'One God' Tattoo
Posted: Sun Aug 22, 2010 1:19 am
So I was out for a walk with a good friend of mine, in a pretty little Univeristy town not too long ago; and as we walked by a patio bar, she spotted a man with a tattoo on his shoulder, stating "One God".
We got into a disscussion over it; her being Pagan, me being an open minded Christian, and we came to the comclution, that the tattoo could be either very closed minded, or very open minded.
Was the owner of the tattoo wanting to tell the whole world, or at least whoever sees his shoulder, that there is only one God. One Choice for God. That there is only One TRUE God?
Was he Christian, Jewish or Muslim? Was he trying to say that only the God of Abraham exists, and there is no need to beleive in any other God, and if someone DID beleive in another God, they are wrong?
This belief is sharred by many. This belief has started wars...genocides. This belief has caused countless people to be killed, tortured, and eventually assimilated.
This belief is what gives organized religions a bad name. Its what makes people disslike organized religions.
It is an assumption, that causes people to fear and distrust many faithfull people.
Perhaps though...perhaps this fellow meant "One God" in a more profound way. Perhaps he meant that there is only One God, who wears many faces, and goes by different names.
Did he mean that he believes that that there is one God, who is...The God of Abraham, Ganesh, Zuess, the Earth Goddess. Perhpas he meant that this One God has had numerous manifestations that walked the Earth in various forms to teach various cultures its message in various ways?
People like Abraham, Moses, Jesus, Mohamud, Confusious, Krishna, Budha, the Goddess Bridgit, Mother Theresa, Ghandi, the Dali Lama, and Wayne Dyer (that last one was a joke!!)
This is more akin to what I myself believe.
Though, I tend persoanlly to enjoy the teachings of a Christian Church, I have no problems with the teachings of an Islamic Mosque, or a Bhudist Temple, or someone who makes offereings to a diety in accordnace with the placement of the moon or stars.
So, if someone says that there is only One God, are they saying, that anyone who doesn't believe in the same God the he/she believes in is wrong?
Or are they saying that there is only One God, and everyone is right.
No matter what God you believe in, you are right.
Whether it is a God of a major religion...an alternative religion, your own personal belief. Or even if you beleive in NO gods What-so-ever...that it was merely science, and a cosmic accident that caused the Universe and all its life.
We are ALL right.
Wouldn't it be fantastic if everyone believed this?
Wouldn't it be an incredible world to live in, where no matter what you believed, or what you DIDN'T beleive, you were right, in everyone's eyes?
There was NO wrong God?
ALL Gods, and ALL beliefs were correct, becuase, in some peoples eyes, there is only One God...and most of us STILL haven't got a clue who or what this One God is!!
We got into a disscussion over it; her being Pagan, me being an open minded Christian, and we came to the comclution, that the tattoo could be either very closed minded, or very open minded.
Was the owner of the tattoo wanting to tell the whole world, or at least whoever sees his shoulder, that there is only one God. One Choice for God. That there is only One TRUE God?
Was he Christian, Jewish or Muslim? Was he trying to say that only the God of Abraham exists, and there is no need to beleive in any other God, and if someone DID beleive in another God, they are wrong?
This belief is sharred by many. This belief has started wars...genocides. This belief has caused countless people to be killed, tortured, and eventually assimilated.
This belief is what gives organized religions a bad name. Its what makes people disslike organized religions.
It is an assumption, that causes people to fear and distrust many faithfull people.
Perhaps though...perhaps this fellow meant "One God" in a more profound way. Perhaps he meant that there is only One God, who wears many faces, and goes by different names.
Did he mean that he believes that that there is one God, who is...The God of Abraham, Ganesh, Zuess, the Earth Goddess. Perhpas he meant that this One God has had numerous manifestations that walked the Earth in various forms to teach various cultures its message in various ways?
People like Abraham, Moses, Jesus, Mohamud, Confusious, Krishna, Budha, the Goddess Bridgit, Mother Theresa, Ghandi, the Dali Lama, and Wayne Dyer (that last one was a joke!!)
This is more akin to what I myself believe.
Though, I tend persoanlly to enjoy the teachings of a Christian Church, I have no problems with the teachings of an Islamic Mosque, or a Bhudist Temple, or someone who makes offereings to a diety in accordnace with the placement of the moon or stars.
So, if someone says that there is only One God, are they saying, that anyone who doesn't believe in the same God the he/she believes in is wrong?
Or are they saying that there is only One God, and everyone is right.
No matter what God you believe in, you are right.
Whether it is a God of a major religion...an alternative religion, your own personal belief. Or even if you beleive in NO gods What-so-ever...that it was merely science, and a cosmic accident that caused the Universe and all its life.
We are ALL right.
Wouldn't it be fantastic if everyone believed this?
Wouldn't it be an incredible world to live in, where no matter what you believed, or what you DIDN'T beleive, you were right, in everyone's eyes?
There was NO wrong God?
ALL Gods, and ALL beliefs were correct, becuase, in some peoples eyes, there is only One God...and most of us STILL haven't got a clue who or what this One God is!!
Honesty -- I like that in a person.