What do you believe?
December 18, 2008 by Will Marre
First of all, thank you all for your kind and inspiring words regarding my mother-in-law’s sudden passing and my mother’s plight as an Alzheimer’s victim. Your insights and personal emails really matter. It is so heartening to participate in a community of thoughtful, compassionate people who are striving to make their difference and to live lives of genuine inspiration.
Today I thought I’d just plunge in and take a big chance. I am talking about belief in the Divine. I know, I know. Why do I have to bring it up at all? Nothing is more controversial. And it is because it matters so much. So here’s what I propose. I’ll tell you how I think about belief and non-belief and you tell me what you think. No matter what, let’s agree afterwards to still be friends.
As I see it, there are two general possibilities, two scenarios. Both scenarios have their supporters. Both sides use science to back them up.
Scenario #1 is that we are “accidental humans;” the result of a cosmic chemical spill. A random mass of colliding electrons guided by unseen forces that proceed without any cause or meaning. Under Scenario #1, consciousness is just a by-product of biochemistry––an epiphenomenon, as the scientists say. If we accept this possibility, then all meaning is self-invented, a comforting illusion to save us from despair. With Scenario #1 values are simply the preferences we invent to help us get along. When humans decide they are the pinnacle of all intelligent life, it opens the door to genocide and child abuse being just as legitimate as charity work because if there are no universal values, life is simply about survival of the fittest. If you think this is far out, consider the long list of early 20th century leaders that believed in selectively breeding out what “science” said were low IQ races: Woodrow Wilson, Theodore Roosevelt, George Bernard Shaw, John Maynard Keynes, William Keith Kellogg, Margaret Sanger, and Winston Churchill to name a few. Eugenics was a very popular fake science.
This view of accidental humanity is quite popular among the highly educated. In fact, it has become de facto religion in most of our colleges and universities. Several well-known twentieth century tyrants used their own version of Scenario #1 to justify their actions. We all know what happened. It led to the slaughter of over 150 million of us. If Darwinism is the soulless mechanism of creation, what we end up with is a life based on competing for power instead of one of meaning.
I know there are people who claim religion has done more to harm humanity than non-belief ever has. But all the wars, intolerance, and torture didn’t happen because of a belief in a divine unseen world. It happened because humans are corrupt. The fact that religion doesn’t tame man’s evil doesn’t mean that life is meaningless. To the contrary. It makes life’s intrinsic meaning even more important.
All attempts of the “accidental humans” camp to create secular meaning are in the end meaningless. After all, if meaning is made-up, then it really isn’t meaningful. And living without real meaning is not fulfilling—never has been. It also makes science, art, spirituality, and love meaningless. Just diversions on the road to nowhere.
Scenario #2 says that there is something more to us. It says that we are significant humans. We are part of something that goes deeper than the electrical wiring of our brain. We are connected to a greater intelligence, a transcendent spiritual energy that is at the core of everything.
Scenario #2 isn’t made-up woo-woo. It, too, has science behind it. Its reality begins with understanding E=MC2––Einstein’s discovery that matter and energy are one and the same and that energy cannot be destroyed, only transformed. Every physical thing, according to Einstein, is really just energy in a particular form that our particular senses interpret as matter. And energy cannot be destroyed, only changed in form. We don’t actually live in a material world. Matter is just energy. It is technically non-material. And the name we commonly use for things non-material is spiritual. Spiritual energy, imagine that.
What’s wild is that the laws that govern how energy changes form seem to depend on consciousness. Decades of repeated experiments performed by scores of mainstream renown physicists have categorically shown that human intention powerfully affects the behavior of matter/energy. Period. It’s no longer up for debate. In fact it’s this property of physics that makes electrons behave in ways that make electronic circuit boards possible. It’s ironic that every computer chip is a reminder of an invisible unexplainable reality.
Our awareness is not an after-effect but a prerequisite. It comes first, not second. Thanks to new super-sophisticated brain surgery we now have clinical evidence the individual human consciousness does not depend on our brain being alive. That’s right. We now know that we can have zero brain wave activity for prolonged periods and still have conscious awareness of what is happening while our brain is switched off. Now that’s amazing. (If you want to read about a clinical account of independent human consciousness, read The Scalpel and the Soul by Allen S. Hamilton M.D.
