Theos-Talk Archives (July 1998 Message tt00211)

Kym,

I'd like to compliment you on the following essay, and I'm really awestruck
that you are so capable of this list of pros and cons.  Boy, this internet
is great.  I don't feel like doing my own thinking so I just ask a question
and voila! the rationale appears.

I'd like to add to what I have been reading from Allan, Jake and yourself
and I'm hoping the conversation continues a while longer, because I could
really learn a lot. When we, as theosophists, make the statement that all
is life, even the mineral, it is conveying a "special circumstance" in a
way to the meaning of the word "life."  Life expands for the purpose of the
philosopher and contracts for the purpose of the scientist.

Well, it would have to be the same for the personalists in a way.  When we
conclude all forms are living, there is much cause for exception among
various people, and when we conclude that all "life" is making up living,
breathing, bodies of beings, whether Dhyan Chohans or Angels or Elohim,
something we might regularly call inanimate, becomes part of the body of a
being who is thinking, breathing, and animate.

I want to break here and refer to Allan's paper, so I'll meet you back in
"Advantages of Personal"

Brenda

>I agree, it is a "freedom" not to have to support the idea of a "personal
God."
>
>I think the idea of a personal God has behind it the same rationale as the
>concept of a "Devil."  These concepts provide opportunities for Someone to
>"blame," Someone to "talk" to, Someone to "intercede" on a human's behalf,
>and a way of making sense of the world.
>
>To do away with concepts of "personal Gods and other Beings" is to have to
>take complete and full responsibility for what one does - that can, and is,
>a very frightening thing.  Some individuals, I believe, do not yet have the
>"self-confidence" to cope with such "independence."
>
>I do not believe there is a real danger in believing in a personal God if it
>helps a person handle daily life - the danger comes with the attributes each
>person or society decides to give this personal God.  We then become
>entangled in wars of my "Personal God" is bigger and badder than your
>"Personal God."  Or, the "Devil tempted me - it's not my fault."
>
>The adage "Know a person's God, and you will know the person" is a truism.
>
>Bottom line:  Human psychology is a fruitful ground for concepts like a
>"personal God."  The concept of a "personal God" also helps keep people like
>"Church Fathers" or "prophets" in control and the misguided and frightened
>peoples in line.  Classic, really.

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