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Peter Baksa

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Who or What Is God?

Posted: 05/26/2012 12:13 am

"The most beautiful and deepest experience a man can have is the sense of the mysterious. It is the underlying principle of religion, as well as, all serious endeavour. He who never had this experience, if not dead, then at least blind. To sense that behind anything that can be experienced, there is a something that the mind cannot grasp; whose beauty and sublimity reaches us only indirectly; this is religiousness. In this sense I am religious." -- Albert Einstein

The laws of physics have conspired to make collisions of atoms produce plants, trees, animals and humans. In fact, these laws produced collections of atoms that don't just obey Newton's laws in a passive way. Some jump, mate, run and think. The laws of physics, working through Darwin's natural selection, have produced these gigantic collections of apparently purposeful beings who look as though they have been designed. Once Darwin determined how to get complicated, designed beings from the simplest of forms, he gave us an intellectual foothold to begin to see a process that we refer to as evolution. We know since 1859 how this all happens.

Math and science use principle-centered, complex frameworks to describe and understand phenomena on all scales of time and space. Reality, on the other hand, operates at all intervals simultaneously. Our existence, as we see it, is an illusion.

"We are spirit having human experiences not the other way around."

A starving child, longing for food, has no clock to measure the movement of the sun and the earth around their shared center of mass. Looking down from my high-rise in Chicago I often look over the hundreds of people mulling about on the beach, each existing from a particular point, their own universe if you will. A fly's eyes have hundreds of different facets. It is able to detect the briefest flickers of movement, perceiving reality under a completely different guise than we humans.The mind of an Alzheimer's patient cannot use the human construct of time. For such a person, the chronology of existence is broken, living without the element of time or memory to assist in formulating their reality. Time is an illusion, as is space.

There is a disconnect between our subjective impressions and observations of time and the universal time that can only be perceived by a god. In my work, I attempt to describe this using contemporary quantum theory as a general thesis or foundation. Having an understanding of the universal synchronicity that connects us at every scale of time and space will allow us to be more sensitive to our interconnected universe -- a cosmic Jello that is both sub-atomic and vast. Because its nature changes with the size of the phenomenon being observed and the observer, we must begin to realize that there are multiple universes or realities going on all the time.

Using quantum theory to prove the non-existence of God is not man's ultimate challenge. Indeed, in order to prove God did not exist, we would need to have the kind of universal, all-seeing perspective that only a god can possess. But we can refine our definition. We can use what we know to be true to formulate a new story that places us at the helm as we navigate the waters of life in the natural.

Why is this a crucial point for human kind to evolve?

As I reviewed ancient theological texts and cross-referenced them with modern quantum theory, the correlation became obvious. As I interviewed generations of Tibetan monks while at the Lama Temple in Beijing, China, it became evident that the life we live is the story we tell ourselves. Part of this story evolves from our consciousness, the way we see ourselves and the universe we live within. Jesus Christ, the Buddha, Lao Tzu, the Dalai Lama, Rumi, and other spiritual leaders are all pointing to a star that holds the answer for us manifesting the absolute best life that we can live while here in the natural. Quantum mechanics illustrates how God works, but only to a limited degree. Darwin started this process and gave us a foothold, but it is now up to us to expand our consciousness beyond the human constructs of time and space, beyond the materialistic perspective we have inherited.

What is the story you are telling yourself? How does this story keep you stuck, fearful, angry and arguing for more of the same? Why unendingly fight with your spouse or continue to fund a lawsuit that will get you nowhere in the end. Are you a beggar? Are you begging for the next life situation, person, or thing to maintain the illusion of happiness? Are you looking to others to make you happy? Do others need to change in order for you to be happy? Change this story to one that starts from gratitude, openness and love. Engage the universal energy that creates worlds from nothingness. Begin each human transaction by giving thanks and paying it forward. Watch how your life expands and you attract more and more of the same. Love begets love; positive thoughts manifest themselves in positive life situations. The opposite is also true. Observe your thoughts, be humble, be open, be gracious.

For more by Peter Baksa, click here.

For more on spiritual development, click here.

"Think Yourself Young" now for sale -- I discuss diet and meditational techniques according to the Tibetan Monks that I was able to interview living amongst them while at the Lama Temple in Beijing, China. These folks appear to be able to stop physiological time dead in its tracks, with the net result being a high-quality life beyond 120 years.

