From God Or From Self?

It seems backing one's agenda with God is essentially masking ego, or at least attempting to do so. For what is the difference in saying my opinions and convictions dictate my behavior and beliefs versus God's opinions and convictions doing so?

Many will of course say the difference is obviously that one set of opinions and convictions stems from self whereas the other set of opinions and convictions stems from God. But then why are all opinions and convictions from God not in agreement?* Presumably because they are not from God. They are from self!

In this way, it could be said that God's opinions and convictions only ever stem from any given person's ideas of what God's opinions and convictions should be. Which of course will be whatever the ego sees fit!


*Perhaps God DOES allow us to be mistaken? However, does it not seem those that acknowledge this seldom concede they themselves could be mistaken? How then are we to know who of us is mistaken and who is not?

The Matrix

Imagine, as many do, that there exists a God with an agenda of some sort. Might this be construed as a form of coercion and manipulation? If not, why should it be anymore construed as coercion and manipulation if everything was created to serve an earthly ruling order? What is the difference?

Many will claim the difference is that a world controlled by God is divinely inspired whereas a world controlled by human beings “wanting” to coerce and manipulate, unconsciously even, would not be divinely inspired. Hence the reason this would seem evil.

But even in the case of God, there is no consensus as to what is or should be the world's “divine” path to follow, obfuscating that which might be considered divine.

Does God aspire to create a conformed or tolerant society? Does He prioritize human beings or ecological balance? Does He embrace self-reliance or dependence on Himself and perhaps others? Does He advocate capitalism or socialism? There is no consensus on Who God is or at least Who He should be. Therefore, it is hard to imagine how a being thought to be divine could actually be so.

Many argue passionately how God “sees” things yet often find little common ground with one another. Who, if anybody, might be right? There is no way to know. If it is the ego which makes our convictions absolute and “divine”, then everybody can be right in spite of opposing views!

Once again, it is easy to see the immutable principle behind this: much in life is a zero-sum game. In any given situation or policy, it is likely somebody will win and somebody will lose. Many things are the way I like. Many other things are not. In the end, I find peace and joy accepting both the things I like and the things I don't.