Constructing god or the gods
From what we know from the recordings of human history there has always been an attempt to make sense of our relationship with the rest of the universe. Often a god or gods are posited as creators or supreme beings who need to be placated or pleased. Sometimes, as often with the Greek gods, they were given very human characteristics. They could be angry, passionate, jealous, and playful. At times the god or gods which were posited were wise teachers, stern parent figures or cruel, jealous despots. At times, they were spirit gods who might arrive in the form of animals.
Whatever god or gods were posited, they often were thought to be the true god or gods. It became important for other tribes or groups of people to adopt a belief in the same Gods or forever be the outsider. The outsider might then become the enemy of the one true go or gods. Since it was difficult for we human to imagine or accept that this brief life journey was all there was the idea of an afterlife or eternal life was added to the story many humans told themselves. Then, some posited the concept of heaven and hell. Heaven became a first-class hotel which provided white robes, harps and the absence of the noise of which us humans are capable. Hell became the eternal, damming abode of the slum lord for those who had displeased the god or gods.
(Already those whose career and passion are religious history or theology are shaking their heads and bemoaning my overly simplistic comments.)
Religion also became the framework for attempts to articulate some rules for how humans could best live together. Clearly if everyone obeyed the same rules all would be orderly. Yet, humans being humans, there was always the knowledge that there would be those humans who would disrupt the smooth operation of the community by breaking the rules or in other ways making god or the gods angry. As far as we know animals do not posit a concept of God. They are very clear about the need to protect their food supply, their relatives and their territory. The rules of the animals are both complicated and very simple. Unlike humans their list of rules would not need a high capacity flash drive or other storage unit.
The founders of AA came from a very Christian background, but they attempted to create a program which was welcoming to anyone struggling with addiction. God was still a part of the program but it was broadened to become either the god of one’s understanding or something outside of oneself. Many in the 12-step program encourage the newcomer to make “good, orderly direction” the god of their understanding. Sometime those in the 12-step program conceptualize the god of their understanding as the group coming together to support each other in recovery.
Perhaps whatever one’s religious, spiritual or philosophical beliefs one might entertain the possibility that a religious framework is not to be confused with “the god” or ‘gods’. Perhaps it is enough that we know that none of us truly act in isolation. Whether my behavior is self-centered, generous, kind, mean or seemingly benign our every breath, our every action affects the rest of the universe. For better or worse humans do not have the luxury of acting as if our herd or other grouping can act in isolation. Having said that I cannot deny that we can and do indeed act as if one need not be concerned with anyone but ourselves. Yet, I strongly suspect that all of us know at some deep level that we affect and need each other. How we explain that need will continue to be debated, fought over, and used as a weapon of mass destruction.
The truth, as I understand it, is that any concept of god or the gods which any of us posits is something we construct as a way of explaining who we are and what gives this brief journey meaning. Our construct is not right or wrong but it is just ours. Others may agree or disagree in whole or in part. That is okay. My construct does not need to compete with your construct. The god of my understanding is not in early recovery from delusional self-centeredness. The god of my understanding has an expansive sense of humor and can embrace many constructs. He, she, or it is inclusive, not jealous, or does not need to be the gold robed center of attention.
Written October 9, 2018
From what we know from the recordings of human history there has always been an attempt to make sense of our relationship with the rest of the universe. Often a god or gods are posited as creators or supreme beings who need to be placated or pleased. Sometimes, as often with the Greek gods, they were given very human characteristics. They could be angry, passionate, jealous, and playful. At times the god or gods which were posited were wise teachers, stern parent figures or cruel, jealous despots. At times, they were spirit gods who might arrive in the form of animals.
Whatever god or gods were posited, they often were thought to be the true god or gods. It became important for other tribes or groups of people to adopt a belief in the same Gods or forever be the outsider. The outsider might then become the enemy of the one true go or gods. Since it was difficult for we human to imagine or accept that this brief life journey was all there was the idea of an afterlife or eternal life was added to the story many humans told themselves. Then, some posited the concept of heaven and hell. Heaven became a first-class hotel which provided white robes, harps and the absence of the noise of which us humans are capable. Hell became the eternal, damming abode of the slum lord for those who had displeased the god or gods.
(Already those whose career and passion are religious history or theology are shaking their heads and bemoaning my overly simplistic comments.)
Religion also became the framework for attempts to articulate some rules for how humans could best live together. Clearly if everyone obeyed the same rules all would be orderly. Yet, humans being humans, there was always the knowledge that there would be those humans who would disrupt the smooth operation of the community by breaking the rules or in other ways making god or the gods angry. As far as we know animals do not posit a concept of God. They are very clear about the need to protect their food supply, their relatives and their territory. The rules of the animals are both complicated and very simple. Unlike humans their list of rules would not need a high capacity flash drive or other storage unit.
The founders of AA came from a very Christian background, but they attempted to create a program which was welcoming to anyone struggling with addiction. God was still a part of the program but it was broadened to become either the god of one’s understanding or something outside of oneself. Many in the 12-step program encourage the newcomer to make “good, orderly direction” the god of their understanding. Sometime those in the 12-step program conceptualize the god of their understanding as the group coming together to support each other in recovery.
Perhaps whatever one’s religious, spiritual or philosophical beliefs one might entertain the possibility that a religious framework is not to be confused with “the god” or ‘gods’. Perhaps it is enough that we know that none of us truly act in isolation. Whether my behavior is self-centered, generous, kind, mean or seemingly benign our every breath, our every action affects the rest of the universe. For better or worse humans do not have the luxury of acting as if our herd or other grouping can act in isolation. Having said that I cannot deny that we can and do indeed act as if one need not be concerned with anyone but ourselves. Yet, I strongly suspect that all of us know at some deep level that we affect and need each other. How we explain that need will continue to be debated, fought over, and used as a weapon of mass destruction.
The truth, as I understand it, is that any concept of god or the gods which any of us posits is something we construct as a way of explaining who we are and what gives this brief journey meaning. Our construct is not right or wrong but it is just ours. Others may agree or disagree in whole or in part. That is okay. My construct does not need to compete with your construct. The god of my understanding is not in early recovery from delusional self-centeredness. The god of my understanding has an expansive sense of humor and can embrace many constructs. He, she, or it is inclusive, not jealous, or does not need to be the gold robed center of attention.
Written October 9, 2018
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