Dear People Whom God Loves,
Here are some thoughts from Sebastian Moore in his book The Contagion of Jesus. Some of my thoughts also.
When we ask the question—Is there God?—we often start with the beginning of the universe. The unbeliever will likely say: There was nothing. Then by chance, there was something. It just happened. When we say “nothing”, aren’t we conceiving of nothing as something that was there before the universe? How can we have a concept of “nothing?” When I think of nothing, am I not really thinking of nothing as something?
I don’t think this is a helpful way of asking the question: Is there God?
I don’t think that it is helpful for the believer either. We say that God was there before God made the universe. Time begins with the universe. So there is no “before the universe.” So saying that God was there before the universe doesn’t make sense either. So trying to answer the question—Is there God?—by speaking of before and after doesn’t seem helpful to me.
Another way to start is to ask these questions: Is there purpose to the universe? Is love what is ultimate in the universe?
If I didn’t believe in God, I would find it difficult to say “yes” to these questions because we all die and the universe will also eventually die. If I thought of God as a vengeful and punishing God, I would also find it difficult to say “yes” to these questions.
When I think of God as Love, this allows me to answer “yes” to the questions. If I believe that Infinite Love is the source and goal of the universe, then the purpose of the universe and we humans in it is to become perfect lovers. That is why the traditional saying that humans are the image of God and the rest of the universe is the footprints of God makes sense to me.
Can I prove this? Of course not. Can I prove that this is not true? Of course not. That is why we speak of belief in God. This belief, however, is very reasonable.
That there is purpose to everything and that that purpose is love makes sense to me and gives me hope. Without hope, we wither away. That is why I believe.
Smile, God Loves You,
Father Clay
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