IS GOD CONSCIOUS?

If God is all powerful, all good, and all knowing, why does evil exist?  Christians have struggled with this logical dilemma, the problem of evil, for nearly 2000 years. 

Most Christians explain away the contradiction by addressing the “all good” premise.  They say that evil is necessary for the overall good of the world.  A Christian website explained it this way, “Ultimately, God is allowing evil in the world for a purpose, otherwise, he would not let it exist. Therefore, we must trust Him that He knows what He is doing.”

Gnostic Christians deny all three of the problem-of-evil premises.  First, Gnostics say that the physical world was not created by God, but by a lesser god known as the demiurge (Yahweh, the creator).  Although Yahweh is all knowing about his universe and what happens in it, he isn’t all powerful or all good.  Yahweh knows of our misery and either thinks that we deserve it, or if not, he can’t do anything to stop it.  Therefore, evil exists.

Then the question becomes, if Yahweh is a lesser god, why doesn’t the true God, the all-powerful God, the all-benevolent God, step in and do something about evil.  Gnostics answer this by asserting that God is not all knowing.  In fact, God is not even aware that He exists, much less Yahweh or humans.

This assumption leads Gnostic Christians to different conclusions about the nature of Jesus and the nature of ourselves.  The purpose of the Gnostic’s existence is to bring God’s goodness (the Light or Spirit of God) into the consciousness of Yahweh’s creation.  This manifestation is more powerful than Yahweh and will correct his incompetence and overcome his malevolence.

Mainstream Christians often pray for worldly outcomes, such as victory over a rival, rain for the crops, safety in a journey, etc.  A Gnostic sees this type of prayer as nonsensical.  If the person is praying to Yahweh, the Lord of our physical existence, he’s as likely to punish you for a sin or a perceived slight as he is to answer your prayer positively.  If the person is praying to God, He has no more awareness of your prayers than a Kenyan wildebeest.

But Gnostics do pray – in their own way.  The Gnostic doesn’t pray for outcomes; the Gnostic prays to overcome the desire to pray for outcomes.  The Gnostic prays to experience God.  Once that occurs, the outcomes of Yahweh’s creation become far less relevant.  God doesn’t exist to bless us.  God hasn’t chosen us.  BUT, we human beings have accomplished something very special.  We have become aware of God – and for Christians, Jesus has made this possible (more about that some other time).

Is God conscious?  No, but we are.  We can ignite the spark within each of us and illuminate Yahweh’s world with God’s Light.  It’s our job to bring God’s power and goodness into the physical world.  It’s our purpose to bring God into consciousness.  With that, we can ultimately overcome the evil in Yahweh’s world.