaveringly and don't question it, some are beginning to question and explore their beliefs more, and I think that can only be a good thing. If you can explore and develop your own beliefs they can become stronger, in my opinion.