Hi! So I've got a question for you all which pertains to our last post and comments - do you think that a belief in God could be determined by whether we have a stronger rational mind or emotional mind? I've heard some podcasts recently that detail that, (by my understanding) when making decisions, we have a constant argument between our rational mind and our emotional mind and one side wins in the end - here's an example from Radiolab, which was featured on NPR's Morning Edition this morning:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=122781981
Do you think this could have an effect on how individuals view God? Also, do you think God's existence is beyond human's perception of his/hers/its existence (ie. existing yet incomprehensible regardless of our brain's orientation)?
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
The taming of God
God has been tamed, it is abundantly clear now.
He is nestled safe within the walls of our churches.
Safe is how we like God to be, safe and right where we know he is.
We can go about our days arriving safely in church once or maybe twice a week,
and there God is waiting to pat us on the back.
"Good job my child, you have done well, just try and do better here."
How boring can it get?
A God that is really engaged in humanity is out there among us each day. Our companion, our friend, our coach, our challenger, but always pushing us to grow.
Good friends say they pray each day and all the time. God likes this cause he knows what you think. But God is talking too, listen and it mysteries will arrive.
As a Christian...Jesus is the ultimate un-taming of God, the unraveling, the one who said, "Free God from these temple walls, let all know that God is everywhere. Let all know that God is here for all and not bound by rules."
A thought experiment for you today: Consider if God is real or not to you?
If God is real to you, imagine the life of one who does not see God as real? There is nothing wrong with a life lived with no God, it is when we lack humbleness and strength that we do not live.
If you do not believe in God, imagine a life of one who sees God as real? It is no less to imagine a powerful force affecting our lives, for we or finite and we want to imagine beyond that. There is nothing wrong with a life lived guided by some seemingly unimaginable force, as long as it is a life filled with virtue.
He is nestled safe within the walls of our churches.
Safe is how we like God to be, safe and right where we know he is.
We can go about our days arriving safely in church once or maybe twice a week,
and there God is waiting to pat us on the back.
"Good job my child, you have done well, just try and do better here."
How boring can it get?
A God that is really engaged in humanity is out there among us each day. Our companion, our friend, our coach, our challenger, but always pushing us to grow.
Good friends say they pray each day and all the time. God likes this cause he knows what you think. But God is talking too, listen and it mysteries will arrive.
As a Christian...Jesus is the ultimate un-taming of God, the unraveling, the one who said, "Free God from these temple walls, let all know that God is everywhere. Let all know that God is here for all and not bound by rules."
A thought experiment for you today: Consider if God is real or not to you?
If God is real to you, imagine the life of one who does not see God as real? There is nothing wrong with a life lived with no God, it is when we lack humbleness and strength that we do not live.
If you do not believe in God, imagine a life of one who sees God as real? It is no less to imagine a powerful force affecting our lives, for we or finite and we want to imagine beyond that. There is nothing wrong with a life lived guided by some seemingly unimaginable force, as long as it is a life filled with virtue.
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Response to last blog post...
Well, not sure if we should respond via a comment or a new post, but, since this is all new, I thought I'd respond by a new post and ask a new question for the rest of you at the end.
"What is it that created you?
Was it God?
Was it your parents?
Was it the Universe?
Was it random chance?"
Yes, it was my parents who created me, obviously. But, who created them? Well, my grandparents. We can go back through cause and effect like this as long as our knowledge of our universe allows us to go. I'll stop with the sun. Somebody once told me that all of our energy comes from the sun. If this is true, I assume (and this assumption may be way off due to my very limited knowledge of science) that the sun allowed for everything living in our universe to be (including me ;) ). But, who created the sun? What gave the sun energy? I don't know. I don't think I, or anyone, ever will.
I think the part of the question involving random chance is a very different question. I'll start on a personal level - Everything happens for a reason: the reason my parents met is that both of their parents moved to the same neighborhood and therefore their children (my mom and dad) went to the same high school. Thus, they didn't just happen to meet randomly - it was a case of cause and effect.
But, on a bigger level, was the creation of the universe just a case of cause and effect? And, was the creation of my DNA cause and effect or was it totally random or determined by a higher being? I have no idea!!
So my question for you all is in two parts: 1) Do you think there is such thing as events that are truly random (aka they had no cause)? 2) If a higher being did create the universe, do you think that this being had a plan for the universe (aka destiny) or just set it in motion and is waiting to see how things play out (aka cause and effect)?
"What is it that created you?
Was it God?
Was it your parents?
Was it the Universe?
Was it random chance?"
Yes, it was my parents who created me, obviously. But, who created them? Well, my grandparents. We can go back through cause and effect like this as long as our knowledge of our universe allows us to go. I'll stop with the sun. Somebody once told me that all of our energy comes from the sun. If this is true, I assume (and this assumption may be way off due to my very limited knowledge of science) that the sun allowed for everything living in our universe to be (including me ;) ). But, who created the sun? What gave the sun energy? I don't know. I don't think I, or anyone, ever will.
I think the part of the question involving random chance is a very different question. I'll start on a personal level - Everything happens for a reason: the reason my parents met is that both of their parents moved to the same neighborhood and therefore their children (my mom and dad) went to the same high school. Thus, they didn't just happen to meet randomly - it was a case of cause and effect.
But, on a bigger level, was the creation of the universe just a case of cause and effect? And, was the creation of my DNA cause and effect or was it totally random or determined by a higher being? I have no idea!!
So my question for you all is in two parts: 1) Do you think there is such thing as events that are truly random (aka they had no cause)? 2) If a higher being did create the universe, do you think that this being had a plan for the universe (aka destiny) or just set it in motion and is waiting to see how things play out (aka cause and effect)?
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Thought to Begin
What is it that created you?
Was it God?
Was it your parents?
Was it the Universe?
Was it random chance?
How were you created...write your own narrative....or go somewhere else with ideas...
Just some basic guidelines for this blog...
-write from your heart and trust your own insights
-if you disagree let someone know, but don't beat them up
-love is the biggest rule on this blog
-have fun
Was it God?
Was it your parents?
Was it the Universe?
Was it random chance?
How were you created...write your own narrative....or go somewhere else with ideas...
Just some basic guidelines for this blog...
-write from your heart and trust your own insights
-if you disagree let someone know, but don't beat them up
-love is the biggest rule on this blog
-have fun
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