The Concept Of Being "God Fearing"

[trish]

I'm already a part of something greater than myself. My community, the throbbing planet, the swirling solar system etc. I really don't think that my death will make the universe any greater than it is (though some may disagree). And since no part of myself will be "passing" out of the universe to a better place (I'm plan on bequeathing all my quarks to the cosmos) I definitely will not be part of something greater than I'm already a part of now.

Briefly the universe has a bit more information packed into the corners you and I now inhabit. But entropy will catch up with us that will dissipate. The universe will expand, its matter and energy will transmogrify, change and transform. Our cupful of particles will bounce around with the rest, but in the long run the whole will neither be the lesser nor greater for it.

I'll die, but I won't pass. My bits and pieces will be part of the same spectacular universe they're already a part of now. Their roles will perhaps be quite interesting (to a physicist), but in time, my role will be considerably diminished.

[buttslinger]

There is nothing more I would like than to hear Trish admit the possibility of the existence of God, but my Brother was a Teacher also, and he was a big fan of THE TREE OF KNOWLEGE, he can actually tell you how much the air in the room you're in weighs. His kids never went to Sunday School.
The DEATH you need to see God is an artistic license type of death, those Yogis you see in intense meditation turn their bodies off by slowing down their breathing, like an anesthesia. It is like as close to physical death as you can get without dying. So when they say you have to die to go to Heaven, I think that's an inside joke.

Dealing with people and traffic and problems all day is not exactly the most REFINED life you can experience. The WORLD argues with everybody. God doesn't kill babies or deny you a bicycle when you're a kid, that's the world and the laws of nature talking. Eating that shit is a full time job, and then you die.

In a way a guy sleeping is completely worthless, eh? But sleep solves almost every problem the world can come up with. Hop out of your meat suit and master the game of life, the game that hasn't changed in 10,000 years.

Why wait any longer for the one you love, when he's standing, in front of you?**


**Bob Dylan, Lay, Lady Lay

[trish]

Admit the possibility of God's existence?! I have a whiskey with Him every Tuesday down at the Bada Bing after work. Says He's some sort of architect and right now He's overseeing some construction in a whole 'nother universe. The Bada Bing is on His commute so He drops by on Tuesdays for a little Holy Huba Huba.

He's a bit depressed these days. Says, He's not too happy with some of His past projects. But He's a good Guy, a really Good Guy, when He's not smitin' people.

Said He created me, and Pete over there, and everybody in here. Said He created our whole fuckin' universe.
I asked Him once, "Who created you?"
He looked me in the eyes and said, "You did."

[buttslinger]

I asked Him once, "Who created you?"
He looked me in the eyes and said, "You did."

I'm sensing a LOT of bitterness here. LOTS.

[trish]

Not bitter, just an acerbic personality.

[broncofan]

That avatar's making me bitter buttslinger. Holy shiite.

Personally I can admit the possibility of anything that is not known to a certainty. But there are many things more plausible than the existence of God that aren't really plausible at all. For instance, what if we are simulations playing on futuristic computers? At least then it would makes sense that the rules of the universe were flexible. We would only be what was programmed, pure consciousness; and our bodies and the material world for that matter, would be an illusion.

But if we believe the universe is material, and we are both participants and observers, we expect there not to be such contradictions. We would not expect to find 4 billion year old rocks on a 6,000 year old planet. Or that many things in these old books contradict known laws of physics, without at least having a reason the laws suspended themselves, but otherwise operate without fail thus obscuring this proof except to the authors of these books.

[broncofan]

By the way, that idea about simulations on futuristic computers is not my idea (though I made it sound that way). I heard someone mention it as some philosopher's idea, and it wouldn't surprise me if he weren't the first to think of it.

[buttslinger]

I'm not a practicing Christian, I do believe that the entire universe never had a beginning....once, and that long long ago the energy of a million suns was crammed into a very heavy softball sized mass of very hot funk. Mmmmm...maybe those scientists are just pulling our legs.
One thing I think we can all agree on, what it is is what it is!!

