Archdruid: And so, as we relight the Eternal Flame after Saturday's intervention by the Buckinghamshire Fire Brigade, we know the depths of the light of the universe that enlightens the human mind...
Young Keith: Mum, can I ask you something?
Archdruid: You have to call me "Archdruid". We're on duty.
Young Keith: OK, Archdrduid - can I ask you something?
Archdruid: Course you can. I'm your mum.
Young Keith: It's just... you know how everything we do is a metaphor and about lifting us up or expanding our vision or increasing our knowledge of creation or something?
Archdruid: Of course. We're a religion.
Young Keith: Well, what if there's something behind it?
Archdruid: How d'you mean?
Young Keith: I mean, suppose God - and I use this word itself in a metaphorical way because after all, how can we use the word "exist" in relation to the very ground of existence? I mean, to say God exists is kind of meaningless because if God exists all existence derives its very existence from God such that you cannot meaningfully say God exists...
Archdruid: Cut to the chase, Keith.
Young Keith: Suppose God actually exists?
Archdruid: Exists?
Young Keith: Is actually there. Not as a hypothetical that forms a kind of language we can use to imbue our universe with meaning, but as the actual Meaning that imbues our universe in the first place.
Archdruid: You mean, exists?
Young Keith. Yes. In such a way that asking whether we say "he", or "she", or "they", or "God" for God is in itself meaningless because God is beyond our concepts of existence and even to try to apply objective terms to God is to break the mystery down to the mundane?
Archdruid: You mean, exists?
Young Keith. Yes. And cares about what we are up to.
Archdruid: Seems a bit unlikely, doesn't it?
Young Keith: But suppose.
Archdruid: Think I'd better light some more tea lights.
Young Keith: I'll go and lay some pebbles out. Sandstone or limestone?
Archdruid: Sandstone. Gotta be authentic.
It seems that Keith is struggling with the concept of their actually being a God who exists to Love us and who has an only Son who came to save us from ourselves?
ReplyDeleteSuch as concept has been discussed by people for thousands of years from the first sprouting of evolution on Earth, following the Big Bang initiated by God, who than brought it altogether in creation, described scripture.
Recently scientists have been speculating that life on earth could have originated from a meteor strike, millions of years in the past, which than evolved through the various ages including the Dinosaur's who were apparently obliterated by yet another meteor strike.
If God has been tidying up he has made quite a decent job of it, until of course mankind evolved, now capable of destroying it all again via nuclear weapons and or, climate change.
Perhaps Keith has been reading to much David Attenborough, or watching his youtube video's, who makes a valid point of it now being to late to save ourselves, and we might need God to intervene again, by sending Christ again to save us once again, or even rapture the lot of us to a waiting room for a few years until we've all got our act together when we can all crowd to the Holy Mountain, with mansions with room enough for all of us. Perhaps Keith has this vision which is why he is troubling a busy Arch Druid with his questions. Why not give him a Sabbatical for a couple of years to volunteer with Extinction Rebellion and glue himself to a few Domineering Tractors to save the bacon of some Tory MP's.
One of my favorite quotes
ReplyDeleteSt. Anselm, 12th Century: "O my soul, have you found what you were looking for? I was seeking God, and I have found that he is above all things, and that than which nothing greater can be thought. I have found him to be life and light, wisdom and goodness, eternal blessedness and the bliss of eternity, existing everywhere and at all times. If I have not found my God, what is it that I have found and understood so truly and certainly? But if I have found him, why do I not experience what I have found? Lord God, if my soul has found you, why has it no experience of you?" St. Anselm, Prayers and Meditations, 255. ..... [I don't have a Google account. If anyone wants to see my blog, it can be found at www.holydwelling.com. Thanks. The Rev. Susan Creighton, Anchorite]