Do people over think God?

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   Lee Lee 513posted 11 years ago

   Do people over think God?
   
   I know there are many versions of religion and it's like in "The Sneetches" by Dr. Seuss. The sneetches without stars think they're better then the ones with stars. When a man comes with an invention that adds stars to the bellies of the ones without. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Sneetc … er_Stories
   So eventually everyone is different and know one knows who is better. "until neither the Plain nor the Star-Bellies knew
   whether this one was that one... or that one was this one
   or which one was what one... or what one was who."
   God is really love, simple!!!
   
   
   

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   sehrmposted 11 years ago

   Or...god doesn't exist at all, since it doesn't really matter and persecution against people with different beliefs is ethically malicious and hypocritical. How about a version of religion that isn't a religion by definition?

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      Lee Lee 513posted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Thanks for reading.

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   Harishprasadposted 11 years ago

   Lee Lee, the example of Sneetches given by you is amusing but very apt too. Here in India, we have contemplated upon God from all the possible angles even to the point of negating such an entity- the Jainism and the Buddhism are such religions that do not believe in God, yet are great religions and one of them i.e. Buddhism is wide spread in the world. The Indian thought is quite   free in it's quest for God and everyone is allowed absolute   freedom to contemplate on this entity the way one likes. There is   no rigid and absolute way to do so. However a majority of the   people are convinced that there comes a point when all our   thoughts, search, curiosities and questions come to a halt and we   are blessed with a true vision or enlightenment and that is the   end of our journey, not actual death but the death of all   ambiguities and lies and the dawn of revelation. When one   arrives at that point then what, this, that, her, his, is, isn't ......has   no relevance in the eyes of the enlightened soul. Here in India,    we have so many religions like  Sanatan Dharama aka Hinduism.            ( religion for a majority of people ), Sikhism, Islam, Jainism,  Buddhism, Zoroastrian etc. Though religions like  Islam and  Zoroastrian are monotheistic in nature, other religions have their  own unique features. Here, we have every stream of thought  about God that flows elsewhere in the world and believe me, overall, we all love our own ways and don't behave like sneetches that you have mentioned. Great question capable of evoking exciting thoughts.

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      Lee Lee 513posted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Thanks for answering.

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   Lee Lee 513posted 11 years ago

   I'm a Christian who totally believes in God but I don't persecute others for their beliefs. God shouldn't be held accountable for what people do to one another. I'm not knocking God or his existence, I just think some people want to argue over anything. I don't have to be completely right, just want other's to respect my beliefs and I would give the same respect to you, for yours.
   The Sneetches are like people with money, fame or power, people with large egos and wanting to be right and the only way, is there way. The truth is if you spill a glass of water on the floor, there maybe more than one stream, how many who knows. The direction of the flow is controlled by the angels and how much depth or how steep. In the end no matter how many directions the water goes, the gravity pulls the water downward, God still has pull and the direction is up to us but we all are aimed in the same direction.
   If there is no God? and there is no heaven? then what goal is there for the afterlife?

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   JDubyaposted 11 years ago

   Yes, God is love. That is the simple truth.
   
   But just like a fractal, even the most simple truth can have infinite depth to explore. Since God is infinite and exists beyond space and time (transcendent), then how can there possibly be any single summarization of who or what he is?
   
   Inevitably, traditions rise up around these simple truths. Unfortunately, when these traditions contradict each other, we have the clashing of swords in the name of religion. The actions of man have been attributed to the character of God, and we draw back from one who is so fickle and violent.
   
   What if we simplify, and try again? Start over with God is love. Then revisit history and ask, where does the simple truth end, and the conflicting traditions begin? It gets messy. Somewhere in the middle is the revelation of a God who loves, who seeks communion with his favorite creation, man.
   
   I'm reading an introduction to the works of Rene Girard http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ren%C3%A9_Girard  Girard's work highlights the way that human rivalries lead toward violent conflict, how religions spring up to contain that violence, and how God reveals himself to be outside the circle of unending rivalry. I am fascinated, and I have only got into the first few chapters of an introductory book written by someone else! (James Warren "Compassion or Apocalypse")
   
   When I saw the reference to Sneetches, I had to mention Girard. I hope you enjoy reading more about his work.

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      Lee Lee 513posted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Thank you, your answer is great.

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      Lee Lee 513posted 11 years agoin reply to this

      " mimetic rivalry that develops from the struggle for the possession of the objects is contagious, it leads to the threat of violence." Girard.  This does sum up The Sneetches thanks.

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   lone77starposted 11 years ago

   A beautiful question and summation about the Sneetches.
   
   The topic is really about ego, what Yeshua referred to as the desire to be "first." He condemned the Pharisees for this and others, too. They didn't need saving, so they could not be saved.
   
   When someone over-thinks God, they are letting ego get involved. Ego is the reason for the rescue mission in the first place. Ego is the great separation which knocked us out of the Garden.
   
   The Great Gautama Siddhartha Buddha taught love and humility. In very many ways, he appeared to be following Christ, even though Yeshua of Nazareth would not be born for another 500 years.
   
   I've heard many say that Buddhists are atheists, but I don't think it's as simple as that. I don't think Christians have stars on their bellies and Buddhists do not. I think those who have love in their heart, compassion, wisdom, faith and humility have stars on their hearts.
   
   I have no way of judging who is closer to God. All I know is that Siddhartha Budda dedicated his life to helping others lose their egos and so did Yeshua.
   
   Buddhists talk of an awareness that is not "self." They talk of the paramitas, or "perfections," which are like the righteousness of which Yeshua spoke, as opposed to the self-righteousness of the Pharisees.
   
   There is truth all around us, if we use the Holy Spirit to see it. We can see lessons of wisdom in an imperfect teacher and not condemn them for their imperfections, because we are still imperfect.
   
   Even the child can hold great wisdom when they are with spirit and some children are. Their eyes shine with spirit.

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      Lee Lee 513posted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I like your answer, Thank you for sharing.

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   manatita44posted 11 years ago

   I do not know, Lee. That question has been around for centuries. Assuming that you are really Spirit, then how can you overthink It?
   
   I rather like Dubya's answer. Which you seem to like as well. Still, you have a valid point in this troubled world. I would return to Dubya though, as the way out of this chimera is only Love. Much peace.

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