Hi Scooby,
Interesting challenge. If I read you correctly, then your challenge is to submit to a higher power in order to attain "Wisdom, Knowledge, Understanding."
I've done this in my own way, but the only understanding I have ever truly asked of "God" is why does innocent suffering exist? That's the brick wall I ran into years ago, and I'm still not through it.
I was raised Roman Catholic w/ very religious parents, and I have had around 13 years of private catholic schooling (4 years at a jesuit high school), so I've had ample time to consider this problem.
The biggest problem I have w/ the idea of an omnipotent/omnipresent God is that, if he/she/it is an all powerful force, than why the **** is there innocent suffering present in the world. Why are villiages in the Congo and Darfur and all over the third world, being massacred and herded into refugee camps. What did they do that they deserve such an awful experience to be forced upon them. If God controls all and is everywhere then, what the **** is he doing. I feel almost guilty for having had such an easy life (comparatively) so far. Why do I deserve a free pass because of my birth parents?
Now, people will say that suffering is a result of the devil's influence pulling people away from God (sin). Sinners through their actions, can inflict suffering upon themselves or others unfortunately. So if God is omnipotent, wtf, why not just get rid of the friggin devil? Because we need suffering to learn?
Well I'm sorry but if that is the system, then it's ****** up, and I want no part in perpetuating the idea that God is omnipotent, it simply doesn't make sense, to me anyway. He may be omnipresent, but if he is omnipotent then he's a dick.
I can see that you're adamant in your belief that we are not given everything we need inside of us, and that understanding must come from outside. I disagree for now and oddly enough I wrote what might be considered
this threads antithesis just before you wrote this one. I've gained more knowledge/wisdom/understanding from my own experiences (and those of my peers/fellow humans) than I have from any books religious or otherwise. Third hand knowledge in iself is not necessarily bad, but imho it should be taken w/ a large grain of salt.
To these poeple who tell me they know the consequences of my earthly actions and that they know they'll result in eternity in a heaven or hell, I ask:
"Have you ever died before?"
"No, o.k, then you've spoken w/ someone who has?"
"No, o.k. well you've read a book about it then?"
The problem I've always had w/ people who tell me that I need to devote my life to God is this:
If this is the same God who made me in his image then I'm confused. Of course since they told me that, I thought God must be like me. I wondered how I would handle the role of God.
Well for one, I wouldn't be so needy.
He's a deity, why does he need all the hype from people?
If I had created life (as God), I certainly wouldn't make that life bow down to me, I would ask nothing in return other than for all life to have
respect (and hopefully love) for all other life.
I really don't see why we need to focus so intently on a higher power. If it's out there then we'll find it in due time or it will make itself present when necessary.
If God needs attention, this way of going about getting it is childish imho, basicly a guilt trip from what I can see.
The Jesus story works the same as a guilt trip for some. "Devote your life to God, because he sent his only son to save your otherwise doomed lives." I can't jump on w/ that. First, because while I think that the idea of what Jesus accepted was the noblest thing any human could possibly do, I submit that given the same chance, the majority of people would do the same. Think about it. You can save all human life from certain doom by you allowing yourself to be brutally murdered after being tortured for hours. I would like to think that others are of the same mind here when I say that, i would certainly choose the redemption of all souls over my bodily wellbeing.
And oh yeah to sweeten the deal, if saving all of humanity ain't enough for ya, then we've got eternal paradise and unending fame on tap after it's over. Even if people would choose bodily self preservation over the redemption all human souls, I'm pretty sure they would jump at the chance for the sweetner bit.
And secondly, seeking God in order to save one's self is imo counterproductive to (what I think is) the message of God.
I always wonder when I see those WWJD bracelets. Really, do they need to stop and think about what Jesus would do in order to act kindly/respectfully.
So I have to refute all of the
official the ideas that have been presented as to the nature of God.
My interperatation of "God" now is a single consciousness. That consciousness is in all of us I think, (so I don't think I am God, but rather a part of God) and we can tap into the unfiltered source at times when we're detatched from "self". As a result of this God can only be tuned into by those devoted to unity rather than self.
I certainly don't claim this to be truth, it's just my logical conclusions up to now.
So if the God you speak of is this omnipotent/omnipresent one, then I fully accepted your challenge long ago, and the understanding has still not come, so I had to reason for myself.