The life examined asks you to decide what you believe
By Charles “Al” Huth
Every person needs to decide clearly what they believe. You may ponder: Who or what is God, or is there a God? No one else can answer this question for you. It is a question that only you can answer, one that resonates with you. I can only suggest concepts for you to consider. Socrates is famous for stating that a life unexamined is a life not worth living.
Modern science is taking us into deep outer space, deep into the oceans and bombarding us with new technologies to enhance our lives. Scientists conclude that everything is energy and energetically connected, without separation. Without this internalized belief, it would be difficult to comprehend that you have an energetic connection to everything that is. The question could be: How does one develop a functional awareness of this connection?
We were born with a keen sense of curiosity, a natural drive that continues throughout one’s lifetime. Humans are known as meaning-making machines. We try to control the events in our life by trying to understand the dynamics of life. With a similar repetition of events, we assume that a hypothesis is factual. When something is repeated often enough, a belief in its authenticity takes root. Often, this is how a commonly held belief is created. At one time, the Earth was believed to be flat. In the past, a common expression was that negative things happened in sets of threes. Whether one believes that there is a God or not, the laws of gravity remain intact. This leads me to conclude that a conscious belief in a deity cannot conflict with the laws of science. Therefore, a concept of deity must include everything.
There is confusion regarding religion and spirituality. Spirituality does not come from religion. It comes from our soul, which is defined as the immaterial part of a human being regarded as immortal, or emotional/intellectual energy. Expressed differently, spirituality is an intense energetic connection that we were born with. It is part of our ability to survive and thrive. Just as migrating birds have their own internal guidance to know how and when to fly, humans have our own built-in navigation. Humans have an ongoing internal conversation that is always active. If one learns to listen and trust this internal guide, living in harmony with all there is becomes more probable. It is a matter of internalized awareness and trust that stems from your intention.
Religion has a set of rules, regulations, and rituals created by humans. These beliefs were supposed to help people’s spirituality. Unfortunately, due to human imperfections, religion has become a politically divisive tool to control others. Spirituality is not ideology or theology. It is a philosophy regarding connecting to and engaging in life. Spirituality is a networking energy linking us to the universe and each other. No one is an island!
Our spirituality, along with our ability to contemplate, allows us to follow Socrates’ mandate. This can be achieved through conversation, study, books, classes, internal guidance and demonstrating the passion of our soul. Anything that is alive is growing and changing. Learning is a lifelong endeavor, which enables us to thrive.
Principles of physics to consider in relation to human behavior:
- Energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transformed.
- Everything is a form of energy.
- Everything is connected energetically.
- There is an implicit order of growth from birth to maturity.
- Every set of circumstances is driven by its potential.
- Whether or not you believe there is a God, the pull of gravity remains.
- If you believe that God is everything, there can be no separation between a belief in a deity and science.
If we give up the need for certainty, in terms of control and fixed answers, a different kind of certainty is available — our internal guidance! Just think about what scientists tell us — everything in the universe is energy and everything is energetically connected. Every set of circumstances is driven by its potential.
One can develop a functional awareness of our inherent connection to all there is. Your internal connection to everything can be known by many names. The name that you use changes nothing. Intuition, internal guidance, common sense or God can reference your internal support system. Consider referring to this chosen name as your best friend with a good source of information. Whatever word you choose is not as important as developing an internalized trust with the gifts that you are born with. You can develop your functional relationship with your internal guidance by setting your intention to do so. Your guidance will direct you.
Why not take advantage of your inherent gifts?
Charles “Al” Huth, M.Ed., is the author of “Living an Extraordinary Life: Essentials for a Changing World” and “The Evolving Higher Self: A Directed Guide to Fulfillment.” He’s also taught a class at OLLI/SOU, and is an inspirational speaker and magician. He lives in the Rogue Valley.
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