God: who are you; what are you? Part 5

God: who are you; what are you?

Part 5

I come back to the simple reality that the voice of God is experienced in my own mind.

If it’s me all along, then I am God. Theoretically, this is idolatry, the greatest sin, though, in this case, it would not be meant in a hubristic way, it would be a case of honouring the truth, and accepting that the individual human being has the status that we have traditionally given to God. Of course, we are painfully aware that, traditionally, God is always God – he never falters from his perfection, whereas we – if we are God – only attain this achievement in fleeting moments. Nevertheless, there is the opportunity here for an exalted humanism which would, in its principles, be identical with the religious view of, for example, Christianity. The difference would be that we would be taking complete responsibility for – well, everything, as we truly are on our own, and there would be a number of adjustments required to religion to do with there being no-one to ask help from. I think – with a little imagination – we could create a new “humanistic religion” that was in all practical impact identical with Christianity. So, the issue would simply be: which is more honest – to believe that there is a God or that the human mind has “divine” capabilities?

We’re considering that God is all in my mind, but it doesn’t feel like me. And feelings are important. Though we must reason things out too. As so often, the honest answer is that we don’t know which is the right answer. We could argue that it doesn’t matter in that both routes lead to identical outcomes. And so, the only issue is that people following both a religious and a humanistic route through life genuinely believe it with an untroubled mind, rather than having “the voice of God” impeded by doubts by continually wondering if this is God or “just me” talking.