I am an agnostic as to the question of God. I think that it is impossible for the human mind to believe in an object or thing unless it can form a mental picture of such object or thing. Since man ceased to worship openly an anthropomorphic God and talked vaguely and not intelligently about some force in the universe, higher than man, that is responsible for the existence of man and the universe, he cannot be said to believe in God. One cannot believe in a force excepting as a force that pervades matter and is not an individual entity. To believe in a thing, an image of the thing must be stamped on the mind. If one is asked if he believes in such an animal as a camel, there immediately arises in his mind an image of the camel. This image has come from experience or knowledge of the animal gathered in some way or other. No such image comes, or can come, with the idea of a God who is described as a force.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- True belief requires a mental image, so believing in an abstract God is impossible for the human mind.
- In plain terms
- You cannot believe in something you cannot picture.
- What can you take from it?
- Understand what you actually believe about God.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- What is your image of God?
- Can you believe without seeing?
Another view
Many people believe without mental images.
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