God of the universe and variety in the universe:As seen in the universe -- God of the universe seems to abound in variety and immensity.
(1) Immensity in space and time -- the universe is extremely large (possibly infinitely large) and time of its existence is extremely long (possibly forever into the past and forever into the future). Also, objects in the universe vary tremendously in size -- from the extremely small to the extremely large.
(2) There are an extremely large variety in kinds and sizes of large galactic structures in the universe, galaxies, stars, planets, moons (and possibly many other entities that have not been discovered yet). Over long periods of time these change -- evolution at various rates and possibly revolution are part of this variety.
There are a great variety of animals (including bacteria, viruses and possibly other entities not yet discovered) and plants -- past and present and other varieties in the future. Over various time periods these also change.
There are many varieties of geological structures on earth, other planets and on the moons.
There have been and are many different religions, philosophies, or belief systems that have survived, many for long time periods -- in groups of various sizes and by individuals. God of the universe seems to be fond of this variety. This includes the non-religious, atheists, agnostics, free-thinkers, or any other belief system proponents of a traditional religions abhor. God of the universe does not abhor these belief systems. Man, not God, creates religions and belief systems. God allows all of them, otherwise they would never come into being. Battles over belief systems are man- made, not God of the universe-made. Man, not God, has prejudices against another part of the universe -- which includes other belief systems. For people, this includes prejudice against race, colour, creed, sexual orientation, or anything else related to people.
God of the universe seems to have given people the responsibility to run their own life according to ethical standards. It is people that determine the kind of world they want to live in and what kind of God they believe or do not believe. (within Physical Laws of the universe -- Science is probably the best sources of information and can be a guide). God of the universe is big enough to include all these beliefs.
God:
My experience indicates that there is something within us that acts as a guide -- some people call this their God. For a person that does not believe in the existence of a God, this is still true. [If God exists (As you know one cannot prove or disprove that God exists) God must be big enough to accept as a person any person, including an atheist -- which means God is not biased towards certain people as some organized religious people would have us believe]. It is quite possible that God does not actually exist outside of our imagination -- and through evolution people have developed a genetic predisposition to consult with this internal guide -- everyone can still make use of this predisposition. The danger is that another person or group could control this predisposition if you allow them to. This is the reason I agree with Jesus in Matthew 6:5-7 that if one does pray it must be in private. Public prayer is suspect! If God exists only in your mind, experience indicates that discussing strategy, talking over problems, talking over concerns about certain others, considering ideas by talking them out with this "other" is effective and gives confidence in facing life's problems and concerns.
A "nothing experience can be very intense". Many intense religious experiences in all the different religions and intense non-religious experiences may only be mind experiences and do not give evidence their religion or belief system is true.
It seems as if each person has his own God or rather his own aspect of God (some may call this part of God a guardian angel, or anything else).
As long as you do not forcefully impose your beliefs on others and do not hurt others against their will by your beliefs they are acceptable to you and to God. To a universal God your belief system is your own. How you perceive God and what your belief system is may bother another person, but as long it covers the condition in the 1st sentence of this paragraph, it doesn't bother God.
One could find clues about another person's belief system by asking "How do you picture God?" (answer may be "no belief in God"), "How do you make decisions -- by planning, reasoning it out, imagination, etc.?", "How do see the universe -- run by descriptive laws, by probabilities?" -- scientific evidence indicate both are possible. "What kind of world do you want?"
A danger in all this is the tendency of a personal belief system to develop into a complicated system of beliefs that results in churches (or equivalent) -- which involves finances, theology that requires a clergy (religious experts), complications in beliefs, ritual, loss of freedom of thought, religion by proxy, and other evils. As soon as your belief system depends on others there is a danger of this kind of development. This does not mean you do not access other belief systems for ideas. Sometimes there is something that may be useful, even if it is embellished in a lot of useless ideas.An example of the above complication is in organized religion. These religions make beliefs too complicated and embellished with all kinds of useless extras -- in the relationship between a person and the person's God, the afterlife and ethics. There is nothing complicated in talking to God and admiring creation. KISS applies here -- Keep It Simple, Stupid.
Some basic reasons for keeping it simple:
(1) there is no proof or disproof that God actually exists -- a person is only feeling his way on this subject -- no belief system or person is an authority on the subject of God. If there is a God no belief system or person is an authority on the relationship between a person and that person's God.
(2) there is no proof or disproof of a hereafter -- a person is only feeling his way on this subject -- no belief system or person is an authority on the subject of the hereafter.
(3) the basis of ethics -- to make life as pleasant, satisfying and free- living for all, including yourself. To promote compassion (love), integrity (truth), freedom, joyousness, fairness, tolerance, responsibility, and respect for life. You will make mistakes, but you will likely learn from them. Good is to enhance human life, Evil is to threaten human life.
Superstitions:
There is also a tendency for a person to become "superstitious" in difficult situations (beliefs not usually believed, not based on good evidence, a belief without good foundation). These superstitions may help a person get through the situation and seem harmless, as long as it doesn't become more than this; especially with the help of others to become a part of the overall belief system. If the superstition aggravates the situation it is obviously not good, but this may be difficult to determine. The person can still benefit from a superstition as long as that person recognizes it as such and uses it only to make it through this situation. e.g. I have said sometimes "I've become superstitious in believing that ....... " -- I recognize it as a superstition, but it still helps.
Tolerance:
Freedom of belief is guaranteed if there are a great variety of beliefs or great variety of non-beliefs in a society (not just 2,3,4 or 5). This prevents one group of people from dominating the rest. Also, all belief systems should be given public access so that people can determine for themselves their belief system (A good place is on the Internet).
All belief systems {including my own} have certain principles that require a degree of faith. These principles may change with new evidence. As Jil McIntosh of Oshawa, Ontario wrote a letter in the Summer, 1993 edition of "Humanist in Canada":
"My ultimate goal should be living in harmony alongside, and without interference from, people, who do not believe as I do. I have the right to believe that Christianity is an out-dated myth, others that Christianity is an important part of their lives. What they do not have is the right to force their views upon me, with such things as prayers in school or council, censorship on reading materials, laws based on bible or political mandates based upon religion. If I can live in harmony beside a Christian who does not force his beliefs upon me {my comment -- or on others, including members of his family}, then I don't care if he believes that his god has 3 heads and talks to him over breakfast. [It is] suggested that we change Christians into Humanists. This attitude is no better than that of fundamentalists who hope to win all of us over to the bible, and just as pointless. Let us live in harmony without overpowering anyone; anything less puts us equal with those who seek to crush us." Jil states that all her beliefs could be boiled down to: "let everyone live their life as they see fit" {again not force beliefs on others).
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