I hear this statement thrown around a lot by Christians who try to bring atheists, agnostics, and other freethinkers down to their level. They claim that instead of worshipping God which is oh so great, you worship yourself. Sometimes they will change it up and target your interests or hobbies (e.g. Music is your God, Gaming is your God, etc.). But, mostly they use the “You are your own God” line.
The Christians who use this think they are being clever, but really they are just bastardizing Ludwig Feuerbach’s work. In The Essence Of Christianity Feuerbach argues that religion is identical with self-consciousness, the distinctive characteristic of man which separate us from brutes. The divine trinity of human nature is Reason, Will and Love. These three things propel us towards an object which is none other than than our objective nature. Religion is merely the objectification of our own human nature which we call “God”. In religion, we simply take our human nature, objectify it, and call it “God” (e.g. “God is love”).
Therefore, God is only a projection of the ideals of humanity. Humans are the only real subject. Religion, then is a fantasy because it allows man to go beyond his own nature though it is only through imagination which conceives of a higher kind. But, in reality we cannot escape our own nature. We must embrace it and practice self-verification, self-affirmation, and self-love. Every being is perfect and infinite in their own way (perhaps he was the first motivational speakers) and has God within itself.
So, as you can see this is what it really means when you are your own God. But, don’t take it from me. Decide for yourself if this makes sense or not.
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Interestingly, this is exactly what is teached by “new” Buddhism. It’s something like: “The Buddha is in your heart.” What’s your take on this teaching?
Buddhism is similar, but also opposite to Feuerbach too because it teaches that there is no ’self’. It is a delusion that we should not cling to. On the other hand, it also teaches that everybody is capable of reaching nirvana and buddhahood.
Overall, people shouldn’t take any ’spiritual’ teachings seriously. Most people are well adjusted enough to live normal lives without them. And for any serious problems going to a therapist is always better.
The idea of God can not only be interpreted in different ways from a 3rd person's point of view (ie a clear atheist trying to understand religion from the textbook definition of it) and also from a personal point of view. Logically, even though we are taught similar things, say for example, the same religion, we understand and apply it uniquely. To solely shoot down religion as a whole in order to pursue more important goals such as your "human nature" is narrow in thought. As an example, a common debate is whether religion is dependent upon morality, and whether morality is dependent upon religion. As I will guess, your point of view is that morality is definitely not dependent on morality, a form of your "human nature" concepts. But this does not give premise to the conclusion that religion does not need morality at it's foundation. The origins of religion and sole purpose has to be analyzed.
If God truely did not exist, would it change religion? I think not. It's purpose is to teach something relating to human nature. Yes, it is a tool, and has been proven to be a manipulative one in past and present, and definitely in future. But Religion and God should not be critizied together, and furthermore, when critiqueing such things, one should be extra specific as to the situation rather than something as broad as "human nature".
“The idea of God can not only be interpreted in different ways from a 3rd person's point of view (ie a clear atheist trying to understand religion from the textbook definition of it) and also from a personal point of view.”
Justifying the existence of God from a 'personal' point of view is just trying to pass off belief in God as evidence for God. I'm sorry, but that doesn't work. Also with this 'different interpretations' business, if I define God as the chair I'm sitting on God will exist too. But, that won't give any credence for the God you really want to argue for.
“To solely shoot down religion as a whole in order to pursue more important goals such as your 'human nature' is narrow in thought.”
Did you even read the post? I am not shooting down a religion to pursue human nature. I just showed how the “You are your own God” line is a bastardization of Feuerbach's work and self-defeating because it reveals religion to be merely a projection of ourselves.
“But Religion and God should not be critizied together, and furthermore, when critiqueing such things, one should be extra specific as to the situation rather than something as broad as 'human nature'.”
Why shouldn't religion and God be criticized together? Just because you say so? You have not provided any explanation.
It can never be known whether God truely exists or not. But, there is no evidence for God (empirical, rational or otherwise) so belief in God is irrational. And since most religions are based on the belief in the existence of God they are also irrational.
[...] it makes perfect sense through Feuerbach’s work which I have talked about in You Are Your Own God. Since God is human nature externalized and objectified, then denial of such a God would be a [...]