Unraveling the God Confusion

“Unraveling the God Confusion”
November 12, 2009

The most complicated problem after all may not be Einstein’s mathematical formula, the cause of disease, nor the issue of war. It is the God confusion.

The problem is not God, but our perception of God. There are as many perceptions as there are experiences. For the lack of substance we have built golden calves. Tribal forms dependent on nature have developed animalism. Political ambitions have molded emperors into gods. Human prejudices have shaped a God sanctioning slavery. Depth psychology has painted a god of self-projection. Science and technology have given birth to the great denial, the non-existence of God. Materialism has created a God-mix of success, wealth, and nationalism.

Christianity today stands against not only the major faiths of the world, but against itself. Denominationalism stands more for division than unity. Churches today stand as David against Goliaths of our culture—media, business, technological networks, the entertainment industry, and war machines. In part, the church’s work is in the name of God, but as much, for a piece of the pie.

Our perceptions and practices, however do not change the reality of God. While our myths, rituals, temples, priesthoods, secret societies, and theodicies are but attempts to affirm a God who is, God simply remains God.

For Christians and the world, our eyes turn to a wayward Nazarene with revolutionary teachings about God. He drew all commandments into one – LOVE. Every major faith in its true form would come to the same. He broke the mold of sin and death through forgiveness by his crucifixion. He moved beyond the bounds of time and physics with the resurrection. All powers of possibility converged in the ascension.

The irony of this God confusion still ends in the same place—perception. As much as I or any other would want to dogmatize an understanding of God, it is only as good as one’s perception can offer.

The one thing that I refuse to compromise is the existence of God and the transforming power of the Christ. These have been and are moving powers within me, my life throughout time which I have known and experienced. Until our lessons are learned, our perceptions made clear, and our lives made more loving, I will continue in my God-encounters. I wish the same for you.