I offer the following for context only. Often when we fight about God, we may find ourselves arguing the same point from different perspectives. Part of the reason for this is that we are apparently seeking some sense of conclusiveness or finality while disagreeing, essentially, on the definitions of the words describing the process.

I would make a contemporary analogy that God is like a quantum mirage (info on that is at Exosci; I'm having trouble finding the link). The part of the idea of the quantum mirage that applies here is, I think simple: The quantum mirage does not show actual quantum particles, but rather implies their existence by creating an observable subatomic reaction, thus demonstrating the necessity of a medium for the subatomic reaction to take place; that medium, of course, being what we describe as "quantum particles".

Now, can we agree that "God works in mysterious ways"? Personally, the concept was first introduced to me as a cheap excuse--"Why did Daddy die?" Because God works in mysterious ways. Of course, I realized that to blame the concept for shortsighted idiots who use whatever God they choose as an easy-out meant that I would have to hold the actions and words of people like Tipper Gore, Jerry Falwell, or Ronald Reagan against gravity. In other words, I saw the concept despite the shoddy, snake-oil presentation.

So I provide this utterly harmless (IMHO), totally banal (ibid), absolutely infinitesimal anecdote. (Unfortunately for the story itself, it has not finished playing out; the present act of this petty drama should reach climax in a few hours.)

* So ... I leave the office, down to the mall, up three flights of escalator and stand in line for lunch. Whoops, I forgot to get cash. Grumbling ("Damn! Stupid, stupid, stupid! Why the hell am I wandering about the mall like this? Am I really that stupid?"--OK, I'm hard on myself about the little things), I remove myself down four flights of escalator and through the lunchtime crowd to a cash machine. Along the way, I almost collide tangentially with someone else, but I'm whining at myself so I don't notice. As soon as I put my card into the ATM, I hear a voice say, "That's not fair."
So I turn and look and there's a lovely young lady smiling from about three inches above my sight-line. And then she asks about the book I'm reading (that bedamned Lucifer text) and to be honest, I forget what we actually chatted about for three minutes until she says, "I work at _____. I have to meet a friend for lunch, but stop by later and give me your number." And she disappears.

* * * * *

God works in mysterious ways. I name a Goddess. And this is actually what I wanted to get after. A couple of people have asked me if I believe in God, and I always dance around because there is no good image to describe how I relate to that Ultimate Will.

Except this: It hits me, as I'm wandering back up to get a greasy burger that this is the reason I forgot cash. Not that the Goddess caused it to happen; not that it's part of some obscure Plan she hides. But when I close my eyes and she's there, she's always smiling. Because I can look her in the cosmic eye and say: Oh. I hold myself answered now. And Goddess laughs and I laugh and it's all a trippy cosmic moment in which nobody has to worry about doubting the infallibility of the plan, because like any good matriarch, her only concern in our relationship is the happiness of her family.

It's hardly definitive. It hardly proves anything. But since it's been asked recently and since this occasion has come about, I thought it fun to put two and two together and just babble about it any.

And even if it's proven Freudian, statistical, or otherwise a probable, predictable, and therefore mundane event (and I am quite sure this is the case), it still works, because probable, predictable, mundane events are just as important to the human relationship of God as wars, landing on the moon, or even the birth of Christ.

It's not cerebral Corn Flakes, mind you, but maybe pabulum. But it made me smile and I thought it worth rambling about. Thanx all,

--Tiassa :cool:

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The whole business with the fossilized dinosaur eggs was a joke the paleontologists haven't seen yet. (Good Omens, Gaiman & Pratchett)

This may not be along the same subject as you, but God works in mysterious ways in every religion. What I really think about all the religions is they are all the same whether is has Jesus or no Jesus and have more than one God and Goddess. If we all think about it they're about the same thing.

ltcmmdr--

I do not believe that I have any cause to disagree with that. I think when we fight in this forum, we fight too often about one God, the nature of whom nobody can really agree on.

I assert no definition of God, just what I think might be yet another way of perceiving God.

thanx much,
Tiassa :cool:

Tiassa~

My feeling is that Her ways are mysterious to us, but She knows exactly what the score is at any given point in the game. :)

Bright blessings, and good luck with this new lady.

MC--

Thank you for your tidings. :)

Mysterious ways, indeed. I was just happy to find this latest quirk on how I regard it.

Mostly, it was the fact that the events preceding the moment of humourous realization can be definitively stated to be not hallucinatory, since most of my direct interactions with the Dancing Lady occur under those odd circumstances of extreme depression, psychological weariness, or drug use.

But I could hear her laughing in my head, and that tangibility is rare amid my ephemeral religion.

thanx,
Tiassa :cool:

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The whole business with the fossilized dinosaur eggs was a joke the paleontologists haven't seen yet. (Good Omens, Gaiman & Pratchett)