Can we touch God?
-
The interesting thing about Islam is, that its the only 'religion' I can think of that tries to prevent people from becoming too attached to this material world with objects and visual signifiers. Buddhism tries, but fails as Buddha himself (or statues signifying him) has become an idol for the followers. As long as there are idols we cannot be free of this world.
So your question does not pose much trouble to a Muslim, as touching is something material and restricted to this world. I guess you could say we can touch God spiritually, when you're on the straight path you are protected by God from the front and back, you have His promise, 'He' is all encompassing, so you can say you are more than touching God you are being overwhelmed by 'Him'.
The word 'Him' is another obstacle to get past, you cant help but think of a masculine male orientated entity, but honestly, it just feels better than typing 'It' because then God becomes something less than living and more of an inanimate thing, so 'He' is the best we can do I guess. And 'He' was used in Arabic as the Quran was delivered so I'm sure God will excuse us for referring to Him in this way.
Islam is an amazing system of living, a way of life, and its amazing because it really demands from the believer to free their minds totally and embrace abstract things. How can you submit to something you cant see, hear or touch? People rely on icons such as crosses, stars, cube structures, or people such as the messengers, to connect in some way with something tangible, they want to bring God to them, when it is not that easy. You have to go to God, and it is not done in icons and idols, its done within, you have to accept that human beings cannot comprehend the Unseen, you just have to accept that, its not easy, but life aint easy!
Embrace abstract thoughts, live your life the way God wants. I think thats how you 'touch' God. As for when we die, thats a whole different story as we change into something else entirely, and I'm sure we'll be closer to God than we are now, so no worries.
-
Peace be upon you Dell,
How can you touch THAT which does the touching? wink
(817) ...and you did not throw when you threw, and but The God threw...
Imagine one light shining through different colored window panes, you are asking the different colors of this side of the panes if they can "touch" the light which permeates both sides of the colored panes.
-
Peace be upon you Beatnik,
The interesting thing about Islam is, that its the only 'religion' I can think of that tries to prevent people from becoming too attached to this material world with objects and visual signifiers
I would strongly disagree. All "religions" aim towards that goal, but those that have no understanding of ONENESS usually teach those "religions".
. Buddhism tries, but fails as Buddha himself (or statues signifying him) has become an idol for the followers. As long as there are idols we cannot be free of this world.
Buddhism cannot be held accountable for what its followers invent. That would be like us saying that the "islam" fails because the Sunni's have mad "muhammad" an idol.
So your question does not pose much trouble to a Muslim
My position is that the word "muslim" is not a Proper noun, so no need to capatalize it, just a reminder.
, as touching is something material and restricted to this world. I guess you could say we can touch God spiritually, when you're on the straight path you are protected by God from the front and back, you have His promise, 'He' is all encompassing, so you can say you are more than touching God you are being overwhelmed by 'Him'.
The word 'Him' is another obstacle to get past, you cant help but think of a masculine male orientated entity, but honestly, it just feels better than typing 'It' because then God becomes something less than living and more of an inanimate thing, so 'He' is the best we can do I guess. And 'He' was used in Arabic as the Quran was delivered so I'm sure God will excuse us for referring to Him in this way.
Yes, we have many things to UNLEARN. D
I agree with the rest of what you said very well.
-
Peace be upon you Dell,
My thinking is not that way anymore. I no longer "envision" the God to be an object anymore. When I hear "The God", I think of ALL THINGS, All consciousness, THAT which percieves.
-
Peaace Dell,
My question to you is what exactly do you expect to see? A material entity? Even if God were to be seen as pure light, this would be limiting to this universe. Does light exist outside of this universe? If not, then how can God be represented through it? Wanting to see something tangible I believe is how idolworship started. In my opinion we see God everyday in ourselves, in everything within this universe, it is all part of God, but is not all God is. God cannot be limited by anything within this universe. A very hard topic to cover, as most of what we say in this regard is conjecture.Peace
-
I would strongly disagree. All "religions" aim towards that goal, but those that have no understanding of ONENESS usually teach those "religions".
Well isnt Islam the only religion that forbids any holy figures to be represented at all? Doesnt that count for anything and mark out Islam away from the others as a radical way of reorganising the way a person perceives an Allmighty Creator? Of course the current state of Islam fails too, what with the cube in Mecca, but I'm talking about Islam the way of life, not the way its currently practised, which brings me onto...
Buddhism cannot be held accountable for what its followers invent. That would be like us saying that the "islam" fails because the Sunni's have mad "muhammad" an idol.
Well I'm talking about the nature of Buddhism itself, not its followers. I mean its called Buddhism! Geddit? Buddha is the idol, whether the followers make statues or whatever is overshadowed by the fact that they've deified this tangible human figure, so personally I think thats a real restriction on their attempts to free their minds completely. (well it would be a restriction on me)
My position is that the word "muslim" is not a Proper noun, so no need to capatalize it, just a reminder.
Hmm, sometimes I capitalise it, sometimes not, I dont know why I did there, lol.
AMS377
No vision can grasp Him...Exactly.