June 12, 2007

• With God, Perception is Reality

  As a Christian, and former atheist, I have always been of the opinion that when it comes to God, perception is reality. The fact that God cannot currently be observed by a third party directly makes it impossible for any one Christian to claim their church or denomination “has it right”. Fortunately, I have met few Christians that base their faith on being the absolute last word on the “proper” way to relate to God.

  As I grow in my relationship with God, my perception of him is gradually changing. I know HE does not change, but my relationship with him does. Being a mortal currently confined to this physical realm means my perception of him is how I believe he really is. And this, of course, is a problem. It means that I can never prove all of this is “not in my head” to anyone else (which would validate my faith via a 3rd party). It means that faith will always remain, for me at least, a circular logic problem: to get faith, I have to have faith that my faith is well placed in reality, and not in spiritual delusion.  This is an objectionable aspect of religion to those who do not understand it. It’s not a problem confined to Christianity. I think this problem is aptly described as “you cannot prove the bible is correct by using the bible.” Were proof a critical aspect of spirituality, I would not be a Christian.

  Some of my friends have been Christians all their lives, and have never experienced an utter lack of belief in God, so this can be a difficult subject to discuss with them because they have no frame of reference.  But at some point in my life, not too long ago, I realized that paradox and circular logic are not that far apart when it comes to matters of faith, and that this is, in fact, acceptable. In fact, it may be critical in order for us to break out of our normal way of thinking and reach for a higher power.

  • 3:39 am
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