BellaOnline Forums Religion and Spirituality New Age What Is Your Concept of God?

Hello!

God/the Divine may mean different things to different people.

What is the God of your understanding? How does He/She work in your life?

I'd love to hear your experience and insights!

I always think of God as He although He certainly can't be limited to a gender.

I think of Him as creator, life giver and sustainer and big enough to handle every situation I bring to Him.

He is at the same time incredibly awesome and mighty and personal and tender.

He is definately too big to be confined in this insuficient defintion.

My understanding of how the world works is closest to Buddhism, i.e. a human can achieve enlightenment, karma, reincarnation,etc.

Do you believe in a type of "Divine Intelligence" Ice?

Do Buddhists believe in a supreme Deity? I glean Zen Buddhist thought for my path, but don't know a whole lot about it other than what I was taught in High School.

Hi Janet,

This is such an interesting question. I've always had a difficult time with this concept. It's also not always been an easy one (for me) to discuss with others because one the one hand, I try not to offend anyone and on the other hand, I can't always articulate my feelings and thoughts in a clear way.

I think that we are brought up to believe one way (our parents' way) and usually, we accept that notion of god and religion unless something comes along to change our mind or redirect our experience. At least, that's how it was for me. Neither of my parents were religious at all yet they tried their best to give my brother and I some sense of tradition and religion. Still, I have always had a difficult time understanding god as a supreme being, an omniscient power. I have read and studied about many religions, both on my own, out of interest, as well as in courses in university, yet feel no closer to an understanding.

And so, over the years, I have come to develop and adapt my own sense of what I feel and describe as spirituality. I was once having a discussion with a friend about fishing. That person told me that there is something almost mystical about fishing that is difficult to understand unless one fishes. But, in fact, although *fishing* does not appeal to, or interest me in any way, I DO understand being out in nature, being quiet and still in nature and I do understand that spiritual sense that envelopes your soul. I have always, in my heart, felt that *nature* is my religion; it's the beauty and vastness and mystery and solace of it that others seek and find in their religions, that I find in nature. Fishing or no fishing.

So I guess that's my answer to your question. I just don't call it *god*, that's all.

Shelley

I think God has been one of the most discussed "topics" of all time. Especially about what or who He is.

In my own humble opinion, God is someone who knows me inside and out. He catches me when I fall, and I fall often. He carries me through some of lifes rough spots, like when I had to go to a neurologist for my headaches and it's not over yet... He knows what life is like because He has walked in my shoes so I can turn to Him as one would a friend. He is the consummate listener and He is willing to take on all of my burdens and offer solutions to problems when I am at the end of my rope.

God is always there. I can all Him and He is never away from His phone. I never get voicemail. He has all the time in the world. My tears are not lost on His shoulders and when I need a physical hug He brings someone into my life who will hold me and comfort me physically while He comforts me spiritually.

Knowing God is the best thing in my life. I have never been so loved and I have never been so accepted for just myself. This world is cold and lonely, but with God I am never alone and I will never be left behind or left out. I always belong.

Just a few thoughts from Jenna!! <img src="/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

Okay...I'm going to "out" myself. I've been keeping this quiet for many, many years. I was an agnostic. Didn't believe. Wouldn't believe. Wanted proof. Then, one day, I got my proof. I was walking down the street, about to cross the busy intersection, when a hand grabbed me by the shoulder and pulled me backwards...just before a car that I hadn't seen flew by me. I looked back to thank the person who had saved my life...and there was no one there. Now, being an agnostic, I looked for every possible scientific, physical reason and I came up short. From that day forward, I wondered. A few days later, I was sitting in a diner reading an article on Mother Teresa when (this is very hard to explain) I felt like a light was pouring into me. I felt warm and loved and special...and I believed.

Marian

Awesome experience Marion!

I know this is probably going to seem weird, but I'll still say it, because I've come to this understanding after a long road of spiritual discovery, and I believe it's worth sharing. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> My understanding of God is somewhat similar to the Tarot Fool card, which is my favorite one. :rolling: I think of God as of the most joyful being in the Universe, full of everlasting interest in life and always experimenting with it on a great scale. <img src="/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" /> To me, He is the One having the ultimate sense of humour and the youngest heart around. That's why the moments when I feel the closest to God are those full of laughter and joy, and energy. Whenever something unwanted happens in my life, I always think of it as of one of the unpredictable turns of His grand experiment, and this sort of inspires me with optimism and energy to go on and solve this new puzzle.
Hope this was more or less clear. <img src="/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />
Love, :love:
Elena

Shelley, Jenna, Marian, and Elena--thank you so much for posting your experiences and insights about that "Something" that is beyond ourselves. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Elena, what a neat way of looking at God! I often share that perspective, too. I have a video series that portrays Jesus as reported in the gospel of Matthew. For the first time, an actor portrayed Jesus as the "laughing one"--smiling, radiating love, etc. Even the text "take out the log in your own eye before you judge the toothpick in your brother's" was made to be comical...showing that although Jesus spoke some difficult truths, it was out of supreme love for those he came in contact with. That was the beginning for me to see God as someone with a sense of humor...and who was really the God of love I'd had been hearing about...but never seem to see or understand. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Please keep sharing additional thoughts if you'd like, everyone! I'm enjoying this beautiful discussion. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />