(November 17, 2016 at 11:58 am)robvalue Wrote: Okay, we're getting somewhere. You hear God's voice? You hear an actual voice? Is it words? [1]
It's pretty bizarre comparing the relationship I have with my wife to the relationship I have with tautologically being myself. [2] I listen to her because she's an actual distinct person with an intelligence and feelings. I care about her, and I can't read her mind. [3] I haven't a clue how I would listen to tautologies, or why I would want to even if I could. It makes no sense.
1) No, it is not an actual voice. I used scare quotes because that is the language we us to describe it, especially in Christian theology (God SPOKE things into existence, Jesus is the WORD made flesh, etc.). It is more or less a poetic description of experiencing reality while being mindful of the relation between god and everything else. If god is active in the being of everything, then his actions "communicate" things about god and the things.
2) But being-yourself fundamentally means relating-to-god, because you can't be-anything-at-all without that relation. You ARE a relation between yourself and god. Part of being-Rob IS a relation with your wife.
3) Maybe it is the same with god?
