The Sunday Mail
Is the essence of the Divine an external or internal reality? Well, that in itself is a complex question and one that requires a methodical approach in trying to answer and it is in that same breath that I will try address my views on that subject in a two-part instalment.
The first, which is this week’s instalment, will look to analyse the Essence of the Divine as an external reality, discussing the many theories and philosophies to support and address it.
As you can imagine, the second will obliviously look into the divine as an internal reality.
With that said, before we can attempt to answer the question, it is imperative we look into some background details and a few important key terms.
Literally, an “essence” is the inner core or internal quality of something alive and it is called ‘Noumenon’ in Greek with the Arabic word being ‘sulaalah’ which means “something extracted or the best part of a thing”.
The opposite of “Noumenon” is the external quantity called “Phenomenon” and that is the appearance which anything makes to our (physical senses) as distinguished from what it is in itself. (Chambers’ Twentieth Century Dictionary).
The essence (inner core or internal quality) is that which is enduring, eternal and infinite and it is the ultimate reality.
It can also be called “the Absolute” (“Parabraham” in Sanskrit).
The word, ‘Absolute’ is derived from the Latin ‘ab’ and ‘solvo’ with ‘Ab’ meaning ‘from’ while ‘Solvo’ is derived from the Greek with the prefix ‘se’ changed to ‘so’.
It literally means “without ties”.
Absolute means “self-sufficient” or “self-evident” and is the opposite of “relative”, which means “with ties”.
If there exists things with ties, there must be things existing without ties.
Parabrahamis “devoid of all attributes and essentially without any relation to manifested, finite Being.
It is “Be-ness” rather than Being (in Sanskrit, Sat), and is beyond all thought and speculation.
The Essence is the reality independent of the physical senses.
This dimension of reality is absolute, infinite, universal and eternal.
The Greek philosopher Plato (an initiate at a temple of the ancient Egyptian town of Sais and a student of Sechnuphis, a priest of Heliopolis/Anu for 13 years) defined “Essence” as that which is beautiful, goodness and justice and described it as colourless, formless, and intangible, visible only to the mind or higher reason that guides the soul.
In discovering the essence or internal quality of the Divine, let us now fully explore whether the Divine is an external or internal reality.
As an external reality, the Divine is perceived as an invisible Supreme Being with anthropological or humanoid attributes having a separate place to live in the outer space who harshly punishes and kindly rewards.
It is considered to be “enthroned in space”, who dispenses good or evil, either according to His whim or fancy, or according to our desires.
“He is also viewed as requiring appeasement by endless petitioning, invocations and supplications combined with emotional admiration and fervent or relentless adoration.
“When a human being grasps (the Divine) as another being, albeit a more powerful than him/herself, then he/she relates with (the Divine) as a dutiful slave, whose duty is to do his bidding.
“Blindly following a set of narrowly defined rules makes one Divine’s prisoner, or rather, the prisoner of dogma laid down by humans for their own ends…” (Clara Szalai, “Holophany: The Loop of Creation”.)
Such a perceived Divine is an individuation and projection of the human fears, insecurities and paternalistic needs.
The base or underpinnings of this perspective is the egoistic human wants and unconscious vulnerabilities driven by the deepest infantile yearnings requiring a harsh, intrusive and interfering paternal figure.
This definition of the Divine contains an essence based on the world of physical senses. “The mental perception and public representations of (the Divine) in fact resemble things encountered in the sense-world.
This is the concept of the Divine of religious literalists whose existence is denied by atheists, doubted by skeptics and laughed off by internalists.
There is a serious psychological effect for the externalist perspective about the Divine.
Since the Divine and its attributes are perceived as humanoid, they are imagined as having the surface anatomy (pigmentation, hair and facial features), temperament and personality of the narrator, messenger or scribe.
The externalist narrative with its humanoid imagery became the basis for a hateful, bigoted and hurtful relationship against the Other who looked different from the humanoid Divine and its self-appointed deputies.
“The notion that there is … an omnipotent father figure who keeps a constant watch over us, controlling everything which happens, rewarding us for doing good and demanding complete subservience and devotion – obviously satisfied (and continues to satisfy) a deep-rooted psychological need of fallen human beings… …(Lowly developed) human beings need an externalist (Divine) in response to the loss of the sense of meaning or the loss of awareness of spirit force or receptive and present-centred awareness…
“The concept of an externalist (Divine) is a way of dealing with a world that is cold, alien and hostile. Life is considered as absurd and unnecessary.
“If (the Divine) was overlooking the world, protecting people and arranging everything that is happening, then life will not be absurd and the world was not going to be completely indifferent.
“An externalist (Divine) is a reaction to the sense of separation and incompleteness created by loss of life meaning.
“The belief that (the Divine) is always present and watching over us is a defence mechanism against human beings’ sense of isolation and loneliness…” (Steve Taylor, “The Fall: The Insanity of the Ego in Human History and the Dawning of a New Era”.)
Therefore the externalist perspective is that Divine is a humanoid being.
It is perceived to have a character and attributes resembling that of a human being. It is located somewhere in the universe ready to benevolently reward or viciously and harshly punish unless if fervently supplicated and unquestionably submitted to.
Shingai Rukwata Ndoro finds time to freely read and reflect. For feedback, contact him at [email protected] and read more of his writings on www.shingaindoro.blogspot.com
