What I talk about when I talk about God
A couple weeks ago, I wrote about growing out of some specific ideas about God that I grew up with. But the way I see the world was fundamentally shaped by the faith of my youth and by the bible. I still refer to and think about the bible a lot. I like it more now than I ever have, actually.
The useful question for understanding what I write for the FOREST is: What does ‘God’ in the bible mean to a person like me?
For instance, in TREE 191 where I quote 2 Peter 1:3 –
‘[God] has bestowed on us everything necessary for life and godliness’
– what am I thinking?
What I’m not thinking is that an omni-powerful spirit person has used his superpowers to give a specific group of people everything they need to live a life that is good and pious.
What I am thinking is fuzzier. Here are some of the things that have shaped my current thinking about God:
The theologian Paul Tillich described God as ‘the ground of being’.
The biblical writer Luke quotes St Paul quoting the Greek poet Aratus saying, ‘In him, we live and move and exist’.
The philosopher and radical theologian John Caputo says: God doesn’t exist; God insists.
Another philosopher, radical theologian and student of John Caputo, Peter Rollins says that God is love. Love doesn’t exist as a thing. Love is what illuminates the ones we love.
George Harrison sang one of the wisest sentences in the English language: ‘And to see you're really only very small and life flows on within you and without you’.
The work of Rob Bell.
Learning about the natural world.
For all I know, God may be what we call ‘the laws of physics’
So when I think about God giving us everything we need for life and godliness, I think it is
inclusive – it’s true for everyone, not just specially chosen people
how things are – it is what is rather than a description of magical action
describing a mindset of confidence, abundance and generosity
When I think of ‘godliness’ I think of living in a way that is
whole, not broken
deeply rooted in harmony with this world that we are part of
good for me, for the people around me, for the planet I live on
Most of all, I approach the bible and its ideas of God as being written by people who grasped the poetry and beauty and wonder of the life.
You may be thinking of something else. That’s fine too.
I tend to describe my stance as spiritual, instead of religious. I grew up in a non-religious environment, I could see it around me in the larger community in many forms, but not in my family home.
As a result I have no particular religious philosophy, no specific idea of 'God,' nor do I know many passages from the Bible, but I think I look at the world in a similar way as you do. I particularly like the last part of this piece with all the bullet points. This is close to how I see the world and wish the world to be.
Thanks for posting this.
Eloquent, Jeff👏. I formed ideals on life flowing within me and without me. That enormity is overwhelming me now and that’s the Juice 🧃