Why did God create?

[Sitaram]

Heidegger said that the most important philosophical question is: "Why is there anything at all, rather than simply nothing."

Each religion tries to give a reason why God decided to create everything.

When I first studied Christianity, I was quite impressed with the reason I was given: "God is love. God wanted to increase the amount of love, so God created angels and humans, who might also experience love."

My understanding of Hinduism is that God or Brahman, is bored, and falls asleep, and dreams many universes. This dreaming activity causes each universe to come into being.

Christianity cites love as the reason. Hinduism cites boredom.

I have begun to google search on the reason which Islam gives. I have found some Islamic sites, but I must re-read what I have found to come to an understanding.

I shall also look into what Judaism might have to say.

I am not certain what Buddhism really says. The doctrine of "dependent co-arising" may be suggesting that there were always things, with no beginning.

I am certain that the Zoroastrian Avestas must give some reason for creation, but I must look to see what I can find.

It seems like an interesting question to ask each religion and scripture.

[simon]

There was one philosopher that jokingly said at the end of his essay that the world was created by a babe god in diapers out of boredom or as a school project that may have gone awry, a test world as practice for future bigger and better ones. I cannot rightly recall the name of this philosopher, I'm sorry to say. But it really shows the difference between religions in the reasoning why the world was created. Love and boredom are such different things. I am interested in hearing what you find Sitaram in respect to the other reasons for creation given. Maybe there is a correlation between some.

[Jondr]

Hiedigger has thw questio backwards - the right question is - Why should we assume nothingness whe everything is right before us?

[Dyrwen]

You look at the wrong traits when you look at Hinduism. One works hard, grows tired and sleeps, and in that sleep comes creativity, beauty, and all the greatness one can ever imagine. In sleep, Brahma creates what his dreams desire, and it ends up being the entire universe around us because it is part of creative energy to do so.

Whereas with God, you say he made it for love. Who is to say Brahma is not also dreaming a lovely tale of what he wishes to create, rather than boasting about why he desires to create these universes that happen to exist by his reckoning. All I'm saying is, the intention doesn't make it any more noble, because the act is the same in any case. I would reiterate Jondr's point: Why focus on the supposed nothingness we came from and how, when we can focus on the apparent everything around us and enjoy it as it is?

I thought of this quote when I first read the thread title, heh. "In the beginning the Universe was created. This has made a lot of people very angry and been widely regarded as a bad move." - Douglas Adams