A friend writes… “It’s hard to believe that God has any idea what is going on on this planet….”
John, now that you mention it…I think it’s most likely God does have an idea what’s going on on this planet. After all, this Earth is only a small (though pretty important to us!) part of God’s beloved creation. Creation itself goes on and on beyond our imagination. That’s what God does. Or IS.
Wildfires, floods, volcanoes, earthquakes, contagious diseases, asteroids, animal extinctions–all these happenings occur beyond human control. (Even if you’re a devoted environmentalist!) Indeed, God may have better ideas coming along after the kind of people we are. Maybe it’s AI? We always talk about “life as we know it” on other planets. Well, what about life as we don’t know it on this one?
Looking at the Big Picture, a worldwide human die-off seems almost inevitable–like the dinosaurs. I’ll be gone soon enough: a presence too tiny to matter–except for my faith while I’m alive. At the moment, my responsibility is to work for justice and mercy close to home. Love God. Love people. Shine a little light.
I know you will, too.
Love,
Barbara
Barb, If I understand your point, you are saying that God does indeed know what’s going on, not only here on earth, but throughout the much wider universe, simply because God created it all.
Okay, so if that is true, then why did God create all the bad stuff, like fires and floods and diseases that cause so much suffering for humankind — those humans that are reportedly so loved by God? You said that these things are beyond human control, but are they also beyond God’s control? If God created them, can He or She not do something to control them? Or does God just like to sit back and watch what happens? Is God a sadist? Are we all just versions of Job, being hit with bad stuff by God in order to see if we keep believing in the Almighty as a loving Creator?
I guess I just have trouble believing in a God who would choose to create a world such as ours and who, well aware of what’s going on, does nothing to relieve the suffering.
Please don’t take this as a personal attack, because it’s not that at all. I’m just trying to explain how I myself have come to a point of not believing in a god of the sort that was extolled while I was growing up in the Church.
Thank you, Barbara.
I do believe that, even though there are things beyond our control, God creates humans to take care of God’s creation. We have the ability if we use it.
Thank you, Barbara.
I do believe that, even though there are things beyond our control, God creates humans to take care of God’s creation. We have the ability if we use it.