The Many Faces of God – SpokaneFVS – spokanefavs.com

By Pete Haug

God created man in his own image. And man, being a gentleman, returned the favor.

The square/circle atop a human figure on the left evolves from the earliest oracle bones through early bronzeware, then through engraved seals, and finally to character of todays integrated semantic elements combining a line (one) on top and a man with outstretched arms. (great). Over time the character changes to emphasize man, with gradual anthropomorphizing of the Creator.

Images of God vary infinitely. No two are identical. Each human mind conceives its own image of God. Even atheists must create an image they can reject. Id never really considered these things until I taught English in China, where we studied references to Christianity in English literature.

The word for God in modern Chinese is Shangdi, which transliterates to supreme deity. Shangdi is used to represent the biblical God, specifically the God of Christianity. Perhaps because the Bible alludes to Jesus as God, many Chinese feel the Christian God is anthropomorphic.

A more traditional word used to represent God as an unknowable benevolent essence overseeing creation is Tian or Heaven. Tian predates modern, officially atheistic, Chinese culture by millennia. The world at large became aware of Tian on June 4, 1989, when Chinese troops, in an act of supreme irony, massacred student protesters in Beijings Tiananmen Square, just south of Tiananmen, Gate of Heavenly Peace.

A Chinese friend first made me aware of the distinction between Shangdi and Tian around 2000. My literature students confirmed that differentiation as we discussed God. Most students I encountered had qualities I would deem spiritual, characteristics perhaps influenced by the millennia-old cultural concept of tian.

The contemporary ideograph of Tian () evolved from Chinese antiquity. Its origin and evolution sheds light on how Chinese people perceive God, unknown and powerful, yet benevolent. Oracle-bone and bronzeware engravings of Tian, dating from the late second millennium BC, are composed of two parts: a stick-figure person topped by a circle or square head, which signifies the essence of tian above the person. During thousands of years, tian evolved to , which combines one (the top line representing the numeral 1) with great (a man with outstretched arms).

Over centuries, Chinese people have come to portray God anthropomorphically with rustic depictions of the relation between God and humans. In Chinese culture the broad concept of God, represented by all kinds of visual figures of gods, has been ubiquitous within and outside of religious contexts.

Because we live in a material world, its difficult to detach ourselves from surroundings we perceive with our senses. This is why we construct tangible idols. Yet religions encourage us to seek transcendency beyond our corporeal, sensate surroundings.

One of the earliest recorded examples is found in Exodus, when God revealed to Moses the Ten Commandments that would shape civilizations for thousands of years. The second commandment, Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image in Deuteronomy, makes clear that the commandments purpose is to protect Gods followers from idolatry.

Different religions understand idolatry differently. Although the Quran doesnt explicitly ban images, hadith (Islamic traditions) address the creation of images in various ways. Most Muslims avoid visual depictions of Muhammad or other prophets, and some take offense at such visual depictions. In other Abrahamic religions, idolatry connotes the worship of somethingother than God as if it were God. Its easier to relate to a material form than an unknowable Essence.

The Bahai Faith maintains similar traditions. Although photographs of Bahaullah exist, they are displayed only on rare occasions and with utmost respect.

As an agnostic I couldnt relate to theologies, but the natural world kept me from becoming an atheist. I wasnt a pantheist, but the beauty of nature provided spiritual sustenance that uplifted me. Similarly, the beauty of music created in praise of God, liturgical music, prevented my total denial.

Today Im comfortable believing that the unknowable Essence called God exists. God has always been there, much like the electromagnetic spectrum. Until a few centuries ago, humans were aware only of the visible portion of that spectrum. Science has since taught us to harness parts. I write this column on my computer, courtesy of that spectrum.

We dont fully understand many forces in the universe. Although we can harness gravitys force, we cant fathom what it is. Other forces exist that were not even aware of. Belief in God as a force generates miracles, occurrences we cant explain. History provides evidence of unnumbered martyrs willing to die for the God they worshipped, yet couldnt see.

Each mental image, understanding, of God is unique because each human is unique, shaped by interactions between genes and environment. But we all live together, depend on each other in myriad ways. Free choice allows us to choose how we interact. Teachings of the great religions provide guidance for those interactions.

Ultimately each of us exercises free choice throughout our lifetimes. One hopes a critical mass of us will choose wisely.

Pete would like to acknowledgethe invaluable input of a dear Chinese friend, who prefers to remain anonymous.

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