If God did not exist...

[jake-the-peg]

Suppose athiests like myself were right and the Universe were not created by God, if we did not have immortal souls and all the religious people were continuing on under a mistaken misaprehension.

How would the world look? What would be different?

[Theland]

To get back to Jakes question though. If there were no God, then we couldn't be made in the image of God, and therefore, our behaviour would be just a more intelligent type of animal instinct. I don't think that as mere animals, we would have much time for art, philosophy, science and other formas of abstract thinking, but would only be engaged in satisfying our lusts for food, sex, warmth, and nurturing our young until they were old enough to fend for themselves.
Marriage would not exist, and maybe even monogamy would disappear, although some mammals and birds are, I believe monogamous. So a question mark there.
I fail to see how there could be a universal moral code of behaviour, that could exist outside of ones own immediate community. That would lead to increased tribalsim and wars, in my opinion.

[naomi24]

Theland, If there were no God, then we couldn't be made in the image of God. So you are saying that man is made in the image of God, which would suggest that God, far from being perfect, must necessarily possess the same negative attributes as man.

[Theland]

No, God is spirit and our spirituality reflects this. Our sin prohibits us from fellowship with God, our negative attributes are purely our own due to our rebelliousness towards God.

[naomi24]

Oh, right. So all the good bits are down to him, but not the bad? I see. He's got it all ways, hasn't he?

I don't believe there's really a universal moral code now - even amongst cultures that worship the same God.

[Theland]

Good bits bad bits? How can it be otherwise?
Whatever Gods' nature we describe as, "good," and the results of our rebelliousness we describe as, "bad."
So God cannot be bad as He is the standard for goodness.

[naomi24]

Mmmm ..... depends on your standards I suppose. Going on his history, I like to think mine are a little higher than his.