The God Delusion
I went back to my meditation class on Saturday. I was a bit concerned, as we had been told that we would learn how to commune with God.
I was brought up in a household where organised religion was viewed as particularly unsavoury. My father used to keep Jehovah’s Witnesses standing on the doorstep while he tried to convert them to atheism. When my sister, at the age of ten, expressed an interest in attending the local Sunday school, my father was so upset that my mother had to calm him down by telling him it was just a phase she was going through.
I know that I’m clearly a product of my upbringing, but I am in my thirties now, and I think I have been old enough for some considerable time to mull the matter over, and decide for myself what I believe, and I simply don’t believe that there is a god.
Occasionally, people will suggest to me that it is thus impossible for me to have a moral compass. I mean, how could I possibly know right from wrong if I haven’t got God to guide me? And you know? They’re absolutely right. During the day, I might seem like a mild, relatively good-humoured* development worker, trying to do a little bit to make a positive difference, but at night I rampage around the city, skewering babies on spikes, tearing the heads off defenseless chickens and drinking the blood of virgins until it runs down my chin.
So you can understand why I was somewhat nervous about the thought of actually communing with God.
I’m comfortable with my lack of belief. It doesn’t mean I believe in absolutely nothing – I still remain convinced I communicated with my father’s ghost in a book shop once, and I do believe in reincarnation. I like the idea that I am in essence an immortal soul, that my body is merely an instrument for me to use while I’m here, pottering through my daily life. It makes me want to look after it a bit better, so it doesn’t break down and have to be hauled off to the garage for a bit of tweaking.
I’m just not sure how I feel about being told that god is a pulsating blob of orange light who lives in a third dimension, dispatching hapless souls off to the physical world for sadistic reasons of its own as if it is an incontrovertible truth.
It’s all just a little bit weird.
*good-humoured when Kenny G is not playing on our receptionist’s computer. I don’t know where she got it from. It’s torture.
March 5th, 2007 at 9:05 pm
- I have the same problem with James Blunt. Obviously not in a ‘don’t know whether he exists’ sort of way because unfortunately I am fairly sure he does – but in a ‘he rubs the keen edge off my good humour’ sort of way…
March 6th, 2007 at 12:29 pm
I have never communed with god, but I did once commute with him. It was very uncomfortable, because he was one of those men who sits with his legs really far apart, thus compromising my seating space. He also kept jabbing me in the ribs every time he turned the page of his newspaper (The Telegraph, if you’re interested).
March 6th, 2007 at 12:37 pm
Penfold, I’m slightly embarassed to admit that I really don’t have a problem with James Blunt. I think I am the only person writing on the internet who can listen to his songs without having a brain haemorrage. Does this make me crazy? Am I sick?
Citizen Sane, I always thought that God seemed like that sort of person. Particularly the Telegraph. Although I’m sure Daily Mail readers like to think he’s one of theirs.
March 6th, 2007 at 12:50 pm
if there is a God then why is he allowing peolpe to torture you with Kenny G? ask him that when you chat.
March 6th, 2007 at 2:13 pm
Maybe listening to Kenny G, the pope of elevator music, could take you directly to god’s floor.
You should ask the receptionist.
March 6th, 2007 at 2:32 pm
Hello Amanda! Why did he even create Kenny G, I shall ask. Why? Why?
Uncle Did, no no no no no no no. No Kenny G. Not ever. If God likes Kenny G, I ain’t goin’ up there.
March 6th, 2007 at 3:36 pm
how surreal. wasn’t sure i knew who kenny g was, so checked out his website, and not only does he look quite biblical, you can listen to his very own rendition of ‘you’re beautiful’.. which incidentally is terrible, much more terrible than james blunt’s version. there’s something spooky going on here. like a clue from 3, 2, 1. hope i don’t end with dusty bin.
ps i’m quite partial to a bit of blunt too. once ‘you’re beautiful’ made me cry, but only in a son just out of hospital, lucky to be alive moment, two summers ago
March 6th, 2007 at 3:52 pm
Oh my god – the website. I just had a look and it’s just so wrong. And his new album – “I’m in the mood for love – the most romantic melodies of all time”? Already unbearably cheesy tunes mutilated for money. It’s a travesty.
March 6th, 2007 at 11:19 pm
How strange it is. I am pretty sure God exists. And if He does, I want to. I wonder how people end up with such different views. I don’t think this precludes people having moral values who don’t believe this. Sadly I can’t comment on the musical references because I haven’t heard of them.
March 6th, 2007 at 11:43 pm
[...] Original post by Rachie [...]
March 7th, 2007 at 5:35 am
Africa is rife with the Xtian deity.
March 7th, 2007 at 7:22 am
If i did infact read that Kenny G. is covering James Blunt songs – I’m fairly sure there is no god – but rather we all exist in a terrible hell ruled by demons.
March 7th, 2007 at 1:56 pm
Hi Martin, I’m glad you don’t think I’m morally bankrupt because I’m an atheist. But you should really avoid Kenny G. I’m telling you for your own good.
Jennifer – the world is rife. With all sorts of deities.
Ann – If Kenny G is covering James Blunt, then it must be so.
March 12th, 2007 at 6:49 am
Oh my, I had forgotten all about that! Mum was right though, it was just a phase