Peter Baksa has written The Point of Power and It's None of My Business What You Think of Me! available now on Amazon.

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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
jbs5022
06:17 PM on 06/08/2012
Why do people refer to having unfiended faith in God, "as religion ". Religion is a pagan ritual, unassociated with TRUE CHRISTIANITY. Christianity is not a religion. Religions of the world worship an object, a form or some idolistic figure. Christianity does not worship any of this, we worship God who is a Spirit....If scientist had God's Spirit, they could read the Bible and " see " the greatest part of God's creative values. From Genesis to Malachi, commonly called " The Old Testament ". Thats considered The Old Heavens and The Old Earth. They do not exist any more to God. From Matthew to Revelation, is The New Heavens and The New Earth. Each of these describe a beginning. The Old Earth, was physical creations that scientist study so hard at to prove God doesn't exist. The reality of those times had no opportunity for human resurrection. Into this new earth, we are given an opportunity to be born again. Not of the former seed of Adam and Eve, but of the latter seed of Christ Spiritually. Without His Spirit, none of this can be seen.
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jessjesskk
Benevolent Zombie Power
04:34 PM on 07/08/2012
you mean: assuming we believe in what HR Hubbard has written. Hmm sorry no this was St Thomas D'Aquin.... hmm not it was... hmmm who wrote this sutff?

I mean the book that nobody knows who wrote
researcher
researcher
04:35 PM on 05/30/2012
"but Physics speaks to the heart of the matter much more directly".

Indeed physics speaks to the heart of matter meaning materialism or better stated as scientific materialism.

The study of consciousness and awareness is the stuff of life, whereas scientific materialism is confusing an effect for a cause. ie in religious terms judging by appearances which both the religious and the materialism do on going.
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HUFFPOST BLOGGER
Peter Baksa
Author - The Point of Power
05:09 PM on 05/30/2012
"Indeed physics speaks to the heart of matter meaning materialism" As long as you believe this there is nothing further I can say to you. I can tell you Feynman, Einstein, Planck, would all turn over in their graves over such a statement. With all due respect, I would suggest that your thinking is limiting your ability to see the possibilities. So appreciate your participation - thank you. Peter
06:52 AM on 05/30/2012
The May issue of Scientific American has an interesting article about quantum physics with the quote from three leading researchers "quantum fluctuations of space and time are much more innocuous than we imagined". They are talking about new mathematical models that can make predictions without depending on analyzing every possible quantum outcome. "In special cases, we can make theoretical predictions with perfect precision, which would take infinitely many diagrams and an infinite amount of time with Feynman techniques." It makes you wonder whether some quantum concepts like virtual particles are real at all. The nature of physical reality is very strange and complex, but is it really "mysterious" in the sense that it is not caused and rational? Why are we doing the science at all if we aren't convinced that it is caused and rational? The Q word is a favorite of those who wish to obfuscate the implications of caused and rational for our existential being, but doing so adds very little to our understanding. I don't disagree with the sentiment of the article, but only with the claim that quantum physics has any relevance at all to our immaterial experience of us being us.
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HUFFPOST BLOGGER
Peter Baksa
Author - The Point of Power
09:23 AM on 05/30/2012
I would suggest that it is both mysterious, caused and rational. I would also posit without hesitation that Quantum Physics is absolutely the language we should use to discuss immaterial experience - God etc.. If not, why bother, if you ask me. Lets just stay in the schoolhouse playground and be taught parables like the ancient sheep herders who studied this topic. This works as well but from a different perspective that is all well and good for others. See Plato's Cave if you want to explore it from a philosophical perspective. This method works for me as well, but Physics speaks to the heart of the matter much more directly.
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whirlpool
founder walnut tree congregation
11:45 PM on 05/29/2012
"As I reviewed ancient theological texts and cross-referenced them with modern quantum theory, the correlation became obvious." Really! I have reviewed the Bible looking for science in it a number of times. (I think the Bible qualifies as an ancient theological text among other things.) But alas I can find no science in it and certainly no equations to correlate with modern quantum theory which after all is elucidated by mathematics. In fact the Bible is a lousy science book--no graphs, no data tables, no illustrations, no equations. Sorry but it just doesn't wash Peter.
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HUFFPOST BLOGGER
Peter Baksa
Author - The Point of Power
09:04 AM on 05/30/2012
LOL - great to hear from you Whirlpool. I can always expect a straight answer. So science has to have graphs, data tables in order for IT to exist? I talk about Plato's Cave in next weeks article. I will look forward to your thoughts. Thanks for participating. Best, Peter
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whirlpool
founder walnut tree congregation
02:25 PM on 05/31/2012
What! The results of science are evidence and models. So yes graphs, data and equations are evidence of science at work. I cannot believe I have to explain that. There isn't any science in the Bible much less any quantum mechanics. Now if you want to argue that art often anticipates science metaphorically speaking (see Shlain Art and Physics) or that scientist/ poets like Loren Eiseley can use both science and poetry to portray nature, then we have something to talk about.
09:14 PM on 05/31/2012
Stars are Innumberable

