Imagine for a moment that there was no God

Imagine for a moment that there was no God. What would that be like?

Who, for instance, would be ultimately responsible? In who's name, or for what ends, would righteousness be operative? Or, would it go away? Would integrity be a virtue? Or even necessary?

Would guns and lawlessness be the norm? If we didn't have religions to use (or to blame) what would be our justification for warring on each other?

What would we organize our selves around? Would we create a different strata of accountability - a newly justified hierarchy to blame? Would responsibility continue to be avoided? Where would we place the blame for global warming - climate change? Or would there even be a phenomenon with that label?

In the US would our right and left wing political traditions survive? Expand? If so, around what ideals? Without religions, would we even have ideals? What justifications would we need/use to avoid responsibility for the acts we commit that destroy, demean, or subjugate each other? Would dominate/avoid domination continue as the default human programming?

If we had no external scriptures to quote, what would we use to author our justifications? Would we need to produce evidence to support our assertions? Or would assertions simply devolve to assessment - no evidence necessary? Sort of like pyramids built to store grain?

I've been dwelling in this inquiry for the past several weeks and I'm amazed with the possibilities and the challenges. Having gods solve so many issues for humans. It really leaves us off the hook. We don't have to confront the consequences of our behaviors or our actions.

I'm still in the middle of this - not yet sure if I like it or not. Not yet sure if I really want to go there or not. I keep asking myself if I'd really be willing to take on being 100% responsible for 100% of what's happening. Whew! Scary! And then occasionally exciting and freeing.

You?