I never doubted God until I went to college. Then, during late-night talks and while under the influence, I decided that God is just a figment of man’s imagination. Why bother?
The Korean conflict was happening while I was in college, so I joined the marines and confronted my mortality. My Sunday school god returned, so much so that after three years, I left the marines and went to an Episcopal seminary, where I was taught how to market the Episcopal God and His Son.
In my second year of seminary, I was hit by a fire engine while riding my motorcycle. My friend Brad was killed instantly, and I ended up in the hospital. A strange Episcopal priest, Charlie, visited me and asked, “What did you and Brad do to deserve this?” He was insinuating that God was punishing us and Brad was killed as payback. I told him and his god to leave my room and never come back.
This created three dilemmas: (1) A seminarian’s job is to learn how to market the Episcopal God. But suddenly, I had no God. (2) To pass my canonical exams and be ordained, I had to pretend I loved the Episcopal God. My moral dilemma—I lied! (3) Charlie’s God of Punishment is alive and well today.
One day, shortly after the accident, I met a lady who was trying to be consoling when she said that on the day of the accident, her god needed two Episcopal seminarians in heaven. Yikes! I smiled but didn’t bother telling her I despise her god. Unfortunately, that god is still around too.
On January 20, 1965, our second daughter was born with multiple disabilities. Not long after that, a lady said to me, “Because you are such wonderful parents, God blessed you with this little baby.” What an idiot god!
Almost on a daily basis, I hear the wonderful words, especially after some tragedy, that “God has a plan.” What happened to free will?
In 2002, Rick Warren, pastor of Saddleback Church in Orange County, wrote his book The Purpose Driven Life. I bought a copy, but after reading the third chapter, I threw it away. Rick was marketing predestination. I thought that concept had died over 450 years ago. I’m sorry to report, though, that predestination is alive and well and free will has lost again.
Fundamentalists in every religion always invent a god who is responsible for all the awful things that happen in the world. How many times have you been told that their God planned some horrendous activity?
I have heard over and over about what someone’s God did to transform their life. This god seems to cure terminal disease for a few and then murders hundreds more.
This god “calls” people to be clergy. I’m still waiting to be called. This god blesses America and Americans, according to the end of almost every politician’s speech. I have no idea what “God bless you and America” means. Do you?
My take: The biggest problem with the world today is gods! For example, see the god who sent Trump as his divine messenger to create chaos and divisiveness in the world today. Nearly half of Trumpers believe this. I can’t wait to hear what some god does for the Trump and the Epstein files.
Meister Eckhart, a thirteenth-century German theologian, said, “I pray God, rid me of God.” I concur!
What’s your take?
PeaceLoveJoyHopeKindness
Bil
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P.S. People often ask me provocative questions about current events, both religious and secular. I have found that some of these questions are being asked universally. I’ll be periodically alternating regular articles with one of those questions and my answer. I invite you to send me your question to bilaulenbach@yahoo.com.
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Vet aquí el que penso de Déu:
UN DÉU LLUNYÀ
MOLT PROPER (GRiM)
No sé qui o què és DÉU; no és definible. Com més passen els anys, més m’esdevé difícil parlar-ne. No crec ja en aquell personatge de la meva infància i joventut, sempre vigilant i present, disposat a recompensar-me a l’altra vida o a castigar-me eternament per les meves petites o grans mancances humanes. Crec que l’aproximació més escaient per definir Déu és AMOR.
Déu és el TOT, el qui dóna sentit, el qui cercam i mai no arribam, la gran incògnita i simultàniament la resposta completa a tot, el Principi i el Fi, l’incomprensible, l’U.
Déu no és per a mi l’omnipotent, l’omniscient, l’omnipresent, l’etern; seria un déu teista. Tampoc no crec en un “déu panteista”: no tot és déu. Sí que crec en un “déu panenteista”: en tot hi ha Déu.
Jo trobo “DÉU” llunyà i proper alhora; altres l’anomenen “FORÇA”, “VIDA”, “UNIVERS”, “LLUM”, “ENERGIA”, o religiosament: “Al•là”, “Yavé”, “Crisma”, “Pachamama”… Es troba lluny perquè no es deixa veure ni comprendre directament. Està prop perquè la seva acció està sempre a la vora: el “miracle” (cosa admirable) del meu naixement, del meu cos, de les persones que m’envolten, dels milions d’espècies de plantes i animals, dels astres incommensurables, de la bondat, de la bellesa, de la VIDA.
Tot això va més enllà de la meva comprensió i em provoca sorpresa i joia. El “déu” que mou tot això és la font de tot ésser (substantiu), o una força en acció constantment evolutiva, acció. (verb). Déu, per tant, no és un ésser, però és font i fonament de tot ésser, de tot el que pot esdevenir. Déu és font i fonament de tota vida i font i fonament de tot amor. Es pot dir que Déu és VIDA, ESDEVENIR, AMOR. Les millors paraules per arribar a Déu són TOT i RES, perquè el puc trobar dins i més enllà de la immensitat i grandiositat de tot l’UNIVERS, com també dins el buit i el silenci del meu INTERIOR.
Malgrat totes aquestes paraules, Déu no és definible; qualsevol intent de fer-ho esdevé un ídol. És impossible trobar Déu sota formes humanes. Voler entendre Déu és com voler menjar sopa amb una forqueta. Deia el filòsof àrab Al-Ghazzali al segle XI: “És un pèrdua de temps intentar provar l’existència de Déu”. El IV Concili del Laterà, l’any 1215, proclamà: “Com més s’afirma de Déu, més lluny s’està de trobar-lo”. Afirmava el teòleg del segle XIII, Tomàs d’Aquino: “De Déu només podem dir el que no és”.
Ens queda romandre quiets davant la immensitat de l’Univers, que per ara – i crec que mai – no podrem comprendre, com tampoc som capaços d’entendre la magnificència del petit món, doncs la nano-ciència és meravellosa. I què dir de l’aparició, creixement i funcionament del nostre propi cos? Tot regit per unes lleis i un ordre constant.
Tot això té una CAUSA; diem-li “Energia”, “Força”, “Llum”, “Amor”. També podem anomenar-la “Déu”! Queda només una paraula: SILENCI.
Hi Bil,
Your best line is: “I have no idea what “God bless you and America” means. Do you?”
That’s been my question for a long time! It appears that many politicians find it necessary to spout that line at the end of their remarks.
I read a long time ago an analysis of Jewish and Christian prayer that much of Christian prayer typically asks for stuff (or stuff to be done or not done), whereas much of Jewish prayer is gratitude.
And, ironically, the song with that title and line was written by a Jew, with probably a different conception of what it means from the rest of the population, which is mostly Christian (except, maybe, in Irvine)! But it’s an interesting question to ask people what they think it means.
Harvey
Thanks, Harvey. I asked someone once what that meant, and I received a blank stare. Another one that is a stumper: “Have a Blessed Day!” What the hell does that mean? To me, it sounds like someone is trying to be religious and primarily fundies. God has nothing to do with anything I do because She is a figment of people’s imagination. I also want to know why people were a cross? To me, it’s a symbol of humanity at its worst and I’ll never believe that some guy died on a cross so that I can keep sinning. Stupid theology!
Pax
Bil