Upon a time when I learnt how resourceful online forums can be on murky matters beyond society’s norms, I chanced upon this atheist vs theists group.
In a bid to irk Bible thumpers I said that the son of man had to be the most photogenic fellow at his time, he always has that regal look about him.
In came the stinging insults from born agains and hoots from atheists as expected, but there was someone who commented on the blind arrogance exhibited by both parties who picture the entire universe was created for their leisure.
My curiosity got the better of me so I dmed the user, asked what they meant in detail and luckily they gracefully obliged.
In broad strokes i learnt how the stunning Eden was an incubator and humans the experiment by evolved beings.
According to the user what we call Satan and God were in actuality scientists who differed on their specimen and their end goal.
God wanted submission and total docility, but Satan insisted on handing the specimen a chance to develop their own intelligence.
This developed in me the idea that morality is completely independent of religion, inch by inch I did away with the thought of a colossal being judging my every move and gravitated towards being more aware of my actions and consequences.
To be honest I’m not certain if God and Satan as we know them are real, but I will embrace wise sentiments from Marcus Aurelius.
Live in such a way that the gods if they are any will judge you favorably, and if they be and judge you harshly in spite of your morality then of what use are they?
Morality is independent of religion. Religion only reinforces and strengthens it. Absence of religion would effectively dilute the level of morality. Moving on, we may be living in a simulation. Our lives might be a form of illusion which gives us a sense of false control.
Extreme example, but Religion specifically Christianity and Islam recommend the utter destruction of non believers.
And for a time they murdered none believers in droves, religion is commercial spiritualism
Consider how the human is a misstep from evolution, the human grew too self aware thus we all labor under an illusion that we are all somebody when in fact we are nobody