[Stavros]

you do become part of a greater something when you pass. Even if it may only be in a biological sense
I tend to be closer to the buddhist explanation about the afterlife... I am not entirely sure about turning into a cow or a rich man depending on the past action of the previous life, however it is also true that people who went trough the process of hypnosis could remember up to 3 past lives.
The less credible of the possible theories is the one that believes that people will be condemned to eternal hell or be blissful in heaven according on how religious they have been.
I find it hard to think that such a cruel god can exists ... Our life span is 70 years, minus the childhood, minus 8 hours sleep per day... and being condemned for eternal time? That must have been created by the ancient priests to keep under control and fear the god fearing ones...

Jia, your earlier post stressed the personal nature of faith. Your last comment- being condemned for eternal time? That must have been created by the ancient priests to keep under control and fear the god fearing ones -is where I think many posters believe that 'god fearing' becomes something more dangerous.
I don't think those people who think of religion as a belief in sky fairies actually have a problem with those who do believe in God when it is something personal, it is when an individual relationship to God becomes part of a communal relationship that problems develop. It may be comforting to be in a Jewish neighbourhood, to have a strong Church community, and so forth, but what worries many people is the way in which religions have developed socially binding expressions of the faith which do not just resemble political systems, but systems that cannot change, or which resist change. Attitudes to sexual preference are a good example of how flexible a religion is or can be, and for its critics, religious systems resemble dictatorships that do not tolerate dissent, but it must also be said that creating a systematic explanation of a religion does tend to create a rule book -and 'specialists' (priests, et al) who are paid to enforce the rules...

[Jia_westladyboy]

Hi Stavros,,, I don’t know what else to believe after I have tried them all…. I also find it kinda offensive to my mind to believe into something and someone… and have come to the conclusion that an intelligent person cannot be a believer …. I feel close to the Buddhist explanation, it is true, perhaps it makes me feel better and forget about my priesthood time- The zen seem to be the highest level of perception and have lifted the consciousness of many who have become totally silent and find it useless to talk and argue.

I find that Living the everyday life in awareness of the things happening around us and inside us is the most reliable and realistic approach I can have in order to live a balanced life… Being just a witness, assuming a non judgmental attitude helps a lot.

Considering the fact that somehow we all have hidden powers in our minds and we are not using them 100%, makes me more confident that we can change things beginning from ourselves and as a consequence around us. Like attracts like, and what we think about we bring about are realities that cannot be denied and no god can interfere with those. It is my faith too.

I liked also the Trish way of thinking: I'm already a part of something greater than myself. My community, the throbbing planet, the swirling solar system etc. I really don't think that my death will make the universe any greater than it is (though some may disagree). And since no part of myself will be "passing" out of the universe to a better place (I'm plan on bequeathing all my quarks to the cosmos) I definitely will not be part of something greater than I'm already a part of now.

Exactly !.. it means awareness for me .. and ultimately being happy with what we have and what we are…. If there is a god, then there is a devil too, and if god is heaven then the devil is hell… therefore our mind will project paradise and nightmare after death.

I once suggested in a feminist forum that perhaps if “some men” seem to be too dominant with women, the problem could be originated by the wrong concept of god that we all have in our early childhood conditioning. God has traditionally been described using masculine terms, and therefore can I imagine that men feel more powerful because of this? (Unconsciously more authoritative maybe)… It is like having the creator on their side and feeling that exist more, have more rights, thus putting women in a second place. Just my personal theory.

Why should god be described in masculine terms, and not both man and woman too, and neither this nor that.
I remember once reading a text… Once a wise man was asked… Do you believe in god? He replied: Yes, not, both yes and not, god is both not: neither is nor is not. Existence is Indefinite and contradictory, moving and changing all the time;

The names that we attach to realities like the tree, the mountain and the river make us forget the authentic meaning of things surrounding us,,, I like some times to use the word River-ing, as it reminds me of the changing and moving status of the river.

A good day for all of you
Jia