Is there a God?
May. 25th, 2004 10:19 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
sobriqueOne of the time old questions, asked by mankind through the ages is this: "Is there a God?".
The thing is though, is that it's not a question that can be answered by others. The answer has to come from within.
It's easy enough to read the Bible, live by the rules and leave it there. No matter how much others, even those you respect and admire tell you a thing, doesn't make it so. For such a question depends almost entirely on faith.
Personally, I think the Bible is mostly a work of fiction. Oh I have no doubt that there probably was a marvelous spiritual person in the form of Jesus. And quite probably he was crucified. But it's not a factual work in my opinion.
Facts aren't everything though really are they? A parable is no less insightful for not being factual.
I believe there is "something more". I think the Universe has a soul. I'm not convinced that it's sentient, let alone sapient though. To me, the world is a wonderful place. So many opportunities for joy. Living alone is enough, and to know that I might touch the life of others and make it better in some way is its own miracle.
My upbringing was Christian. Unfortunately, one day, the 'facts' fell apart. I couldn't accept certain facts that were 'doctrine'. I stopped being a regular church goer on that day.
I could accept there being an omniscient and omnipotent being. But I could not accept that that meant that this being was benevolent and remotely interested in the human race. What concern do we have for the ants scurrying around at the bottom of the garden?
I don't think there's an afterlife. I don't really see the point in that. An evolution of conciousness maybe, but an eternal paradise? Why? I could accept though, that there may be a reason I don't understand.
The one thing I have difficulty with is this though: "God loved us so much, he sent his only Son down to die for us. Whoever believes in him will receive Eternal Life.".
So what about those that don't? For whatever reason, the Word of God never reaches them? Surely a benevolent and omnipotent God would at least give the poor sods the choice? And conversely, is a God that would condemn for such a fickle reason one who is worth following? Even given the price one might pay?
No, I think that there is 'spiritual enlightenment'. A state of understanding, that comes as a side effect of 'being good'. In all honesty, there's basic kindness I've met from the vast majority of Christians I've encountered. (I daresay similar could be said of other religious, but my experiences there are less). Many are what I'd consider 'good' people. But I don't think that there is only one way to achieve that.
And so I continue. I believe there is a 'spirit of creation'. It's had many names, and many attributes ascribed. I think it's conciousness is an attribute ascribed by some, as a means of controlling others. "Better do it my way, or you'll go to hell, because God says so". This may have been from higher motives - I don't think there's much argument that "Thou Shalt Not Commit Murder" is a bad law to live by. But I think that came from the mouth of a wise priest early on.
I also believe that there's a harmony to life. Call it karma if you will. "What we do in life, echoes in eternity" - To bring joy or love to others is a gift beyond compare. And in so doing you bring joy to yourself. Anger, Spite, Hate are the dark parts of us. Let them grow, and the world becomes a dark place.
The spiritually inclined tend achieve it, be they Christians, Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus, Jews, Sikh, Pagans, Vodousiant, Druidic or whatever.
Not because they know the one True Way.
But because they go through life thinking of the consequences of their choices and the impact upon others.
The thing is though, is that it's not a question that can be answered by others. The answer has to come from within.
It's easy enough to read the Bible, live by the rules and leave it there. No matter how much others, even those you respect and admire tell you a thing, doesn't make it so. For such a question depends almost entirely on faith.
Personally, I think the Bible is mostly a work of fiction. Oh I have no doubt that there probably was a marvelous spiritual person in the form of Jesus. And quite probably he was crucified. But it's not a factual work in my opinion.
Facts aren't everything though really are they? A parable is no less insightful for not being factual.
I believe there is "something more". I think the Universe has a soul. I'm not convinced that it's sentient, let alone sapient though. To me, the world is a wonderful place. So many opportunities for joy. Living alone is enough, and to know that I might touch the life of others and make it better in some way is its own miracle.
My upbringing was Christian. Unfortunately, one day, the 'facts' fell apart. I couldn't accept certain facts that were 'doctrine'. I stopped being a regular church goer on that day.
I could accept there being an omniscient and omnipotent being. But I could not accept that that meant that this being was benevolent and remotely interested in the human race. What concern do we have for the ants scurrying around at the bottom of the garden?
