All right. My question for you is: how is saying that there is a God outside of God smiling down on all the religions any different from being an agnostic? If you reject divine revelation of any given religion then what do we know about this God outside of God? How is your position not simply starting from square one — going back to the primordial time you spoke of when hunter-gatherers sat in awe of sunsets and felt moved by a Great Spirit? (Not that there’s anything wrong with enjoying the sunset or God’s creation.)
I don’t know. Perhaps the difference between an agnostic and me is semantic. I just looked up the word, actually–your post caused me to do this–and found myself surprised. I’d always thought “atheist” meant that one does hold a belief in God (that He does not exist) while an agnostic professed to hold no belief about God one way or another. Perhaps the actual definition (pasted below) is close enough.
I actually see nothing wrong with that definition, and with the concept itself, now that I understand it. I think one could even participate actively in a religion, and yet simultaneously believe the ultimate truths (such as the nature of God) could be unknowable. After all, God’s true nature cannot really be found in the Bible–or, one might say instead, that to the extent God can be described by any man, in any book, much will be left unspoken. If God is eternal, omniscient, omnipotent and omnipresent, then certainly it would be impossible to know Him in His entirety. Even if one could, I would suppose a human mind would be incapable of such comprehension and understanding. I would assume there are extreme limits to human consciousness, one of which would include an inability to truly comprehend God in His vastness.
I come from a humble place when I make the statements I make, and in the beliefs I hold. I don’t suppose my beliefs need to be shared by anyone else. They’re simply the beliefs that have unfolded in me, based upon a myriad of experiences in my life. From Catholic school education and twice-weekly mass attendance; to my various undertakings in school; to the people with whom I have met and spoken; to the places I have visited; to the literature I have read. Most importantly, in my private relationship with God. I believe most of what I feel and know about God (in my own personal way) could never be put into words. I simply “feel” He is with me, in the moment, and I feel His support and encouragement.
I lived in a very major city up until the beginning of this year, when I moved to a very rural setting in the country. This small town life has opened new doors for me, spiritually. The area is filled with cliffs and boulders, lakes and streams, and vast stretches of untouched forest. It’s breathtaking and I’ve enjoyed hiking in this area so much! I didn’t realize how much I longed for this type of living until I left the city!
Standing over the precipice looking out over God’s beautiful country, I have felt His presence and His hand more acutely than I ever did while attending mass. I have felt moved to tears quite often on such journeys, and closer to Him than at any time in the past. I am standing in His presence, surveying His creation, and that has been a very spiritual experience for me.
Earlier when I mentioned that early peoples, unable to read the world’s Holy Books, would have landed upon some idea of God on their own, I am well able to imagine how that could have been possible for them, as I myself have felt His presence simply by viewing His Creations here on this beautiful earth.
When I speak about God now, it is from this new love and “knowing” that has begun blossoming within me; now when I speak of God, it is from a posture of gratitude. I have found in the past several years two emotions rising up with ever-greater intensity: gratitude, and remorse. The more grateful I feel, the more remorse I feel. Each time a memory comes to mind of a time I have spoken cruelly to someone else, for instance, or a time I didn’t take another’s feelings into account, I am filled with a wish to make reparations to that individual. In my own way, one at a time, I am currently in the midst of going about making such reparations. That is one example of what my spiritual journey has caused to develop within me. The gratitude then comes when the person accepts my apology, a beautiful thing.
I have attempted to answer some of the questions that have been posed to me here, but I apologize for what I am sure falls short. In formulating this reply (and the others, as well), I feel almost as if I am leaving something out. Perhaps in the end it is simply too difficult to full elucidate one’s internal beliefs (meaning, those that exist independent of theological influence). But, I do believe that what I have come to know of God, in no way contradicts what is taught by the Catholic Church. Catholics believe in a God of love, who views each of us as His children. I too have found Him–perhaps I simply am unable to convey what this has caused to develop within me.
Again, thanks to each one of you, as I am so grateful for this conversation!
Peace to each one of you.
Agnostic:
1.a person who holds that the existence of the ultimate cause, as god, and the essential nature of things are unknown and unknowable, or that human knowledge is limited to experience.
2.
a person who denies or doubts the possibility of ultimate knowledge in some area of study.
dictionary.reference.com/browse/agnostic
Though I was raised Catholic and attended Catholic school, I felt that our education was not really sufficient. So I come to this forum and ask questions every day, as I’ve held questions in my mind since my early childhood. I have to say, everyone has been most kind in answering them! And I thank each one of you for taking the time to do so.
Here it is. Where is that in the bible
So then THANK GOD I would call my Dad, Papa where is this in the bible, that, etc. Then I learned its not all written, Thats in the bible
You need to go to the Church.
Peace.