God Is Larger Than Religion

I am a true believer that God does exist in this universe.  I look up to the sky, and marvel at the spectacle of it being blue, or how the rain refreshes the Earth.  I gaze towards the distant stars, and realize it is hard to fathom that if a person could travel to those stars they would really be there.  If a being had the ability to trek the billions of miles to a distant destination the end result would be a place that actually exists in this moment of reality.  All too often we think of stars, and distant planets as something that is not tangible.  Reality holds that the dust from far off places exists in this same moment that our soul exists right now.  I gasp not only at the vastness of the universe, but it truly takes my breath away to know that wherever I could travel God has already been.

As I sit in my world, I read many of the stories and articles written about God and the beliefs that people and societies maintain about their God.  Sitting here in this moment, I am awed by the possibilities of what God is, and then I realize that the mere existence of God is not within the grasp of human intellect.  As I sit and read of all the things others believe, I feel as if people are always trying to fit God into a reality that allows them to maintain some sort of minimal understanding.  Tonight as I look towards the sky my mind flashes back to a day long ago when I once lived in Oklahoma.  On that day I stumbled upon some tombstones that were scattered and forgotten in a field.  My mind's eye travels back to my touching one of the cold headstones and realizing that this was where soldiers were killed in a small skirmish.   Many years ago in a battle forgotten, by all except the cold weather worn letters of the headstones, laid the remains of soldiers that were buried where they fell.   My mind flashes to how small those soldiers moment in time was when compared to the vastness of everything we call the universe.

My life's journey has brought me to this moment in time and I have learned to respect the beliefs of others, even though there is a voice inside whispering to me that God is bigger than any religion.  This voice whispers to me that any being that has always been and always will be, is beyond the explanation of any human understanding.  Without disrespect to any person's beliefs, would it be too much of a stretch to think that God is not able to be explained in a book?  Whether that book is the Torah or the Bible or the Koran or any other form of scripture?  It is too far of a stretch to think that to understand God, to truly acknowledge his greatness that you need to look beyond what is something that was written by merely a man?  Why is something sacred because it was written long ago?  Why is something a miracle merely because God's science is beyond man's minimal ability to bend our understanding of his physics?

Perhaps the answer many seek is found outside the binders of a book?  Perhaps God has more to tell us than what is written on a finite gathering of pages?  Maybe the true understanding of what God is can be understood only by looking to the vastness of the universe?    Maybe in all of God's greatness the answer is beyond what we refer to today as religion. Maybe the answer of what God is resides in the knowledge that God is more than a quotation will ever be able to provide.  Maybe God is infinitely greater than the answer any church can provide?  A scripture may be a place to start to understand the complexities of God, but to limit the greatness of God to a book is an acknowledgement of the limitations of man's explanation of God.   God is more than a being off in some cloud; he is as tangible and as real as those distant planets.  If you could travel to his presence, you would be there.   Most people need to let God escape from their book and experience his existence in their life right here and right now.

That day I stood in that field in Oklahoma I felt the presence of a spirit that was as tangible as the wind whipping across that forgotten battle field.   God is by your side now, he is on that field in Oklahoma and also resides on all distant planets.  He is here now, he is here yesterday and he is here tomorrow.  I can understand all of that at the most basic level, but for the life of me I cannot understand how God could ever be placed within the confines of what the world refers to as "religion", whatever that religion may be.

God Bless all.

» left by Jim Murdoch

3 years 65 days ago.
22 fans. Follow Jim Murdoch on twitter!

Well said, Mr. Keith. Maybe the answer of what God is resides in us?

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» left by Teresa Ortiz

3 years 64 days ago.

HI Mr. Keith, I appreciate your honestly here. And I am not going to argue with you about the truth of God's word. But I am left to wonder that while you tell people (me specifically) you are tired of reading articles about God, you often write them yourself.

 

If I may assume just a little, it seems to be that you are searching for God and are frustrated because so many things have hindered your search. Be it poor witnesses, be it personal conflict, bitterness and hurt, or could just plain be fighting the truth you already know.

 

The key to finding God--the great creator of the sky's and everything else is to surrender to the truth of Jesus Christ.

 

God is bigger than the Bible, there is so much more that could have been written. But God promised that he would reveal himself to every person ever born. He told us all we needed to know--through the Bible. It takes a lifetime of study, but when we open our hearts in the littlest way and take that leap of faith, God puts his spirit in our hearts and we begin to see the magnitude and validity of His word and his character.

