A White Wolf's Purpose (Take two)
In comment to the original post, it was mentioned that there might be a similarity between us as God's creation and children as the creation of their parents. The Christians have played off of this thought process, their writers even being arrogant enough to indicate that we were created in God's image. Arrogant indeed, but I am not saying I don't believe this is true.
Let's look at the origin thing again. We exist for a reason that we don't know, and quite probably never will. Yet so many of us still find ourselves reaching out to answer that question. This being so even though quite literally each of us could define our own specific existence by biology and the existence of our parents. How do you suppose we would react if we didn't even have them to look to?
Suppose either scenario. That Goddess always existed. That there was never a point when she didn't. Or consider that she just happens to be the first thing, out of which the rest of us were created. In either case, might it stand to reason, similar to our own status, that she might also be curious as to where she came from, why she was, or how she happened?
How many of you saw that cast away movie with Tom Hanks? The one where he finds comfort in a volleyball? Being alone, he sought company. Similarly speaking, one might expect that the Goddess would have created for the purpose of company. Note that Tom Hanks' character even argues with the ball. Why do we have free will? Because part of good company is differing ideas and disagreement.
Now consider that beyond the purpose of company there might be another issue. One of science. How much do we try to recreate as part of our scientific process? Might one of the goals of our evolution, and ability to learn, create, and effect our own evolution, be the desire to set a course in action that might eventually explain her own existence?
Many such possibilities exist, but I will leave this theory out there for now. Our purpose is a great topic to explore and I hope to get some decent feedback from you folks. In the next few days I will move past this and moce to the next segment. The Bible. Until then, please continue to speculate on this and other questions within your life, or something close to it.
Let's look at the origin thing again. We exist for a reason that we don't know, and quite probably never will. Yet so many of us still find ourselves reaching out to answer that question. This being so even though quite literally each of us could define our own specific existence by biology and the existence of our parents. How do you suppose we would react if we didn't even have them to look to?
Suppose either scenario. That Goddess always existed. That there was never a point when she didn't. Or consider that she just happens to be the first thing, out of which the rest of us were created. In either case, might it stand to reason, similar to our own status, that she might also be curious as to where she came from, why she was, or how she happened?
How many of you saw that cast away movie with Tom Hanks? The one where he finds comfort in a volleyball? Being alone, he sought company. Similarly speaking, one might expect that the Goddess would have created for the purpose of company. Note that Tom Hanks' character even argues with the ball. Why do we have free will? Because part of good company is differing ideas and disagreement.
Now consider that beyond the purpose of company there might be another issue. One of science. How much do we try to recreate as part of our scientific process? Might one of the goals of our evolution, and ability to learn, create, and effect our own evolution, be the desire to set a course in action that might eventually explain her own existence?
Many such possibilities exist, but I will leave this theory out there for now. Our purpose is a great topic to explore and I hope to get some decent feedback from you folks. In the next few days I will move past this and moce to the next segment. The Bible. Until then, please continue to speculate on this and other questions within your life, or something close to it.
posted by Wanderer at 11:29 PM
11 Comments:
"Might one of the goals of our evolution, and ability to learn, create, and effect our own evolution, be the desire to set a course in action that might eventually explain her own existence?"
I don't know that I can go there... I see God as self sufficient and totally self aware. And I'm not sure that his desiring relationship with us is the same as being lonely. If he were lonely, or created us for the purpose of gaining self knowledge, that would mean he needs us. We then become like pawns, and that doesn't work for me.
You can be self sufficient and self aware without knowing that crucial element. Hell, all of us are. If God didn't create us for the purpose of gaining something for himself, wouldn't that make us completely useless? If so, why would God have a relationship with us? You find pointlessness easier to handle than being, as you put it, pawns?
All that this term indicates is that we are here for a purpose, and being used as part therein. We are either pawns, a more crucial and significant part of that which is God, or irrelevant. I would think that pawns would be the most sensible conclusion, for we don't even approach Godliness, and irrelevancy doesn't sit well with any religious theory I have yet come across, nor does it sit well with an atheistic view point.
I'd like to adress a couple things but not without, first, commendidng your willingness to think and question. This post really opens us up to some interesting thoughts.
You said, "We exist for a reason that we don't know, and quite probably never will. Yet so many of us still find ourselves reaching out to answer that question."
