Is There Proof That "God" Exists? - by Eric Allen Bell

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Comment by Eric Allen Bell on March 1, 2013 at 12:27am

Alexi - Enlightenment Purgatory only exists if one believes Enlightenment to be something of a finish line, a destination.  Are there "Enlightenments" along the way?  Are these Enlightenments fixed in time, or bound by it?  If we are not fixed in time, or bound by it, and if Enlightenment is simply the realization of one's true nature, then how can Enlightenment purgatory exist?  That which we seek is that which looks out through our eyes.  All else is theater.  

Comment by Alexi on February 25, 2013 at 11:31pm

Great blog.  In my experience, most Atheists subscribe to the God of science without the acknowledgement that "scientific fact"changes over time and with new discoveries.  (Progressive?) atheists take a more neutral view, some may even challenge common "society lies" but I love the simplicity of asking "What is the lie that holds it all together?  What is the lie?"  Isn't the answer to that question is formed the minute the question is formulated?  Some may view that as an ah-ha moment that sets you free.  I have found it to be one where I squeeze my "eyes" shut, whisper "impossible" under my breath, and cling to what I have been taught to be true.  I've wondered over the past few years if perhaps there is such thing as an enlightenment purgatory, but the ironic thing is, if there was, I already know it was one of my own creation

Comment by Eric Allen Bell on November 20, 2012 at 3:34pm

Donald - Don't ever stop.  It's an unpopular message, but a vital one!

Comment by Donald Pennington on November 5, 2012 at 8:30am

Eric, you're not the only one, obviously. I've tried warning people for years too. But far too many people consider hard, rational thought too difficult.

Comment by Eric Allen Bell on November 5, 2012 at 8:03am

Donald - This is why I am called an "Islamophobe".  

Comment by Linda on November 5, 2012 at 7:48am

.Does god exist?...... Nothing is easier to prove, (as Eric said,) with the dynamic understanding of the  I AM  comes the answer to all such questions and happiness beyond words.  The opinion of others is just exactly that. Their opinion and if they are happy with that , then I am happy for them.

Namaste 

 

        

 

 

Comment by Donald Pennington on November 5, 2012 at 7:01am

This would explain why, whenever I say something people find "disrespectful" about gawd, they get personally offended. They tell me I'm insulting them. I reply, "No. I'm insulting gawd." They get even more offended. Because my rejection of their gawd is, in fact, a personal rejection of them - or so they think without being aware. 

Thanks.

Comment by Julien Staheli on November 4, 2012 at 7:31pm

Then there are those who claim to know the infinite, they walk right up to the veil between themselves and true knowledge, stare at it,touch it, sit in front of it but don't dare look through. They pose a million questions, an attempt to point out possible error in syntax, never to be satisfied with their answer.

Comment by Eric Allen Bell on November 4, 2012 at 4:39pm

Mary -

I too do not believe in a deity, although I was raised in a religious household.  I find that Atheists such as Sam Harris often make more sense than most of the so-called "spiritual" teachers out there.  Using reason, it seems self evident that what is Infinite must therefore include us.  Furthermore, if we are a product of the Universe and we have intelligence, then the Universe is intelligent. 

The Bhagavad Gita talks about there being many different paths to God realization (yoga).  The intellect and reason, in the Vedic tradition, is viewed as a respectable and valid path.  Most religions encourage faith - the absence of reason.

Now more than every there is a growing science of consciousness.  For some inquiry is experiential, for other the inquiry is pursued through reason.  For me personally, I try to engage all of me.  There have been spiritual experiences which do not hold up to reason - and if I tried to explain to Sam Harris, I think we know what his response would be :)  

Clearly we are living in a time where science and reason and mysticism and finding themselves in dialogue, in something of a collaboration - a science of consciousness.

Comment by Mary Lynne Schuster on November 3, 2012 at 5:04am

I found this profoundly moving.   I am not a person of faith - after a 10-year search for some faith that would make sense with what I saw was true about the world, I realized I was an atheist.  I have found no evidence for any described deity.  More importantly, any evidence given to me for anything supernatural could more reasonably be explained by other means.   If you want specific examples (and if anyone is still reading this old blog entry!) I'd be glad to share.  

So the question of is there a God is, indeed, easy for me - no.  However, that is a separate issue from Who Am I?   Our brains are amazing, amazing things.  We are meaning making machines.   I know the suffering in my life right now is a result of my interpretation of my perceptions.   Objectively, I have no more problems than anyone else; I have a very privileged life in a lot of ways.   So, given that I create my life, What life do I want?   

I accept that what I perceive as physically real is real, even though I know it isn't.  We are in Socrates cave, only seeing what our brain interprets, but it is a good enough model.   Other than that, it is open season.   I say I am no longer willing to put up with this angsty, dramatic suffering.   At first cut, I say my life is about appreciating the amazing, astounding gift of being alive, of being a conscious awareness in the universe right now, and of making the world a better place - of improving the quality of life of humanity.   

Eric, your blog on the 9 Epiphanies was really helpful.   I printed it out and will be looking at it often to discover (really, create) who I am and what I am about, to go behind the lie as you said in this post.   Our brains are driven to find meaning, and make it up if it isn't instantly clear, and find danger so we can survive, as you said in part 5 of Epiphanies.   With consciousness  we have this really incredible ability to think about the thinking, to notice and put aside the automatic machinery, and even, though mindfulness and meditation, to stop the thinking.   And then what?   What is even possible if we get off the carousel?     

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