 

Anyway, sorry I didn't mean to give you a sermon. I just wanted to share these thoughts based on many things you have said here and there in your articles about God.

 

Please take this in the spirit of love and friendship, I am praying for you.

 

Again, great thoughts.

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» left by Mr. Keith 3 years 64 days ago.
25 fans.

Thank you for the gracious comments. 

I never intended for anyone to think I am tired of God and articles related to God.  The subject is fascinating and ongoing for me.  What I have grown tired of is reading articles that just go back to quotes of scripture.  It seems as if everywhere I go there are groups of people pushing their agenda by taking a quote from some holy publication and then stepping back with the attitude of "see, it must be true, it is right there, in writing."

 

I do not single out the Bible because the zealots of the Muslims are much worse and much more violent about this.  Maybe years ago, during the crusades, the Christians were the same way?

My entire point is that I feel as if God exists and I grow weary of groups pointing to their religion as if it is the only way.  Most religious organizations pity those who do not feel the same or maintain the same beliefs. 

 

If I do not believe in Christ, will I get to be with God?  In the spectrum of time and the vastness of the universe I feel that to base my entire life on the creation of one book I am limiting the vastness of God?  If I asked a Muslim if I did not believe in Allah would I be able to be with God?  The answer is the same one the Christians would give.  No.

 

All religions limit the membership of their "club" by what is believed.  Without toting the "party" line you do not get granted membership.  My point is that God is too large to be weighted down by the mere rules put into one book.  If God were to be limited by the "rules" of ANY book I only see God being "fenced" in by the minimal understanding and possibilities of what God can be.  I do not accept on faith that God inspired mere men to gather and write a book.  If it were so important to God he should have done it himself.  But then there is that faith thing, which leads back to the book.

 

God is greater than any description that man could ever conjure up. If I have to limit that belief to some book that was written by men I really do not want to be included in the plan. 

 

The love and vastness of God goes beyond a book.  I desire answers.  I believe in God.  I do not grow weary of God I just grow weary and the only scripture I do put ANY faith in is James Chapter 1 Verse 5.  That would be the KJV, I would not want to confuse the situation by the hundreds of possible Bible versions that are out there.

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» left by James P Krehbiel

3 years 64 days ago.
125 fans.

Mr. Keith,

 

Eloquently stated. No one needs to "witness" to you with some scripted message - you get it! Instead of trying to impose our religious position on one another, we need to stay open to listening to each other. You have stated a very important concept. My favorite verse in the Bible (please, I am not witnessing, LOL) is when Jesus said, "You search the scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life, but they are that which testify of me." What this means to me is that beliefs and dogma can never take us to the object of our faith, which is God. As you say, the Bible, religion and dogma are insufficient to lead us toward spiritual reality. That is what I hear you saying and that is what I believe. Nicely done!

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» left by Mr. Keith 3 years 64 days ago.
25 fans.

I think you understood my point!  Thank you for taking the time to acknowledge!

 

You did hear EXACTLY what I said!

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» left by sue thom

from nj 3 years 64 days ago.

hi mr.

 

keith,

 

you described pretty much what's always been in my head.

i remember being little and going to catholic church with my family, and not being able to understand how anyone knew what God, Jesus, Mary, and whomever else adorned their walls, looked like.

i went to a Presbyterian church and their pictures were different. so what do i believe? whose pictures and statues were right?

i believe in God, but my belief stays with the idea that He exists, and we are learning on this plane, until we move on to the next. pretty simple. i don't need a book of any kind to tell me that. my parents taught me to be honest, respectful, responsible, helpful to others less fortunate, caring, and with a Faith in God that has never dwindled. i think God is proud of them, and proud of me, and one day, i will see the "Light."

thanks for a good article,

my best regards,

sue

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» left by Mr. Keith 3 years 64 days ago.
25 fans.

I thank you for the gracious comments.

 

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» left by Yangki Christine Akiteng

3 years 61 days ago.
104 fans.

I loved this article -- a lot. You have a truly healthy attitude to the acquisition and use of knowledge -- and to life itself. So well put together.  I wish we could have more of this on here.  Thank you!

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» left by Mr. Keith 3 years 61 days ago.
25 fans.

I thank you for you gracious comments and I too wish more people would let God out of the book.

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» left by Barbara Clark

3 years 61 days ago.
30 fans. Follow Barbara Clark on twitter!

Excellent article and thought-provoking!

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» left by Mr. Keith 3 years 61 days ago.
25 fans.

Thank you for taking the time to not only read, but also to display your enjoyment.

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