reply to post by zatara
Well -- there are almost as many beliefs as there are believers. so if you are looking for "Thee Answer," you are probably out of luck.
I personally believe that the thing which we call god (as opposed to the entity worshiped by most religious people) is a macro-level entity that
cannot directly know or perceive experiences at the micro-level. In the most basic sense, we were created to operate at this level because "god"
cannot. Therefore, all experience -- good, bad or otherwise -- is novel experience to "god."
Since we cannot know "god" directly while incarnated in a physical body, we can only guess at its perspective and motivations. Overall -- I think
the experience is positive for "both" of us, in the sense that the god / individual paradigm is a learning mechanism for building better
"realities" over time.
Nothing you are can be created or destroyed. "You" were born in the nuclear fires of long dead stars, and you will one day return to them. We are
divided for the sake of "love" and for a chance at "union."
Life -- as short and violent and bitter as it may be for many -- is also glorious and rich in experiences of beauty, music, light and a million other
sensory / spiritual sensations.
The sense of separation you feel from god is both real and illusion. It is how god comes to know itself and experience its true multiversal nature.
