The human inclination to seek a divine orchestrator orchestrating the grand symphony of life is a tale as old as time. Across cultures and epochs, there is a shared perception of a deity or a higher power that exerts control over the fate of the cosmos and its inhabitants. This external god is seen as the prime mover, the cosmic arbiter responsible for the outcomes of our lives, both good and ill.
Yet, there is a burgeoning sentiment, captured in the post "All Roads Lead Everywhere," that suggests a radical reinterpretation of this concept. It posits that the individual, rather than being a mere pawn in the hands of the divine, holds a god-like capacity for shaping their destiny. It is a notion that imbues humans with an omnipotence over their journey, positing that we are not at the mercy of a god outside of ourselves but that we are, in fact, the architects of our own outcomes.
This introspective view proposes that the hands of humans are 'god's hands'—that the power traditionally ascribed to an omnipotent being is actually dispersed among the individuals populating the Earth. Each choice, action, and decision is an act of creation, a building block in the construction of one's reality.
The post "All Roads Lead Everywhere" embodies this sentiment through a metaphorical maze that symbolizes life's journey. The paths we take are not preordained by an external force but are the result of our deliberations and volitions. The concept aligns with existentialist philosophy, which asserts that individuals are free agents in a universe devoid of pre-scripted meaning, tasked with the responsibility of carving out their purpose.
This perspective does not entirely dismiss the notion of a higher power but instead suggests that such a power is not solely responsible for our outcomes. It champions the idea of co-creation, where the individual’s will and the external environment are partners in the dance of destiny. It is an empowering view that acknowledges the divine within the human, recognizing our capacity for autonomy and self-determination.
However, this view requires an immense degree of self-awareness and accountability. To accept that one is in complete control of their outcome is to also accept responsibility for the mishaps and misfortunes that occur. This can be an onerous burden to bear, and perhaps it is the weight of this responsibility that has led many to seek comfort in the idea of an all-controlling deity.
Furthermore, the belief in humans as 'gods' of their fate dovetails with the principles of many wisdom traditions. In Hinduism, for example, the concept of 'karma' speaks to the role of individual action in shaping one's future. In this light, the divine is not a distant, external force but an intrinsic part of the individual, manifesting through their actions and choices.
The juxtaposition of an external god responsible for our fate versus the notion of the human as 'god' and master of their destiny presents a profound dichotomy. It is a shift from extrinsic to intrinsic divinity, from the heavens to the heart. Whether one subscribes to the traditional view of a universal god or embraces the radical autonomy of human divinity, the quest for understanding our place in the cosmos and our role in shaping our fate continues to be one of life's most enduring pursuits.