"A Personal God"

"A personal God"

is a conceptualized Super-Parent;
a surrogate,
for those of us who still feel a need for one.

It's a complex viral memetic
that is transferred socially, from person to person.

This fact has nothing whatsoever to do with
the question of whether or not our world (or our species) was "designed" or "created" by some Super-Person(s).
Even if we think that answer to that "must surely be yes",
the human experience of "God" is still being spread socially and generated internally.

The reason it feels "right" (but only to some people) is because it evokes an experiential response from our earliest years; where a mysterious and larger-than-life parent loomed *above* and encouraged us to reach up to have our needs met.

For religious adults, it's an ironic form of self-reliance where we draw from inner strengths we never knew we had ... but imagine those coming from outside of ourselves.

However, our inner strength can't create a magic forcefield against bombs and bullets.

Ironically, that "faith" (trust beyond evidence) leads many to stay helpless; failing to find a way out of certain dangers, because:

We're so sure rescue is coming

that we don't bother rescuing ourselves.

This problem was made more common and more consequential, when early Christian writers told slaves NOT to fight for their own freedom. Instead, to serve their slave owners with conviction, to please God.

That came with the promise that they'll be liberated by God later and then rewarded for their humility and humiliations.

"Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ".
Ephesians 6:1

There isn't 'always a way' to rescue ourselves.
But there usually is.
And all-too-often, the assurance of "God" prevents the vulnerable from discovering and owning their own power.

Realizing this, 
"Fredrick Douglas didn't become free
until he prayed with his feet".
- Greydon Square