If there is a God...why is there...

[sentinent]

As advised by another poster, this post deserves a pot of its own. Something that's been niggling at me for a while now; for those who believe (or even not believe) in the existence of God/a higher power, (I firmly do believe btw), how do we explain children in pain, suffering, getting terminal diseases or being killed??

"But I guess putting yourself in an altered state of consciousness purposely rather than accidentally carrys more or different benefits, usually around interaction and intention."

@OMG12
But if a person is connected in harmonious unity with the Divine/God intention becomes a bit of a moot point. Whose intention? And if it happens in a way more akin to instinct is that lesser? Surely, in one way, it is superior as it excludes ego. It's being truly 'in flow'.

They are two different things in my book though. I guess that the magician in me.

i look at it this way. One is always sitting there waiting for the telephone call the other is picking up the phone yourself when you need or want to have that conversation. There’s no reason to just have one. Yes you can wonder through afield and have an argument with a thistle if you happen to stumble across one or you can put yourself in a state where you make direct contact when it suits.

Both are perfectly valid. I have had many a moment walking through a wood and suddenly hit by the oneness of everything. But I’ve had some incredible experiences whilst in a purposive altered state of consciousness

"i look at it this way. One is always sitting there waiting for the telephone call the other is picking up the phone yourself when you need or want to have that conversation. There’s no reason to just have one. Yes you can wonder through afield and have an argument with a thistle if you happen to stumble across one or you can put yourself in a state where you make direct contact when it suits."

@OMG12 if a person is in true unity there needn't be a phone call. Every thought occurs in communion. Divinity is present continuously regardless of someone purposely striving for an 'altered state'. Simply acknowledging this and having faith in this is enough. The state does not need to be altered when it already is.

I guess we’re going to have to agree that we both want different things out the process and therefore different approaches are more suitable for each of us.

"I guess we’re going to have to agree that we both want different things out the process"

@OMG12, how you think what we want is different?

Because I require a more active involvement with things beyond my consciousness 😄

@OMG12, and you think I don't? In seeking unity with God through faith in Christ I am actively involved with the divine which (until complete unity is reached) is beyond my full consciousness (although I do see continually see in part).

How can 'an involvement' be more active than that?

Well how do you plan to achieve that unity beyond your consciousness through faith in Christ? What does that mean and look like to you?

"Well how do you plan to achieve that unity beyond your consciousness through faith in Christ? What does that mean and look like to you?"

@OMG12
I can simply pray and ask for God to change me according to His will, in order for me to be in complete unity with Him and His wishes. And I can faithfully believe this prayer will be granted as it asks for God's will to be done. 🙂

"What does that mean and look like to you?"

@OMG12

That I become more and more like Jesus.

Well prayer is a form of meditation and a form of altered conscious

You already are

This is horrible! It sounds like you're basically saying that it's good that your first nephew died because your second nephew is doing great things. I'm not sure the parents see it like this.

"Well prayer is a form of meditation and a form of altered conscious"

@OMG12, well it's all in the definition then. But then again I've been praying for nearly as long as I can remember. So altered from what? Now, I pray as I think. Throughout the day. So again is my consciousness flipping continuously?

"You already are"

Thank you. He is in me but I am not so bold to say it is impossible for me to stray from time to time. I am not yet perfected!😁

Well I guess you have a different mindset when you’re praying to when you’re driving along the street )at least I hope so😃).

Maybe you are constantly flipping when praying . But meditation can take many forms. When you’re praying you are consciously setting aside time to step out of the mundane to create a connection with God.

Of course you’re already perfect, you’re just on a journey of realising it.

"Of course you’re already perfect, you’re just on a journey of realising it."

@OMG12 interesting perspective. In terms of a linear time frame I see the perfect unity with God as being present more in terms of potential - not fully reached yet. It is present as an ultimate function yet not necessarily fully operational in this present moment. We can grow into it. You're right that there is a journey there and I believe the ultimate destination is perfect harmonious unity with God. 🙂

Well that’s a whole new conversation- is time linear? What is time anyway? Has potential always already been realised, it just takes our rational minds something to catch up with true reality?

@OMG12,

"Well that’s a whole new conversation- is time linear? What is time anyway? Has potential always already been realised, it just takes our rational minds something to catch up with true reality?"

Indeed. 🙂

Interesting discussion. I don't think we are perfect, rather we need to reincarnate on the earth or on different planes we strive to become more like the immortal gods.
In my day to day life I perform rituals and ask for good things like money, health as I enjoy and appreciate this beautiful world.
I also perform divination; this is also active engagement with the gods.

@QueenHippolyta, do you get a sense of unity / oneness complete harmonious connection with what you understand as 'immortal gods'? Is there unity between these gods? As I am Christian, I believe in one God and yet He manifests within the trinity which works in total and complete unity. Go further and there are Saints and Angels which again work in harmonious unity with God. I believe Jesus is 'the way,' but if something/someone is with him, the same, stands for what he stands for- then that's unity isn't it?

@QueenHippolyta as an aside, a few years ago I did read one creepy but very interesting book once which had a central character that essentially reincarnated. However, it was more akin to possession of innocent people because when one of their host bodies was getting old and infirm instead of experiencing death they looked for a new host to completely possess. They had lived for centuries that way. Can't remember the end. I suppose one possibility could be they fell in love and then accepted the end of their mortal life. I'll have to re-read it.

"Of course you’re already perfect, you’re just on a journey of realising it."

@OMG12, it just came to me the word 'realised' is very interesting. It could be taken to mean 'make real...'🙂

It was used in a dual purpose way😀

Interesting, surely we’re all The Fool at the beginning and the end? Maybe we look at it differently after the journey?

I guess we might have similar practices but I look at it this way, we’re all divine already we just sometimes don’t act that way