God

As a Catholic, I was raised to believe God was all loving and merciful, and yet “He” wouldn’t hesitate to let us rot in hell for all eternity if we didn’t confess our sins to a (male) priest or invite Jesus Christ into our hearts. Even as a child, I could see the holes in this theory, and over time I’ve become increasingly intolerant of references to a Heavenly Father or any other male-based characterizations of God.

I think of God as light, love, consciousness, and the source from which all things manifest in this world. Not a petulant, angry, and vengeful old man who gave us free will and then commanded us to follow one path only, but a limitless entity of unconditional love that encompasses all of creation.

Although I’m wary of quoting the bible, there are three passages I believe warrant further consideration: Love thy neighbor as thyself, Be still and know that I am God, and The kingdom of God lies within. If we know we are all one, all part of the same collective consciousness, we can love and support one another more easily, knowing we’re all magnificent beings striving toward a common goal: the realization of the best aspects of ourselves. If we spend time in stillness and silence, seeking the kingdom within, we’ll discover the essence of the source from which we came.

Religion is a sensitive topic and many of us believe our spiritual views are superior to everyone else’s. I don’t claim to have all the answers, but I think the imbalances, chaos, conflict, and changing weather patterns on this planet demonstrate that the status quo isn’t working. What if a shift needs to occur at the most fundamental level: the way we choose to perceive this world and our place within it? I think the old God is tired – he’s been meddling in our affairs for thousands of years now, let’s give him some well deserved rest. In his place, maybe a new vision can emerge: of an all-inclusive and loving creator.