For the longest time, humans believed what separated our species from the rest was consciousness. Because of this consciousness, we reasoned that we must have been created in the image of the creator. This belief concurrently meant we were the top dogs, kings and queens of our little orb in our vast solar system and, maybe, beyond.
Recent scientific endeavors into the investigation of animal consciousness -- most notably with apes -- has been discomforting. If humankind's nearest genetic relative is shown to be as sentient and conscious as we are, this could open up a Pandora's Box. Who knows? Maybe in the not so distant future, we'll discover that butterflies and daffodils have consciousness too.
The acceptance of such wild notions will be hard fought. The religious amongst us will do everything in their power to discredit and malign anyone who dares to suggest that the foundation of their theory rests on a false formulation.
What if it turns out -- whether humans are capable of determining it or not -- that ALL species communicate and are conscious? Does that mean we are all equally formed in the image of the creator? My guess would be in the negative.
If we could understand worms, I bet we'd find that depictions of God look like a giant worm. It would be a giant bird for birds and a celestial barnacle for barnacles. Who knows? Maybe God is the greatest of the Great Danes!
If we look at the Christian depiction of the heavenly father and his son in the human realm, we can see this same methodology at work. Caucasians depict God & Jesus as white dudes, despite the fact the latter was not white. In many black churches, both are black, though the latter was not black. In essence, God & Jesus take on the racial and ethnic characteristics of the people doing the worshiping. God is viewed in THEIR image, not the other way around.
As for me, if there is a God, I'm laying an even bet that She/he is a sea slug or a platypus.
Recent scientific endeavors into the investigation of animal consciousness -- most notably with apes -- has been discomforting. If humankind's nearest genetic relative is shown to be as sentient and conscious as we are, this could open up a Pandora's Box. Who knows? Maybe in the not so distant future, we'll discover that butterflies and daffodils have consciousness too.
The acceptance of such wild notions will be hard fought. The religious amongst us will do everything in their power to discredit and malign anyone who dares to suggest that the foundation of their theory rests on a false formulation.
What if it turns out -- whether humans are capable of determining it or not -- that ALL species communicate and are conscious? Does that mean we are all equally formed in the image of the creator? My guess would be in the negative.
If we could understand worms, I bet we'd find that depictions of God look like a giant worm. It would be a giant bird for birds and a celestial barnacle for barnacles. Who knows? Maybe God is the greatest of the Great Danes!
If we look at the Christian depiction of the heavenly father and his son in the human realm, we can see this same methodology at work. Caucasians depict God & Jesus as white dudes, despite the fact the latter was not white. In many black churches, both are black, though the latter was not black. In essence, God & Jesus take on the racial and ethnic characteristics of the people doing the worshiping. God is viewed in THEIR image, not the other way around.
As for me, if there is a God, I'm laying an even bet that She/he is a sea slug or a platypus.
If I must picture god as a platypus, can I at least picture him as a platypus with a long, long white beard and holding a rod and staff? It makes the mental image a little easier to digest...
ReplyDeleteHolding a rod and staff with what? :D)
ReplyDeleteCreated in His image...
ReplyDeleteI have long taken that to mean:
Capable of all that He is capable of, in that we are part of the whole.
We are part of the thing that creates.
Art is part of the artist, in that it carries something of the artist's own experience and act of creation.
We can do anything at all, or nothing at all, once we stop seeing ourselves as seperate, but rather as part of something complete and infinite.
Lol :) My verification word is "weedin", which must mean I have to get back to gardening now.
Everyone on the planet has a different perception of reality. So, for me it is not fruitful to explore for a definitive explanation of the universe.
ReplyDeleteI only look for a framework that works for me; then, I live with the acceptance that others have their own frameworks that are no less valid than mine. I don't try to decide if I'm right or wrong or anyone else is right or wrong. That is how I flow through the universe.
Since our reality consists only of what we perceive, then the substance of my existence is the impact I have on others and the universe. It is our relationships that define our lives.
Haha. funny considering that orthodox Christian theology says that God is spirit. Made in His image merely means that we were made to be like God, holy and perfect. Obviously, we screwed things up.
ReplyDeletePerhaps this is why Jews and Muslims take so seriously the prohibition against graven images.
ReplyDelete