So in Scenario #2, we are not, at our essence, physical, biological hunks of matter that have learned to think. Rather our biological bodies are only the temporary manifestation of some essential, eternal energy––what spiritual teachers have for millennia called our souls. In that case, the source of our true desires and noblest intentions is much deeper than our individual story, our personality, or our brain chemistry. It is an abiding, universal consciousness temporarily housing itself in our body.
What’s the importance of all this? Well, if Scenario #2 is true, then most everything we tell ourselves is important isn’t. At least not in the way we think it is. With Scenario #2, our soul belongs to a deeper spiritual reality. And in that reality love does matter. In fact, it matters most of all. I don’t know about you, but I’m putting my chips on Scenario #2.
What do you think?
Scenario 1 vs Scenario 2 – In my humble opinion, I do not believe it matters. In both scenarios, you should live a good life and be a better person. Whether you believe you are random or not, the reality is we live in communities that depend on civility, respect, love… “do unto others” to live happily and survive. Belief in either scenario without an understanding of “universal values” leads people to do sad things in the name of their beliefs.
Firstly my sincerest condolences on your recent family difficulties, and yes regardless of our opinions, they can still be expressed in a way that creates dialogue not discord.
I cannot believe in a God – I’ve tried but I cannot. I was brought up Catholic, briefly converted to being a Mormon, now I’m a confirmed Atheist.
When my wife separated from me and took my 18 month son with her, my LDS Bishop told me that our Heavenly Father was testing me, providing an opportunity to grow. I never knew such pain as the parting from my wife and young son, and I thought as a father, would I inflict this suffering on my son just to provide him with a “growth opportunity”. There’s tough love and then there’s sadism.
The answer of course was no.
I cannot get past an all knowing God that permits man’s inhumanity to man for countless generations, without at least some modification to man to make him/her more amenable. If he/she/it already knows that the historical percentages are going to work for Satan and not him, why continue the experiment without making changes. The old saw that doing the same thing with the same stuff over and over while expecting a different result is insanity comes to mind here.
If we have free will, but that free will permits Auschwitz like actions, how can a loving God not adjust man to practice what the Bible teaches. Perhaps because I can’t do other people down, I am at a loss to understand how a just and kind God can permit it.
Perhaps that because he’s not a just and kind God. Somewhere it’s written that he was a jealous God and vengeance would be his – oh yeah Pulp Fiction. He certainly doesn’t seem to care that if he wanted man to practice the bibles teachings, after all this time with not much attention being given to “thou shalt not kill” he’d have done something about it.
If religion works for people that’s fine with me, but I wish that they would provide the same tolerance and accord to those of us who don’t feel the need for religion in our lives.
Mine is not an original position; not marked with any deep philosophical drama. You can find more eloquent discourse on the subject anywhere on the internet. However, it is what I think and I thank you for the opportunity to discuss it with you.
Let’s start with the basics. We are not human beings having a spiritual experience, we are spiritual beings having a human experience. Will, you have merely scratched the surface of infinity, literally. To begin a real trip towards personal enlightenment I highly suggest the writings of David R. Hawkins M.D., Ph.D. He is brilliant. There are so many important nuances that us “human beings” tend to totally miss and misunderstand about truth and reality and the tremendous power exerted over most of our lives by what we call the ego. We also should focus more on the difference between spirituality and religion. This is almost too broad and too deep a topic to begin discussing with a short term focus but learning the truth of it all is the biggest single need in the world. Go for it! Your life and how it turns out depends on it.
When did the American Dream turn into bible hour?!?! I am sad to see the shift take place from a thoughtful and insightful take on America today to this…
I think Meg above has it right.
Religion currently is halting the progress of the American dream for gay Americans who wish to have the same rights as every other American.
When one groups religious beliefs has the power to turn another group into second class citizens it is not an America I am proud of… and not one i would “put my chips on”.
bigjoerice,
I’m sorry to learn about your loss. Though I do not have personal experience with such events, I can certainly imagine it has to be bone-deep pain, since I am married and have a child. This very thing happened to one of our friends recently, very devastating…
but to refute your denial about the existence of an intelligient and higher Being, I’d have to say that seeing evil in the world does not deny the existence of one. Let’s say a kid got severely punished by his dad, it does not mean his dad does not exist. I’m not saying you are getting punishment or judgement, but more of a way to see the denial of something does not mean the non-existence of it. The same applies to many facets of our lives.
