God did not create the world and does not rule over the universe.

==Conceptions of God vary widely. Theologians and philosophers have studied countless conceptions of God since the dawn of civilization. The Abrahamic conceptions of God include the trinitarian view of Christians, the Kabbalistic definition of Jewish mysticism, and the Islamic concept of God. The dharmic religions differ in their view of the divine: views of God in Hinduism vary by region, sect, and caste, ranging from monotheistic to polytheistic; the view of God in Buddhism is almost non-theist. In modern times, some more abstract concepts have been developed, such as process theology and open theism. Conceptions of God held by individual believers vary so widely that there is no clear consensus on the nature of God. (http://www.hds.harvard.edu...) ==American survey data show that even the most religiously devout individuals—as measured by religious practices and stated belief—seriously question their faith from time to time. (Using data from the 1998 General Social Survey, we find that nearly half of those with a belief in God can still have their faith shaken by world events. Approximately 49 percent (49.4) of those who believe in God report that personal suffering has caused them to doubt their faith at least sometimes. About 47 percent (47.4) have had their faith shaken on occasion by evil in the world.) ==There are many philosophical issues concerning the existence of God. Some definitions of God are sometimes nonspecific, while other definitions can be self-contradictory. Arguments for the existence of God typically include metaphysical, empirical, inductive, and subjective types, while others revolve around holes in evolutionary theory and order and complexety in the world. Arguments against the existence of God typically include empirical, deductive, and inductive types. Conclusions reached include: "God exists and this can be proven"; "God exists, but this cannot be proven or disproven" (theism in both cases); "God does not exist" (strong atheism); "God almost certainly does not exist" (de facto atheism); and "no one knows whether God exists" (agnosticism). There are numerous variations on these positions. ==Stephen Jay Gould proposed an approach dividing the world of philosophy into what he called "non-overlapping magisteria" (NOMA). In this view, questions of the supernatural, such as those relating to the existence and nature of God, are non-empirical and are the proper domain of theology. The methods of science should then be used to answer any empirical question about the natural world, and theology should be used to answer questions about ultimate meaning and moral value. In this view, the perceived lack of any empirical footprint from the magisterium of the supernatural onto natural events makes science the sole player in the natural world. (Dawkins, Richard (2006). The God Delusion. Great Britain: Bantam Press. ISBN 0-618-68000-4.) ==Another view, advanced by Richard Dawkins, is that the existence of God is an empirical question, on the grounds that "a universe with a god would be a completely different kind of universe from one without, and it would be a scientific difference." (^ Dawkins, Richard. "Why There Almost Certainly Is No God". Retrieved on 2007-01-10.) ==A third view is that any statement/question which cannot be defined is nonsense and which cannot be tested is non-science, on the grounds that only statements/questions that are either theoretically justifiable and/or empirically testable are appropriate for scientific attention (which may or may not include a position on whether or not theology is nonsense). (falsafiability: http://en.wikipedia.org...) ==I believe God to be not an omniscient being, but a belief created by enlightened thinkers in order to help others achieve enlightenment. I do not believe the bible was meant to be interpreted literally, I believe it was meant to guide people in a path to reach this enlightenment. ==Enlightenment broadly means wisdom or understanding enabling clarity of perception. ==Many individuals have claimed to reach a state of enlightenment, including many famous yogis and meditation masters from well-known spiritual traditions. Mahatma Gandhi was said to be an enlightened seeker of truth. Mahavira is believed by Jains to have attained Kevala Jnana or Omniscience that is the highest state of enlightenment. Siddhartha Gautama, the Buddha, is believed by Buddhists to have reached the "ultimate state of enlightenment" or "pari-nirvana." ==Some individuals who are said to be enlightened did so without any visible tradition or lineage like Dave Oshana, John de Ruiter and Barry Long (dec'd). Osho is said to have achieved enlightenment at the age of 21 after many years of spiritual, religious and academic indulgence. Nārāyana Guru (1856–1928), the prolific poet, philosopher, and social reformer is believed to have attained enlightenment (i.e., an absolute state of wisdom) after his several years of education in languages, the scriptures of the different religions, yoga, and experiences with ascetic life, culminating in his long and meditative recluse in Maruthwamala hills in South India. Nārāyana Guru's philosophical masterpiece "Atmopadeśa Śatakam" (100 verses of self-instruction) is primarily the Guru's poetic expression of his philosophy of universal love, emanating from his experienced state of primordial knowledge of the Universe, and his consequent ability to view the human race as one of a species, in unqualified equality and without any racial, religious, caste, or other discriminations whatsoever. Dr. Richard Bucke, in his 1901 book Cosmic Consciousness, names a few dozens of people who, in his studied opinion, had experienced some degree of enlightenment, including Walt Whitman and Blaise Pascal. Bucke also attempted to analyze what commonalities these personalities shared. His study has become part of the foundation of transpersonal psychology. There are some thinkers such as U. G. Krishnamurti, who refute any existence of the very concept of enlightenment (despite being considered enlightened by his followers). Spiritual writer Eckhart Tolle is said to have attained enlightenment at age 29 after suffering long periods of depression. Aikido founder Morihei Ueshiba is said to have become enlightened after defending himself from the attacks of an exceptional swordsmen with only his bare hands.