(December 8, 2013 at 10:34 pm)ChadWooters Wrote:(December 8, 2013 at 10:28 pm)whateverist Wrote: Good answer. So I'm to remain not one whit closer to knowing what this god is you all speak of I guess. Apparently it's either everything - and I can certainly agree that everything (that I've experienced) exists - or nothing at all.An intellectual understanding of God, derived rational contemplation, only takes you so far. I say a third of the way. The second third is personal experience, by prayer and meditation. The final third come from revelation. How much emphasis one gives to each has a lot to do with how they relate or not relate to God.
Well there you have it then. I shan't be expecting God to invite me to tea. I'm only willing to go the third of the way. I'm already open to the unknown within but I don't call it God nor do I think of it as a person like you or I. I have done so when I was much, much younger and it was a pleasure. But now I am grown and must put away the things of childhood. I seek reconciliation now with that great inner unknown, not an afterlife pal.
I see no reason to favor the bible or any other written account of this. I reject all claims to know. I don't think there is a 10 step program for integration. If a person has ever gotten this right, then I can hope to do the same. But I'm not interested in half-way measures. Either I will do it or I will fail but I will look to that inner unknown to tell me where I go wrong or right. No intermediary is necessary.