The topic of the existence of evil and how a sovereign God allows it has been taking place for centuries. If a God is so good, why evil, if He is so great, why not make humans always do good? If He is so strong and powerful, can He make a rock so big He can’t lift? I will be happy to answer your questions ONLY if you are open to listen to it, but just really quickly, I want to say that omnipotence does not mean omni-volitional…meaning being an all-powerful God does not mean He can will everything. For instance, He cannot make a square circle, or will Himself out of existence. When people look at evil and deny the existence of an intelligient Higher Being, they also have to account for the good that they see around them. That’s the only responsible way to approach it if they want to refute something like good and evil. Theists have to explain for evil, athiests should explain the good. Where do you get your morals from? I’m not looking at answers like parents or school or society or the progression of cultures, because ultimately they all need to trace back to a first cause, when and where morality as we know it was caused into existence? Are morals relative? or absolute? If relative, then whatever Hitler did may not be a bad thing? or whatever Mother Teresa did necessary a good thing? how do you know if its good or bad? by whose standard? in other words are we looking at a subjective moral standard, or should we be abiding to an objective moral standard? I can go on and on but I think I’d stop here…
more on Will’s comments later…
Sincerely, your fellow human being,
Steve
To Disappointed:
“When did the American Dream turn into bible hour?!?! I am sad to see the shift take place from a thoughtful and insightful take on America today to this…”
The America as we know it has a lot to do with this very topic, so discussing a topic like this on the American Dream Project blog seems very relevant to me. If you believe that religion is currently halting the progress of America, then shouldn’t we openly discuss why and come up with open minded solutions to the problems America and the American people face?
Something continues on after our death. Death is a transition.
I don’t trust any particular religion’s storybook to have anything but the most distorted approximation of what our situation is.
Regardless of belief, it’s just good business to strive to make things suck less for all the beings here.
Thank you Will, this is a very interesting topic and I’m glad that it is being addressed thoughtfully by those here. It is really the duty of all thoughtful people to contribute to the world’s better understanding, and I join you in welcoming all points of view that may help the world become more harmonious.
I think it is good that we began with Meg’s response, which I read (though I may be wrong) not as supporting only atheism, but as a statement that either atheists or believers can be fine people, or violent people, and that the key word in “do unto others as you would have them do unto you” is “do,” not “private beliefs”; we needn’t worry about our neighbor’s beliefs, only about what they are doing that affects us.
Dave and Disappointed reject the ability of any one particular sacred book to provide complete truth. I do believe that such scriptures should not be read literally (otherwise, we would need to outlaw sex between husband and wife, when the wife is menstruating, as Deuteronomy says; however, no-one seems to want to contribute millions of dollars to a ballot measure against that, for some reason). In the case of gay rights that Disappointed mentions, of course, Jesus Christ himself said “Love one another”; the only thing he mentioned about people’s sexuality was that by the principle “judge not, lest ye be judged,” one should _not_ stone the adulterous woman, even though the scriptures allowed or prescribed it. Therefore, I would characterize any violence against gay people on religious grounds, or the crazed obsession some religious people have with others’ sex lives as “cherry-picking,” and, I would venture to say, satanic. But I believe that Jesus Christ was about Love. In that spirit, I completely embrace what he and other religious figures stood for. I also appreciate the mystical appeal to inner wisdom that prayer provides (and which, though atheists would reject the idea of prayer as a mystical or telepathic appeal, is very like what I think any atheist does when he or she goes inward to think).
However, Dave’s comment also reminds us of something else. That is that the blog post here concerned not one particular religion or another, and advocated Christianity or the Bible no more, particularly, than it did Zoroastrianism. The post had more to do with the nature of consciousness, and the concept of God, independently of any one type of confession in particular. I have always believed that there is no reason why the energy that comprises our consciousness cannot survive our bodily death; indeed, it must. Even atheists allow this, although they usually have declared to me that this energy must dissipate. I see this as possible, and that my own concepts may be false. I see no reason, however, to declare that they _must_ be false. Why cannot the energy composing our consciousness remain coherent after our bodily death? On the other hand, if our computers can transmit an email message through the air using wireless technology, to be recomposed or received elsewhere, why cannot our brains do the same thing, through prayer or telepathy? And if our consciousnesses are connected in this way, then does not all conscious life comprise one great Whole? And is this Whole not the same thing as God?
