Can we imagine a God who has no intention of ever punishing us – for anything? If so, what would be the point of having a God at all? let these be our questions for the day.
Here is a note I received as part of this ongoing dialogue…
Hello Neale…
It has been a true joy to read you posts over the last few weeks since I first discovered them here on Beliefnet. You can’t know how important and influential your “conversations” have been in both my life and the life of my wife, April.
I came across your first book when I was 19 years old and had spent so much time searching for God but always winding up disappointed that I had largely written off the prospect of ever really having a true relationship with God. But, through your books, I was able to learn that when I asked questions of God, I could expect to get answers–though I should never presume to expect to know what those answers might be.
Your books have helped me to intitiate my own conversation with the Divine. What I have found is that God is perfectly (and universally) loving.
But all too many Christians and Muslims try to claim that the monopoly on God’s love and affection is held by this or that race or religion or institution or government. How hypocritical is this?!
How can someone say with any credibility that the same god who “shows no partiality” and created ALL people (even our enemies) out of divine love actually blesses one group over another?
I think it’s a form of tribal psychology, an “us versus them” mentality. By claiming that God is championing “our” way, we implicitly demonize our perceived opponents by painting them as not only our enemies, but God’s as well. This seems to be a common pitfall for the self-righteous, to confuse “my will” with “THY will”.
To me this is what was meant using God’s name in vain. I believe that there is one God, which means that the same God that, through providence, guides America, guides the Middle East also. So, in some ways the U.S. national motto (‘In God we trust’) is right. We are just one of many nations under God.
As to your question: what does Allah want and require? I think the answer is, he wants what he has always wanted, no matter what his alias might be. He wants us love him and to love each other as reflections of his mysterious glory. He wants us to be honest, patient, and when given the choice, to embrace what is highest rather than what is lowest about ourselves. And, hardest of all, he wants us to realize that our capacity to create is far more impressive than our capacity to destroy.
Anyway, that’s my opinion.
Before I go, let me just say it has been a real pleasure conversing with the guy who showed me how to converse with the Almighty. Many thanks!
Posted by: Russ | July 15, 2008 4:45 PM
Well, Russ, those are some interesting comments. But what do you say to this? The Bible tells us that Jesus said, “No one comes to the Father except through me.” Does that not pretty much tell us, in plain and simple words, that those who do not accept Christ as their Lord and Savior are going to Hell? Am I missing something here?