Many people are in heaven. They all have the same face as each other and God who's sitting on the throne. One person says, "Oh wow! Our God looks just like we imagined!"
OUR GOD LOOK JUST LIKE WE IMAGINE
Years ago I was reading a book in eastern thought. The author said something that scared me to death. He said the primary function of the brain is to protect the organism and that our thinking is a product of this self-protection and the primary function of the ego.
The chill that went through my body! Because I knew it was true. My obsessive but earnest quest for truth would only select thoughts that protect me and keep me safe.
The word is not the thing.
The thought is not the real.
I also remember reading Calvin say that the brain is an endless factory of idols.
I also remember reading about a conversation between the Trappist monk Thomas Merton and the Jewish scholar Abraham Heschel. They were discussing why the first commandment was that we shall not have other gods before God. Heschel said it's because idolatry is our primary problem.
Our minds create gods.
Our minds have thoughts and we attach to these thoughts and they become beliefs.
And we’re safe.
Our god is just like we imagine.
But… and this is the question I am fascinated with and I encourage you to entertain: what, if anything, is that which lies beyond the thoughts, the words, the theology, our beliefs?
Who is this that is called “God” beyond the word “God”?
Who is this that is called “God” beyond our thoughts about “God”?