So... where is God?

	Since I live in a country where most of the populas believes in some sort of 
definable God, people have a hard time understanding what I mean when I tell 
them that I believe that the supreme being is a force, or essence (for lack of better 
words).  I believe that the supreme being is first and foremost neither good nor bad.  
Good and bad are uniquely human characterists and only arise from us labeling 
something a right or good and allowing it's opposite to become wrong or evil.  This 
aspect of human nature is, however, completely relative.  Need an example, just do 
some research on a culture different from your own; and you'll find that they believe 
certain things are very good that you feel are horribly wrong.  Then you can look at 
any animal and see they they neither exibit good nor bad qualities: they simply exist.  
These facts lead me to believe that good and bad are not supreme forces but 
manifestations of the human mind.  
	All of this flows into another important element of the supreme being I believe in: 
it is not a concious thinking entity.  For example, most Christians believe that God 
hears their prayers and constantly acts upon the world at his own mysterious will.  
Terms such as the Hand of God and God's Will have become intergrated into American 
dialect because of the belief that God has concious human-like thoughts and acts upon 
them.  I, on the other hand, feel that the ultimate supreme being of the universe would 
be far beyond the limitions of human thought and mearly exists in a state of perfection 
neither acting nor not acting.  It doesn't care that someone is dying or being born, and 
it doesn't care if you're suffering or if you're giving all your money to charity because 
it doesn't have the ability to care.  It simply exists as the one unifying source of 
everything: reality, non-reality, and the spaces in between.
	Unfortunity, because of the limitation of human thought, it is absolutly impossible 
to define the supreme being.  Calling it the supreme being in itself is a contradiction 
because by saying so I am implying that this essence can be completely defined the 
term "supreme being" when it goes infinetly beyond that simple phrase.  This is why 
I disagree with calling God "God" and giving him uniquely human characteristics.  If 
you say, "I believe in God and God is _____, and he can do ______, but sometimes 
he chooses not to do ______," then I feel that you are placing restrictions on your God 
and making him a creation of your own mind.  So, I was headed in the direction of being 
hypocritical and attempting to define the supreme being for you... I have a couple of 
descriptions I find help other people understand what's going on in this crazy little head 
of mine.  First, their are some common terms that fit this essence quite nicely.  Life Force 
or Essence is one, if you know of Taoism then you could call it the Tao, if you're familiar
with Chaos theory it is the unpredicatble patteren inherant in all chaotic systems, and if 
you really want to make a stretch you could say that it's like the Force from Star Wars 
(sorry, but you can't use it to control the weak-minded).  Two passages from Tao-Te-Ching 
come to mind every time I make this futile attempt to expain the supreme being:

"There was something formless and perfect
before the universe was born.
It is serene.  Empty.
Solitary.  Unchanging.
Infinite.  Eternally present.
It is the mother of the universe.
For lack of a better name,
I call it the Tao.

It flows through all things,
inside and outside, and returns
to the origin of all things.

The Tao is great.
The universe is great.
Earth is great.
These are the four great powers.

Man follows the earth.
Earth follows the universe.
The universe follows the Tao.
The Tao follows only itself." 
	(Tao-Te-Ching 25)

"The great Tao flows everywhere.
All things are born from it,
yet it doesn't create them.
It pours itself into its work,
yet it makes no claim.
It nourishes infinite worlds,
yet it doesn't hold on to them.
Since it is merged with all things
and hidden in their hearts,
it can be called humble.
Since all things vanish into it
and it alone endures,
it can be called great.
It isn't aware of its greatness;
thus it is truly great."
	(Tao-Te-Ching 34)

Taoism is the religion my beliefs fall the closest too, and if you want to do some 
seriously in-depth thinking that will change your life, you need to read Tao-Te-Ching 
(it's in the religion section of your local book store).  By now, I've quite possibly 
confused you; so let me sum this up by saying that this essence is simply the force 
that flows through, gives form and meaing to, and connects everything... and I mean 
everything.
	"But David," I hear you ask, "how in the world do you pray / worship / experience 
this essence... do you do Jedi mind tricks or something?!"  No, I don't do jedi mind 
tricks or anything like that, but I practice all of those aspects of mainstream religion 
by doing one thing: enjoying life.  "No way!" You cry. "That's too simple!"  Exactly!  

-- more to come... bet you can't wait for my explaination of how human souls can
be created with light and water