Spiritual Devotion

Give your life to Christ

Give your life to Christ

In a stormy ocean, a rock,

A place to stand,

To haul yourself out of the battering waves and be grounded,

Secure.

But also a boat.

A rock and a boat.

Freedom to go wherever you want.

No confinement, or isolation,

Safe, but a prisoner,

Limited.

Instead, liberated,

Freer than a bird flying over the rock, or boat,

Soaring in the sky.

Such is Christ to me.

He creates the foundation on which to stand.

I cannot, in truth, plumb the ocean to drive in a stake

On which to build a platform on which to live.

It is too deep, and all is shifting mud,

But he is a floating rock,

Held up by God’s love.

The impossible man,

But someone just like me,

Who holds out his hand, and hauls me onboard.

In him I find truth sufficient in itself to hold me above chaos.

If I look away, the waters rage,

But, looking at him, the deep is stilled.

He sends me out.

The rock is a refuge, not a hiding place.

It becomes the boat and the breath of God fills my sails.

A chill of fear melts in the warmth of his smile,

As I remember he is still in the boat with me,

Even while his voice far out at sea calls to me:

“Follow me”.

All is well.

I have learnt to make sense of the way life with him makes no sense,

Until you leave behind the nonsense of the world,

And open your heart to his truth.

In truth, I could not do it, till I trusted in him,

And then I knew he loved me.

A biographical note on why my new framework of understanding God is so important. Part 1

A biographical note on why my new framework of understanding God is so important

(Coming in 4 parts)

Part 1

I have lived my entire life as a religious and spiritual person. At the heart of this is a rich inner life, which I experience as a personal relationship with God, which brings me immense psychological benefits. So, my worry is that, if I had to give up belief in God, I would also have to abandon my inner life.

I am aware of the possibility that there is a secular equivalent of my inner spiritual life. I find it hard to believe that it could be as good as the inner life that I have developed through a religious route, but we must note the possibility. (Note: I am not here drawing any distinction between “psychological benefits” and “inner spiritual life”. As we are trying to justify a life of faith entirely from within categories that atheists would accept, I am happy to use the term “psychological benefits”, and imply no hierarchy between spiritual matters and psychological matters)

However, in the unfolding of my life, it is important for me to be able to show that the religious and spiritual life that I have committed to is “a good thing”. It would be distressing to think that I had made a mistake! I am also concerned that my life should not just be valid for me, but that it should be a valid way of life to recommend to everyone else.

If the ideas expressed in my new framework are valid then I think we have:-

An unimpeachably valid basis for religion, even within a secular understanding of reality
The vast majority of the good things about a religious life are still intact – notably the personal relationship with God
All (that I can think of) of the puzzling stumbling blocks to religion – notably: why is there evil and suffering – have been removed
All of the sources of conflict and opposition between religious and atheist points of view in terms of, “Is it true?” have been removed
I will also have justified my own stance in life

The parable of the allotment. Part 4

The parable of the allotment

Part 4

I think this parable is an accurate portrayal of the spiritual life.

The bottom line is that the fruit is definitely real. The allotment is always near to hand once you’ve found where it is. The spiritual gifts bountifully and freely available within the spiritual sphere you’ve discovered will nourish your soul and satisfy you completely. Arthur – God – is a mysterious person; ultimately inexplicable and uncertain. But the fruit is real.

Framework of understanding. Part 4

Framework of understanding

Part 4: A life of faith is a legitimate choice for everyone

Of course, this experience of God does not provide any compulsion to believe. Life offers all sorts of great experiences, but we don’t have to take them all up. Moreover, God has lost his role as judge and arbiter of who goes to heaven and who to hell. Life after death may still be a reality, but this is in the realm of speculation, which we ruled out of order earlier, if we are to argue our case entirely from the atheist’s side of the debate of scientific materialism. So, our life of faith has to stand for its value in this life alone – which the list above clearly shows it can – but it’s still a matter of personal choice as to whether or not each person takes up this way of life. Though, to repeat the point, why would you not want such a life?

