A Few Questions About God

 

“When you trust your inner guidance and begin moving in the direction of your dreams (aligned with your individual gifts) you will be cloaked in an armor bestowed upon you by your guardian angel.”

-- Charles F. Glassman

What do you call a theist who doesn't believe in a God?

Well, let’s take a look at the definition of “theist”: A person who believes in the existence of a god or gods, specifically of a creator who intervenes in the universe.

So, if a "theist" doesn’t believe in a god or gods, then, I suppose they either don’t know what a theist is, or they're a hypocrite.

Reader comment: So, if a theist doesn’t believe in a god, or gods, then, I suppose he is a Buddhist! Perhaps a better definition is needed!

My reply:  The 10 most important Buddhas & Deities: Buddhist iconography.  There is much evidence to support the deist beliefs of Buddhists, but let me try to clarify this answer, since it seems hard to grasp: It really depends on if you hold them to the strict definition of a deity. It would seem they blur this line. The point being, by definition, a theist believes in a god or they wouldn’t be a theist. If you believe Buddhists to not be theists then they don’t even enter into the hypothesis given, "if a theist doesn’t believe in god…”  If they aren't theists, then we must accept that they don't believe in gods.  But, the question addresses theists who don't believe in gods.  There is a difference.

(Note to my readers:  Mentoring is a neverending task.  This gentleman, evident after several exchanges, seemed to be more intent on looking for an argument than listening, even though he kept ending up on my side.  Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.  I see no reason to rub a person's nose in their ignorance of a topic, or their inability to read a question or to listen, as we all have failings.  I simply point to evidence they might want to consider, and plenty of it is out there.  Re-reading the question can also be a bonus.  Are Buddhists deists?  In the strictest sense, no.  And, yet, some do have their version of  "deities.")

Do you forgive yourself for everything wrong you’ve done?

Yes! But, the problem isn’t with me forgiving, it’s with everyone else forgiving. And, then, there’s always God and the ultimate judgment. I fully expect to pay for my transgressions, sooner or later. 

I’m 13 and I would like to believe in God. I reached for help and keep hearing repent, read the Bible, and pray. I did these things yet I still don’t believe in god. What can I do to believe?

First of all, belief in God is personal faith. No one can tell you how to find your faith, only you can do that. Faith is the undying belief in something for which there is little or no proof. There are many definitions for “God” and, yet, only one can live in your heart. Scripture is rife with contradiction. This is what happens when man tries to make sense of God. Better you should simply pay attention to the only "Word of God" that was written in stone - the Ten Commandments.

I believe there is a “supreme power” in the universe. This power may just be energy, but that energy has created everything around us. How you believe is important only to “organized” religion. What you believe, however, is important to you and to your God, and what you believe defines your personal spirituality, your faith.

I’m not a big one for ritual and organized “religion.” If you want to praise God, do so in your heart. If you want fellowship, this you will find around others with similar beliefs. But, if you want proof that God exists, step out your front door and revel in the miracle of all creation. Walk barefoot through the grass and in the sand. Smell the flowers and look into the eyes of a child and see the innocence of children.

When you see death, destruction, poverty and starvation, remember that God gives us the wherewithall, the gift of intelligence, to rise above these things.  Is it God's fault that we don't make use of the gift? 

Above all else, though, you must constantly strive to be happy in all things. 

“Just like we would be grateful for and welcome a qualified firefighter to save us from fire, or a qualified lifeguard to save us from drowning, we ought to be grateful and appreciate the One Being qualified to save our souls. In the long run, it is to our advantage.”

-- Sophie Hill

What are some creative things that can symbolize an apology?

How about just saying, “I’m sorry. I was wrong.” If you were not wrong, don’t say you were. This will just make you full of shit. Certainly don’t try to buy them off with gifts. Bullshit is bullshit, so don’t be wasting money on it. This would be like betting ”all in” on a pair of twos.  You'll be telling them you really don't have a clue.

A guy I’ve been talking to for a while says I'm different from other girls, that I'm not emotional. I’ve gotten that from a lot of people, they say in desensitized but I never realized it until a few people pointed it out. What do I do to show emotion?

So, they’ve judged you. Good for them, or not. You may not have had an incident where emotion was required and, if this is true, lucky you. One day this may happen but, for now, you seem to have nothing to be emotional about. I wouldn’t worry about it. If we were all the same, how boring would that be?

Is asking and being rejected better or worse than not asking and never knowing?

It’s always better to put it out there. Nobody likes rejection, but nobody likes never knowing, either. I never told a girl in high school that I really liked her. 50 years later, I find out she really liked me, as well. If you don’t ask, you’ll never know, and a chance to change lives passes you both by.

“Over the years, I have come to realize that the greatest trap in our life is not success, popularity, or power, but self-rejection. Success, popularity, and power can indeed present a great temptation, but their seductive quality often comes from the way they are part of the much larger temptation to self-rejection. When we have come to believe in the voices that call us worthless and unlovable, then success, popularity, and power are easily perceived as attractive solutions. The real trap, however, is self-rejection. As soon as someone accuses me or criticizes me, as soon as I am rejected, left alone, or abandoned, I find myself thinking, "Well, that proves once again that I am a nobody." ... [My dark side says,] I am no good... I deserve to be pushed aside, forgotten, rejected, and abandoned. Self-rejection is the greatest enemy of the spiritual life because it contradicts the sacred voice that calls us the "Beloved." Being the Beloved constitutes the core truth of our existence.”