We are God’s neurons.
Thank you Will for writing all that you do, for thinking and asking all that you do.
If in the final act it turns out that scenario #1 is correct, then as you’ve noted, all of this is moot. But if scenario #2 is correct, then, of late, it has led me to this question. If all in the universe is god, and god is everything in the universe. If god is energy ever changing yet ever constant, present in everything, then why has that energy, expressed in the form of mankind, been slaughtering itself for the past few thousand years in a desperate attempt to – discover itself (!). To prove it’s own existence? If on some grand morning, one of us rose from a dream that revealed, in undeniable terms, the existence of god, would it not be the most useless dream ever ? Man (as just one of the many expression of god) discovering that god truly exists! God discovering god. What would we and god do then? Seemingly infinite amounts of energy strewn across an infinite universe comprised of inordinate cosmic complexities so that in one dimly lit corner (earth), a fractionally small expression of god (man) could burn though a few million years of energy to finally come to the astounding conclusion that god exists. I’m not sure god would ever put another quarter in that slot again! Why would a god (he/she/it/they) be all consumed with discovering itself? It’s circular beyond understanding. If we stand upon the premise that we are simply expressions of some incomprehensible spiritual force, why would that force be attempting to discover itself? What would that accomplish? And yet, that is what we are all hell bent to prove, or disprove. Either way, true or not true, the question becomes meaningless. If there is no god – then it’s an obvious so what! If there is a god – it’s still a so what – o-k, we’re expressions of some grand, beautiful and complex force of energy. Is that energy here on this planet, expending itself in all these grand and complex ways so that it can eventually come full circle and – discover itself here on this planet expending energy in all these grand and complex ways (!) It seems to me that reductionism doesn’t work here. It seems to me that we should get on with something that is in fact grand. If scenario #2 is the correct assumption, then we’re likely capable of ‘doing something far more amazing then simply discovering we’re sourced from something amazing. If indeed we’re sourced from something so amazing, we possibly have a few potentials that are going ‘unused’, or being ill used at best. If we, as a community of earth, could ever come to any relevant comprehension and understanding of that, we would likely be advanced from where we are now in ways that would be inordinate.
Whew! You have gone out on a big limb, Will and opened discussion that has no real solution. And that is what leads me to believe that there is no answer to this question you pose.
Since belief/non-belief is so very personal and subjective, and since the existence or non-existence of a religion based God, Supreme Being, etc. has never been proven, I can only hope that human beings will continue to hold as their guide respect and love for each other and the acknowledgement that we are all part of an interdependent web of OUR existence.
So what matters to me is not proof of the existence or non-existence of a higher force. What matters to me is the love and respect I give and receive.
“If indeed we’re sourced from something so amazing, we possibly have a few potentials that are going ‘unused’, or being ill used at best. If we, as a community of earth, could ever come to any relevant comprehension and understanding of that, we would likely be advanced from where we are now in ways that would be inordinate.”
Right on Austyn, start from your statements above and start filling in the blanks and answering the questions you must have. But as I suggested in my comments yesterday start reading the books of David Hawkins M.D., Ph. D. Suppose we as individuals and our thoughts and actions were totally responsible for creating our life . . . we are! Suppose all events in life were neutral . . . they are! Suppose there was no duality, like good and evil . . . there isn’t! We are directly descended from the Source, or God or whatever you want to call it and as such are perfect, whole and complete when we arrive on the earthly scene. However there is a white wall of fog (for lack of a better term) temporarily, or in some cases permanently, blocking us from discovering who we really are and how powerful we really are. The fog can be directly related to the insecurities and negative actions/thoughts of the human ego.
“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate; our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small doesn’t serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.” this quote from Marianne Williamson in her book Return to Love. Also from Marianne Williamson – “If you knew who walks beside you at all times on this path you have chosen, you would never experience fear again.”
