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I was taught that God was an invisible man living in the sky, or possibly “everywhere” aka omnipresent. It seemed to depend on the latest sermon or Bible passage.
Scripture says that Ezekiel saw something like a platform supporting God’s throne, and on the throne was “a likeness with the appearance of a man” (Ezekiel 1:26).
He went on, “From the appearance of His waist and upward I saw, as it were, the color of amber with the appearance of fire all around within it; and from the appearance of His waist and downward I saw, as it were, the appearance of fire with brightness all around” (verse 27).
We may get a clearer image of this spectacular scene by reading it in the New International Version. It renders this verse, “I saw that from what appeared to be his waist up he looked like glowing metal, as if full of fire, and that from there down he looked like fire; and brilliant light surrounded him.”
Ezekiel related that mind-blowing sight—God and His heavenly entourage—as best he could with the vocabulary available to him. From the description he managed to convey, it becomes obvious why God expressly forbids reducing Him to a mere physical, artistic representation (Exodus 20:4-6). No one can box the glory of Almighty God into a picture frame or carve it into some rock. That’s blasphemy.
Certainly the Bible tells us that God lives in the sky. The Old Man part probably came because they had to make him look like something or somebody. Some people say he looks like Charlie Heston, others George Burns. Could be Boris Karloff, Guy Kibbie... Could be anybody.
I certainly don't. Where did that idea come from anyway, and how did that idea start? Does the old man have a white beard and look like Charlton Heston who played Moses in the movies? I think God is energy
The idea was generated from the Bible which says that Adam, the first man, was made in God's image. The inference is that God is therefore a bipedal, upright walking man with opposable thumbs and two eyes, like the rest of us. It is counter intuitive, but that is the inference. Since God has existed forever, he is depicted as an old man for human understanding, which can't otherwise conceive of God as a shapeless energy life force.
I certainly don't. Where did that idea come from anyway, and how did that idea start? Does the old man have a white beard and look like Charlton Heston who played Moses in the movies? I think God is energy
The image of god as an old man in the sky really took hold during the Renaissance, specifically with Michelangelo's depiction in the Sistine Chapel. There had been images before this of god at various ages but Michelangelo's Creation of Adam cemented the old man with the beard version into Christian culture .
I certainly don't. Where did that idea come from anyway, and how did that idea start? Does the old man have a white beard and look like Charlton Heston who played Moses in the movies? I think God is energy
The age and white beard more likely represents knowledge and wisdom.
The impulse to worship Divinity, energy, the unmanifest, requires an object of worship. That object can range from a clump of sandalwood paste to represent Ganesha (as in worship in Hinduism) to icons and paintings to represent power, wisdom, love and mercy. This representation can be God, a supreme being and it can also represent the Divinity, Atma, the Self that resides within.
The age and white beard more likely represents knowledge and wisdom. The impulse to worship Divinity, energy, the unmanifest, requires an object of worship. That object can range from a clump of sandalwood paste to represent Ganesha (as in worship in Hinduism) to icons and paintings to represent power, wisdom, love and mercy. This representation can be God, a supreme being and it can also represent the Divinity, Atma, the Self that resides within.
Not for a Jnani.
Granted that is a difficult path for one not so inclined by nature and nurture.
BTW, the original "god" in Judaism, Christianity is offshoot off, has no imaging. Just like in Islam, picturing "god" is blasphemy.
Also, "god" as and old man with white beard was depicted as such way before Michelangelo. East Roman empire was full of such images.
CB is right. Simple minds need an "object" of worship, not some vague philosophical concept, understood only by scholars. Human mind is very substantial, so to speak, as that's its function - junction between the physical and "spiritual" components of a human being. That need for objectification of "god" is fulfilled in all kinds of imagery and religious tokens, sold to public. Besides, it's rather a very profitable business.
Granted that is a difficult path for one not so inclined by nature and nurture.
Does’nt a Jnani aknowledge the Divinity within? We experience duality while IN advaita. Cant help it as long as we have the body and mind
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