Our new understanding is now “confining” God to within our minds rather than being an external, independently existing personal agent. However, this experience operates in exactly the same way as an external, independently existing personal agent (See my ideas on God as the voice we create in our heads). Nor are our ideas denying that there are alternative ways to achieve fullness of life. All sorts of ideologies could achieve similar – though it is hard to imagine any of these producing something better than our new basis for religion does.

In the same way that we ruled out life after death as just speculative, we also need to face the fact that it is just speculation that God ever actually does anything to alter the physical universe. In this respect, God does not answer prayers in terms of producing a different outcome to what the material universe would have suggested in the first place. However, this still leaves in place all of the immensely powerful and beneficial effects of what believers experience as their personal relationship with God. So, God continues to change the world for the better, and to transform believers’ lives, but entirely through human agency.

The parable of the allotment. Part 3

The parable of the allotment

Part 3

Now, earlier I claimed that this parable is completely true, and some people may think that this completely discredits the story because it just is not possible to claim with any certainty that God is real. So, let’s home in on the parable a bit more closely.

I am saying that the allotment definitely exists, and the fruit definitely exists – there is not a shadow of doubt about that. But Arthur is a rather shadowy figure – very mysterious indeed, in fact. So, let’s go back to the conversation between neighbours. Hearing about this marvellous allotment and its fantastic fruit for the first time, the neighbour wants to enquire a bit more about this wonderful Arthur figure: who is he? What’s he like? Back to the story.

“Oh”, says the first neighbour, “you never really see Arthur. He seems to do most of his digging and planting and harvesting very early in the morning. By the time I get there he’s usually pottering about in his shed. I just call out, “Morning, Arthur!”, give him a wave, and I collect my stuff and off I go. I can usually just pick out the outline of his hand waving back from inside the shed”.

“So, you’ve never actually seen him?!”

“Well, I’ve had glimpses of him from time to time. It’s funny now that you mention it; he does seem to be always just off somewhere to do something, or he’s lost in the undergrowth busy pruning something. But I hear him call back pretty often. And when I go, I often find Susan from up the street there and she says she chats to Arthur for ages, and it always makes her feel better. I’ve heard her, nattering on to the shed while Arthur’s inside”.

“So, you’re not actually sure what he even looks like? Are you sure he’s even there?!”

“But look! The fruit is right here; I’ve brought you some to try it. It’s delicious! How could I have this fruit unless Arthur had grown it?”

Framework of understanding. Part 3

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?

The parable of the allotment. Part 2

The parable of the allotment

Part 2

Now, this parable of the allotment is clearly really about God, and the gifts he gives. However, before anyone thinks, “Oh, so it’s not true then; it’s just a story about a made-up figure”, I need to emphasise that this parable is completely true.

Well, maybe there’s one error, or, rather, one omission. In the story, the neighbour says, “It’s just round the corner; you can get there in two minutes”. However, some people might complain, “I’ve been searching for God for years and never found him! In fact, some so-called spiritual experts say it takes a lifetime of struggle before you really find God”. This disappointing, frustrating struggle is a genuine experience that many people suffer. However, within this parable, it is true to say that the allotment is just round the corner, near to hand whenever you need it. But perhaps we need to add one extra point.

So, now the neighbour needs to clarify.

“So, why don’t you try it? The allotment’s just round the corner from you; you can literally get there in two minutes. Oh, one thing: the allotment’s down a little path, and it’s easy to miss the gate. I walked that way for years and never knew it was there – but once you know it’s there, it’s easy to spot it. No, the gate’s never locked; sometimes it gets a bit stiff if no-one’s been for a while, but just fiddle with the latch and give it a shove and you’ll get in fine”.

Framework of understanding. Part 2

Framework of understanding

Part 2: What does this mean for faith?

