Framework of understanding. Part 3

Posted bydenisvernon24Posted inGod

Framework of understanding

Part 3: The experience of God is definitely real

So, theists are still entitled to hold their traditional beliefs – they are just not entitled to expect atheists to give them any weight.

However, the experience of God is a reality within the atheists’ understanding of reality. It really, truly exists, and it is a something – but what?

Religious experience has traditionally relied on its connection to a truly existing God for its validity, but it is God’s existence that is now speculative. However, in our new framework of ultimate reality, religious experience can be self-supporting. The experience definitely exists. On a par with all other experiences, the experience of God exists. Theists want to “jump the gun” and say that it’s (the traditional) God that they’ve experienced, but now we are not allowing them to do that. But their experience is real. Moreover, it has all the qualities that theists love about God.

So, what believers are able to say is:-

  • There is an experience of transcendence
  • Of the absolute
  • Of union with the infinite and eternal
  • This experience can be experienced as personal
  • This experience communicates immense qualities of love, joy and peace
  • It provides inexhaustible strength and guidance
  • It is an experience of complete fullness of life
  • It gives meaning and purpose
  • It is a sufficient foundation for a fulfilling personal life
  • And a foundation for a just and compassionate society
  • This experience can be enhanced and facilitated through committed practices currently associated with a life of faith
  • This experience is there waiting to be discovered
  • Countless millions discover this experience (and potentially everyone could if they tried)

Clearly, what we’ve just described is God. What we have called “the experience of God” is exactly in tune with what believers have always said about God.

Given the immense benefits of what we’ve just said, why would anyone not want to engage in this life of faith by which you have the experience of God?

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