"Everyone has the same God; perceptions differ." Anton Chekov, Russian Philosopher
To perceive is to become aware of something through one's senses..... Conceptions are the product of thought processes which may or may not be aided by one's perceptions ... conceptions require mental processes which augment our senses ... quantity as a concept is more than visual perception and quality also as it involves comparative analysis based on agreed upon criteria.... Since God can not be touched, seen, heard, smelled, or tasted (the senses which are the sources of perception, I dispute that God is the same for all whether or not he may be...... but it is not the perceptions that differ as Chekov (a Russian) asserted but our mental conceptions of a higher deity and our a priori knowledge that is used as a launching pad rather than our perceptual senses. What is self evident and obvious to one is not to another. A priori knowledge differs among individuals because we all have different origins of customs, cultures, source instincts, point of views, perspectives, principles, and personal beliefs core to our singular being. Perceptions do differ but are not the reason for viewing God differently. Concepts of quality, quantity, likeness , existence, life, death, eternity, etc determine what we believe theologically is God or no God. God is not the same for everyone nor will he ever be the same from one individual to another because their mental faculties are never the same. Religions were devised to unify beliefs across individuals, countries, and time to help us deal with the mortality of man.
Truthfully though, I beg to differ with Chekov, quantity and quality matters in spiritual beliefs: God is not the same for all. Some have many Gods, not just one, or some have none at all. Perspective, and point of view are just as important, just as necessary, as our perceptions. Some may think they ARE God or at least they sometimes act like it!
Blogs, like books , are usually one way communications, any interaction with the author is in the reader's mind; and, unless it is a "meet the author event", no opportunity for conversation with the author exists unless imagined or reader feedback after the fact. The author writes (expounds) without interruption and does so sometimes to address a particular audience/reader but other times only to express only what he has thought and cared about enough to write so it can be shared, read, and later referenced. Some authors desire a huge audience while others are content with a small audience or none at all. Speaking for myself, I am content to know I wrote something I felt needed to be expressed in writing, providing the opportunity for other others to read or not. Authors always read and reference what is written even if no one else does, and when memory is not so good, having thoughts recorded in a more permanent print on paper or via online digital media allows refreshing memories with what the author felt too valuable to forget.
Criticism by self wanting to improve or by others will always exist because adversaries will be adversaries for a number of different reasons. That should not discourage the writer in all of us from writing because the process of writing refines and orders thoughts, reinforces ideas in mind for later recall, increases opportunity for their application/execution, and also exercises writing skills (choosing of correct words, expanding vocabulary proficiency, improving spelling and grammar, etc.).
Authors want what they have taken the time to write to at least be worthy of the time required to read it. Some author's writings are self promoting or promoting another's art or work. Great authors achieve a lot more by their writing. They can and do change the world by the wisdom of their words, they continue to live on via their writing long after they have died.
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