The article in ReligiousTolerance.Org, "How Concepts of God Have Developed Over the Ages," discusses how the concept of God developed with mankind. What is significant in this article, is mankind's consistent movement away from traditional concepts of God, especially in the Western hemisphere. Specifically, as more people walk away from a personal deity, the occurrences of depression, anxiety, drug addiction and suicide are increasing. Perhaps people may be getting too smart for their own good. The alternative to accepting the idea that we are getting too smart for our own good, is to optimistically believe that something better is coming down the pike!
Who's Watching Your Back
I personally prefer to have a big almighty personal God watching my back. The very successful Pastor Joel Osteen, is an example of a preacher promoting a personal God who is looking out for you. I am a big fan of Pastor Osteen. I stayed away from churches for many years. I credit Osteen for reviving my interest in religion.
A personal faith that gives inspiration to the practitioner is a beautiful thing to behold. The psychological and physical benefits of practicing a religion are pretty well documented. Lisa Schneider interviewed Dr. Harold G. Koenig, "What Religion Can Do for Your Health," on beliefnet.com , which pretty much verifies the positive benefits that religion plays in keeping people healthy.
Is Tradition Working for Us or Against Us
Places of worship know how to use tradition in a very effective manner. What I like about tradition in religion, is that it affords me peace of mind. It helps me handle problems in a positive manner. You don't have to question things or think about it. It's just there and you do it. Don't laugh. There is wisdom in tradition. If there was no substance to tradition, then certainly, the various religious traditions would not have lasted so long.
There is little doubt in my mind, God is going to be around for a long time. I can't see anything that will be taking over God's throne soon. I had a writing coach, who told me that the God concept would be drummed out of people's mind, in 10,000 years. Who knows?
What Can Take the Place of God
Having a personal God watching your back can be very inspirational. The problem with this God business, is that mankind seems not to be buying it anymore, at least not in the old fashion traditional manner. Europe has pulled back from formal religion. The United States has a majority of people professing they believe in God, but the majority don't walk the talk in a traditional manner. The majority of Americans don't attend church regularly.
Maybe God is a cultural thing. The Western world hangs onto this personal God theme. On the other hand, the East lends towards an impersonal Deity. Hinduism and Islam lean towards an impersonal God. Buddhism, on the other hand, doesn't embrace God.
The human potential movements of the 21st century offer many fascinating and insightful inspirations. Perhaps a combination of religion and the human potential movement will be the next rising star on the religious horizon. Leaders such as Anthony Robbins, Scientology, Landmark, Pastor Joel Osteen and Deepak Chopra are leading the public with published books and seminars on enlightenment and self-improvement.
Maybe discoveries of new laws about the Universe will add to the enlightenment of God and the human potential development. I am familiar with three basic religions, Buddhism, Judaism and Christianity. The exhortations found in these three religions, regarding the importance of loving our fellowman, I feel are challenging, extraordinary, and beautiful.
What's God Got to do With It
The God concept fills a need of many people. Most people in the United States believe in God. Like Europeans, the majority of Americans don't attend church often. People embrace many aspects of religious tradition, when they feel they are facing challenges. The belief of a personal God in Western culture appears to be weakening. There seems to be a spiritual void developing, which leaves in its tracks self-defeating behaviors like alcoholism, drug addiction, and suicide.
Human potential technologies found in self-improvement books and seminar presentations, offer some encouragement for wisdom seekers. Popular traditional messengers of God are embracing many of these human potential technologies. What God has to do with the happiness and well being of human beings, is apparently more than what a lot of people would like to give Him credit. Perhaps when science learns more about the Universe, there will be new alternatives for facing the problems of living, which God presently handles for mankind.
Sources
- Huston Smith, World's Religions, Harper Collins, 1994
- Religioustolerance.org
- JoelOsteen.com
- BeliefNet.com
John A. Marinchek - John is a student and writer of Social-Economic issues, the Human Potential movement, and Martial Arts. His specific interests deal with ...
