A DISCUSSION OPENER
Fri July 30 -- Each Friday on this Facebook page I offer a bit of my personal thinking on a topic of my interest or concern, and I open the subject for discussion. Here’s this week’s discussion opener:

Let's talk about God.

Most people don't like to talk about God, because they're afraid that talking about God will lead to disagreements. And, in truth, it probably will, because not everyone has the same thoughts about God. Not everyone shares the same ideas. And so, we are told not to talk about God (or politics) in polite company. Talking about God is not polite.

But is it our different ideas that are impolite, or is our inability to disagree nicely where the impoliteness comes?

Wouldn't it be wonderful if we could talk about the most important part of life--our relationship with ourselves, with each other, and with the Divine--without coming to unpleasantry? Isn't that the whole point of believing in a God, anyway?

I mean, wasn't God supposed to bring peace into our lives, and joy? So how has it come to pass that the topic of God has brought us so much sadness, and even violence?

I have an answer for that. Or at least I would like to propose one...you know, for discussion. Do you think we could discuss it? I mean, is this polite?

I have an idea that one reason the topic of God has brought us to so much sadness, and even violence, is because our understanding of God may be incomplete.

I have this thought that maybe, just maybe, there is something left to uncover here, something left to know, and that the uncovering and the knowing of this could change everything.

Science keeps uncovering things all the time. Scientists understand that the moment they think they know everything about something, in that moment they close off the future. All possibility for a brighter tomorrow ends--because the knowing of everything means that we can't go any further than we are right now. Humanity has reached the peak. New Science can take never take us "beyond" where we are today, because there IS no "beyond."

But, of course, that is not true, and scientists know it.

Medicine keeps uncovering things all the time. Medical researchers understand that the moment they think they know everything about something, in that moment they close off the future. All possibility for a brighter tomorrow ends--because the knowing of everything means that we can't go any further than we are right now. Humanity has reached the peak. New Medicine can take never take us "beyond" where we are today, because there IS no "beyond."

But, of course, that is not true, and medical researchers know it.

Technology keeps uncovering things all the time. Technologists understand that the moment they think they know everything about something, in that moment they close off the future. All possibility for a brighter tomorrow ends--because the knowing of everything means that we can't go any further than we are right now. Humanity has reached the peak. New Technology can take never take us "beyond" where we are today, because there IS no "beyond."

But, of course, that is not true, and technologists know it.

Could it be possible that theology might also have something new to uncover?

I hope so. If it does not, then all possibility for a brighter tomorrow ends--because the knowing of everything means that we can't go any further than we are right now. Humanity has reached the peak. New Spirituality can take never take us "beyond" where we are today, because there IS no "beyond."

Yet, is that true? In the area of theology, have we truly reached the height of our awareness? Is there nothing new to uncover, not even a tiny bit of data about God that we do not have?

And if there is something we do not fully understand, how might we come to a fuller understanding? By refusing to talk about it in polite company?

I don't think so. My experience has shown that if we refuse to talk about it, we'll probably fight about it. Can that possibly be the more polite thing to do? No. So let’s talk about it. Politely. With civility. With respect for each other’s views.

Wait. Dare I say it?

With love. Let’s talk about it with love. If we can’t talk about GOD with love in our hearts, what can we talk about as members of a civilized society? So start your Discussion Group this week. Let’s talk about God!