Karl Blog

Sometimes, I admit, I lose faith.

I lose faith in goodness. I lose faith in humanity. I lose faith in God.

Sometimes, maybe, you do too.

As many of you know, I love discussing the exploration of space. To gain a perspective of where you are in the universe right now, just try watching the "zoom out" introduction to Contact.

But once you get beyond our current galaxy, you tend to disappear.

You're lost in a silent world.

A world of planets.

Of mass objects obeying the laws of the universe.

No emotion. No human feeling. No love.

And, quite possibly, no God.

As you keep going deeper and deeper and deeper, further and further away - billions of light years from earth, where mega-clusters of sub-universes tangle together like DNA strings... where the tiniest pixel on an image would represent infinite numbers of galaxies and worlds and beings and planets...

Where size, as humans imagine it, really seizes to mean anything.

When you're out there... looking in... seeing the crazy things that humans do, on their tiny little planet.

When you're out there... in the silence, in the non-human world, devoid of contact, devoid of true life.

You might... you just might... lose faith.

Where is the God in this?

Are we really as "special" as we think?

Or could we... just could we... be a mere accident of the universe?

Of no real significant meaning to anyone?

American science popularist Carl Sagan, author of Contact, was a renowned atheist. He shared those exact views.

The views of an atheist.

This kind of thought leaves many deflated.

Their whole structure of life... shattered.

But does it really need to be that way?

Let's consider, just for a moment, that God does not exist.

That we, as humans, are just a rather splendid coincidence.

And that, when we die, we just end up as a small pile of dust. Soon to be forgotten, soon to be blown away.

Does that make a difference to your life?

For many people, the answer is yes.

But here's the crazy thing.

The more you consider that as an option, the more you realize the importance of living NOW.

Even if - "Heaven" forbid! - there's absolutely no God, and we're literally alone as coincidental beings in this universe...

Doesn't that make it even more important to truly live your life to the full?

To truly let go of your inhibitions, and begin living this life with a PASSION?

To stop PROCASTINATING, as you have been - and to instead start ENJOYING your time here on earth?

To begin living your life as your own God - through your own rules and standards?

You see, after all that thinking...

Maybe the only real meaning to life... is the meaning you bring to it.

And perhaps that is the true teaching of an atheist.

Labels: God, inspiration, self-development

During one of my early blog posts, I mentioned God.

A dreaded word, that: "God".

One very good friend of mine commented: "I love the blog, but sheesh, weren't you going a bit far by mentioning 'God?'"

Well, possibly. But it really depends on what your definition of God really is.

Maybe God... is You!

Now there's a mind-expanding thought, at least for some.

Let me explain what I mean.

Organized religion can be a very restrictive force. It provides imagery of a God to be feared -- and the religions tell you how to live in response. They preach: "You need to seek the approval of God -- and shun anything that He may see as betrayal".

But let's think about that.

The concepts of "wanting approval", "desiring vengeance" and "feeling betrayed" are just limiting feelings, created by man. Just like good, bad, hope and fear... they're man-created emotions driven by limited thinking.

Expand your mind... and ask yourself...

Do you think that God could even feel betrayed?

Do you think God would be LIMITED by such feelings?

Or do you think He may be way beyond all of those human emotions?

Do you think He'd see a difference between good and bad? Or do you think He'd simply be aware of an experience?

Remember, the Bible didn't say that God was made in man's image.

What a presumption!

It said that man was made in God's image.

So what if WE'RE all Gods?

(Or, at least, part of one big "beingness" that may be God?)

And we're currently limiting ourselves by imposing these feelings on our mindset?

Scary concept? Maybe.

But what if we each hold the power to create our own reality, to mould our experiences of the world as we encounter it?

The intention of this blog is not to preach, nor deny anyone's belief system. No sound-minded Englishman would ever do such a thing. Tsk. The very notion.

Rather, my intention here is to stimulate thought.

In one popular episode of Fawlty Towers, hotel "boss" Basil hilariously warns his staff about the German guests: "Don't mention the war!!!" -- and then finds himself barely able to contain the topic!

Basil mentioned the war. And by mentioning God, am I going just a bit too far?

For some, maybe. But have you ever sat down and thought -- seriously -- "What is God?"

And if you haven't, maybe it's about time you did.

Maybe you have preconceived ideas that are holding you back. Maybe "it" is not a separate being at all. Maybe God is simply the life that is inside and all around you.

Maybe in trying to describe God, you'll find yourself like a fish trying to describe the water it swims in.

Contemplate it. The answer, if you find it, just might surprise you.

Good night!

Labels: God, ramblings