A Victorian’s Religious Beliefs

GOD

“Canst thou by searching, find our God?”

Nearly all human being believe in a God. Many have doubted His existence. But very few have denied it. Thinking men who believe in God like to find Reason for their Faith. And a reasonable Faith is nearly Equal to a proved Fact!

But here is a Fact, which all being agree to be proved. That there is an Almighty Power behind and before us, and behind and before all the moving Worlds, and that this Power, by its laws and processes, rules the motions of the world we line in, and rules our life, and rules our Death! Therefore, whether men call this Power, a force of Nature, or name it God, the results is the same. For, if they move across the laws of this Power they become weakened.

But all things that exist are ruled, not only by an Almighty Power, but also by perfect intelligence or wisdom as proved by Science and Facts. And also by just, and exact laws, which never fail to operate, and also by Universal Goodness, which clothes the earth with beauty, and fills it with plenty – and with loving-kindness.

These Facts are known by all, and they can only incline intelligent beings to believe that this Mighty, intelligent Power, which so rules all things, is a Personal Being.

We know of no form of intelligence without Personality. And we know of no intelligent Personality without a distinct, Personal FORM.

Therefore, Reason has strong Facts to support its Belief that this Almighty intelligent Power is a distinct, Personal Being – named God.

Reason, intelligence can say that there is as much mystery concerning man’s existence as concerning God’s existence. Man, either existed always, or else be began to exist. If he began to exist, without being created, then so could God. And if he always existed without being created, then so could God. Therefore, the care fact of the existence of man, or God, is an equal mystery. All Existence is Mystery! But Existence is a Fact, A Fact without beginning and without End. For no being was ever capable of forming an idea of Non-Existence, Non-Existence is an Impossibility, but the boundless Existence of Worlds, and beings, continuing in order, on their sure and even course must ever have been ruled by an Almighty, Intelligent Personality. Therefore, Reason names this Almighty, Ruling Power, The Personal Living GOD!

George Burgess – July 1899