Quote - Quote: "And equally, we've always needed some powerful entity to blame, or to have to appease in order to set things right again."

While I think we have their hard work to thank for some basic principles that have withstood the test of Time, their method by definition wasn't so methodical. 

For example, when it came to "set things right again" who came up with sacrifice?

Someone convinced the others that God worked on some sort of monetary system based on blood. And if the result wasn't achieved then you just didn't offer enough blood or the right kind of blood. Proof that the Shame-man shouldn't be allowed back at the all-you-can-eat peyote buffet.

Imagine the laugh the Aliens will have when they hear us explain all that we know about Quantum Physics. (In my version the Aliens can laugh but mostly expressed through a series of farts and tap dancing) thanks be to Kurt

 

The idea of sacrifice isn't based on the idea of blood, whether it's the right kind or not. It's based on the idea of giving something of value. And God isn't the only deity that "demanded" it. but you're right. after all the whole idea of worship and sacrifice is based on the idea of you paying for something that is provided for you by your god.

By the by, I'm stepping out of this thread  now, primarily because it's become tedious. and just a tad offensive. i don't really have a problem with anyone not believing in God or religion of any kind. I'm not a religious person myself, although I do believe in a higher Universal power or entity that I call "God".

Occasionally, though I do fall prey and get sucked into threads like this one. It's not the debate which I find offensive as much as it is the attitude of the people  who bandy about words like "fantasy" and "delusions", indicating that the someone is of an inferior intelligence for holding such beliefs. I choose to leave now before someone says something for which I probably won't be able to restrain my answer.

Have fun, keep it civil and stop the baiting.