What is 'God'?

“God is just an imaginary friend for grown-ups.” - Elmore Leonard (October 11, 1925 – August 20, 2013), American novelist, short story writer, and screenwriter in his novel 'The Big Bounce'

Being a believer, I don't know if this article might entirely be a rational one, but, here it goes.

One of the most enduring debates of all time is about God and if there is God. Has anyone seen God? Ha, that is an easy answer, isn't it? Has anyone felt God? That's not so easy to answer, but there are many people who can vouch for it.

So who or what is God? God is a phenomenon that arises out of belief when man seeks strength to do things and wants things to happen. This is my definition of God.

So God boils down to one word - "Belief". "Faith".

(Image courtesy: www.idisciple.org)

I am just recounting a couple of stories here - one by Ramakrishna Paramahamsa and another from Catholic faith, to put things in perspective.

Here is the story by Ramakrishna Paramahamsa -

A milk maid used to supply milk to a priest living on the other side of a river. Owing to the irregularities of the boat service, she could not supply him milk punctually every day, Once, being rebuked for her going late, the poor woman said, "What can I do? I start early from my house, but have to wait for a long time at the river bank for the boatman and the passengers. The priest said, "Woman! They cross the ocean of life by uttering the name of God, and can't you cross this little river?" The simple-hearted woman became very glad at heart on learning this easy means of crossing the river. From the next clay the milk was being supplied early in the morning. One day the priest said to the woman, "How is it that you are no longer late nowadays?" She said, "I cross the river by uttering the name of the Lord as you told me to do, and don't stand now in need of a boatman." The priest could not believe this and said, "Can you show me how you cross the river?" The woman took him with her and began to walk over the water. Looking behind, the woman saw the priest in a sad plight and said, "How, is it, sir, that you are uttering the name of God with your mouth, but at the same time with your hands you are trying to keep your cloth untouched by water? You do not fully rely on Him."

( source: http://info.stiltij.nl/publiek/meditatie/leraren/TalesAndParablesOfRamakrishna.pdf)

This is a story from the Catholic faith -

"A drought continued for what seemed an eternity, a small community of farmers was in a quandary as to what to do.  Rain was vital to keep their crops healthy and sustain the way of life of the townspeople.   As the problem became more acute, a local priest called a prayer meeting to ask for rain.  Many concerned people arrived at the church and the priest greeted most of them as they filed in.   As he walked to the front of the church to officially begin the meeting he noticed the people were chatting across the aisles about their mutual situation and socializing with friends.  When he reached the front his thoughts were on quieting the attendees and getting the meeting started.  His eyes scanned the crowd as he asked for quiet and it was then that he noticed a young girl about 11 years old sitting quietly in the front row, her face beaming with excitement.   Next to her, poised and ready for use, was a bright red umbrella.  The little girl's beauty and innocence made the priest smile as he realized how much faith she possessed.   No one else in the congregation had brought an umbrella.   All came to pray for rain, but the little girl had come expecting God to answer."

(source: http://www.catholicvu.com/newpage804htm.htm)

What do these little tales teach us? Irrespective of what you want to follow, if you believe in God, what is important is to keep the faith. God as a concept is so abstract that it is not possible that there is only one way of attaining God. If God is a water tank, then religions are pipes. All pipes draw water from the same source - the tank. So there cannot be a greater pipe.

Hence, you can choose whichever pipe you want to, but if you think that one pipe is better than the other, then you are in for a nasty surprise!

Every person, irrespective of whichever religion he belongs to, endures pain, suffering, has moments of happiness, achievements, self actualisation etc. This is universal - these things happen even to an atheist!

Here's another thought (from an atheist's point of view?) - This is from the movie Dasaavathaaram (Tamil, 2007):

"Naan kadavul illa-nu sollaliye; kadavul irundha nalla irukkumnu dhaan sollaraen!"

(I am not saying that there is no God; I am only saying that it would be good if there was a God!")

Now, go, figure that!