Coder
Active Member
What does a "relationship with God" mean?
I think that part of the answer to this question is how we view what is called "sin" in some religions. For example, consider the commandment not to steal. What is the approach? "Well, I want to steal to but because it's against the law, I'll try to refrain". Probably many would agree that isn't the right approach. Why isn't it the right approach? Because it views God's design as an obstacle.
In the Jewish Scriptures, "understanding" is shown to be a gift that God gives us. So, instead of blindly following laws, we can pray to God for understanding and to see as He sees, and then we don't view laws about sin as obstacles but we "relate" to God's design and we "relate" to how our actions may be foolish. Our actions can interfere with happiness rather lead us to it. (Interesting to note the connection between the word "good" and the name "God").
I also believe that God does not "put us down" for our wrongs. To me, it's amazing how God forgives.
We have the ability to conceive of God and attempt to communicate with Him simply by asking. Is "evolution" involved in our arrival at this level? I don't know. Evolution is a different topic but I bring it up, because one must agree that our human interest in God, indicates that the physical aspects of evolution are not a complete picture. I consider that evolution, rather than teaching us that "God doesn't exist", may show us that we, and all creatures of the evolutionary process, don't exist apart from God. We humans sometimes seem to take an attitude that we are "gods". Well, we can see that we are part of God's existence/creation, not any existence/creation of our own. Just as the pre-human ocean creatures (that evolution teaches us about) are part of God's existence, so are we. So perhaps this can help us with to move from a perspective of laws to a perspective of participants who seek understanding and a relationship with God.
I think that part of the answer to this question is how we view what is called "sin" in some religions. For example, consider the commandment not to steal. What is the approach? "Well, I want to steal to but because it's against the law, I'll try to refrain". Probably many would agree that isn't the right approach. Why isn't it the right approach? Because it views God's design as an obstacle.
In the Jewish Scriptures, "understanding" is shown to be a gift that God gives us. So, instead of blindly following laws, we can pray to God for understanding and to see as He sees, and then we don't view laws about sin as obstacles but we "relate" to God's design and we "relate" to how our actions may be foolish. Our actions can interfere with happiness rather lead us to it. (Interesting to note the connection between the word "good" and the name "God").
I also believe that God does not "put us down" for our wrongs. To me, it's amazing how God forgives.
We have the ability to conceive of God and attempt to communicate with Him simply by asking. Is "evolution" involved in our arrival at this level? I don't know. Evolution is a different topic but I bring it up, because one must agree that our human interest in God, indicates that the physical aspects of evolution are not a complete picture. I consider that evolution, rather than teaching us that "God doesn't exist", may show us that we, and all creatures of the evolutionary process, don't exist apart from God. We humans sometimes seem to take an attitude that we are "gods". Well, we can see that we are part of God's existence/creation, not any existence/creation of our own. Just as the pre-human ocean creatures (that evolution teaches us about) are part of God's existence, so are we. So perhaps this can help us with to move from a perspective of laws to a perspective of participants who seek understanding and a relationship with God.
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