God - of my understanding
Member
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Memphis, TN
Posts: 2,884
If you are interested Brad Warner, a zen teacher, wrote a book called There Is No God And He Is All Around You. It came the closest to how I feel about the subject.
Don't get hung up on the word God, it's just a word. I don't believe in God, I have a higher power and my higher power is "I don't know". It changes day to day and even minute to minute. As long as it isn't my ego (monkey mind) then I am fine.
Your friend,
Don't get hung up on the word God, it's just a word. I don't believe in God, I have a higher power and my higher power is "I don't know". It changes day to day and even minute to minute. As long as it isn't my ego (monkey mind) then I am fine.
Your friend,
Member
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Columbus, OH
Posts: 15
Why can't the "god of your understanding" just be "your understanding"?
For instance: I understand that I can't drink like other people because I have become addicted. I understand I must always get drunk. I understand that I am total j@ck@ss when I am drunk. I understand that I don't want to be a j@ck@ss anymore, and damn if anything is going to make me that person again.
Has worked for me 6 months so far
For instance: I understand that I can't drink like other people because I have become addicted. I understand I must always get drunk. I understand that I am total j@ck@ss when I am drunk. I understand that I don't want to be a j@ck@ss anymore, and damn if anything is going to make me that person again.
Has worked for me 6 months so far
Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 3,359
because it needs to be a power greater than you. It does not need to be God but a construct that is not you. You got "you" into this, so you need to rely on a power greater than you to get you out of it. Its like a circular reference in Excel otherwise.
Reach Out and Touch Faith
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: On a Sailboat
Posts: 3,871
I found a great reasoning in NA literature. Basically when you are using your life is centered around yourself and your needs. By reaching out to a Higher Power we are learning to look past ourselves. This is a important learning process and will eventually affect how we look at our surroundings and other people.
Member
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Tucson, AZ
Posts: 650
I understand what you are saying WRT the wording. I just go with what works for me. My conscience and intuition guide me. When I step outside of my immediate desires to become a benefit to myself and others, I am allowing my "higher power" to work through me. All this is to me is allowing myself to be a tool of positivity through which the message of hope can be carried. It is the absence of self-centered fear, and the presence of humility and compassion.
Guest
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: The Deep South
Posts: 14,636
Originally Posted by Philip897 
So, I'm still trying to find out if anyone has a "God of their understanding", which isn't a "God".
Recovered from Hopeless State
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: New Jersey, USA
Posts: 2,156
Originally Posted by Philip897
Over the years, when I've said that I don't believe in God, people have usually said that it "can be anything I want it to be" or "of my understanding".
To my way of thinking this just doesn't make sense. What do people here think?
To my way of thinking this just doesn't make sense. What do people here think?
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