OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD

What or who is God? Is there a precise definition for this term or is it a notion that cannot be defined? Is there one God or many? Or is it really a concept or school of thought or a feeling? These are some of the questions that spring to mind if and when one ventures a discussion on things of a theological nature.

From the time of our birth, the notion of God is ingrained into our way of thinking. As part of our upbringing, as part of the social and cultural landscape, as part of the study of mythology and history, and as part of our religious notions and practices.

Regardless of what religion one may belong to, from our first breath to the last, nothing or no one in our lives is as constant and ubiquitous as the notion of God. People come and people go, but God remains…

So having been ‘blessed’ with this supernatural power in our lives, each of us individually maintains a relationship with God throughout our lives. We look to God at times of sorrow or at times of unfulfilled wishes, and seek divine intervention for our emotional or materialistic satisfaction. We look to God for explanation of phenomena beyond our limited comprehension. We look to God as the guiding force for our actions, circumscribing moral or theological guideposts to our acts and omissions. And sometimes, though infrequently, we look to God to thank for the state of affairs we find ourselves in, which meet with our definition of happiness or blessings.

When we find ourselves in a spot of bother, or where the expectations remain fulfilled, or where we find ourselves getting less than what we deserve, we once again look to God for an explanation for such an apparent anomaly. After all God is expected to be just, God is expected to be merciful, and God is expected to be generous. God is held to the highest standard by all of us. Justifiably so. If humans across religions, across geographies and throughout ages have incorporated and polished the concept of God, the supernatural, the omnipresent, it is but natural that such a God should have an answer to all of our questions, expectations and grievances.

And therefore, we expect everything from God. We expect it without inhibitions. We demand it per force of prayers. And when we do find our expectations remaining unfulfilled, we lament and vent at the same God.

And so goes on the relationship with God, a constant see saw of satisfaction and complaints. What makes it unique is that unlike relationships we share with people around us, whether founded on familial connection or social connection or economic transaction, this is perhaps the only one which is a one way street. A blatant one at that!!! What do we give in return? Our devotion? Our gratitude? Our adherence to so called principles prescribed by the said God? Do any of these count for anything?

Sooner or later, in many cases, the sense of let down by God breaches the line where faith ends. This leads a person to the religious never never land…and one abandons the relationship…much like so many of the other relationships in our lives that get estranged.

It is at such a moment, that the question which is central to all humanity, yet unasked and unanswered rears its ugly head…

Is there a God at all? What’s the proof? Is it just a notion invented to make ourselves feel better even though in reality things will never be as we expect? Or is it a notion invented by the religious orders to dominate and rule the humans supervening the rule of law and the rule of the sovereign?

What better way to subjugate humans, weak willed and wishful that we are, than with a concept which we all intuitively fall for…and then to leverage the whole exercise by prescribing norms of conduct to govern our actions…is that all God is?

Of course no one can answer this to a certainty. No one can show proof. Perhaps we may get to see proof when we die and face the judgement of heaven. Or perhaps death would unveil to us the ultimate joke our life has been, interacting with, and relying upon, and following the teachings of a non-existent entity!!!

Till then one can do little but embrace the concept as an intangible source of faith and courage, to carry on…to attribute all of life’s happenings to and somehow seek solace that everything is part of a large pre-conceived plan of the almighty where everything happens for a reason and at the end of the day karma or justice (whatever you may call it) will be served.

If nothing else, it is probably a better way to end up leading your life than realizing the dark truth that everything is but a set of random events put together in an immeasurably large universe, where what we do, say and feel are infinitesimally meaningless and our lives are inconsequential at the end of the day…with there being no higher purpose, no after life and no judgement of heaven!!!