Something else to think about – “Did you ever notice that every time there is a problem in your life, you are there as the common denominator?” As some wise person once said, the questions are more important than the answers.
The point of power is always in the present moment. More later.
Dear BigJoeRice,
My son was also taken away from me as a baby and by my own family. So I lost not only my son, but also my family all at the same time. This “family” of mine is also devout Catholic and I was raised Catholic. However, this experience made me quite certain that Catholicism (or any other religion for that matter) has nothing to do with spirituality or goodness. It was like a mass death for me of my family, my son, and everything I ever believed to be true in life all at the same time. I cried every day for 2 straight years.
There came a point when I decided that it was ridiculous to continue living that way. What was the point? Wake up – cry, go to work – try not to cry, go home – cry until I fall asleep. What is the point of doing this day after day, I thought to myself. I didn’t want to live anymore and I was literally debating what would be the easiest way to end my life. Then I gave it one last shot and tried to think of something, ANYTHING that was worth continuing to live for and there was one thing – my son. But, I thought to myself, what good would I be to my son in this state? Would I want him to emulate me or my life? absolutely not!
He is still only 5 years old. Right now, I can’t be with him, but I know he is being taken care of. So I decided to use this time to turn myself into the kind of person that I would want him to be. So that one day, when he is an adult, I can go to him proudly and have something positive to offer him in his life. I started to question every decision I make, every thought I feel, every word I say, every bite of food I put in my mouth. I ask myself….would I want my son to be doing/feeling/saying/eating this? And if the answer is no then I don’t do it. It’s all about compassion and love. I couldn’t feel ANY compassion or love for myself, but I was drowning in it for my son, so I used that as a substitue. You have to start with yourself, because if you can’t feel compassion or love for yourself then you will never be able to move forward. If you don’t truly feel it then use this substitution method at first, even if you hate all human beings on the planet, then use your pet, or even just an image of a cute, innocent baby, ANYTHING! Little by little, you will really begin to feel it for yourself and then little by little you will begin to feel it for others and in the end you will feel it even for those evil, satanic, horrible people out there who have done you harm.
I mean think about it, how cold and unfeeling does a human being have to be to take someone’s baby away from them? Wouldn’t it be horrible to be that cold and unfeeling? When you think about it that way you become overwhelmed by a tremendous sense of gratitude for NOT being that way. And then following right behind, comes the compassion for that person. And when you can feel compassion even for that person that has harmed you so intensely, then I think you have found your spirituality, your God. I believe that WE are God, all of us. And the day we all believe that and truly ACT on it, then we will have achieved Heaven, Nirvana, enlightenment… whatever you want to call it…
I am 30 years old….I have just graduated college with a an undergrad degree in film. I spent my twenties going to school, traveling, working, getting into trouble and generally figuring out what I wanted to do with my life. Now I have graduated college and am going into a field which is given to the full spectrum of success and failure. On the lower end I could make a modest living as a wedding videographer, here in my home of Atlanta, and spend my days pushing my video services for “your next big event.” Maybe still driving my same old S10 pickup with a missing fender and the peeling words lettered onto the back glass “Lance’s Audio -Video Services Call 404-513—blah bla blah.” Or I could step out chase my dream of becoming a talented cinematographer and working on some really great films and eventually gaining the experience and making the connections to produce my own films, that will portray my own unique voice. Either way, I feel that free will will play an important part in this. In this business the sky really is the limit. You are limited only by your own sense of potential. The spirit of god is all about potential energy. If my design is to become all that I can dream for myself, or better yet, more than I can dream for myself, then why is there any doubt or fear inside of me…which there is. Its because the potentiality of a human being depends on faith in the unseen and sometimes the dark can be rather scary. Yet perhaps on top of it all lies the decision…if you want your life to be guided by affirmation and the power of dreams (option #1), or if you want it to be guided by a mere toss of the celestial dice, susceptible to the forces of fear and uncertainty (option #2). I choose the one that gives life that sense of wonder and magic that comes with seeking and trusting god.
Will,
Good article – and I wholeheartedly agree with you on the idea that there is more to us than just blobs of flesh, and that truly we are all one in a higher consciousness and Love is the thread that binds us together.
