I say it is because we are doing things backwards. I believe that we were created as spirit beings first, one with the Creator, and furthermore Co-Creators with God, and that as spirits we became too attached to creation, which gave birth to the self, to the ego. We became entangled in what was to be an expression of God only, rather than be one with God we chose to be one with creation, matter, the material. This is the real 'fall of man' as told metaphorically in Genesis. Perfection becomes imperfect. Spirit now encased in flesh. Soul memory lost. This is why we incarnate, to get back to the state we were at before. All of the things that you see in this world is the direct result of free will. This wasn't His way, it was OUR way.

Now I like this post a lot:

How do we know that we have found life, because death reveals it to us...
How do we know that we have found light, because darkness reveals it to us...
How do we know that we have found good'...only because bad' reveals that to us...
It is a TWO edge sword' that the Word' speaks with...if you find one edge of it, the other follows...(consider it is a sword!)
If you stand in ALL Light', will you not be blinded by that Light'
ALL Darkness' ...and you will be blinded by that Darkness'

......just take these words into the concept of many lifetimes, as part of a process.....this is the evolution of the soul. We are the product of evolution, yes? Well, evolution is an imperfect physical representation of what is taking place with the soul. The two are parallel. Our soul is evolving back to our Source. Without tragedy and the perils of earthly life, how would the soul yearn for what it has lost, how would it grow back to God? Creation is imperfect, but you, your true essence is not!! With regards to tragedy and death, consider my personal signature on here:

"You are mourning for what is not worthy of grief. Those who are wise lament neither for the living nor for the dead.Never was there a time when I did not exist, nor you, nor all these kings; nor in the future shall any of us cease to be." -Bhagavad Gita

HAJiME', thanks so much for your response
This is why I started this thread, so everyone could share their thoughts and beliefs of what they consider to be a creator and the purpose, if any, behind creation. You have brought very good questions into this and I have to say very understandable ones too...I don't really sense that any of the bad' stuff is being ignored', it's almost impossible not to be drenched in all the bad', causing us to forget to come up for air...
The path between good and bad' is balanced, if you see bad', balance your sight and your thoughts and look for good'...If good' comes first, remember the balance, bad' follows...and onward the motion goes'
'Many blessings

Brahman
Your post is a delightful read, thank you so much for sharing. I like this concept of many lifetimes, part of a process of evolution...
you've expressed it beautifully
'Many blessings

I like this point of view, and up to a point it matches mine, but i ask further, if the universe is a complex, evolving, living organism, with a form of intelligence; then is it not only possible but likely that, given the ability to, and the creativity inherent in consciousness, the universal consciousness/god would create (through direct or evolved formation) other sentients with which it could fill the universe, for reasons of communication/conversation "ärt" "music" or just for fun and a sense of wonder?

What sort of divinity do you speak of when we know that humanity is feared by almost every other species on this planet? Is fear divine?
Divinity is in the mind of the observer. I used to eat peyote like candy when I was a teenager...and it was Carlos Castenada's books which turned me onto it. It was a spiritual drug for me - allowing me to feel one with nature, not god.
I believe in "reincarnation" - once we die we're consumed and recycled - but not as another person. Nature exhibits the process, imo. The leaves or petals fall from their support, to decay and become fodder for many different things to grow from. Life from death and decay. It is the true sense of reincarnation/resurrection, displayed for all to see and recognize, when we actually observe.



<vBg> I sincerely doubt the wind believes anything... too, I doubt a mockingbird is convinced of anything - except, maybe, that it must fear humans.
Compare us to the cosmos and we're as insignificant as a grain of sand on a beach... we're only important in our own minds. Which, imo, is a form of mental illness....and far from being divine.

That is because you've always lived in cities. Live in solitude, amidst nature, without worry or care, and you will begin to absorb the thought/feelings of the moon and the wind. This is the life of the nature mystic. It is not in words or symbols, but meanings and feelings can
be absorbed and shared.

Why do you say we are insignificant when we are on a Great Journey and are great and powerful spiritual beings? How can we be insignificant when we hold the whole universe in our soul?

~~Cebrakon

Right on! Amen. It depends on how you define important. If you mean this current sense of self, this personality, no, all of it is perishable. Only that which is finite is comprable to sand. As Cebrakon says, your soul, your essence, is far greater than ALL of matter. You are infinite. A part of God.

??? I've only lived in one city in my life. That was in the 70's.



<vBg> I it safe to assume that anyone who preaches knows? (A la The Collectors, What Love)
I live on the top of a mountain - on 160 acres of forest - our closest neighbour 1/2 mile away. There are 3 meadows on our property - and I make use of them, weather permitting. The meadows are my gateway to peaceful bliss. Observing nature is what I do best...

Hummingbirds hover by my head while I'm filling the feeder. The wild squirrels will come and eat out of my hand. They know I'm not a threat to them - there is no fear, because I've been feeding them for (possibly) generations. Chickadees call to me when I walk out of the house, because I call to them. They'll sit right above their feeder as I refill it. Again, I'm not a threat - and they trust me.
I love nature. Always have and always will. I deal with it daily - and it's wonderful. Bear, fox, deer, moose - they all cross the property. On any given morning in the spring (once the snow is gone) and summer I can look out the window and see deer grazing on the lawn. They know our voices, and don't run from us. We're not a threat.



If we hold the universe in our soul one might think we'd be more respectful of our little orb within the universe. We aren't. We're choking the life out of this planet - our life support system. Is this the "great journey" you speak of? Annihilating nature, poisoning the air, water and land? Encroaching on nature - wiping out species, so we can fill our coffers? Then we have the nerve to kill animals whose land we've destroyed? This is not significance. It's insanity.
And it shows more and more each passing day.

No, of course, that is not the "great journey" and is an obstacle to it. I retract my statement that merely having solitude in nature is
sufficient to become a nature mystic. Necessary, but not sufficient.

~~~~Cebrakon

The purpose in life is to figure out if we even do have a purpose.