I don't think there's an afterlife. I don't really see the point in that. An evolution of conciousness maybe, but an eternal paradise? Why? I could accept though, that there may be a reason I don't understand.
The one thing I have difficulty with is this though: "God loved us so much, he sent his only Son down to die for us. Whoever believes in him will receive Eternal Life.".
So what about those that don't? For whatever reason, the Word of God never reaches them? Surely a benevolent and omnipotent God would at least give the poor sods the choice? And conversely, is a God that would condemn for such a fickle reason one who is worth following? Even given the price one might pay?
No, I think that there is 'spiritual enlightenment'. A state of understanding, that comes as a side effect of 'being good'. In all honesty, there's basic kindness I've met from the vast majority of Christians I've encountered. (I daresay similar could be said of other religious, but my experiences there are less). Many are what I'd consider 'good' people. But I don't think that there is only one way to achieve that.
And so I continue. I believe there is a 'spirit of creation'. It's had many names, and many attributes ascribed. I think it's conciousness is an attribute ascribed by some, as a means of controlling others. "Better do it my way, or you'll go to hell, because God says so". This may have been from higher motives - I don't think there's much argument that "Thou Shalt Not Commit Murder" is a bad law to live by. But I think that came from the mouth of a wise priest early on.
I also believe that there's a harmony to life. Call it karma if you will. "What we do in life, echoes in eternity" - To bring joy or love to others is a gift beyond compare. And in so doing you bring joy to yourself. Anger, Spite, Hate are the dark parts of us. Let them grow, and the world becomes a dark place.
The spiritually inclined tend achieve it, be they Christians, Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus, Jews, Sikh, Pagans, Vodousiant, Druidic or whatever.
Not because they know the one True Way.
But because they go through life thinking of the consequences of their choices and the impact upon others.
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no subject
Date: 2004-05-25 04:45 pm (UTC)The rules are put there for a reason. Sometimes it's because someone's on a power trip, but really, I'm trying to go for the 'ideal' here. Most rules are for safety, but the others, the theological ones, are not only for survival, but also for hope. I'm still convinced that the Jewish rule about pork goes back to early forms of trichinosis and other food poisonings. ;o) Karma, balance & harmony, and recognizing the consequences of one's actions - these go a long way in leading a good life. Not lying to one's self about things and being practical also helps (so sayeth the dreamer). :D
no subject
Date: 2004-05-26 06:53 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-05-26 07:02 am (UTC)Give us a link, man, a link!
no subject
Date: 2004-05-26 07:32 am (UTC)I'm most enlightened.
no subject
Date: 2004-05-26 08:14 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-05-26 08:15 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-05-26 08:35 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-05-26 08:40 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-05-26 09:44 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-06-08 01:23 pm (UTC)One of the time old questions, asked by mankind through the ages: "Is there a God?"
Due to my own bias, as a Buddhist, I subscribe to the (some might say typically evasive) standpoint of "neither confirming or denying" the existence of God.
The reason for this is mainly because the answer between the lines of that is:
"Does it really matter?"
Q: Is there a God?
A: Does it really matter?
I mean, really? People believe what they want to believe, and disbelieve anything which they don't want to believe, regarding God or anything else.
True, beliefs can change, swayed by arguments and evidence, but we have what arguments and proof we have, nothing more - to wait for undeniable proof or disproof leads to the question: "Is there such a thing as undeniable evidence?"
Unlikely - you'll always get one skeptic or zealot; try convincing two people to totally agree on something, let alone six billion, especially when the issue also depends upon the definition of God.
There's only a relative (and subjective) scale of more or less persuasive evidence.
Thus the existence of God (or anything else really, if you think about it) cannot ultimately be proven or disproven, even if only because nothing can be defined absolutely.
Can anything exist without dependence upon something else? Light without shadow, good without evil? The observed without an observer, an observer without something to observe?
It's all relative, and relatively confusing, since an absolute is unity and beyond normal comprehension - and my own wisdom is quite paltry and lacking, but I find struggling with such issues seems interesting, and to struggle is to live.
And that's what it perhaps comes down to. God or no God, we live and we die. The days go by and we do what we do.
Not knowing... but then if we knew, whatever would happen to faith?
Really, when we think about what we do know, it's not that much at all, but how much does it really matter? Who knows? ;-)