God Is “A Verb Not A Noun”

To find out how other Ticklers and readers responded to these questions click here. If you would like to take this interview as well, mail us your answers at interview@tickledbylife.com. (we will publish only the best responses)

What is God?
Pallavi: God is my best friend. He is there with me in my solitude and also when I am out having fun. He gives me that little nudge in the right direction when I am confused. He is the one who ignores me when I am being difficult. He is always there with me whenever my kids fall sick and He’s up all night nursing them back to health with me. He was there when I lost faith and He is with me now when I am restoring that faith.

God or the Big Bang (or both)?
Pallavi: God! In the words of astronomer Hugh Ross: “If the universe arose out of a big bang, it must have had a beginning. If it had a beginning, it must have a beginner.”….Right?

God or Darwin (or both)?
Pallavi: God of course. Darwin has his theory about how life began but it’s just a thought. His theory makes no claim of explaining the creation of life, since evolutionary theory does not pretend to know how life began. Natural selection biology only seeks to explain how life that already exists evolves into new forms. Thus it is perfectly possible to believe in evolution as a principle of biology and simultaneously believe in a creator God. The birth of child for example, can be described either in purely scientific [biological] terms or as a miracle – two very different but noncontradictory explanations for the same thing.

God or Darfur? (How can Darfur happen if there is God?)
Pallavi: One question that raises its head every time a disaster happens is “How can God let it happen?” Well, if He controlled everything then we wouldn’t have to make any choices. He gives us an option of making choices and it is up to us what we do with that choice. I strongly believe that there are two types of forces at work, external and internal. We have very little control over external forces. If there were no disasters, then we would have no compassion, empathy and love for others. All of these are part and parcel of being human and because of these challenges we become stronger and better persons.

Who is God’s God?
Pallavi: A child – I believe. Actually I know that a child is God’s GOD. All you have do is observe a child – all his emotions are so pure.

Will the real God please stand up? (Why do we have so many religions?)
Pallavi: All religions are only different paths leading to same destination – GOD. It doesn’t matter which path you take but you must reach your destination and enjoy your journey. People who compare paths never reach anywhere.

Is this just a big lab and are we just guinea pigs and God just a researcher?
Pallavi: No, we are just bunch of confused people who don’t realize that all we have to do is find our place in this puzzle and complete the picture.

Unexplained phenomena = God?
Pallavi: Let me quote Fuller R Buckminster: “Here is God’s purpose — for God, to me, it seems, is a verb not a noun, proper or improper.” I agree with him. I like to keep it very simple. For me being spiritual means I am close to God and trying understand him by knowing me, his creation. You don’t need to go far to look for God. It’s the choices we make that take us closer to Him. There are two kinds of dogs within us, good and bad, both demanding our attention whoever we feed more gets to rule us.