Genesis 15:5 And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be.

Jeremiah 33:22 As the host of heaven cannot be numbered, neither the sand of the sea measured: so will I multiply the seed of David my servant, and the Levites that minister unto me.

Hebrews 11:12 Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, [so many] as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable.
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Just My Thoughts 2011
Life's but a walking shadow
09:12 PM on 05/29/2012
The word God represents a "being" that helps us to think beyond ourselves, and that the world isn't just about us as individuals. It is so easy for us to want to "serve ourselves", and to make sure that we put ourselves first. Believing is a God, takes the attention away from yourself, and onto what other peoples needs might be.
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HUFFPOST BLOGGER
Peter Baksa
Author - The Point of Power
09:30 AM on 05/30/2012
You are a reflection of God. You can only love another to the extent that you love yourself. In as such you have a responsibility to love your self and give to yourself first. As your cup runs over, you offer up the excess to the world. The more love you give yourself, the more abundance you attract and the more you have to give. Love yourself, and the rest will take care of itself. Thank you kindly for your commentary and readership. Best, Peter
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10:07 AM on 05/29/2012
It's cute and easy to jump to the conclusion of an all-powerful (omnipotent) deity that switches on and off atoms, molecules, and processes of natural selection but it is pure fantasy. By the way it’s Creationism and Intelligent Design: “designed by the Super consciousness of the super intellect”, why not call it by its name?
By the way, just what are the alleged attributes of this deity? Just what would be the Purpose of this creation? Would it be Complexity, or Intelligence? And, is the universe complex because it is intelligent, or is it intelligent because it is complex?
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french queen13
my beloved is mine and I am his
09:33 PM on 05/29/2012
Creationism is the young-earth idea, the disavowal of the universe's billions of years of history. It's not the same thing as saying there is/might be an intelligence behind those billions of years. Please don't assume that anyone not talking atheism is the same as some sort of young-earth fundamentalist, or any sort of religious literalist. It's not the case.
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12:04 AM on 05/30/2012
I understand your approach and agree that Creationsim, as such, is different because of the young earth aspect, but the concept of an "intelligence" of the universe sure is an echo of both Creationism and ID.I suppose it is because of a lack of better words for this transcendant something, "ce je ne sais quoi",  that we want to believe exists.
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Peter Baksa
Author - The Point of Power
09:10 AM on 05/30/2012
Very aptly stated queen. Einstein would agree with you, and even Richard Dawkins is willing to make room for the possibility of a God. Not the sort of God we find in the bible most likely but with similar if not identical qualities. Most likely not a humanized God. Humanizing God is like humanizing your dog by dressing it up in clothing and thinking it is human and not a dog. Very confusing for the dog.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/24/richard-dawkins-famous-atheist-god_n_1299752.html?fb_action_ids=319263448149654&fb_action_types=news.reads&fb_source=aggregation&fb_aggregation_id=288381481237582
magic215
Im not as dumb as i think!! wait what??
09:07 AM on 05/30/2012
Your point is well thought out (again) but i caution you there is much about are on bodies physical as well as heavenly that we do not know! This super deity we speak of could be so advanced we may yet or ever for that matter fully understand it! I believe you have answered you own question with the statement alleging that this
deity is both complex & intelligent; oh & as for calling god instead of an all powerful
force c'mon hell we just got monotheism like 2000 yrs ago!!!!!! btw my favorite god was
Posidon or Neptune!
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04:35 PM on 05/30/2012
Posiedon is not my favorite of the pantheon, because I get easily seasick. But he reigns over 70% of the globe and is the only Mer-Man I know of. Now that is cool.
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09:32 AM on 05/29/2012
To say that, “Reality operates at all intervals same-old-timeously”  and thus making “Our existence, as we see it, an illusion” (the author), is not quite right.
Reality is reality; it only appears like an illusion because of its inherent complexity.