I don’t agree with the above poster who sees your spiritual musings as “Bible hour”. Religion does not equal spirituality, in many cases it is the exact opposite!
I do agree that “religion” has been at the root of many problems. My hope for the future is that religion and dogma will give way to a true spirituality, what some call the “Christ consciousness” which has nothing to do with “Christianity” and everything to do with love.
I think it is cool that you are putting yourself out there by discussing this! Keep it up!
Namaste,
Suzanne
The chances of the right pool of amino acids acted by a certain force (which has to be explained for) to come together in the perfect, correct order to form a protein (check this), is the same as buying lottery every week and winning it every week for a straight, consecutive 27,000 years. Practically that’s zero. Molecular biologist Michael Behe calculated the probability of the same thing happening, is like picking up the same grain of sand in the Sahara desert blind-folded, 3 times in a row. Seriously, it will take much more faith to believe there is no Creator than to believe there is one.
To Lance, if you can produce films as beautifully as you can write, I believe your limit will be beyond the sky. You will be a great producer someday.
Steve
>I don’t agree with the above poster who sees your spiritual musings as “Bible hour”. Religion does not equal spirituality, in many cases it is the exact opposite!
>I do agree that “religion” has been at the root of many problems. My hope for the future is that religion and dogma will give way to a true spirituality, what some call the “Christ consciousness” which has nothing to do with “Christianity” and everything to do with love.
Good words Suzanne. I agree with all of this.
>Why would a god (he/she/it/they) be all consumed with discovering itself? It’s circular beyond understanding.
Thanks Austyn, this is a good question. I have wondered about this too. The answer I came up with was: I enjoy solitaire for some reason. Why is that? Maybe God does too
(Though of course, one could answer: “yes, but I _don’t_ like solitaire.)
I started to respond to Will’s Blog and I just couldn’t put my finger on why I wasn’t really happy with either scenario.
I think both scenario’s miss the mark. Reality is what it is and what we believe about it is really pretty irrelevant as far as Reality is concerned. People really get into religion and spirituality like they are doing God some kind of favor. Others get all defensive about defending their personal beliefs about reality when it makes no difference what-so-ever to reality. Reality needs no defense.
I do believe that we humans create meaning. It isn’t out there someplace to be discovered. Reality just is what it is and we impose meaning upon it because I think that is just how us humans are wired. We can’t stand a void and we project meaning even when there isn’t any.
I personally reject the idea that if meaning is comes from within us (i.e. is “made up”) that it is ultimately meaningless. Why must meaning in life come from outside of us to be real? I find a great deal of meaning in my life with my children, my work and my hobbies. They fill me to the brim. How would my life experience be any less if it turns out that that meaning is created by me. It is my love of my children that makes that love real. They feel it and I feel it therefore it is real. I don’t need a cosmic Santa out there with magic pixie dust to make my love real when a meaningless blob of conscious protoplasm will do.
When we realize how unimaginably huge the universe is and how utterly tiny and insignificant we are in that context do you feel despair or do you feel awe? Do you feel empty and alone or do you feel unimaginable freedom and love? Either way YOU create that meaning from the reality of that experience.
Your appeal to anecdotal science is as trivial as any I’ve ever heard. Science draws no such conclusions. Science, in fact, attributes thought to brain activity, not to a “spirit” or “soul.” Everything you said is entirely drivel. Claiming to speak for science is sheer fraud.
Hi Will, this is an awesome topic. Definitely not an accident, from your previous blog post. They are one in the same. From mourning a loss, to creating, to developing. It amazes me, many of your thoughts, many of your words you express, are exactly the same as mine. We are the same wavelengths energy wise, that is quite clear to me. If anybody thinks that’s hogwash, well, that’s their right. In the end, it doesn’t matter, it’s what I believe to be the truth that matters.
In connection with your thoughts, that’s what matters, what you believe in. In the end, we all don’t know, if someone tells you they do know FOR A FACT, they’re either trying to sell you something or they’re highly into themselves.
I believe God is Love, but at the same time, God is FREE WILL also. It’s that free will choice that you see pop up everywhere. All the death and destruction. How can that be explained ? By science perhaps- nature Vs. nurture ? Or can it be that through destruction, comes positivity, you see everyone come together and help each other out, especially in times of natural disasters of communities. Well I guess with the exception of Katrina, Bush doesn’t count.
