Open Question
Leo Tolstoy wrote in his essays on Civil Disobedience and Non-Violence, “If man finds no meaning in life, he dies.” Without God where does man find his meaning and how does he verify and validate his or her life.
From Church and State p211
September 17, 2008 at 9:32 pm
Obviously one needs to find meaning in life. Let’s hope that meaning has a higher purpose that serves the whole and greater good.
I do believe in God, although I don’t attach God to one religion. For me, that’s what has created so much strife, wars, etc. in this world. If there is one God and God encompasses all, shouldn’t that be the driving philosophy and teaching by which to live one’s life? If everyone followed the tenet “God is Love”, this world would be a different place. Unfortunately people then attach “us and them” and “right and wrong” philosophy and hence, judgment, prejudice, and enmity occur. Even if it’s not overt.
Also, no one has a commodity on God. And when you claim you do, then it’s dangerous and can lead to fascist doctrines, policies, and actions. I daresay when Bush assumed office he harbored such arrogance. Many of his evangelical followers claimed he had a mandate from God.
I know agnostics and atheists who have more unconditional love and humanity than some people of “religion”. They find meaning in life by living a life of values, of service, of love, of kindness, of giving, of community. They may not believe in “God” but their behavior and actions are godly.
The founding fathers of America, who obviously embraced God, also understood the need for the separation of church and state. They understood the principles of fairness, justice, and inclusion. So whatever personal faults they had, they got it right when laying out the framework.
Personally, if citizens of this world lived by the guidance of love, service, doing unto others as you’d have others do unto you, things would look a lot different than they do.