You may think it odd, but I'm not a bible basher. I believe in many things at the same time, in multiple truths. There are many possible explanations for our existence, and I don't feel a need to choose one over the others. The ultimate cause of everything is just impossible to know objectively. Instead of treating that as an invitation to guess at the cause of everything and pick a side, I hold the possibilities together, side by side. In terms of understanding my own life and making decisions, I think there is just as much value having God as an ultimate creator as there is having the "big bang" as the ultimate creator. Or, as having God or my parents as the ultimate creator-- the choices I make are often the same regardless. I use both explanations to help me cope. Unlike a lot of Christians, I believe in the literal truth of the resurrection, but also the big bang (and thus, I don't believe the literal truth of Genesis). I also believe in other religions besides Christianity. I typically view myself as my own creator. From a DNA, social, or metaphysics perspective, I think it's true. It doesn't change the ultimate question. What is it?
Your first sentence was right on the mark. We think that we forgot everything we experienced when we were little. I think instead, we just remember it differently. Before the age of one year, our relationship to our parents is like our adult relationship to god. The parents are those huge things up in the sky, all powerful. They can lift us up in the air, make things appear, give us food, punish us. "Give us this day, our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses..." Are we god-fearing folk? Probably grew up with parents who punished early. So, the reason we believe in god, is because we actually remember him/her. Very deeply. It's ingrained, and we can't shake that feeling that he's up there, watching us, judging us, getting ready with the rewards or punishment.... I think it is genetically useful to remember these early experiences deeply, and to believe in them most strongly. They are your life's first impressions. First impressions are the ones most likely to be repeated....
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You may think it odd, but I'm not a bible basher. I believe in many things at the same time, in multiple truths. There are many possible explanations for our existence, and I don't feel a need to choose one over the others. The ultimate cause of everything is just impossible to know objectively. Instead of treating that as an invitation to guess at the cause of everything and pick a side, I hold the possibilities together, side by side. In terms of understanding my own life and making decisions, I think there is just as much value having God as an ultimate creator as there is having the "big bang" as the ultimate creator. Or, as having God or my parents as the ultimate creator-- the choices I make are often the same regardless. I use both explanations to help me cope. Unlike a lot of Christians, I believe in the literal truth of the resurrection, but also the big bang (and thus, I don't believe the literal truth of Genesis). I also believe in other religions besides Christianity. I typically view myself as my own creator. From a DNA, social, or metaphysics perspective, I think it's true. It doesn't change the ultimate question. What is it?
Your first sentence was right on the mark. We think that we forgot everything we experienced when we were little. I think instead, we just remember it differently. Before the age of one year, our relationship to our parents is like our adult relationship to god. The parents are those huge things up in the sky, all powerful. They can lift us up in the air, make things appear, give us food, punish us. "Give us this day, our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses..." Are we god-fearing folk? Probably grew up with parents who punished early. So, the reason we believe in god, is because we actually remember him/her. Very deeply. It's ingrained, and we can't shake that feeling that he's up there, watching us, judging us, getting ready with the rewards or punishment.... I think it is genetically useful to remember these early experiences deeply, and to believe in them most strongly. They are your life's first impressions. First impressions are the ones most likely to be repeated....