An Agnostic Elucidation

Is there a God? This is a question I think most men/women have pondered at some point in their lives. This question can not be answered without a leap of belief, no matter what conclusion one comes to. I for one was raised a Seventh Day Adventist. I went to a parochial school for about five years. I had gone to church as a youngster, at least 3 to 4 days a week. My father was a Literature Evangelist, Gospel Singer, and Deacon in the church. My Grandmother believed in the church and her churches idea of God. I have felt the feeling of burning faith at one time in my life, and to be perfectly honest about it, it was powerful feeling at the time. To say I was immersed in the Church would be an understatement. However, after some extensive pondering, soul searching, and as time passed and I became more mature, I have come to some beliefs of my own. I do not accept any definition of God and religion that is commonly practiced. These are some of my thoughts as it pertains to the existence or lack thereof, of God.

First let's contemplate the idea of God. Is it possible that there is a God? Yes, I believe that there is a possibility of a supreme being/s. To think otherwise would be arrogant for me to declare as a human with such a limited understanding of the universe around me. If anyone looked at the universe (in the metaphysical sense) and have tried to ponder every possibility that exists; I don't think anyone can say for sure how we came into existence. I also believe it is impossible for anyone to say for sure whether there is a God/s or not. Oh sure...some will argue using the Bible, Quran, etc., but if you don't accept any of those as truth, their arguments have no meaning to you and can not be used to explain anything in regards to the existence of God.

I do not believe in any religion that is currently practiced by mankind. I feel that religion was originally based on the primitive, superstitious mind of early man in its attempt to explain their surroundings. I believe it then evolved into a system of control by a powerful few; in order to maintain order and control of the population around them. I do not accept this system of control. I do not accept church doctrine or dogma. I do not believe in mans word (the Bible or any other book written by man). I do not believe in God as an all powerful, micro manager. I do not believe that God, if he exists, is a jealous God, sitting on a thrown somewhere saying, "If you don't worship me and believe in me, I will damn you to an eternal Hell of fire and pain." That whole concept is ridicules to me. I do believe that great evil has been done in the name of God and religion. I believe that belief in God and various religious dogmas have been twisted to blind mankind to our reality, the reality of this life.

I do believe that if there is a God, he is one of love, regardless of what I believe or what I do in this plane of existence. I do believe that if there is another existence, one that we will share with God after death, God will welcome me with open arms no matter what I think, believe, or do. I also believe in the possibility that, if there is a God, maybe he is just a God that created us with free will and what we have now is all we will ever have. I also believe that it may just be up to us to make our world what we will. All are interesting concepts to me and I find some modicum of truth in all of these possibilities, somewhat divergent as they may seem.

"Free will," those are powerful words are they not? Does God have a plan and grand design? Is everything we go through in life just random chance? I don't think anyone can say for sure whether any of these concepts are valid or hold precedence, one over the other. I do believe that we should live this life with a set of morals such as Do Unto Others, Justice, and Freedom for all Men. I believe that every man, woman, and child should strive to build this world into something wonderful and self sustaining. I believe that mankind is capable of wondrous and conversely terrible things. I believe it is our responsibility to choose the wondrous over the terrible and let God, if he exists, do what he will.

Mankind must wake up to the reality that at some point we have to take responsibility for our own behavior as a species and realize this is all we may ever have. We should make the best of what we have been given and we must do our best to save it for future generations. This, my friends, is a harder belief than any other that I have come across but I believe it may just be "The Ultimate Truth." I often wonder if mankind will ever truly wake up to this type of reality. What ever you believe, I wish you peace and harmony.