Atheism, Theism and God
by socrates44San Fernando, Trinidad and Tobago
Jul 2015 2,084 Views
When the term “God” is mentioned, it seems it is generally assumed that everyone has a clear and common understanding of what it refers to.
But is this really so?
Could it be that there are significant differences in what different persons perceive as God?
I think that it is very important to closely examine the answer to this question in fairness to those who consider themselves to be atheists, and also theists, since these terms are both related to the notion of God.
We define ourselves as beings, that is, human beings. A being is a living entity, endowed with some type of life force which may be termed spirit. Each human being is said to have such a spirit (or soul). God is also normally perceived as a spirit.
A human is viewed as a being at the natural level whereas God is viewed as a being at a higher level, referred to as the Supernatural level.
I wonder if viewing a human being as an entity at the natural or human level and viewing God as an entity at a higher or supernatural level somehow seems to suggest that God may be viewed as a superhuman being. In other words, God is viewed as having human-like attributes, but at a higher or superhuman level. Essentially, this is an anthropomorphism.
In the Bible, the book of Genesis states that God created man in his own image. George Bernard Shaw said: “God created man in his own image and man has returned the compliment”. That is, man has created God in his own image, with human-like attributes.
Is it possible that one can have a direct apprehension of that spirit (or force) which religion (theology) refers to as God, without viewing it in terms of human or superhuman attributes, that is, natural or supernatural? One simply views it directly as some phenomenon and is contented to apprehend it at that level.
I think most persons would agree that there is some sort of order or principle in the working of the cosmos. Here on planet Earth, we experience the orderly changes in the seasons, and from day to night and vice versa, etc.. The Natural Sciences have revealed to us certain laws like the Law of Gravity, the Law of Conservation of Energy, etc., that are manifested in the operation of Planet Earth.
Perhaps having a direct awareness of this principle in action is having a realization of the very “essence” of what is commonly termed God. Scriptures or religious teachings attempt to put a “form” to this "essence" and view the essence and form as being synonymous and co-existing with each other. Both are essential from the religious perspective.
If a person has such a direct awareness, that is, of the “essence” without having an interest in the teachings or dogma of any religion, is such a person an atheist or “godless” - a term which, to many, has negative connotations such as evil-mindedness and an uncaring attitude towards others, etc.?
The commonly quoted statement “God is Love” seems to suggest that one should have a belief in and an acceptance of God as taught in religion in order to love others and to express that love in action.
However, does one need to believe in God as defined in the dogma of religion in order to love others and to have a caring attitude toward them and, more importantly, to express this attitude in action?
Some of the world's notable philanthropists are atheists. These include Bill Gates and Warren Buffet.
I know of several well-to-do theists who profess a caring attitude toward others but do little or nothing to express it in action.
What do you think?
But is this really so?
Could it be that there are significant differences in what different persons perceive as God?
I think that it is very important to closely examine the answer to this question in fairness to those who consider themselves to be atheists, and also theists, since these terms are both related to the notion of God.
We define ourselves as beings, that is, human beings. A being is a living entity, endowed with some type of life force which may be termed spirit. Each human being is said to have such a spirit (or soul). God is also normally perceived as a spirit.
A human is viewed as a being at the natural level whereas God is viewed as a being at a higher level, referred to as the Supernatural level.
I wonder if viewing a human being as an entity at the natural or human level and viewing God as an entity at a higher or supernatural level somehow seems to suggest that God may be viewed as a superhuman being. In other words, God is viewed as having human-like attributes, but at a higher or superhuman level. Essentially, this is an anthropomorphism.
In the Bible, the book of Genesis states that God created man in his own image. George Bernard Shaw said: “God created man in his own image and man has returned the compliment”. That is, man has created God in his own image, with human-like attributes.
Is it possible that one can have a direct apprehension of that spirit (or force) which religion (theology) refers to as God, without viewing it in terms of human or superhuman attributes, that is, natural or supernatural? One simply views it directly as some phenomenon and is contented to apprehend it at that level.
I think most persons would agree that there is some sort of order or principle in the working of the cosmos. Here on planet Earth, we experience the orderly changes in the seasons, and from day to night and vice versa, etc.. The Natural Sciences have revealed to us certain laws like the Law of Gravity, the Law of Conservation of Energy, etc., that are manifested in the operation of Planet Earth.
Perhaps having a direct awareness of this principle in action is having a realization of the very “essence” of what is commonly termed God. Scriptures or religious teachings attempt to put a “form” to this "essence" and view the essence and form as being synonymous and co-existing with each other. Both are essential from the religious perspective.
If a person has such a direct awareness, that is, of the “essence” without having an interest in the teachings or dogma of any religion, is such a person an atheist or “godless” - a term which, to many, has negative connotations such as evil-mindedness and an uncaring attitude towards others, etc.?
The commonly quoted statement “God is Love” seems to suggest that one should have a belief in and an acceptance of God as taught in religion in order to love others and to express that love in action.
However, does one need to believe in God as defined in the dogma of religion in order to love others and to have a caring attitude toward them and, more importantly, to express this attitude in action?
Some of the world's notable philanthropists are atheists. These include Bill Gates and Warren Buffet.
I know of several well-to-do theists who profess a caring attitude toward others but do little or nothing to express it in action.
What do you think?
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