This need to "make God happy" emerged from your errant thought that God is somehow not happy. This is a crazy idea, because God is Happiness Itself. Yet you have clung to your idea of a brooding, displeased Deity.
Your idea that God is not happy - and that you are the cause - is what has created the insane basis for insane religions to inspire people to act insanely.
The New Revelations
Neale Walsch
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It's a strange sort of a thing, isn't it, this continual idea that God is not happy. I can understand where it comes from ... all that guilt and shame and fear, and place it in the face of something/one so utterly different and you culd easily think God is displeased with you.
Different again are those people who think that God is unhappy within him/herself. It seems such a limited sort of an imagination, really, or a conception of what God would be ... well, composed of :)
It makes for interesting thinking though when you think about that space that lies between God being happy and great evil going on in the earth. It is actually an easy sort of space to sit in for myself now, I find, even though every now and then I question whether God exists at all, given the seeming lack of giving a shitness going on.
But no. I do still think that. I can't seem to let it go. I call out to God, and something happens ...
What I'm coming to see, Sue, is that it's all projection, and at the profoundest level. We literally 'make God in our own image', with emphasis on the 'image' aspect - 'tain't real:). I'm going to have to write a book about it sometime, if it hasn't already been written.
As to whether 'God exists' or not, well, we'll have to define our terms here;) To me, 'God' is the label we give to that which is totally undefinable, and because of the centuries, millennia of baggage the word carries it has probably lost all meaning. To me, 'God' is the ground of all being, that which gives 'isness' to everything. And its nature is the most profound love and compassion.
I see the 'lack of giving a shitness' as a symptom of a great shift, a quantum leap in evolution which is happening. The birth pangs of a new humanity, no less. Things are coming to a head, and there's a new wind a-blowin', if we're looking in the right places. Subtle still, but growing steadily. Hang on in there:)
Sunday mornings I walk down to the newsagent's to buy a newspaper. It's during this time that I find myself thinking about life and my relationship with God - now that I am no longer a member of any organized church. So this is why I'm commenting today - to get something out of my system.
Without wanting to get personal and start slagging off world religions by name, it's so easy to imagine that by following exactly what a religious leader has said or done anyone can "please" or "displease" God, and guarantee "favourable treatment from the deity". This way of thinking is just an anachronistic way of abrogating responsibility for personal actions; and it's personal actions of religious principle which can create great troubles for other people.
As for naturally-occurring "great evils" in this world - there's surely no link between anyone's morality or connection with God and the misfortune of being caught up in a "natural" disaster. God - however defined - doesn't look for people who need punishing, and initiate earthquakes, floods or volcanic eruptions; they are just the natural consequence of living on a planet with an active crust.
What I have known for myself is that if I have done something I know to be wrong, or have intentionally told a lie, then shortly afterwards (or immediately!) I feel I deserve some sort of retribution; and I am constantly aware of this feeling until I recognize that the retribution has reached me. This retribution is generally a direct consequence of my action, which has affected someone else or influenced events. Becoming aware of this reaction of nature (which may involve personal discomfort or suffering) may bring about some sort of closure to this episode in my life. If I have no closure, the action/words hang around me, and will periodically reappear like a long-lost scent or memory.
You may say that this is all in my imagination, or that I have a hypersensitive conscience; but I know what I know.
John, I can't help but agree with just about every word, and thanks for commenting, even if it's only to get it out of your system. I'm glad you feel you can do it here.
I'd only say this - I've come to drop the idea of 'right and wrong', as it has too many negative connotations. I prefer 'what works for the greatest good of the greatest number of people for the longest time', and what... doesn't:)
And I'd rather 'imagine' what you've written here than the stuff that's served up to us as 'religion', which is in itself a product of our collective imagination rather than any reflection of reality. In every other area of understanding humanity has advanced by leaps and bounds, but in the area of ultimate reality we're still stuck in tribal religion - my 'god' is better than your 'god', and is going to whack your 'god', so you'd better join our tribe so that you'll be safe. Infantile is the only word for it, but there are strong signs that this is changing, and humanity is coming through its hormonal adolescence, where the collective 'brain' is being rewired, into full maturity as a species. We might even come to have a good 'self-image'... you never know:)
Just my take on it, of course:)
You know what blesses my cotton socks? Just as religions are still being all tribal and all claiming they each have the truth that the others don't ... so many people outside of that are just getting on with whatever's happening, doing whatever they need to do to grow,
I find that heartening and encouraging.
I like what you say about retribution, John. That sounds sort of like karma, to me (what I know of karma - I'm still trying to get my head around it. But your description of things "hanging around" seems to fit it.
Gee, all this reality outside of religious boxes is heady stuff, ain't it! :)
Sue, this is John, my brother, who lives about 11 miles from me. John, this is Sue, 'a contemplative sort of tree hugger', by her own admission. She 'hangs' in Melbourne, Australia:)
Hey there, John! :)
Hi Sue - Sunday again, and my brain can wander.
Hehe, 'tis okay, John. I understand, completely and utterly.
I find it a constant challenge living in this world to stay focussed on damn near anything :)
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