Before I make this go all over the place, my main point is this- I don’t think God is a “him”. I believe God is within all of us, it’s our souls, it’s ENERGY. Energy is real, even though you can’t touch it or hold it in your hand. I know, just for myself, my gut, my soul has not steered me wrong many times in my whole life. I think religion was made up, quite frankly, and I believe the stories told in all of them are great, but you don’t have to take ever last word literally. Again, we have a right to choose how to live. We have a right to choose our own reality. Religion was made up to control people- the masses, the sheep. Religion is big business. That’s my reality. Are there no good pastors out there ? Of course there are. I believe in being positive, but I’m FAR from naive or ignorant either.
To believe that God is a “him” or a human being is quite laughable to me. I believe there is an all knowing “source”. That source is energy. We ALL came from it. One more thing I need to get straight, the bible, the koran, etc, they were all written by MAN, not God. Just my opinion of course. We ALL can write our own bible, put the most LOVE and lessons and teachings in there as we wanted to. Ironically, it would look a lot like any bible you may choose to research.
In the end, I pray, I believe there is something much more greater then “us”. In the end, I believe to be a “good” man, treat others with respect, love, and dignity, because I, MYSELF, KNOW that is right. Inside, my soul, I know how to treat and talk to other people. I love man/womankind, I want to see everyone be successful and safe. To live the life they want to lead. In the end, whether or not my prayers are heard, it doesn’t matter to me, my belief putting out that good energy into the universe can NEVER be a “bad” thing. I want to do things that can only be positive. I want to see the positive in anything, as “bad” as it may look sometimes. There is absolutely no other way, for me, and in the end, that’s all that matters. Not in a selfish manner whatsoever, but in an all knowing loving way, believing my soul and my communication with the energy within me and all around me.
One last thing, science will never know it all. There are some things in life that are meant to be unanswered. At the core of science is a huge contradiction of their “factual” only world- energy can neither be created nor destroyed. How can that be answered ? It can’t be. Where did we come from ? Ok, the answer is ? Well where did that come from ? Where did that come from ? We will NEVER know how everything first started. Were not supposed to. Human beings are very arrogant at the core. We have to be in control. The hardest thing in life is to let that wanting to be in control go.
My struggles with myself, picturing the end of time, the sun burning out, all of us gone, the universe getting sucked into a black hole, all very huge events that are out of my control. They scared me so much as a kid, I used to cry myself to sleep. Now, at 28, I find myself being able to deal with it, to grow with it, to not let it control me, to not let it get me down, or depressed. The best thing I can do in my life, is to be positive, to choose my own reality, and to lead a “good” life. In my heart and soul, I know I’m a good person, and ultimately, I’m happy with that.
I just hope George Carlin found out whether it was “real” or not when he got to the other side.
I am really grateful to you all for your thoughtful discussion. As I reflected over the weekend I thought about how powerful the attraction to do good is. It’s the power of love that we just can’t get away from. I have personal friends who are “positive atheists” who work tirelessly to better humanity just “because.” Yes, they amaze me. It’s a vivid demonstration of our core human need to give, love, and serve that’s beyond all reason. Our silent indicator of an unseen Loving Force rather than it’s negation.
What encourages me is that although our personal beliefs are ultimately unique our quest to create an ever better world for our children bind us together.
>Claiming to speak for science is sheer fraud.
@ Bill Ross, I’m curious: if you are claiming to speak for “science,” (though in fact, Will didn’t speak for “science,” but cited one expert’s views, and invited thoughtful controversy on either scientific or faith-based grounds) do you have any more specific or detailed refutation of the doctor that Will cited? That was Dr. Allan Hamilton, MD. That scientist was a Harvard-educated doctor, and a chief of neurosurgery. That doesn’t mean, of course, that he can’t be wrong; but simply stating that he is wrong does not evoke scientific method in the slightest. I have to consider Dr. Hamilton, and Will, unrefuted, unless you provide more substantial contributions. Thanks much–Mysticusque
Hey Will, as always.. it’s good to hear from you.
