In a nod to Joseph Smith's assertion that "if men do not comprehend the nature of God, they do not comprehend themselves," I offer the following related proposition: Our conceptions of God reveal our own deepest nature. As in Les Miserables, some us will, Javert-like, cling to a law-and-order God who demands justice and retribution; while others will , Valjean-like, find transformation in God's mercy. Some petition God to smite their enemies and others come to God for consolation. Natalie Goldberg writes of a priest friend of hers who quipped, "When your God hates all the same people you hate, you can be sure you've created God in your own image.
Already recognizing this human tendency to ascribe to God the traits we ourselves most prize, I was prepared to accept Deepak Chopra's insight that God can be worshiped at many levels and that as we ourselves progress and evolve to greater levels of spiritual maturity, we naturally reformulate our conceptions of God to fit our new dimension of spiritual awareness.
Chopra limits his book to discussing the various planes at which we individually approach the divine, but I can't help but recognize in his stages an echo of the various stages of emerging enlightenment at which civilizations have conceived of their gods. That book The Evolution of God (Robert Wright) traces that evolution from the primitive appeasement of a divine power--volcano gods, lightning gods, etc.--through tribal gods such as Jehovah who sponsors His team and commands them from time to time to decimate every man, woman, and child belonging to opposing teams, to an enlightened god like Jesus who enjoins people to live in harmony, even praying for their enemies. In both Wright's historical survey and Chopra's deep-self framing, the point is that progress has been made and can be made. Surely an infinite being or essence can be worshiped in ways that increasingly lead us to higher levels of spirituality, both personally and inter-personally.
Here are summaries of the various stages at which a person can know God.
* Stage One: God is the Protector to those who see themselves in danger. This fits a world of bare survival, full of physical threats and danger. This conception of God projects a being who is vengeful, quick to anger, jealous, and metes out rewards and punishments. Fear characterizes this relationship, and if God is appeased you may be protected from Divine threats, fate, nature, etc. You want to be on this God's good side.
* Stage Two: God is the Almighty to those who need control and power. This fits a world of power struggles and ambition, where fierce competition rules. This conception of God projects a kingly figure who is sovereign, omnipotent, just, impartial, rational, upholds law. Awe and obedience characterize this relationship, and if you maintain allegiance to God and honor Divine law, you will receive boons in the form of answered prayers.
* Stage Three: God is Peace to those who have discovered their own inner world. This fits a world of inner solitude where reflection and contemplation are possible.This conception of God projects a being who is calm, consoling, undemanding, conciliatory, serene. A God of Peace is found through silent contemplation and meditation.
* Stage Four: God is the Redeemer to those who are conscious of committing a sin. This fits a world where personal growth is encouraged and insights prove fruitful. This conception of God projects a being who is understanding, forgiving, accepting, inclusive, and tolerant. This God is known when a person achieves self-acceptance.
* Stage Five: God is the Creator when we wonder where the world came from. This fits a world that is constantly renewing itself, where innovation and discovery are nurtured. This conception of God projects a being of unlimited creative potential, open, generous, abundant, willing to be known, and inspiring. This God is accessed through inspiration.
* Stage Six: God works Miracles when we need the laws of nature to be revoked. This fits a world that contains prophets and seers, where spiritual vision is nurtured. This conception of God projects a being who is healing, magical, transformative, and mystical. This God is found through grace.
* Stage Seven: God is a Pure Being ("I Am") to those who feel ecstasy and a transcendent sense of pure being. This fits a world that transcends all boundaries, a world of infinite possibilities. This conception of God defies easy labels, being infinite, immeasurable, unchanging, unborn, undying, unmanifest, and intangible. Union with this God is found through transcendence.
"You believe that you were created to serve God," and Indian guru once pointed out, "but in the end you may discover that God was created to serve you."