...for a parent that one can never outgrow.
It seems that when we old enough that we need no longer heed our parents' guidance, but can instead rely upon our own, some people become very afraid of the choices we might make, given our freedom.
So, god was invented as a kind of 'meta-parent'--to keep us in line: to shame us--or threaten us--into obeying what some people see as 'the rules'. This is why it has been said that 'if there were no god, we would have to invent Him.'
God, being described as 'infinite', and 'omniscient', and 'omnipotent', is always above us, always beyond, always able to do that which we cannot. No matter what human beings achieve, the religious are always quick to point out that we have never been able to do those things that are ascribed to god; god always outdistances us, and always will.
We cannot create matter or energy, we merely direct its use. We do not create life, we merely modify some of the life that already exists. We do not know all the mysteries of the universe, we know only enough to have some idea of how little we really know.
God thus exists as a way to keep extraordinary human beings humble, and also to give the hope that things can be achieved, even though no human means for their achievement exist, and so that we can believe there is punishment for those who have escaped human justice.
Whether god exists or not, the major problems facing humanity are going to have to be solved by human beings; god's conspicuous lack of intervention has made this clear.
Perhaps it's time to realize that, if we're to be helped, we must help ourselves. No one--and no thing--is going to do it for us.
We've outgrown the need for parents, whether corporeal, or spiritual.
Keith.
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