In A Word, God
Gerald Eisman
March 20, 2006
A being conceived as the perfect, omnipotent, omniscient originator and ruler of the universe, the principal object of faith and worship in monotheistic religions. The force, effect, or a manifestation or aspect of this being.
The concept of God is personal and unique to each individual that walks the earth, just as is the ability to reason. God, as conceived by man, is the epitome of goodness and knowledge, of mercy and truth, of righteousness and understanding but mostly, of love. Since the moment man stood erect on his two feet and began to think, a God, or Gods have been the object of worship and adoration. God could do no wrong.
Man, on the other hand, would brook no deviation from mutually agreed upon methods of worship. Those who deviated from prescribed rituals were either cast from the society of a tribe or killed. And so it was that as man's time on earth progressed, so did the number of prescribed rituals. In the natural progression of things, tribal wars began over the proper way to worship.
Soon there were numerous denominations worshiping a multitude of Gods in an even more copious number of ways. Eventually a system of worship called monotheism, one God, developed, and with that came the development of denominations. Tribes amalgamated to become counties and the counties went to war with each other over the proper way to worship. God changed depending on which county you lived in.
One would assume God should have unified mankind under a single, loving banner, but no, that wasn't about to happen. Soon, countries warred against each other "in the name of God." In fact, more people have died "in the name of God" then in all other wars ever fought, combined.
Unfortunately, that tendency to fight over one's personal God hasn't changed through the millennia. Man today, though supposedly civilized and capable of free and independent thought, is still ready to fight and kill in God's name. He ostracizes those who don't adhere to his personal method of worship and shuns any and all who would dare deviate from the teachings of church leaders he follows.
The very God that all men worship is not considered a unifier but acts, in the minds of men, as a divider, pitting, through religious leaders, one group of worshipers against others. Visualized as man-like, today's God serves a very different role in society.
God is a punisher. Step out of line and you are threatened with the loss of grace, excommunication, and even death. Do an offense to the deity and bad luck will dog your steps. Non adherence to man's rules will bring down the wrath of God on your head and burning in hell for all eternity will be your final reward.
God is the defender of the faith. The God of man takes sides and man prays to the almighty for many things. I have heard man ask God to vote in elections, "Oh God, let so-and-so win the election or this _______ will be in grave danger." God is a sportsman, "Lord, let Green Bay take these poor substitutes for a team or the entire league will collapse." I have even heard God being exhorted to take the life of another, "Lord, take that man home before his views change the course of history."
I do believe that the worst statement I ever heard came from the mouth of an ordained minister, a man of God whose purpose in life is to show the way to a better life. A man whose purpose, one would think, is to teach his flock tolerance, understanding, and love for all men.
A member of another faith asked the minister if he truly believed that people who did not worship as he were bound to go to hell. The minister didn't miss a beat as he said, absolutely. If one doesn't worship God as we, his is the punishment of eternal damnation in the fires of hell. I wonder how God feels about statements such as that.
The question man should ask himself is, isn't it time for people to learn the true meaning of God, brotherhood and understanding? No matter how one man sees his personal God, another who worships differently hasn't the right to condemn, castigate, or ridicule him. Religion is very personal and should be kept within the heart of each man, woman and child to be cherished and nurtured, not used as a weapon against another.
The concept of God is personal and unique to each individual that walks the earth, just as is the ability to reason. God, as conceived by man, is the epitome of goodness and knowledge, of mercy and truth, of righteousness and understanding but mostly, of love. Since the moment man stood erect on his two feet and began to think, a God, or Gods have been the object of worship and adoration. God could do no wrong.
Man, on the other hand, would brook no deviation from mutually agreed upon methods of worship. Those who deviated from prescribed rituals were either cast from the society of a tribe or killed. And so it was that as man's time on earth progressed, so did the number of prescribed rituals. In the natural progression of things, tribal wars began over the proper way to worship.
Soon there were numerous denominations worshiping a multitude of Gods in an even more copious number of ways. Eventually a system of worship called monotheism, one God, developed, and with that came the development of denominations. Tribes amalgamated to become counties and the counties went to war with each other over the proper way to worship. God changed depending on which county you lived in.
One would assume God should have unified mankind under a single, loving banner, but no, that wasn't about to happen. Soon, countries warred against each other "in the name of God." In fact, more people have died "in the name of God" then in all other wars ever fought, combined.
Unfortunately, that tendency to fight over one's personal God hasn't changed through the millennia. Man today, though supposedly civilized and capable of free and independent thought, is still ready to fight and kill in God's name. He ostracizes those who don't adhere to his personal method of worship and shuns any and all who would dare deviate from the teachings of church leaders he follows.
The very God that all men worship is not considered a unifier but acts, in the minds of men, as a divider, pitting, through religious leaders, one group of worshipers against others. Visualized as man-like, today's God serves a very different role in society.
God is a punisher. Step out of line and you are threatened with the loss of grace, excommunication, and even death. Do an offense to the deity and bad luck will dog your steps. Non adherence to man's rules will bring down the wrath of God on your head and burning in hell for all eternity will be your final reward.
God is the defender of the faith. The God of man takes sides and man prays to the almighty for many things. I have heard man ask God to vote in elections, "Oh God, let so-and-so win the election or this _______ will be in grave danger." God is a sportsman, "Lord, let Green Bay take these poor substitutes for a team or the entire league will collapse." I have even heard God being exhorted to take the life of another, "Lord, take that man home before his views change the course of history."
I do believe that the worst statement I ever heard came from the mouth of an ordained minister, a man of God whose purpose in life is to show the way to a better life. A man whose purpose, one would think, is to teach his flock tolerance, understanding, and love for all men.
A member of another faith asked the minister if he truly believed that people who did not worship as he were bound to go to hell. The minister didn't miss a beat as he said, absolutely. If one doesn't worship God as we, his is the punishment of eternal damnation in the fires of hell. I wonder how God feels about statements such as that.
The question man should ask himself is, isn't it time for people to learn the true meaning of God, brotherhood and understanding? No matter how one man sees his personal God, another who worships differently hasn't the right to condemn, castigate, or ridicule him. Religion is very personal and should be kept within the heart of each man, woman and child to be cherished and nurtured, not used as a weapon against another.
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