It is my understanding that there is a Protestant religion known as Presbyterian which professes a concept of ‘predetermination’ or ‘predestination’. Simply stated, that seems to mean that God, by his Will, has predetermined that some will be accepted into heaver while others will be condemned to hell. Given the timeframe and circumstances of religious turmoil which prevailed at its inception, I suppose that concept may have made sense to some. There was little known science of the universe at that time, and few understood that the God who created it resides in it. The Catholic Church was in shambles, and those who had bolted from it were left in a ‘basic vacuum’ of guidance. They had only the Bible, but it had been written and rewritten ad nauseum, so it was open to multiple interpretations depending upon the basic bias of the interpreter — it seems to still be that way — there are 45,000 different versions of Christianity in existence today.
At about the age of thirteen, I began to notice gross discrepancies in what I was taught as a devout Catholic and in what I could observe. I was terribly confused and disturbed and vowed to myself to ascertain a correct answer and solution for my consternation. Little did I know what a long and treacherous road that would be — it was mindboggling. As I entered college and studied more advanced science and philosophy courses, it suddenly occurred me to seek out an essential definition of that God whom all Christians were worshiping but each group saw differently — how could that be? Parenthetically, for those of you who may not be familiar with the exact meaning of the word essence, please look it up in your dictionary. You will see that nothing, including God, has meaning without an essential definition.
So, I went to the basics, the most elementary of which was an essential definition of that God — surely everyone knew the exact same God. What I rapidly discovered was startling. Everybody talked about God, but none could define the essence of the God of their talk. Obviously then, everyone had a different God depending upon each individual’s imagination. I rapidly discovered that no one had ever defined, or been able to define, God’s essence. At that moment, I vowed to myself to do so — little did I know the difficulty ahead. My first impulse was, ‘that ought to be simple’. However, as I attempted to put the puzzle together, pieces always seemed to be missing — I couldn’t get a complete picture. So, I did what all the preachers did — I went back to the Bible. As I read and reread looking for clues, it suddenly occurred to me that nowhere could I find an explicit reason or justification of why the Jewish hierarchy wanted Jesus killed — why did they hate him so? Sixty-five years later, I discovered the answer — it hit me in the face like a wet mop. More on that later.
For years, I struggled looking for answers. I read and studied everything I could get my hands on. I was aware that Saint Francis of Assisi saw God in everything but didn’t understand why nor how he arrived at that conclusion. I became aware that hundreds of theologians and philosophers of all kinds had attempted to define God’s essence but found it impossible — I wondered why such brilliant people couldn’t achieve such a seemingly simple task. Through a friend, I learned of a German Monk, Meister Eckhart who spent his entire lifetime reducing God to a near negative substance in his attempts. Much of his writings and lectures were considered to be heretical by The Inquisition’— thankfully he died a natural death before he could be burned at the stake.
Shortly thereafter I made an accidental discovery of glorious proportions — Quantum Mechanics or Particle Physics. There I learned that everything in this universe is made of identical perfect particles of energy of many varieties but all with the same basic characteristics — each is perfect in both form and function, none can be distinguished from its counterparts, none can change or be changed, none can be created or destroyed by man, and not one more or less is in existence today than at the moment of their creation (release) nearly fourteen billion years ago. It became quite obvious to me that those particles always have existed, and do now exist, in eternity. Are we not talking about God?
Suddenly, it struck me that a perfect rationality exists in this universe and if there is a God, we must attribute that perfect rationality to that God. Therefore, God’s essence must be irrefutably defined; thus, God Is a Perfect Rational being — God essence is Perfect Rationality. The implications of such a definition are staggering. First, it immediately abolishes the validity of all religion — all are worshiping a false God. That Perfect Being must be Perfect Love which means ‘acceptance with no expectations’. Everything in existence is in God and God is in everything in existence. Immediately I recognized that Francis of Assisi understood that seeming fact. More importantly, it struck me why the Jewish hierarchy wanted Jesus dead. It says so in the Bible right before our eyes: ‘Hear ye oh Israel, I’ll give you two commandments. First, you shall love your God with your whole being. second, you shall love your neighbor as yourself”. (paraphrased). Neither Jesus nor Francis knew Quantum Mechanics but both brilliantly recognized God’s loving (accepting), unselfish presence in everything. Jesus instinctively knew that God was Perfect Love and could not possibly hate or reject any part of himself, any, furthermore, since God is in us, and we are in God, he cannot reject us under any circumstances.
Remember, when Moses wrote the first set of Ten Commandments his purpose was to show his people that those commandments represented the correct way to respect God and neighbor. In other words, they represented a perfect code of conduct. However, when they laughed at him and ignored his directives, he wrote a second set and presented them as God’s rules — God would certainly punish violators — sin against God, as we know it today, was born. It was that concept which the Jewish hierarchy eventually formulated into a money-making machine for themselves at the expense of oppression of their subordinates.
Jesus could clearly see that oppression of his people imposed by the guilt-ridden religion of the Jews which Moses had begun for purposes of control of his subjects but which The King and High Priest had learned to use for making a continual fortune. “Get out of my Father’s house” he said as he overturned the moneychanger’s table; “You brood of vipers. You den of thieves”. That’s why the Jewish superiors wanted him dead. Jesus was preaching an all-loving God and not a vengeful God of the Jews. His intention was to supplant Judaism with a God of love — he was to be our liberator, not our redeemer.
I might make note here that nowhere in the Bible does Jesus say he came to die as an atonement to the Father for our sins. That philosophy seems to have been developed over the centuries by the Catholic Church.
Now back to determinism and predestination. Shortly after I published my book Wilderness Cry, in which I define God’s essence, a good Catholic friend of mine called me in a panic — he had to talk to me immediately. I told him to come immediately, which he did. As he entered my home, l noted he had several typewritten pages in his hand. As it turned out, they were questions he had for me. The first words he uttered as he sat down were, “You’re a determinist”. I responded, “you said what?” And he repeated, “You’re a determinist”. “How do you figure” I responded. He replied, “You say God has already determined everything”. “You’d better read my book again. I say no such thing. You see, it’s like this. I see you sitting in my chair and talking, but I know for sure, one way or another, dead or alive, you’re going to leave my house this afternoon. But, because I know it, I’m not making it happen. I’m just observing and allowing it to happen”. “Oh, he said excitedly. I see. God doesn’t make things happen. He simply sets the wheels in motion and lets happen what will, but always in perfect fashion”. He promptly tore his papers in half and stuffed them in a nearby trash can. “I am so relieved. Can’t wait to get home and tell my wife”. We chatted about other aspects of my philosophy, all of which made perfect sense from that moment forward.
He did leave my house happy as a lark just as I knew he would. So, there’s a giant difference between knowing something will happen and even observing its occurrence, rather than making it happen.
Therefore, I mean no disrespect to my Presbyterian friends and any others who may believe in predestination, but I sincerely believe if they knew my God, they would know there is only one predestination-predetermination — eternity in and with God for everyone.
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WILDERNESS CRY by Hilary L Hunt MD 