Gods and Idols

There’s an interesting psychological phenomenon in humans to need something greater than ourselves to anchor our lives and bring purpose. Is there a state in which just the act of existing can be enough for a person to live their life with purpose and fulfillment? Can one simply be a good and happy person without need for this anchor?

Originally this was going to be a discussion about how gods or idols are not a requirement to live a joy filled life. That there is no need to have something greater than yourself that directs your life goals. Sitting down to write there was an epiphany that there are likely few people in the world that have nothing anchoring them. A state of just being is something humans strive to achieve and in the end it all comes back to the universe at large.

There are universal truths in the world. They can be discovered at a high level through science and quiet contemplation. While looking into some of the similarities between various religious beliefs about the purpose of life, I began reading the truths of the Buddha. They align with the rules of the universe and yet still seek to live a life of meaning, purpose, and joy. There’s no mention of an all powerful being or beings that created the world. There are stories of trials and tribulations against demonic creatures and the idea of being reborn as a spectrum of beings from good to evil.

The Universe and Science

When I look out on the universe there is so much beauty and wonder. The Bible says that God created this world as a testament to their power and omnipotence. Pure scientists claim that an unknown event prompted the universe into existence or changed a previous one into this one. There’s just something so fascinating about the myriad of ways that humans have come up with for the creation of the universe. If God exists what better testament to their power than something so vast and magnificent that unless you were there for its creation you cannot determine its origin.

If you reflect on how we as humans create and acknowledge the attributes of God—that scriptures from many religions claim—we possess there’s so much more to the universe that we can admire. As humans, when we create a world of fiction, the most believable worlds have a backstory that helps give them a firm foundation to build on. These backstories aren’t always known to those of us that consume these worlds, but most authors will have copious notes and journals about the reasons things have happened in their worlds. There are rules to be followed from political affiliations and power struggles to differences in the laws of nature like an ability to utilize magics. All of these details add up to a believable and vibrant world full of life that inspires and brings a weight to the story.

So why do we sometimes get caught up on issues of the age of the Earth or Universe as proof that intelligent design isn’t real or that science is wrong because the scriptures say this exact thing happened? Just think about that for a moment. Why do we as humans decide that because our supposedly limited—in comparison to God—powers of creation cannot fathom something that God couldn’t have done it? Why is it so improbable that this all powerful being created the Universe at a point of their choosing in seven days and that science tells us it has a backstory?

In the Bible God tells us that the world around us is their testimony to their power. So we’ve been given the tools of logic and understanding that bring us science. As we look deeper and deeper into the rules that govern the world we see more and more the wonders that make it work. If we choose to believe God exists it is a very impressive resume of their capabilities. How can you not believe the findings of science when it describes more exactly the world around us every day?

We use the same science that tells us the Earth is millions of years old to predict with amazing accuracy solar eclipses, weather, and the physics of flight. The laws of this Universe help us determine these facts. If God made the Universe than we must hold these rules—as we understand them now—to be true. They’re part of God’s testimony to us. If God doesn’t exist then we owe it to ourselves to gain a better understanding of the world around us and to share it with the rest of humanity.

Belief, Morality, and Existence

There’s a question posed frequently in Christianity of what purpose and moral compass there can be without God. The tactic goes if you have no God then you must have no moral compass and will devolve into an evil, self-centered, husk of a being. For myself personally, that doesn’t seem to have happened yet. Am I perfect? Of course not, but I wasn’t perfect when I did believe in God either.

There’s a simple teaching that encompasses the Buddhist understanding of the world “Do no evil, do only good. Purify your heart.” This is a simple thing all humans can strive for. If you choose not to do harm to your fellow humans you’re choosing a good path. Think positive thoughts about others and yourself and you’ll bring about positive things. Seek to meet people where they are at and you’ll learn so much about them.

There’s so much joy to be found in just experiencing the world around you. You just need to stop and take a few minutes to watch the sunset and see the colors change. Or go outside and watch a thunderstorm in its power.

Seek out knowledge and share it with others. Practice creativity and creation in general. If you believe in God that’s what we’re meant to do. Teach others to create as well. Encourage others when they’re creating and praise their works.

In the immortal words of Bill and Ted, “Be excellent to each other!”