I believe in God
Posted: Fri Mar 27, 2009 4:31 pm
In our culture, it is best to report that you believe in God, so that you will be acceptable.
I think there is a tendency for people to define "God" in such a way as to be able to report believing in same.
Some use "God" as a way of explaining why there is something rather than nothing at all, and why things are the way they are. However, if such explanation is needed, "God" doesn't do the job, because one is left having to explain why there is a God rather than no God at all, and why God is the way he/she/it is.
My God stands for all that I consider good and perfect. This definition reflects the fact that I can indeed think about goodness and perfection. And it offers me a guidepost in my efforts to be Humanian to the fullest, in that I always try to aim toward goodness and perfection. That includes trying to figure out what goodness and perfection are, and the REUEP is the standard I use.
Many people apparently are convinced that they will have no motivation to do good or aim toward perfection unless they can feel that God, as a sentient entity, is watching and being pleased. There is a developmental line in childhood from the motivation to impress, obey, and please the parent to the internalization of conscience, such that it is not dependent upon the reactions of others. This will have much to do with whether the person goes along with the group, for instance, rather than sticking to what he or she believes is the right thing to do.
I don't believe that there is an entity that wants me to disobey the REUEP. (If I did have such a belief, I would be inclined to call that entity the "Devil.") If there is an entity that wants me to live by the REUEP, then I believe I am passing the grade, even though there is always room for improvement in that regard.
I believe it may be somewhat helpful to me to construct in my imagination an entity that indeed is pleased by my efforts to live by the REUEP, and it seems to be a naturally occurring tendency for us to do that. I still think it is up to me to do the best I can to figure out what is consistent with the REUEP, and I take responsibility for such decisions. So I don't do things because God told me to. I do things because they are consistent with the REUEP.
And I hope my God is pleased.
Bill Van Fleet
Humanian
I think there is a tendency for people to define "God" in such a way as to be able to report believing in same.
Some use "God" as a way of explaining why there is something rather than nothing at all, and why things are the way they are. However, if such explanation is needed, "God" doesn't do the job, because one is left having to explain why there is a God rather than no God at all, and why God is the way he/she/it is.
My God stands for all that I consider good and perfect. This definition reflects the fact that I can indeed think about goodness and perfection. And it offers me a guidepost in my efforts to be Humanian to the fullest, in that I always try to aim toward goodness and perfection. That includes trying to figure out what goodness and perfection are, and the REUEP is the standard I use.
Many people apparently are convinced that they will have no motivation to do good or aim toward perfection unless they can feel that God, as a sentient entity, is watching and being pleased. There is a developmental line in childhood from the motivation to impress, obey, and please the parent to the internalization of conscience, such that it is not dependent upon the reactions of others. This will have much to do with whether the person goes along with the group, for instance, rather than sticking to what he or she believes is the right thing to do.
I don't believe that there is an entity that wants me to disobey the REUEP. (If I did have such a belief, I would be inclined to call that entity the "Devil.") If there is an entity that wants me to live by the REUEP, then I believe I am passing the grade, even though there is always room for improvement in that regard.
I believe it may be somewhat helpful to me to construct in my imagination an entity that indeed is pleased by my efforts to live by the REUEP, and it seems to be a naturally occurring tendency for us to do that. I still think it is up to me to do the best I can to figure out what is consistent with the REUEP, and I take responsibility for such decisions. So I don't do things because God told me to. I do things because they are consistent with the REUEP.
And I hope my God is pleased.
Bill Van Fleet
Humanian