Ever Pondered the True Essence of Divine Intelligence?
Beyond the Textbook and Into the Heart of Wonder
Lately, I’ve found myself returning to a question so old it might have been whispered by the stars themselves: What does it mean for intelligence to be divine? Not intellectual brilliance. Not mere cleverness. But that deeper current—an intelligence that precedes our understanding, outpaces our algorithms, and yet meets us, inexplicably, in stillness.
This isn’t a theological quiz, and I’m not here to unravel every sacred mystery in a single blog post. But perhaps like you, I’ve begun to crave a language of spirit that isn’t bound by dogma or debate—something that makes room for wonder, even when certainty evades us.
In many philosophical traditions, the concept of divine intelligence implies not just a mind behind the universe, but a motive. A telos. That ancient notion that the cosmos isn't random, but relational. That our being here is not just possible, but purposeful.
The irony? You don’t need a degree in theology to start asking these questions. Sometimes it begins at a stoplight. Or in the hush of dusk when you sense that life wants something from you—not in demand, but in invitation.
Maybe divine intelligence is less about answers, and more about presence. Less about omniscience, and more about intimacy with the sacred logic of love, justice, and awe.
As I prepare for new seasons of change—ones that tug at identity and reshape familiar roles—I find comfort in this: divine intelligence doesn’t demand perfection. It invites participation. You don’t have to be fluent in scripture to be fluent in compassion. Or certainty to be steeped in meaning. The questions themselves might just be holy ground.
This post was inspired by A Theology for the Rest of Us by Arthur Yavelberg.Book description:
If God exists and is good, why is there evil? Avoiding such questions underlies the spiritual emptiness and anxiety in today's world. A Theology for the Rest of Us explores how to approach the divine through Eastern and Western religious traditions without dogma, challenging readers to "be you lamps unto yourselves."
In a time of internecine wars and all kinds of abuse of authority and trust, too many good, thoughtful people are "voting with their feet" and turning away from organized religion. Popular "spirituality"-a sort of mysticism-lite articulated in memes-is often unsatisfying as well.
A Theology for the Rest of Us is a straightforward approach to the fundamental questions of religion and philosophy:
- Does God exist?
- Is there free will?
- What is 'evil'?
This book draws on the traditions of the East as well as the West-Taoism, Buddhism and Hinduism in addition to Judaism, Christianity, and Islam-to see what can make sense in today's world. Whether exploring the implications of 17th century Enlightenment philosophers, quantum physics, or the insights of writers such as Dostoyevsky and Alan Watts, the reader is offered a rational, coherent approach that can provide understanding and a basis for hope in a world where the spirit has been all but decimated by doubt and worse.
Most important, the reader is encouraged to sift through these sources and choose what resonates and what does not. As the Buddha taught so many years ago, the Prime Directive is "Be ye lamps unto yourselves." A Theology for the Rest of Us makes teachings accessible to those who have already begun their spiritual journeys, validating their questions and showing that reasonable answers are available.
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