by Rev. Gregory "Doc" Lowrey
Happy Sunday.
Today I gave in (got sucked in) to a discussion presented on Linked-In titled:
Where Is God? Where Is He Not...?
Many views were presented and it was obvious that the participants had all spent a lot of energy and concern with this issue of "understanding" God and determining if we are collectively God or individuals with our own thoughts and powers of self-determination.
If you would like to consider the conversation you can find it here: http://www.linkedin.com/groupItem?view=&gid=1437977&type=member&item=115060458&report.success=Tj8fJnK62GOU9jIFdRRZ-uJ21Ua1K69XF6XJ24FUowP1Q6iOAj_JytVeP7141jKoFHbECgNULh4dKgM5922xwphYoiFzZgLoXzigjsFUqQP1Q3npf6B26XPRL7AdKgLX4C92j0PRoWkFbdGXFjkETtPa1WcFKTnOlHbNjC1aqaRlQ6XflzweyASC1h0qQl5flADNabsU-pc
(you may have to join the group to read this. I really know little about Linked-In and rarely participate)
My personal contribution to the discussion was this:
It seems to me ridiculous to imagine a creator so insecure that [he] needs to be understood/known by it's creation.
Why waste energy on an impossible task?
That we exist is our perception as is also the perception that something created us, perhaps intentionally.
Perhaps no intention exists at all - except in our perception.
[perception, especially from a biological (humans as amalgamated operatives of bacterial colonies for example) perspective, might only be a perception itself - not a reality!]
We all perceive individually and as groups [certain] needs, fears and desires.
If we use the intellect/inspiration/intuition/experience that we all feel we have, to address those issues in a manner that allows us to best enjoy and achieve our perception of our personal and group potential, what more can we ask!
Perhaps meditating on the mysteries of consciousness serves some personal need or perhaps it is an open-ended exercise that only distracts us from being the thing we were created to be.
Should we aspire to be more than what we were made to be? If we believe in intentional creation - probably we should not.
Should a rock aspire to be a cloud?
Likewise, if we believe in a non-intentional creation, why would we aspire to be something other than what we are.
Cause produces effect.
To me, discovering methods of action (or inaction if you prefer) that are most likely to produce our desired effect is the only issue that should occupy us.
Once we have discovered a method that satisfies us, there is not much else to consider - but only to experience (and some of us hope - enjoy).
All else can never go beyond endless, unprovable speculation.
To me, in my desire to achieve what I consider a positive result from my perception (though often only a hope) of a reciprocal nature of existence, is to embrace the golden rule and an aspiration to apply it in all my action and thought.
Other phenomena we may perceive to exist, but where is value beyond accepting that it to us exists and utilizing our perception to achieve our desires, obtain our needs and calm our fears.
Our observation can lead us to accept our condition.
Some people need more observation to accept their nature (such as to comprehend universal thought or that we are a consortium of colonies of competing and cooperating micro-energies that control our thought and action), while others may simply need to see a cloud or a seed (to watch the grass grow) to come to the same sense of what is self and purpose.
We may or may not actually have "free-will" and "self-determination", but if we perform according to what we do believe in a manner that we would consider true to our self perception we will (I think) find satisfaction and an ability to accept all of the different conditions of experience without being confused, distracted or afraid.
If pondering the imponderable satisfies us, so be it.
Likely we will at some time find it was only a step on our path and that taking the path was much more important to us than the actual objects of our inquiry. (such as the existence, nature or interests of god)
Happy Sunday.
Today I gave in (got sucked in) to a discussion presented on Linked-In titled:
Where Is God? Where Is He Not...?
Many views were presented and it was obvious that the participants had all spent a lot of energy and concern with this issue of "understanding" God and determining if we are collectively God or individuals with our own thoughts and powers of self-determination.
If you would like to consider the conversation you can find it here: http://www.linkedin.com/groupItem?view=&gid=1437977&type=member&item=115060458&report.success=Tj8fJnK62GOU9jIFdRRZ-uJ21Ua1K69XF6XJ24FUowP1Q6iOAj_JytVeP7141jKoFHbECgNULh4dKgM5922xwphYoiFzZgLoXzigjsFUqQP1Q3npf6B26XPRL7AdKgLX4C92j0PRoWkFbdGXFjkETtPa1WcFKTnOlHbNjC1aqaRlQ6XflzweyASC1h0qQl5flADNabsU-pc
(you may have to join the group to read this. I really know little about Linked-In and rarely participate)
My personal contribution to the discussion was this:
It seems to me ridiculous to imagine a creator so insecure that [he] needs to be understood/known by it's creation.
Why waste energy on an impossible task?
That we exist is our perception as is also the perception that something created us, perhaps intentionally.
Perhaps no intention exists at all - except in our perception.
[perception, especially from a biological (humans as amalgamated operatives of bacterial colonies for example) perspective, might only be a perception itself - not a reality!]
We all perceive individually and as groups [certain] needs, fears and desires.
If we use the intellect/inspiration/intuition/experience that we all feel we have, to address those issues in a manner that allows us to best enjoy and achieve our perception of our personal and group potential, what more can we ask!
Perhaps meditating on the mysteries of consciousness serves some personal need or perhaps it is an open-ended exercise that only distracts us from being the thing we were created to be.
Should we aspire to be more than what we were made to be? If we believe in intentional creation - probably we should not.
Should a rock aspire to be a cloud?
Likewise, if we believe in a non-intentional creation, why would we aspire to be something other than what we are.
Cause produces effect.
To me, discovering methods of action (or inaction if you prefer) that are most likely to produce our desired effect is the only issue that should occupy us.
Once we have discovered a method that satisfies us, there is not much else to consider - but only to experience (and some of us hope - enjoy).
All else can never go beyond endless, unprovable speculation.
To me, in my desire to achieve what I consider a positive result from my perception (though often only a hope) of a reciprocal nature of existence, is to embrace the golden rule and an aspiration to apply it in all my action and thought.
Other phenomena we may perceive to exist, but where is value beyond accepting that it to us exists and utilizing our perception to achieve our desires, obtain our needs and calm our fears.
Our observation can lead us to accept our condition.
Some people need more observation to accept their nature (such as to comprehend universal thought or that we are a consortium of colonies of competing and cooperating micro-energies that control our thought and action), while others may simply need to see a cloud or a seed (to watch the grass grow) to come to the same sense of what is self and purpose.
We may or may not actually have "free-will" and "self-determination", but if we perform according to what we do believe in a manner that we would consider true to our self perception we will (I think) find satisfaction and an ability to accept all of the different conditions of experience without being confused, distracted or afraid.
If pondering the imponderable satisfies us, so be it.
Likely we will at some time find it was only a step on our path and that taking the path was much more important to us than the actual objects of our inquiry. (such as the existence, nature or interests of god)