We do find ourselves searching for this answer but, I believe, it is more responseble to think of it less as searching for the answer and more as searchinmg for the most healthy way to look at it. Sinse, as you said, we probably will never know the answers to these questions, it is not reasonable to define it of put a finger on one answer. The answer will always be bigger than the one we decide on. We don't know the answer but we know what might be a healthy and maybe even acurate way of looking at it. Take the Bible for example, let's say that it is true and the writers of the Bible may have been doing a little more than simply telling us the way they see it but they are actually expressing the word of God in some way. Now the Bible doesn't tell us exactally why we're here but it lays for us a foundation on which to build our ideas.It says that God created us and that we were created for good purposes and to ultimately live in harmony with God. this is a healthy way to look at it and, I humbly submit, that it's the way the world really is. The answers are not all there, infact if you read the bible you'll be left with more questions than you had beforhand. It's healthy, also, because ultimately the Bible points to certain reoccurring themes. A few of those themes are; love, peace, wholeness, generosity, honesty, appretiation, joy, compassion. All of these, as I am convinced, are good things to live by. But they are more than that, they reflect God to us. If God commands these sort of things then we are to expect the same characteristics from God himself.
Also, you speculated that maybe God created like Tom Hanks created Wilson. One issue I take with this, althought I think it's a great question, is what kind of God this image describes. A God of desparation? this is not the God described by the Bible and I suggest that it may be separating a word from its definition. A God that fits the definition; holy, infinate, all powerfull, etc. cannot be desparate and cannot be confused about His exsistence. His exsistence had no beginning so He would have no question about it. He would know. I don't mean to step on your toes but I believe that if we were to assume this kind of God we'd have to findnew terms to define Him. Again I believe that the Bible gives us a truer description.
I'm sorry if at any point I came on too strong. I post this comment with utmost sincerity. Thanks for your insight and the great post.
Wes - Why get hung up on the desperation issue? If God is at the root, who are we to judge? To want company is not desperation. If I go to the bar in search of casual convesation, it is not desperation, it is what I want. Perhaps you are drawing too close to my analogy. Remember that Wilson was not what Tom Hanks pretended he was. We are what She made us to be. Herein lies the difference within which this would not be a desperate act. After all, if God created us it can't be argued that he did it because he wanted to. A desire for companionship is somehow a worse reason than others? Why would you think this? Particularly since the guy at the top of the food chain makes the rules. Are you going to tell God his particularly reasonings are inappropriate?
Remember that I didn't indicate that the Goddess needed our companionship, just that this is what she had wanted.
Finally, where do you get the idea that even if there was never a point that she wasn't, that she wouldn't still wonder about why that would be? Even if she can understand this concept of having always been, something the human mind can't really wrap itself around, what makes you think that she wouldn't still wonder what made it so?
Put yourself in her shoes. If you could say with absolute authority, "In the beginning, I was." Wouldn't the sheer impressiveness of this intrigue you?
Thanks for helping me follow your thoughts. Your suggestions are still not all working out in my logic but thants ok. I encourage you in your thinking.
Steven, first of all watch who you're calling self sufficient and self aware. Whiny, dependent, and self-deluded suit me just fine. :-)
Plus, I did say I think God is totally self aware.
Can't we be desired by God without being needed by him?
I didn't need to have a child to survive (or remain sane going with the vollyball allusion), but I'm happier for it. She brings a beauty into my life that I didn't have before. On a shallower level (!), I spend a good bit of time and energy each year planting flowers in my yard. I do it because I want them, not because I need them. That I planted and grew them gives me deep satisfaction, and real joy when I see them grow and bloom.
Maybe we can come up with a better word than pawn.
And, you're right- I don't know anybody who's cool with the notion of irrelevancy.
Ok, so it would probably do me a lot of good if I visited here more often, you get some really positive discussions going here.
I think we were created out of God's desire to be loved. Since he desired us to love him, really love him, he had to create us with the ability to choose to love him. I agree with Cindy that God was/is self sufficient and totally self aware...but that doesn't mean he couldn't have been lonely.
I think the doctrine of Predestination and Diving election which so many Christians seem to be unwilling to rethink, sets humans up as pawns. I think God chose to reveal himself as father (and yeah, he also describes himself as a mother hen) because he wants us to know just how important we are to him.
I like Wes's comment that the "answer" will always be bigger then the one we decide on. More Christians should be willing to accept that fact.
I believe that Jesus is the pivotal point, the hub, the center of it all. I believe the Bible is the best and most sacred book we have. But God gave us a whole universe, and cares about us as individuals. And His desire is not only that we love Him, but that we love each other. Afterall, that is what Jesus said when asked what was the greatest commandment. To love God, and to Love our neighbors. Maybe the answer is simple after all.
"Can't we be desired by God without being needed by him?"
My apologies, Cindy, if I ever construed that we were necessary to Her. I meant to define purpose, not invaluability. My shoes serve a purpose. I will survive without them. Furthermore they are replaceable and interchangeable. I must have failed in the point I tried to get across if you found this statement to be a counterpoint to mine.
Steven, so on this we agree. cool.
Precisely, Lisanocerous. I had somewhat retreated from this point for the time being to figure out how to word it more properly, having apparently instigated this desperation idea.
I dunno about that, I make it my business to not be needed by anyone and I thrive on that.
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