It is not because we cannot perceive everything at the same time that time and space are not realities in their own right.
Though “there is a disconnect between our subjective impressions and observations of time”, “the universal time” can be perceived, though at a very small scale, by us. In any case science already allows for an understanding of “the universal synchronicity that connects us at every scale of time and space allowing us to be more sensitive to our interconnected universe”. This is not magic, nor evidence of some god.

In order to “refine our definition of god”, we need to think out of the constraining theories of religion. We need to understand, also, the difference between “Belief” and “Religion”.

Proving that god does not exist may not be man’s ultimate challenge but proving that many of our so-called truths about a god are skewed if not all together false, is much easier to do than most people think.
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Peter Baksa
Author - The Point of Power
08:17 PM on 06/04/2012
Check out this weeks article on Plato's Cave - wondering if I moved any closer to convincing you that our reality is an illusion. Thanks James for the thoughtful commentary.
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12:07 AM on 05/29/2012
Be not too proud to beg. Compared to some circumstances that demand we sell ourselves, begging can be the more honorable way. Think of all those who earn their bread by lying to their customers, imagining that they are winners when they take advantage of others. Watch the daily advertising to examine how little truth is told. A half-truth would be a marked improvement. Listen to our candidates who say whatever they believe they can get away with. It is always easier to lie than tell the truth. Perhaps we should then look with admiration upon those who openly beg. Maybe they are the only honest folk around.
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HUFFPOST BLOGGER
Peter Baksa
Author - The Point of Power
06:52 AM on 06/26/2012
I would say that most of us are beggars. With begging comes suffering - - that is all. I do not judge those that beg. I am only suggesting that there is another way. When one comes from spirit,from a place of love, compassion, grace, then one is leading from the helm and not looking outside for happiness. It is this evolved state that I am suggesting for those that do not know.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
PhilosopherJon
Don’t be mΣαη
09:02 PM on 05/27/2012
The story I keep telling myself, is about materialism. I am a student, just like everyone else, and I know so little. What I do know, though, is that there are certain, refined, methods of acquiring knowledge; knowledge that makes life meaningful. In this way, I wish to devote myself to learn more and more about the 'meanings' of life.
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soma77
Author, Speaker, Retreat Facilitator
04:02 PM on 05/27/2012
People have always quarreled about the word God, fought for it, died for it, lied for it, committed injustices for it, and oppressed people for it. We need to get away from fighting over a word and try to gain a presence or personal encounter with a living God in every person and thing. This living God can even be referred to as Pure Consciousness, Love, or Pure Energy. May people find the inner life and the active listening of the heart and soul so God ceases to be a word and becomes an experience. http://thinkunity.com
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Peter Baksa
Author - The Point of Power
09:31 AM on 05/29/2012
Thank you for the comment and the link. - Best, Peter
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09:42 AM on 05/29/2012
Experiences are not always a reality or at least not the same reality for everyone. Hot and Cold can be experienced very differently by different people and different beings, For some it can be a pleasant experience for others a very unpleasant one.
Why would you limit this (theses) experience to one god rather than to several? As for Pure Energy, some believers in a god say that one of his attributes is his zero energy state. They connect that with Pure Consciousness. So there are varied interpretaions of god(s) that certainly deserve some defining if not refining.
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soma77
Author, Speaker, Retreat Facilitator
01:35 PM on 05/29/2012
I feel those different experiences are why we have different Gods in description, but I feel all those descriptions are describing the one God or collective consciousness.
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Peter Baksa
Author - The Point of Power
02:04 PM on 05/29/2012
Sounds like you read the article and heard the message.....so appreciate your participating James. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. You will like next weeks - Plato's Cave analogy same topic.

Best,

Peter
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onlyThis
How do you free a bird from an empty cage?
03:41 PM on 05/27/2012
Maybe "God" isn't a who or a what. Maybe "God" isn't an it. Or maybe "God" just isn't. If every single thing in existence was the same color, with no variations, would we even be aware that that color exists? If something has nothing to contrast it with, nothing that it is not, can it be perceived?
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09:44 AM on 05/29/2012
Good point. And maybe there are several gods (giving variation) and then again, maybe there is none at all.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
onlyThis
How do you free a bird from an empty cage?
03:33 PM on 05/27/2012
Who or what is God? That's like asking how heavy green is, or what color a thought is. When you can directly see your own eyes, let me know.
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Peter Baksa
Author - The Point of Power
09:34 AM on 05/29/2012
Yes .... nicely put. Who is it that is reading the words in your comment? "It is I". Thank you for your readership. Best, Peter
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markgendala
A = Bx
01:08 PM on 05/27/2012
Thanks Peter - another friendly whine from Oz...