The universe came into being without God. Although the design argument for God’s existence has been very seriously undermined by evolution, the cosmological argument for his existence is still strong: how can something come from nothing? However – perhaps counter-intuitively – scientists seem very confident that the universe came into being entirely through the natural laws of science; it did not need a spiritual entity outside of the universe to bring it into being.

Likewise, we were not created by God, and there is no design or purpose behind our existence; we simply came into being through the blind chance of evolution.

Therefore, God is not the foundation of our existence. We do not need him at all. There is no need to posit the existence of God in order to explain our existence.

However, the experience of God is something that people have. It is a real something, and it needs an explanation. If God is not the foundation of our existence, nevertheless he is encountered within our existence. The experience of God is something that we discover within the reality caused by the Big Bang and evolution.

It is possible that God may still exist exactly as believers have always said. Scientists correctly show that God is not needed for us to exist, but it’s possible that a spiritual reality exists in addition to material reality. However, science can say nothing about this, as it is outside the scope of science to investigate. However, in our arguing from the atheist’s side of the debate, we have to admit that there is no reason for science to accept that there is a spiritual reality – there is simply no evidence, and belief in God is just speculation – and we are trying to give faith a completely sound foundation within ultimate reality of what can be known – which is the Big Bang and evolution.

The parable of the allotment. Part 1

The parable of the allotment

(Coming in 4 parts)

Part 1

Imagine that a neighbour gives you a message one day.

“Did you know that there’s an allotment in our area, where you can go and get free fruit and veg? Yes, it’s run by this old chap, Arthur, and he just loves growing things. He’s there every day. But he produces so much stuff that he says he can’t possibly use it all himself, so he says he likes to give it away. He’s invited everyone in the neighbourhood to just pop round whenever they like and help themselves. He doesn’t want any payment; he says it just gives him pleasure to know he’s helping people out, and that what he’s produced isn’t going to waste. Just give him a cheery wave as you enter and he’s happy. Oh, and what he grows is fantastic – the juiciest fruit and tastiest vegetables you’ve ever had. Oh no, you’re not taking food from the poor and hungry; he says he’s got lots left over reserved for them. He just doesn’t want good food to go to waste. So, why don’t you try it? The allotment’s just round the corner from you; you can literally get there in two minutes”.

Within the framework of this story, why would anyone not visit the allotment? Why would anyone say, “No, I’m going to get in the car and drive 20 minutes to the supermarket and stock up with whatever I can afford – even though sometimes I’m a bit skint and have to go hungry by the end of the week”.

Framework of understanding. Part 1

Framework of understanding

Part 1: Ultimate reality must be tied to the Big Bang and evolution

So, what is this framework of understanding that might have universal appeal for both believers and non-believers? It would not mean that everyone must become a believer, but it would attach belief to ultimate reality in a way that everyone would accept is valid. Now, of course, this sounds strange because for believers, God is ultimate reality. But this is the very point in dispute, so we must not use it in order to justify faith. Instead, we must show that faith is justified even from the atheist side of the debate.

So, for thousands of years, the natural framework of understanding for just about everyone was expressed in the words: “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth”. This made sense to just about everyone. It was the obvious explanation for reality. It also chimed in exactly with what religious people said was their experience of God’s presence and love. So, in my journey of doubt there have been two spheres of thought: my experience of God and my doubts about what those experiences actually are. And I have had to fight hard to keep the two spheres in harmony. However, for most of human history, those two spheres clearly overlapped because humanity’s framework of understanding was that reality cannot exist without God. Now just get on enjoying living in his presence. However, in the modern age, it is scientific discoveries that have raised doubts about whether faith in God is justified.

So, what is the ultimate framework of understanding that we must now use in order to tie our thoughts firmly to ultimate reality? It depends on the two fundamental ideas underpinning our understanding of the universe and ourselves: the Big Bang and evolution. Whatever we decide in any “pool of thought” – faith or any other ideology – must have firm ties to these fundamental facts.