Terry Pratchet wrote a Discworld novel “Small Gods” .  In that book he basically commented on religion and church and how that has formed our view of God.  On Discworld things exist because they are believed in.  The most important god on Discworld is Om and his followers forms the Omnian church.  Unfortunately the Omnian church has developed so well, and is so well organized that they do not need the god Om anymore.  As the following quote explains:

The Quisition

Although no one in Omnia at the time of Small Gods actually believed in Om himself, they all believed in his clergy; in particular the Quisition, and in more particular what the Quisition did to unbelievers. What the Quisition (consisting of the Inquisition and the Exquisition, or people who can say “exquisite” with a straight face) largely did was torture people, as evidenced by their unofficial motto, “Cuius testiculos habes, habeas cardia et cerebellum,” which Pratchett loosely translates as “When you have their full attention (“by the balls”), you have their hearts and minds.”

In the end there is only one, very stupid man, Brutha, who in his innocence still believes in Om.  Om therefore shrunked to the size of a turtle.  At the end of the book, Brutha managed to reestablish faith in Om and the “great god Om” made an awesome public appearance which strengthened this religion.  From then on missionaries started going out to convert people to the Omnian faith. 

Then, in “Carpe Jugulum” a later book, one of the main characters, Granny Weatherwax, a witch – somebody with a lot of common sence – said to one of these missionaries :

“If I thought there was some god who really did care two hoots about people, who watched them like a father and cared for ‘em like a mother… well, you wouldn’t catch me sayin’ things like ‘there are two sides to every question’ and ‘we must respect other people’s beliefs’! You wouldn’t find me just being gen’rally nice in the hope that it’d all turn out right in the end, not if that flame was burning in me like an unforgivin’ sword. And I did say burnin’, Mister Oats, ‘cos that’s what it’d be. You say that people don’t burn folk and sacrifice people anymore, but that’s what true faith would mean, y’see? Sacrificin’ your own life, one day at a time, to the flame, declarin’ the truth of it, workin’ for it, breathin’ the soul of it. That’s religion. Anything else is just… is just bein’ nice. And a way of keepin’ in touch with the neighbors.”

Now, after this very long introduction, the part of God that is currently burning in me, is His awesome greatness.  I am still very passionate about the fact that He does “care two hoots about people, He watch them like a father and care for ‘em like a mother”, but right now, I am astonished at His creation. 

During last weekend (it is nearly weekend again!!!) I saw one of Louie Giglio’s “Indescribable” sermons.  It is probably old news for nearly everyone else but me, but there you have it . I was absolutely enamoured by the enormity as well as the beauty of God’s creation.  Since my dearest younger sister told me so casually that the earth is only 6 thousand years old, and I lost my temper so horribly about it (a few posts back), I made quite a study of the universe.  So I read a book called “Take a new Look at Old Earth” and I spent hours at the Hubble Space site.  Nestus found incredible presentations on galaxies (other than ours) and we watched that.  And I remembered my childhood dream to become an astronomer (No, I’m not going to start studying all over again in a new direction .

Since we allready left organized church, I do not think I should do things to deserve God’s love and I have no intention to homeschool or raise children to be holy, I think for now, I will be content to just be in love with this glorious God, who made the Universe.  All these other issues has for some reason retreated into insignificance.  I just want to know Him.  The God who measured the sea in the palm of His hand, and the universe with the span of his hand.  He has given so much attention to detail, He did not sparingly bestow beauty – He was abundant.  He added colour and movement.  All of it is vibrant with His life.  When looking at His creation you cannot deny His glory.  And you realize you cannot limit Him, not in space and not in time.  He is the creator of ALL, and ALL is much more than we can fathom.  How would we ever be able to fathom Him. 

And then He comes and say:

“Why, even all the hairs on your head have been counted! Stop being afraid. You are worth more than a bunch of sparrows (Luke 21:17)

 

Canis Majoris

 

Canis Majoris – the biggest known star. 
(But what do we know after all?)