Different from what someone mentioned above, I think you just began to touch in the American Dream. What some might not realize is that the American Dream started with Christian Jews sailing to a better place. People of faith, real faith. What some people can’t see in this country is how good they have had it here. Some realize we got it good but then they think it’s becouse we are smarter than the rest.
What I find interesting from all the comments of God non believers is the bitterness that transpires in their words. That alone inspires me to look for better alternative. Some thing bigger than my ego, something bigger than my fears, Some thing that inspires me not to loose hope, not to despair, to insist in Love despite my childhood, my losses, my sense of justice.
We shouldn’t blame God for our unhappiness. The blame is in thinking we are all that and that the mess we are in wasn’t caused by us. Let’s take responsibility, because than we can change.
Happy Hanukkah!!!
Reading the comments thus far I am certain that if there is a “God” it must be having the chuckle of its life amazed at the complexity some find in something so simple.
Can Will or someone else tell me the ways in which these people advocated for “selectively breeding out what “science” said were low IQ races: Woodrow Wilson, Theodore Roosevelt, George Bernard Shaw, John Maynard Keynes, William Keith Kellogg, Margaret Sanger, and Winston Churchill to name a few”?
I was not aware of this and want to learn more about their views on this selective breeding out that Will mentions, especially the views of Churchill.
Hi Will,
Thanks for your thought provoking words. I am sorry for your recent loss. I know from experiencing the same kind of loss that watching someone leave this world can make you think about what you are doing with the time you have in it.
Like all the rest, I read your entries with my own preconceived notions of the way the world works. I grew up with religion, then formed some of my own beliefs. You express the essence of my current belief with the statement “…the laws that govern how energy changes form seem to be dependent on consciousness”.
I believe that there is no reality except that which I create. My “ego” as it is referred to by other posters here, will not allow me to believe that my life and any meaning I ascribe to it is the product of some grand puppet master that controls everything. Instead, I choose to believe that, while my world may not be the one I would have created had I started from scratch, I have the power to change my world through my personal thoughts and actions to match the one I would create were I the first “creator”.
Arrogant? Only if I take no responsibility for my role in creating reality.
Great topic.
Keep searching Will,
Keep sharing too.
Thanks,
Stan
Will, great topic. Sorry for the loss in your family. She is in God’s presence now what great happiness we are all going there and you your family will meet here eventually in that great place of peace and joy.
Thank you always for your great newsletter. Great topic.
I will only tell you this God = profund love, compassion = true inner peace= profund joy = true happiness. I was seating in front of the tv working on my laptop and suddenly I felt my concious self perseving my self from and outer point a few feet in front of me, at that same time I felt I was part of the ALL and the most beautiful deep and uncomparable feeling of oneness, love, deep peace and happiness came over me. That very brief moment of deep conciousness change my life. I now understand what is all about. I cannot explain it fully but when I am scare, in doubt, insecure, in fear, in anxiety, angry, stress or confussed about any little thing or big him in my life or the world I go back to that moment and I BELIEVE!!!
P.S. I should add that I have never practice any meditation, yoga, etc, nor experience any type of drug, I am just a regular woman, a 38 catholic attorney so I dont know what happend but it happend and I am GREATFULL for it.
As an aging boomer who started liberal arts/theological college in 1968(!), I have evolved: naively trusting Christian > college Christian musician caught up in the charismatic movement of the early 70′s > intellectually critical Christian student (philosophy major) > still a moderate (not religious-right) Evangelical Christian who doesn’t attend Church. (If we’d had children that might be different..) I have continued to try to integrate my intellectual exploration and the everyday experiences of life with the beliefs of my heritage. This journey has included the experience of being married, working as a carpenter, time in therapy & attending an Institute of Psychotherapy (Existential). I discovered the power of Creative Imagery, and became ‘more intimate’ with the dreams.
To be brief, the strongest thing that comes to mind is something my philosophy professor said long ago, that EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENS IS A MIRACLE, it’s a miracle that anything at all HAPPENS. It’s just that from our perspective only a few things seem miraculous, because they stretch the bounds of everyday experience. LIFE is miraculous.
I hope to have the time & opportunity to think & write further soon in venues like this. The fresh air of Obama & my impending old age are inspiring me to think bigger.