Why "God" Isn't Christian

Funny, a little standardized testing will decimate a teacher's ability to write meaningful blogs. Finally, I find a moment to share about my recent conversion to Secular Humanism in some greater detail. The title of this post may seem to lack the elements of my current belief, but this if for good reason. So many of my friends and readers are considered "faithful" that I need address my change in beliefs much in the same manner as one would cook the proverbial frog - slowly heating the water with the frog in place not dropping it into a roiling vat. 

God or mythological being? Depends on when you lived.

Versed vs. Unversed

When I decide to read a non-fiction work on a certain subject, I always look at the author's biographical information. Overall, I could care less about the small blurbs about their personal lives. No, when researching a particular subject and seeking literature on the matter, I care about pedigree. Where did they go to school? What did they study? What authority do they have to speak on the matter-at-hand? All these questions become vitally important, as I don't wish to waste my time or be misinformed or worse, misled. (For example, if I desire knowledge about the role of the United States in international relations, I am much more likely to consult Colin Powell as Ann Coulter.)

A rabbi can tell me much more about the Pentateuch than a Baptist minister, but if I want a critical examination of Abrahamic faiths, I am much more likely to turn to someone with less invested in the outcome like Karen Armstrong, but not so far removed as Sam Harris.) I am assuming that the rabbi and minster are seminary-trained, but their devotion may cloud their reason. Armstrong and Harris hold no such qualms, but each are not without their baggage. Harris simply possess a more confrontational element to his beliefs, which might not benefit unbiased study of ancient religions. 

Of course, reason and religion find themselves at ever increasing odds. "Nones" are the fastest growing among people of religious belief in America, if such may be identified with religious beliefs. (I find much comfort in knowing common sense and observation are slowly but surely overcoming superstition and fear.)

This begs the question: what qualifies one to be "versed or unversed?"

(If you didn't click on the above link for the definition of versed, you might want to, should you question what I mean by the terms.) Basically, I apply the following questions to someone that I may be willing to pay attention to regarding a given subject: "Have you received an unbiased education in ___________, and how has personal experience and reflection influenced you on this subject?"

The "God" of All?

As long as I can remember, I've heard the expression "God is the god of all." I'm sure Dwight Moody would disagree. But I must ask, can there really be a god of all? Let's face it, eastern and western history alike are plagued with religious convictions being the basis for affliction of another religiously motivated group. Over the course of centuries, Christianity, Islam, and Judaism won the day in terms of prestige. Yet, how did they win? They won more through war than through absolute proof... ahh, truth. Still another question arises: Can we decide truth from majority opinion? Rather, is the absence of fact combined with the testament of the devout sufficient for truth? If so, does the testimony of one group of devotees outweigh that of another? Ultimately, does anecdotal evidence outweigh empirical evidence in the argument of faith versus reason?

These are the questions we must ask if we must consider a "god of all the nations." Fortunately, we can be assured from one of the most credible sources of modern-era Christendom, Desmond Tutu, that "God" is not a Christian. In making this profound statement, Tutu does not acquiesce to an Islamic or Judaic god. Instead, he pronounces god as unknowable per the vast reaches of religious experience. Thus, god becomes anthropomorphic in nature. And, if god be imagined in the image of men, god can not be confined to the missions and multiplication of various sects of men. Yet in this, god, can be proved no more to actually exist than Santa Claus, due to lack of evidence to the contrary.

Thus, the Christian god must be the Mormon god must be the Indian god must be the Japanese god. Still, each of these possess a doctrine to the contrary. God has never and will never be 100% authenticated. As such, god can never rightfully be claimed to favor or belong to any particular religious sect, regardless of the adherents' convictions or piety.

Honesty requires the verdict that if god exists, the god(s) is/are completely unknowable. If this being is completely unknowable, we cannot claim this being's intervention in our lives. If he/she/they/it does not intervene in our lives, we can offer no credible insight as to what pleases or displease the being(s). If we cannot appease or displease the being, the being has no credibility for obedience or worship. If this being is not to be worshiped, obeyed, or feared, this being has no power over us, conscious, thinking humans. If this being possesses no power over us, this being's claim to deity falls short of credibility much less truth.