amen rickdobs,many people seem to think others have the "answer" and if
they could hear that answer they too would know how to live their lives
and follow a regimen to get to some afterlife. it is when we throw that
yoke off, think for ourselves, read what other "masters" have said in
all spiritual paths ,then we can make a choice and live "our" own life
and be on a path suited for ourselves. if you are a present aware being
you are "there" and on the path to awakening.

as to evolution..there are no scientists in dispute over this.
the fossil record is complete enough to make the assumptions of
evolution real. people that are non scientists always use "theory" as a
key word, as if it is a work in progress and not proven..when in fact
all science is a work in progress and
until a new theory with some "cajones" is offered, the old theory
stands. the belief in a supreme being that created the universe is very
convincing to many, but it holds no scientific
thought..it is a statement that can not be proven or disproven,
thus it is not a theory, simply a belief..apples and oranges.
one can believe in heaven or an after life of 70 virgins, who is
correct..a moot point...what is certain is death..what one believes
after that point is not a theory, simply a hope.

you are absolutely correct about the history of god .am reading a book
called "the history of god" actually the worship of god was some 9
thousand years ago in babylon and the concept of god has changed and
evolved over the milenias, but religion itself
has always taken its dogma too seriously by those in charge. no
one likes to lose their job telling people what to say, how to pray,
when to pray etc..so changing religious thought is a
very difficult challenge. what amazes me is in the 21 st century
how there can be so many people on this planet still living in the
5-10th centuries in their religious beliefs., and i am not
talking about fanatics..i'm talking about people that take the bible
literally, or those that are waiting to be "saved", or any
other such non sense. when are people going to embrae the century they
live in and simply treat people of all races and ethnicities with
respect, love and kindness. that is really all one need do to make it a
global community. stop the name calling and be a loving kind person