What do you think of when you envision God? For most people, God is an abstract concept -- an invisible being who never physically reveals himself, and yet somehow the religious among us "know" he exists. How do they know? (Technically, they don't, though most would argue that point.) They "know" through their faith. They believe God exists, and though it could be argued that perception is the better part of one's reality, faith and knowledge are actually mutually exclusive.
But what if we didn't need faith to know God exists? What if we could see him? What if, when we looked up in the sky, we could actually see God looking down at us, watching us? Well, for one thing, there would be no atheists—it's hard to disbelieve something one can see with his own eyes.
But let's explore this from a believer's perspective. Assuming God revealed himself and left no doubt that he was God:
Would you worship a tangible God who demanded that you acknowledge his divinity, or else he would damn you to eternal torture and pain? Would you worship a being who just... sat there... while his priests raped and assaulted the children in their care? Would you obey the commandments of such a God, who sat idly by while nations murdered one another in his name? Would you revere a being who simply watched, detached, as your family member or loved one died from cancer or some other disease, despite your fervent prayers?
Would you be a slave to such a God? Or would you hold this Tangible God accountable for his inaction and demand more for a lifetime of worship and devotion?
Would you be a slave to such a God? Or would you hold this Tangible God accountable for his inaction and demand more for a lifetime of worship and devotion?
Why, then, do you not demand more from him now, even though he's intangible? Why does that make it different? Why do we make excuses for an invisible God? Would we make the same excuses for a God we could see? Hear? Touch?
Is it because WE aren't accountable for our actions as long as he refuses to reveal himself? I suspect far fewer crimes would be committed if people truly believed there was a God—tangible or otherwise—watching our every move. Is it possible, then, that in our heart of hearts, even the most pious among us knows that God really doesn't exist? Or if he does, he really doesn't care what we do or what happens to us?
How tragically convenient, then, that he chooses to remain invisible....
EDIT: I've added one of my comments below, since some people couldn't see them:
The reason for pointing out God's "tangibility" was to simply ask if it would make a difference to those who believe, if they could see [God] and he could see them.
For example:
Let's say there is a $1000 bill lying on a table in an empty hotel lobby. There is absolutely no possibility of getting caught if one were to take it. I'm betting some people—including some who claim to believe in God—would take the money; others would not take it, be they religious or otherwise.
Now assume there is a camera in the room, clearly visible to all who enter, and a sign stating that the room is being monitored.
Which scenario is more likely to prevent someone from taking the money? The possibility that God is watching his actions? Or the possibility of jail time if he's caught?
That is the point of this post. Belief in God doesn't keep people from doing bad things, but if God actually was tangible and visible and present, I suspect crime rates would plummet dramatically. This leads me to question the faith of people who claim to believe in God, in all honesty, and it should lead them to question it also.
Peace and blessings!
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EDIT: I've added one of my comments below, since some people couldn't see them:
The reason for pointing out God's "tangibility" was to simply ask if it would make a difference to those who believe, if they could see [God] and he could see them.
For example:
Let's say there is a $1000 bill lying on a table in an empty hotel lobby. There is absolutely no possibility of getting caught if one were to take it. I'm betting some people—including some who claim to believe in God—would take the money; others would not take it, be they religious or otherwise.
Now assume there is a camera in the room, clearly visible to all who enter, and a sign stating that the room is being monitored.
Which scenario is more likely to prevent someone from taking the money? The possibility that God is watching his actions? Or the possibility of jail time if he's caught?
That is the point of this post. Belief in God doesn't keep people from doing bad things, but if God actually was tangible and visible and present, I suspect crime rates would plummet dramatically. This leads me to question the faith of people who claim to believe in God, in all honesty, and it should lead them to question it also.
Peace and blessings!
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