With respect, question "Who or What Is God?" - while grammatically correct and meaninigful,
is semantically invalid... How come? It misuses NOUN "God"

Let me give you an example -
Western Jurisprudence has long recognized the dangers of misusing the central idea that all
of its criminal proceedings hinge upon - the idea of "offence"
No "offence? Nothing to proceed with...

Yet in no Western court will you prior to conviction hear NOUN "offence" uttered on its own...
No, court procedure demands that "offence" be always qualified by Adjective "alleged" Why?

Proto-humans and eventually humans mastered the Earth by supermiposing upon it lingustic
order based on assuming that NOUNS needed to name the features of the environment must
represent FACTUAL "things, entities, occurrences and phenomena"

Consequently, had NOUN "offence" been used on its own, it could create in the minds of the
jurors an involuntary impression that whatever the accused is being charged with represents
an already established FACT. Just imagine the extra prisons we would have to build...

I suggest that to be semantically valid, your question ought to read - If the 'hypothesis of God'
could be valid in principle, then would its 'alleged figurehead' correspond to a 'who' or a what'?

Regards
Mark Gendala

P.S. The little project I mentioned to you and Jesper is finally on Kindle. My web designer has
never done Kindle before, but I'm sure it'll work out in the end.
cosmicdart
paragon of paradigms
05:12 PM on 05/27/2012
What reproducible laboratory event does the three letter combination "G-o-d" refer to? Without an empirical referent this three letter combination can't be a word at all, just three letters. Unless a referent for this random array of letters is supplied the Bible makes no sense at all being that it's composed of non-words. Once this referent is supplied then I may act on it in terms of doubt, disbelief, or belief. It's not up to me to invent an imaginary referent by using my creative imagination cuz it would just be my imagination at work guided by my ego. "G-o-d" needs to become a word to be understandable, but it isn't a word yet.
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markgendala
A = Bx
01:42 AM on 05/28/2012
Thanks cosmicdart,

No need for laboratory experiments... Provided it corresponds to a definition
which is grammatically correct and meaningful, creating a NOUN is as easy
as picking your nose -

EXAMPLE -
Imagine a vision explaining all that's GOOD and BAD in the world... "It is all
caused by a split-personality supernatural entity that unpredictably commits
evil - than tries to compensate for it acts of goodness" That is your definition.
(BS of course - but who cares)

How do you sell it... You MUST first condense it into a NOUN - the semantic
entity which humanity intuitively connects with naming all the FACT about its environment.
Well, you invent NOUN "Gosat" - combining "God" and "Satan" into one word.

Now - once a NOUN endows your BS vision with the appearance of factuality,
you can try making a buck out of it.

Regards
Mark
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french queen13
my beloved is mine and I am his
09:36 PM on 05/29/2012
I suppose L O V E isn't a word either, since it's not reproducible in a laboratory. Talk about a reductionist take on life.
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Peter Baksa
Author - The Point of Power
01:51 PM on 05/28/2012
Always great to hear from you Mark. Congratulations and thanks for participating here. Warmest regards, Peter
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markgendala
A = Bx
10:43 PM on 05/28/2012
Thanks Peter, appreciate your kind words.
Mark.
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SKSagar
Superconsciousness switched on the bigbang
10:38 AM on 05/27/2012
Yes they have been designed…. These purposeful beings …. These collection of atoms… that jump, mate, run and think….designed by the Super consciousness of the super intellect…. That switched on the big bang…. And the ultimate quality selected - at the programming stage - in the evolution process by natural selection, was not just the ability to escape from enemies and reproduce, but the ability to understand and that understanding includes what is life and the universe.
Peter …. You have a positive approach to life … and your writings have `Positivity` in abundance …that gives the readers a certain `Feel good factor`
Will come back with some more
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Peter Baksa
Author - The Point of Power
01:52 PM on 05/28/2012
Thanks for the thoughtful commentary - great to hear from you SK.....Best, Peter
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