The Religion Distinction; G-d is not a religion

One of the leading arguments against the existence of G-d from the scientific community is that there is no such thing as the “supernatural”. However, since the greatest scientists of our times have openly admitted that there are many aspects to our world and universe that are beyond human understanding, they are referring to something beyond nature. Therefore, the incomprehensible part of nature is by definition, “supernatural”.

So, it seems that we are not really arguing whether there is a G-d or not; but we are debating the way people characterize Him. Hence, this dispute boils down to two opposing schools of thought: first, that G-d caused the world to come into being in some unknown fashion over a period of billions of years, allowed the people to evolve from apes and said in effect, “Do what you will, it’s your world, you only get one chance; make the best of it.” Second, that God made the Heavens and the Earth in six days from nothing, formed the first man from the earth, breathed life into him, separated the first woman from him and told them to “be fruitful and multiply.” He then set up the first rule of obedience as a condition for living forever in paradise.

This second version is what Dawkins summarily dismisses as “delusional”. In other words, either G-d removed himself from the world and is watching for entertainment value or the world is one with Him and He is involved with us every moment continuously giving us our life force and providing challenges to strengthen us. According to Dawkins, the G-d of Israel is obsessive, maniacal and cruel because he demands worship and obedience in exchange for happiness, contentment and eternal life. However, the stark truth is that real cruelty is being aloof and indifferent to the plight of others. Thus Dawkins apparently prefers the unsympathetic detached god watching the show from a comfortable distance rather than be subservient to the One that is in control of all things. 

Moreover, it seems that to the confirmed atheist there is no distinction between G-d and religion. Thus they apparently believe that if they are able to refute the abuses committed by fanatics in the name of religion, they can conclude that G-d does not exist. Consequently, we must make clear the distinction between G-d and religion. First of all, G-d never said, “Let there be religion.” He set up a set of laws and an organizational structure, whereby the leader delegates certain responsibilities to subordinates. Thus, following the tenets of a civilized society, which depends on the rule of law for its survival, is not religion; it’s common sense.

Additionally, there were many varieties of religious worship of stones, trees, the sun, the moon, statues, and mythical gods throughout the ages that predated and came after the start of Judaism at Mount Sinai; but those were all man-made concoctions. If you look at the societies that have long since been dead and gone, you will not find kindness or ethical thought as the rule of law. But, the Jewish culture continues to this day, unchanged as to the source of its beliefs and if you look there you will find kindness to the extent that if one person borrows money from another, the lender says, “Thank you for the opportunity”, gives over the money without charging any interest and never asks the borrower to repay for fear of embarrassing him. This behavior is not religion; this is the rule of Jewish law as handed down from the Torah. Similarly, the famous sayings “Love your fellow as yourself” and “Do not do to others what you hate being done to you” are not religion; they are the law.