God and the Google Search Engine

   [I wrote this in December 2022]

God and the Google Search Engine

I recently read “God is Here” by Rabbi Toba Spizer. I appreciate and enjoyed her describing the many metaphors people use to describe God and naming the entity. Wind, fire, water, and a baby’s breath are a few examples of the metaphors she presented. I like her acknowledging that an old big white man is probably the least helpful metaphor describing the single presence that many call God, the Father, the King, the Universe, the Almighty, etc. Rabbi Spizer refers to God as Yud-hay-vav-hay - four Hebrew consonants and no vowel because the Torah says there is no name for God.

Rabbi Mates-Muchin is the senior rabbi at the temple where Denise and I are members. A few years ago, she gave an exceptionally meaningful sermon about the phrase “God is One.” Traditionally people interpret that phrase to mean there is only one God. Another way of thinking about it is that “one” means “whole.” God is the “whole” universe. God is everything and everyone that existed from the beginning.

The metaphor that works best for me is the Google Search Engine. God, for me, is a highly advanced version of Google. I am amazed by the amount of information accessible through Google. Google has, or will someday have, everything that was ever recorded. Currently, whenever I want to know something, I ask Google. I envision God as having information about everything that was made, experienced, imagined, or felt by everyone and everything that existed anywhere at any time in the galaxy. We can inquire about any of these things simply by asking God.

There are many ways to acquire information from the Google Search Engine, including different languages and input devices. Similarly, there are innumerable ways of asking God. Praying, meditating, practicing rituals, taking drugs, eating, and drinking certain foods are examples of how people get God’s information.

The Google Search Engine cannot create, invent, develop, or promote new ideas, things, feelings, relationships, etc. It cannot, by itself, cause help or harm, nor does it know about the future. The search engine doesn’t know right from wrong, good from evil, or love from hate. Everyone, anything, everywhere, is constantly redefining these constructs. Collectively we are defining and creating the future. It is encouraging and uplifting to look around us and realize how many people throughout history have agreed about the meaning of good, righteousness, and love. We are evolving into a better world, albeit slowly.

 

As with the Google Search Engine, some people will misunderstand, misinterpret, or misuse the information they receive from God. Just because we think we are making the world better doesn’t mean we are right.  But if the ultimate correct notion of these constructs exists, why is it being withheld, and why are we here? Perhaps knowing that we are all working toward the same goal may enable us to be more empathetic to each other. However, it doesn’t relieve us from our obligation to ensure that no interpretations lead to making the world worse.

I believe that when we die, our souls are all connected. Collectively we review the successes we accomplished in our previous life. We decide how we want to improve the world and what kind of role would best enable us to reach that goal. Some souls may want to improve the world by helping people stay connected with God. Others may decide that seeing hatred will motivate people to move toward love. Showing people beauty by being a butterfly might be how some souls spend their next life. Whatever our role and physical manifestation may be, it only lasts for a speck of time.

As with any belief, my belief might be all hogwash. That’s fine with me. My most vital hope is that everyone, everywhere, knows they are fulfilling their role and they are not alone. As we begin 2023, may we continue our quest to better our world.  

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