a priori: thanks for your thoughtful response. These questions keep me up sometimes, too. I’m not upset by these prospects, rather, I find their potential conclusions quite a relief. We argue quite a bit, here on the ground, about this idea or that, and the meat of the argument centers on each person believing that with enough force or evidence, they could be proven “right” – eventually! Sometimes the desire to be “right” is centered in one’s own ego; other times it is the desire in one’s heart to defend a teaching, a belief system, an ideal.
I try to imagine God viewing all of these arguments from His vantage point, where He of course can foresee their origins before either pundit had opportunity to formulate the thoughts; where he can foresee the outcome before it is “decided” by the ground-level contingent; where he can understand every assertion, and the roots of every assertion – and find the kernels of truth, in each, as well – regardless of who “wins.”
I try to imagine God viewing all the various religious people, in their moments of heartfelt worship, as well. The Hindus, the Jews, the Muslems, the Episcopalians, the Buddhists, the Catholics. Since He is God, and knows and sees all – since you can’t really surprise God – since God understands the motivations for every action and inaction – I find it hard to imagine that he ever truly disapproves of anything. Perhaps He looks down and, seeing someone is of a mind that will lead him toward restlessness, anguish, lack of faith, despair – that might give Him a moment’s regret, that here again we see one more child who is bound to suffer in this life, due to (essentially) his pessimistic world view. But God knows what we do not – we might see some outside agitator. God sees the little boy who scarcely felt love, who reached out for compassion and yet did not find it. Does He condemn the adult the boy became?
But even then, God understands. He knows how that fellow got himself into such a bind.
I know that Catholicism states that the only path to God is through His Son, and through the strict dogma of the Catholic Church. I just don’t see God, in His infinite dimensions, being “a Catholic.” I think He has a vantage point that is superior to ours (that’s a given, naturally), and thus, He can’t really find Himself offended by those who worship differently, yet who He finds in deep repose, obviously sincere of heart in their intentions to find Him, and to show their gratitude, their remorse, their sincere adoration, their love.
Whatever teachings those individuals might follow; whatever Good Books they might read; whatever prayers or rituals they might undertake, I find myself deciding that all God can do is witness these quiet moments, and gauge for Himself the true intent of these many men and women the world over who do not consider themselves to be Catholic. Whatever they call themselves instead, I imagine God is above concerning Himself with the specific name or style of that religious practice. Instead I imagine Him smiling, grateful that yet another small group of people are seeking to find Him; seeking to pay their thanks and praise; seeking to let Him know they are down here, worshiping Him.
I’m never surprised to think that humans might argue over this point or that; what I find impossible to imagine is God feeling similarly moved to reject this view point over this other one. He knows where each of us find our justifications, our reasons, our beliefs, our doubts. And because He does know all the myriad circumstances that play out in our lives, leading us to this sacred moment . . .I believe He can simply remain our ever-vigilant witness: our ever-vigilant Father, who loves us to our cores. Faults and all. Doubts and all. Pain-in-the-neck, and all. You cannot surprise God!
