When it comes to gods, human kind cannot bear very much reality. Jung, the son of a disaffected Protestant minister, observed that organized religion exists to protect humans against a direct experience of the sacred. The Hebrews appeal to Moses to speak to Yahweh on their behalf and play middleman, because he terrifies them. God counsels Joshua “I am near you, but you must hide your head or you will be destroyed." The closest Joshua can come to seeing the deity is to get a glimpse of his back as he withdraws. In the Bhagavad Gita, Arjuna begs to see Krishna’s cosmic form, but can't bear it when it is revealed.
In C.S.Lewis’ Cosmic Trilogy (published in the United States as the Space Trilogy), the Oyarsa, planetary deities, are dizzying when they first appear to humans, seeming to rush in all directions, more directions than Earth physics allows. They must slow and gentle their manifesting forms to interact with humans.
We read in the Gnostic Gospel of Thomas, “I saw Him in the manner that I was able to perceive him.” So gods come in disguises and they use camouflage that is meant to be seen through by those who are ready. For a costume shop of disguises, check out Athena’s apparitions in the Odyssey.
As for camouflage, it’s been said that coincidence is God’s way
of remaining anonymous. We might add: while tempting us to try to identify the
author. When we realize that in special moments of synchronicity greater powers
are in play, and seek their identity we start to construct the greater stories
of our lives. Then we can riff on the old saying like this
Coincidence is God’s way of remaining anonymous, while
tempting us to try to identify the author.
No comments:
Post a Comment