MONDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2024 - ANCIENT MAN

 MONDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2024 - ANCIENT MAN

I wonder how ancient man considered their world. How did the concept of “"od”"come into their lives?

Maybe once they perfected the concept of fire, the wheel and wagons, and semi-permanent housing, they would sit around a fire in the evening, enjoying dinner, and somebody would say, "Where did we come from?”

I assume they grasped the idea of time, life, and death. In man's life, there is a beginning and an end—yet they could see the stars, experience the seasons, and experience heat and cold, rainy days and sunny days. They had no control over these things.

So, how did it happen?

I'm guessing that each tribe had an “"elder”" of some nature - probably an older man (since the males decided that women were only for sex and raising children). Maybe it was like the Native Americans with a “Great Spirit” " something so vast and far from themselves.

Over the centuries, there was folklore and, eventually, writing.

One such tribe, the Hebrews, created a God in their image (but, of course, used the term “m"n created in GoGod'smage”)." Their wise men, prophets, and seers tried aligning themselves with this "god "concept.”.This all-powerful entity created the universe in six days and rested on the seventh day. (Karen asks if God ever sleeps or needs rest.)

Once these Hebrews created their concept of God, they made the concept of man. Thus, we get the Hebrew/Jewish/Christian idea of creation.

I’m guessing that most (all?) cultures created similar concepts. Maybe it was the Sun God, the Rain God, and multiple other Gods (like the Greeks or Egyptians).

This God was so far removed from them - but most cultures made their God to be supreme in their eyes.

*****

As I write, I’m listening to Handel's Messiah music. I have embraced Christian concepts (generally) and, with many doubts, accept a loving, merciful, forgiving creator. I don’t know enough to go beyond this—and growing up in a Christian home, this was reasonable. I know others who might have similar backgrounds but have found other experiences of “God” to"be "meaningful to them.

God is still beyond me, and with that as my foundation, I try to develop an internal philosophy of love. Some believe their “God” spoke with them and maybe gave them their writings (or scriptures).

But then, the cultures created a story that this “God” was" the one and only real “God” and" loved their culture and people. And that other cultures and people who had a different “God” weren't worthy of “his” (her?)." Love. So, they took over a territory, killed the inhabitants there, and made it their own (until they were conquered).

We cheer “We’re number one” at sporting events. The Fire Ants granny basketball team can also cheer, “We’re number one,” as we have gone undefeated (in three matches) in the pre-season schedule.

*****

Because of my culture and upbringing, I have chosen to be a Christian. Thus, I have adopted the Bible as my religious reference. I tend to disregard much of the Old Testament as irrelevant to me. (Last week, I started 1 Chronicles with family histories of the twelve tribes of Israel—not all that relevant to me.)

I have experienced what Christians call “the Holy Spirit” and, with that, the Gifts of the Spirit, such as healing, prophecy, and even speaking (and praying) in tongues. In my current Sunday experience (aka “Church”), after" scripture is read,” we pronounce “God is "still speaking.

I focus on the concepts of LOVE and forgiveness. One of the supporting concepts for my acceptance comes from 1 John 4:7-12:

“Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God loved us so much, we should also love one another. No one has ever seen God, but if we love one another, God lives in us, and his love is complete in us.”

I accept that love is a concept and acknowledge that I, as a human being, am to LOVE others (all others).

This week, a look at some of the Messiah texts and music.

LOVE WINS

LOVE TRANSFORMS

Karen Anne White, December 16, 2024