Believing and Unbelieving

 

Believing and Unbelieving

Believing in God is a tall order for many, perhaps one of the tallest orders in life.

Not to mention the atheists, most people believe in the existence of God or a Higher Being. However, to the majority of them, the presence of God is no more than the existence of the sun or the planets. Yes, they are aware that they could not survive without the sun, but they also know very well that the sun would always be there no matter what. That is to say, God is not really present in their lives; God merely exists, just like the sun does.

But, despite the absence of God in their lives, spirituality may still be present in the hearts of many because they still believe that they have a soul, which is essentially an unfathomable spirit. As opposed to materiality, spirituality is invisible, immeasurable, but forever present and lasting. Like the wind, invisible and yet palpable, it may provide the mind or the soul of an individual with direction, guidance, and understanding. Spirituality may take the form of love, joy, and peace, and is often expressed in all human actions and behaviors. Materiality, on the other hand, is always visible, measurable, and transient. Humans need both spirituality and materiality: the former to understand the self, and the latter to understand the world and the universe around the self. Spirituality not only inspires the mind but also energizes the body—it is an intricate body-mind connection that is essential to the art of living well in the material world. Indeed, the human soul is spirituality.

For those who believe in God, the soul is the connection to God. This connection is a line of spiritual communication in the form of prayers, moments of self-awakening, and divine inspiration.

For those who do not have a specific religion, but still believe in the control of a Being greater than themselves, the soul is the deep understanding of the inexplicable control and the natural cycle of things—certain things in life are beyond human control and understanding; certain things in life follow a natural cycle or order, such as life is inevitably followed by death.

For those who are non-believers, but decent human beings, the soul is the conscience that can tell them what is right and wrong, and not just following the law and order of their countries.

Therefore, in different ways, we all have a soul of some sort, although some of us may separate ourselves from it, consciously or unconsciously. The soul is like a shadow of ourselves: sometimes we see more of it, and sometimes we see less of it, but It is always within us, part and parcel of our being, following us wherever we go, whether we like it or not.

If we all have a soul, and are somewhat spiritual, then why is God sometimes, if not always, not present in our lives? This is a burning question that many of us would like to ponder on and ask ourselves every now and then.