There was an interesting article printed in USA Today, titled “How America sees God,” on October 7th. The content is based on a new book, “America’s Four Gods: What we say about God—and what that says about us,” by Paul Froese and Christopher Bader.
After extensive surveys and interviews, the authors categorized American’s view of God into 4 categories:
1. Authoritative God
2. Benevolent God
3. Critical God
4. Distant God
and then they explain how an individual’s view of God shapes their opinions, values, actions and beliefs.
For any of you who think other people see God the same way you do, the piece is quite an eye-opener!
After studying the date, you being to see that when another person refers to “God,” they could be talking about a whole different kind of deity than you’ve ever imagined.
This is important information to digest if you want to get on the same wavelength with other people when talking to them about God. What you say and what they hear could be quite the opposite of what you think.
This was very interesting!
I recently joined a book group from a friend’s church– mostly to learn better how to express my spiritual beliefs with those who are not CS as well as understanding how they see God.
We got totally stuck in a discussion the other night but now I see why!
We couldn’t get past the different views of God we held.
Very helpful!
Years ago I heard that if your human father were someone you didn’t like, then to call God “Father” might be a difficult concept for you.
We have to define terms and be sure that when we use a name for God, like Father, the other person holds the same view of a father that we do (hopefully, loving provider and giving, etc.)
That was very helpful to me through the years.
Thanks for the link and your comments, Evan.
In our entire human history, the Wisest Ones to have lived on this planet have given us the best concept of God. One, Christ Jesus. His words and his life say so much to all who have come after him: God is, must be, Love! And Love must be intelligent Mind. And Mind must be divine Principle, Life, Truth, Spirit, Soul! (These last synonyms were given to mankind by another Wise One: Mary Baker Eddy.)
What’s more, God’s concept of US must be LIKE Him. So, we can reason that anything UNLIKE this concept must not be
US!!
Whew!
:<))