With the passing of a 93 year old friend yesterday, who we visited for the last time in hospital on Thursday night. She was a true believer in Christ, God, Salvation. It begs the question, is there a God, or is there no God, and what does it all mean for mankind.

Stephen Hawking (January 8, 1942–March 14, 2018) one of the great intellects of modern times, offered much to contemplate on the subject of the existence of God. His books are well worth a read.

http://www.themarginalian.org/2019/07/17/stephen-hawking-brief-answers-to-the-big-questions/

Dear Paul,

Beliefs are so subjective.

I was raised a Catholic. And this has lasted and will
probably last for my lifetime. I have no intention
though of preaching to or trying to convert anyone
else. I prefer to keep my beliefs private. I'm probably
not a very good Catholic. I am critical of the Church.

But -

I love
the rituals associated with the Catholic faith. I
loved the Latin Mass. I found prayer helpful during
times of stress. But I also have seen the mistakes
that the Church has made. However I don't blame the
teachings of Christ ford the mistakes that man makes.

I believe in a higher power. Science can explain a lot.
But there are many things that science cannot explain -
such as the meaning of life, and so on. And for that reason
I believe that religion will be around for a long time yet.
As will the belief in a higher power.

cont'd ...

Dear Paul,

Thanks for the link. Many academics and intellectuals
like Hawking have offered their views on religion and
God. And, I'm sorry to hear about your friend's
passing. But if a person's beliefs bring them comfort
and solace in their times of difficulty - then we
should try to see things from their point of view.

After all if there's no God - no higher power - no
one greater than we are - what's the point of it all?

On the lighter side - as George Bernard Shaw said
to a nun from his death-bed:

"Sister may all your son's be bishops."

I'm of the opinion that we'll all find out soon enough but if we live our life as if there is a God then the whole of humanity can't go wrong. And, if there isn't a God then it does us no harm either to have lived according to what we're told in the Holy books. People who deliberately cause problems for others do more than enough damage by being non-believing hypocrites by pretending they do believe in a God.
God is as real as your own character & mentality want God to be !

Dear Paul,

If there is no God
Would the moon softly gleam
If there is no God
Would the sun still beam

If there is no God
Would the stars still shine
If there is no God
Would you still be mine

If there is no God
Would justice still live
Would the hearts of humankind
Forget and forgive

If there is no God
Would love really dwell
Amongst our communities
Could it excel

If there is no God
Think what we'd all be
An energised mass floating out in space
Not living and learning by His Divine Grace.

Dear Paul,

Are you interested in a serious answer, or just popular ones?

---

Dear Foxy,

Thank you for the nice poem.

For delving deeper into this poem, try substituting 'God' with 'consciousness'.

If a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/If_a_tree_falls_in_a_forest_and_no_one_is_around_to_hear_it,_does_it_make_a_sound%3F)

«If there is no God
Think what we'd all be
An energised mass floating out in space
Not living and learning by His Divine Grace.»

The "energised mass floating out in space" refers to our bodies.
That says nothing about what we are, we who have and/or dwell in these bodies.

Yuyutsu,

Thank you once again for broadening my perspective.

Much to think about.

Having Labor Governments & the Woke movement is a hint that there might be no God !

I don't know.

Dear Critic,

«I don't know.»

But do you at least know what it is that you do not know?

In other words, what would be your minimal requirements for considering someone or something to be qualified as "God"?

Buddha said, if there is any god then we should not spend time searching him. He remarked that there is no need to be dependent of any god if it exists. We can follow certain rules so that we can make our lives better and happier.

Indy,

The Pension God visits you every fortnight, and delivers undeserved manor from heaven for you, thanks to the Labor father, you should give praise, for your blessings from the Labor father, how would you survive without him!

Indyvidual,

We have a choice as to how we behave. I don't
think any of us can blame a higher power for the choices
we make in life, and how we behave.

If you choose to hate, instead of love, if you choose
to judge, and smear someone else - you can't blame a
higher power for that. With hate in your heart the
poison eventually will have a bad effect - and you'll
have no one else to blame but yourself.

Yes, no, maybe.

I can wait to find out.

you'll have no one else to blame but yourself.
Foxy,
Agree, no need to tell me, tell Paul1405 ! And, while you're at it take a good look in the mirror !

Indyvidual,

I prefer turning the other cheek.

Life is inherent to matter.
Where the right conditions prevail. some form of life will begin.
There is no purpose to life, any more than there is to matter itself.
There is no directing influence for either.
That is an absurd and narrow minded view.

If ALL life on earth were wiped out, this world would continue on regardless.
As I am sure 'worlds' do so in other parts of the universe.
Survival and reproduction are strong instincts, making it possible for life to continue.
The ability to reason and plan allows a comfortable life as well.

Those who have a need to pay obeisance to a 'higher' authority, should examine their instincts closely.
It is possible to control and direct instinctive behaviour by clear and reasoned thought.
Religion is man-made, and is a dictatorship.
Any democratic process will far surpass this.
Being free of a 'cloak' of imaginative lies and nasty behaviours will stimulate creative thought.
The world will come in to focus.

Something else relevant, and worth thinking about.
People will talk about death, without saying what it is.
Firstly, what are we when we are alive?
We are the output of programs running in the brain.
Death occurs when the brain ceases to function, and those programs come to a stop.
Without them, everything that we were ceases to be, completely.
We no longer exist in any way.
We are totally extinct.
We do not live on.
We can only be a memory to those we knew.
All that is left of us is the physical material which housed and supported the brain.
Obviously, a corpse is a strong physical reminder of the person when alive.
Because of this, we tend to continue treating it as if it were a person.
One of our many human failings I suppose?
But the reality is, that when lifeless, it is just inert material.
Before decay sets in, organs in usable condition could be harvested.
Then, for health reasons, whatever remains should be disposed of thoughtfully.

Hi Yuyutsu,
To your earlier response - I still don't know.

Dear Critic,

«I still don't know.»

You don't even know your own criteria for what God must be?

So suppose someone claims that they can empirically prove that God exists, then they take out their car-keys, put them to your face and say, "Hey, you see, here is God, can you possibly deny His existence?"...

.

Is There A God ?

.

For those who believe what they are told : yes there is.

For those who believe what they see : no there is not.

For all the others : they don’t know :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZC38jekCaB8

.

Hi BP and Yuyutsu

"You don't even know your own criteria for what God must be?"

From my perspective there isn't a God, but there is a god. Sounds rather bizarre, but let me explain. I've come to the conclusion that God does not exists in a physical sense, as a supernatural all seeing, all knowing being, the belief in "God the Father" is unreal, but rather in a spiritual sense god does exist, and is indistinguishable from the human sprite that is within all of us. I say god is personal, made up of the good characteristics of humanity, love, kindness, selflessness, etc, the sum total of all that is good in humankind, nothing more, nothing less. We should strive to excel with our good virtues, and when we fail, which is often, then our personal god has failed us. Hope that makes sense.

Dear Paul,

Yours is a practical approach, rather than academic.

So long as it works for you and helps you come closer to God, you are doing better than others who intellectually understand the intricacies of theology but fail to implement its conclusions in their personal lives.

It would be no business of mine to correct and upset this model of understanding.