A Lesser God

Sometimes God seems like an elaborate rationalization for a world that defies logic. At least that seems to be the case with the Judeo-Christian God. The God of the agnostics isn't any better. No, he's more of a shapeshifter; able to assume any form the believer desires. The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob is much more elusive...

For example, Christians are told to "pray without ceasing" and that if we ask anything in His name that it will be granted to us. Of course there's that little proviso at the end of the passage that specifies that our prayer has to be in line with His will. Well, that doesn't sound like such a fantastic deal afterall. That's like telling your kids at the shopping mall they can have anything they wish...as long as it costs less than a dollar.

Then there's the concept of God as being "not of this world" and limited, in some fundamental way, by the actions of His believers. He doesn't come off as being very omnipotent when you look at it this way. The way I've often thought of it is this. Before you cross the road you pray that you won't get hit by a truck -- but you still look both ways before you cross. God gave you a certain amount of sense and some intellect to do things for yourself. Don't expect him to do everything.

The problem with this is that it then seems like God doesn't do much of anything. We're told to expect God to answer our prayers and that sometimes he says "Yes" and sometimes "No". In my experience, it seems like more often than not God doesn't say either. Mum's the word. No smoke signals, no bright flashing lights or voices from heaven. Nothing. This leaves one to sort of make it up on one's own. In that case, there doesn't seem to be much point to the whole idea of God.

Don't get me wrong. I'm not suggesting that God should be a celestial Santa Claus who's just running around granting wishes. It's more that God doesn't do things the way I'd like him to do them. I guess this is the point where faith comes into the picture. Believe it or not, I once argued with a clergyman about the fact that faith must have some basis in fact or it's simply fantasy. The clergyman insisted that faith stands alone without needing any facts to support it. The day I had that argument I learned an important lesson about not bothering with people who have no desire to seek the truth and wish only to muddy the spiritual waters for their own personal enjoyment.

At this point you might be thinking I'm about ready to go off the deep end. That I'm just about ready to chuck the whole God-thing and convert to something else. I'm not. I've always thought that it's impossible to come to a true belief in anything without first doubting. (and then maybe doubting again every once in a while.) I know this is true for me anyway. I'm a skeptic by nature. There are things about Christianity that I question, but I'm a true believer and always will be.

Besides, what are the alternatives? As far as I'm concerned, Mormonism is just plain goofy. The whole polygamy thing seems just a tad too convenient for Joseph Smith. Hinduism? Praying to various idols, burning incense to them, etc, well that's more unbelievable than the most confusing thing I've ever read in the Bible. Islam? Muhammad does have a nice patina of history to him but he doesn't seem like a very nice guy. Unitarianism? Don't make me laugh. Atheism? The watch needs a watchmaker.

Ultimately, Christianity seems like a religion that just couldn't be made up. It's too illogical - or maybe there's too much deep logic to it. It's not self-serving enough to have been made up by any human. It's also too confusing. Make a mental note. If you ever decide to make up your own religion, keep it simple.

Which brings me back to the whole God as rationalization thing. I can't pretend that I've never used my concept of God to fill in the blanks in my world. I admit it. I don't understand Him. I try but I don't. God, would you like to give me a hand with that?