There are plenty of feelings and sensations in this life that are wholly indescribable; they fall within the space that stretches languidly between awake and dreaming, and you may call them God or magic -- call them however you choose, true mimesis is nigh on impossible to achieve. Words come to nothing, faced with the task of describing intrinsic beauty, much in the same way that religion fails to entirely explain natural grace. I strayed across somebody who so succinctly manages to sum up a personal view of mine, however, that it seems almost painful:
I believe that God is the universe. Everything that exists is a manifestation of the divine--a divinity that may not be "good" or personally interested or even purposeful, but is beautiful. God is the atoms and God is the clouds in the pale-blue winter sky, God is mold in the drywall and God is IRS form 2290 (Heavy Highway Vehicle Use Tax Return), God is you and me and Kim Jong Il and Carrot Top.
I've been asked how this differs from atheism, and I'm not entirely sure. I don't believe in the divine violation of natural laws, although I do think we haven't (and maybe won't) discovered all natural laws. I don't believe that existence has a purpose, at least not one useful to humans. Maybe the only difference is that I see atheism as a philosophy without worship, and I worship the beauty of existence. (I tend to worship the pretty parts more, but hey, I've only got a human brain to work with here.) I love the world, I believe in the world, in a way that "I'm not religious" really doesn't cover.
Never before have I read something that so perfectly vivifies my own personal, albeit formerly ineffable belief. I am without words. Reading this is life affirming. Oh, and in case you can't tell... I am in transit and have far too much time on my hands.
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