pantheism

Would we recognize God if we saw her?

God is a lawgiver who controls everything.

God is the creator and parent.

God is the moral authority on right and wrong.

God will answer our questions.

God can speak through human representatives.

God loves us.

God offers a better afterlife.

God intervenes through miracles

I've met someone like that...

A lawgiver who controls everything.

How could one person rule the universe? But who said God was a person? Many religions refer to God as a great spirit that fills everything. When God spoke to Moses he specifically commanded Moses not to make graven images, and the Islamic faith still forbids images of spiritual things. So we are looking for a great spirit that fills everything and governs everything? God sounds like the laws of nature.

The creator and parent.

The universe created everything.

We are children of the universe. We are indeed made of star dust. The heavy elements in our bodies (i.e. pretty much everything except hydrogen and helium) were created in the hearts of dead stars. The universe went to a lot of trouble to create us, so I hope you're grateful and treat your great-great-great (x 1000000) grandmother with respect.

Is the universe intelligent? Intelligence is a funny thing. When you look at a genius like Beethoven, how much is due to his genes, to his upbringing, to his unique experiences? It is rude and rather stupid to say "Beethoven you're not so great, anybody could do what you did in the same circumstances." The fact is than nobody else did: Beethoven was unique and that's why we call him a creative genius. The same applies to the universe.

The moral authority on right and wrong.

The laws of nature can sometimes be harsh, so we only survive if we cooperate. Cooperation is the basis for all moral laws: do not steal, do not kill, do not lie, do unto others as they would do to you, etc. So the laws of nature are the final authority on cooperation, and thus on morality.

Answering our questions.

The universe will answer our questions through science. we only have to ask, and put in the work, and the answers come. Or if our questions are more urgent, or emotional and personal, the universe has provided us with brains and friends. So yes, the universe answers our questions.

Speaking through human representatives.

How do we learn about the universe and about moral laws? Through people. Those people represent the universe. For some it's Jesus, for some it's Carl Sagan. Perhaps each was the right person for his time and place.

Of course, every church wants to claim God exclusively for itself. But God - the universe - is bigger than all of them.

The universe loves us.

The universe has created us and provides all we need, and is open to give us anything else we could possibly want. It's always there for us and will never condemn us. If that isn't a definition of love then what is?

Is the universe personal? The universe is a hugely complex machine. When people deal with computers, cars, or airplanes we talk to them as if they're alive. We say "come along old girl, you can do it!" or "It doesn't sound healthy, I think it's about to die." Even the smartest scientists and engineers do it. It's just the natural way to think. Many would argue that humans are hugely complex machines as well. We're really not so different.

The universe prepares a better afterlife

What is a person? Skin and bones? They just consume food and space. We only need them because they support the real person: the ideas and relationships. If your body dies, your relationships will be more loving because your loved ones only remember your sacrifices for them. Your ideas will be better because the new generation will build on them with fresh minds.

So the universe gives you a better afterlife. And don't worry about not being there in body. When you're happy now you're happy now, and that's what matters. Happy people and heroes don't think of themselves.

Intervening through miracles

The universe gave us answers that allowed miracles of technology. It also gave us brains that are very bad at statistics - so coincidences and unexpected events happen more often than we expect. So if everything seems hopeless, try again and trust in the universe for help. Miracles do happen!

What about prayer? It's a way to remember the laws of nature, talk about our problems, meditate, and promise to act. All of those things makes a positive result more likely. So prayer works.

Conclusion: why call the universe God?

Critics may ask why the universe should be named God. Why? Because believers and nonbelievers should not argue when we all believe basically the same thing.