-- Henri J.M. Nouwen

Who told you it couldn’t be done and what did you tell them?

An officer in charge of the intelligence branch I just arrived to become the manager of, told me we couldn’t bring the branch from the marginal it had become to the excellent I had made it before I left. I told him to, basically, stay out of my way and let me take care of it. I explained to the other intelligence personnel what we were going to do. Many of them knew me from before. We worked hard, played hard, and brought in an “excellent” rating, from the Operational Readiness Inspection, in less than a year. Never tell a Master Sergeant “it can’t be done,” especially if he’s had to do it before.

How does one develop eye contact at the age of 55?

The same way I learned it as a kid. Look them in the eyes and let them know you’re listening.

My kid keeps telling me she hates school because she’s lonely and hates it there. She keeps asking me to switch her back to virtual learning but I don’t know if I should. What should I do?

Hold her feet to the fire. She needs to learn social interaction to survive in many situations she will have to face. If she’s lonely, mentor her on how to make friends. She really doesn’t hate school, she hates being lonely at school. Aspects of life suck for a reason, these are lessons we have to learn how to rise above in order to succeed in life.

“The circumstances surrounding your birth is not as important as the opportunity to live life.”

-- Lailah Gifty Akita

How can you resolve conflict with someone who doesn’t want to engage?

I’ve never been able to do it on their terms. Sooner or later, though, if you’re correct in this “conflict,” there will probably come an “I told you so” moment. Don’t say it, but just smile and lightly shake your head. They know. How big a person they are will be evidenced by if they come to you to engage. It is always good when people learn something, even if it takes a while.

Is it fair to question someone in an enclosed space?

Do you think it's going to hurt less when they have space to really punch you? A question is a question. If they can’t handle the question they shouldn’t have done the deed that led to you asking it in an enclosed space.  And, if it's you being questioned, well... for shame.

How do I communicate better with my wife?

Patience and listening. When she says something, give her feedback, not an argument. In particular, ensure you understand her point of view, or that you understand what she said, period.

And if she has a problem listening, communication when there are no distractions is a good idea. Have your say and then ask if she has any feedback for you. Listen to her feedback, and then thank her for listening to you.  Give her a kiss and take her to dinner.  Sucking up can be used as "positive reinforcement" here.

“Listen with curiosity. Speak with honesty. Act with integrity. The greatest problem with communication is we don’t listen to understand. We listen to reply. When we listen with curiosity, we don’t listen with the intent to reply. We listen for what’s behind the words.”

-- Roy T. Bennett

It is always worthwhile to start a new relationship because we always learn and grow by living with a new person. Do you agree or disagree with this statement?

It’s not worth throwing away a perfectly good loving relationship for. If you have a roommate, I can see the benefit, kind of. A person needs to learn to grow and do so in many ways but not by throwing away relationships.

How old were you when you began to mean the words you say?

Twenty. I had just joined the military. It solidified my personal code of ethics.

How would you explain the meaning of the phrase "real love always sees past all the imperfections"?

It’s kind of self-explanatory, isn’t it? If you really and truly love someone their imperfections can be overlooked. Realistically, we all have imperfections. Not one of us is perfect. Who, then, would judge and cast the first stone? As we grow older we see the scars that come with age or misspent youth. These scars are nothing more than proof of life. I show you mine if you show me yours. If a scar is preventing someone from loving, perhaps they should move to the deeper end of the pool. The shallows are for those who need to learn to swim.

“There is nothing more rare, nor more beautiful, than a woman being unapologetically herself; comfortable in her perfect imperfection. To me, that is the true essence of beauty.”

-- Steve Maraboli

Editor's Note

(Re: disclaimer cum "get out of jail free" card)

Before you go getting your panties in a bunch, it is essential to understand that this is just an opinion site and, as such, can be subjected to scrutiny by anyone with a differing opinion. It doesn't make either opinion any more right or wrong than the other. An opinion, presented in this context, is a way of inciting others to think and, hopefully, to form opinions of their own, if they haven't already done so. This is also why, occasionally, I will present an "opinion" just to stir an emotional pot. Where it may sound like I agree with the statements made, I'm more interested in getting others to consider an alternate viewpoint. 

It is my fervent hope that we keep open and active minds when reading opinions and while engaging in peaceful and constructive discussion, in an arena of mutual respect, concerning those opinions put forth. After over twenty years with military intelligence, I have come to believe engaging each other in this manner and in this arena is the way we will learn tolerance and respect for differing beliefs, cultures, and viewpoints.

We all fall from grace, some more often than others; it is part of being human. God's test for us is what we learn from the experience, and what we do afterward.

Pastor Tony spent 22 years with the United States Air Force Intelligence as a planner, analyst, briefer, instructor, and senior manager. He spent 17 years, following his service career, working with the premier, world-renowned, Institutional Review Board helping to protect the rights of human subjects involved in pharmaceutical research. Ordained 1n 2013 as an "interfaith" minister, he founded the Congregation for Religious Tolerance in response to intolerance shown by Christians toward peaceful Islam. As the weapon for his war on intolerance he chose the pen, and wages his "battle" in the guise of the Congregation's official online blog, The Path, of which he is both author and editor. "The Path" offers a vehicle for commentary and guidance concerning one's own personal, spiritual, path toward peace and the final destination for us all. He currently resides in Pass Christian, Mississippi, where he volunteered as a chaplain at the regional medical center.