How can a human being recognizes the existence of this transcendent Reality, the invisible God? Putting aside the vast philosophical contemplations dealing with proofs for God’s existence, we can consider certain arguments which are put forth in scriptures.

Although God is invisible, He has left evidence of His reality by which people can know Him, if they only look. These include:

• What people can sense by the inner self – spiritual and emotional experiences;
• Universality of the moral laws, which mirrors the laws of nature – every religious teaching presents the same moral laws in it’s own way;
• Evidence of God’s handiwork in the wonders of the creation – infinite cosmos and awe-striking quantum world;
• Testimonies of various religious founders – most of the founders had vivid spiritual experiences and achieved nearly impossible things in their lives.

By paying attention to these facts in our life we can come in touch with the Ultimate Reality called God that can be experienced by each individual in the midst of the relatively short physical existence.

Eye cannot see him, nor words reveal him; by the senses, austerity, or works he is not known. When the mind is cleansed by the grace of wisdom, he is seen by contemplation–the One without parts.

Hinduism. Mundaka Upanishad 3.1.8

The thing that is called Tao is eluding and vague. Vague and eluding, there is in it the form. Eluding and vague, in it are things. Deep and obscure, in it is the essence. The essence is very real; in it are evidences. From the time of old until now, its manifestations ever remain, By which we may see the beginnings of all things. How do I know that the beginnings of all things are so? Through this.

Taoism. Tao Te Ching 21

Confucius said, “The power of spiritual forces in the universe – how active it is everywhere! Invisible to the eyes and impalpable to the senses, it is inherent in all things, and nothing can escape its operation.”

It is the fact that there are these forces which make men in all countries fast and purify themselves, and with solemnity of dress institute services of sacrifice and religious worship. Like the rush of mighty waters, the presence of unseen Powers is felt; sometimes above us, sometimes around us. In the Book of Songs it is said,

The presence of the Spirit: It cannot be surmised, How may it be ignored!

Such is the evidence of things invisible that it is impossible to doubt the spiritual nature of man.

Confucianism. Doctrine of the Mean 16

We shall show then Our signs on the horizons and within themselves until it becomes clear to them that it is the Truth.

Islam. Qur’an 41.53

For what can be known about God is plain to [all], because God has showed it to them. Ever since the creation of the world His invisible nature, namely, His eternal power and deity, has been clearly perceived in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse [non-believers].

Christianity. Bible, Romans 1.19-20

All human beings are looking for happiness in life and trying hard to avoid misfortune (anything that’s opposite to happiness).

From our daily life to the large public events that shape the course of history, we can notice many expressions of the human aspiration for ever greater happiness.

Why would pursuing happiness be so difficult? Aren’t happiness suppose to come naturally to everyone?

The First of the Buddha’s Four Noble Truths is that human existence is suffering, or ill (Pali dukkha), which connotes the idea of an illness generated by the self through its false attachments. Often this condition is described by the metaphor of a universal fire engulfing the world.

In Hinduism, the human lot of samsara is to go through an endless cycle of death and rebirth, conditioned by nature (the gunas) and rooted in the results of past actions. This is likened to a universal tree, turned upside-down, whose roots and branches trace the sequences of actions (karma) back to the beginning of time: the whole of it is suffering.

In Christianity, the doctrine of Original Sin conveys a similar idea: Humans are, by their fallen condition, cut off from God and hence unable to fulfill the true purpose of life. We may try to be good, but in spite of our best efforts, we miss the mark. Original Sin, like the Hindu notion of samsara, is understood to be a condition perpetuated throughout the generations of humankind.

“The Noble Truth of Suffering is this: Birth is suffering; aging is suffering; sickness is suffering; death is suffering; sorrow and lamentation, pain, grief, and despair are suffering; association with the unpleasant is suffering; dissociation from the pleasant is suffering; not to get what one wants is suffering–in brief, the five aggregates of attachment are suffering.”

(Buddhism. Samyutta Nikaya lvi.11: Setting in Motion the Wheel of Truth)

“I look at what ordinary people find happiness in, what they all make a mad dash for, racing around as though they couldn’t stop–they all say they’re happy with it. I’m not happy with it and I’m not unhappy with it. In the end, is there really happiness or isn’t there?”

(Taoism. Chuang Tzu 18)

“If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.”

(Christianity. 1 John 1.8)

Source: from the book of Andrew Wilson “World Scripture”

Read more: World Scripture: A Comparative Anthology of Sacred Texts

Until now, many scholars have held that the Hebrew Bible originated in the 6th century B.C., because Hebrew writing was thought to stretch back no further. But the newly deciphered Hebrew text is about four centuries older, scientists announced this month.

“It indicates that the Kingdom of Israel already existed in the 10th century BCE and that at least some of the biblical texts were written hundreds of years before the dates presented in current research…

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For almost a century science has been misused to “prove” that God does not exist. These “scientific” prove has been used to defend a legal and political base for a godless ideologies like communism.

Now is truly a new beginning. The science cannot ignore any longer the Intelligent Design of the universe and existence of God as the Cause and the Designer. It is time for us to catch up with what it is to know more about the real life, the Life with God.

“Betterment of conditions around the world is not essentially dependent on scientific knowledge but on the fulfillment of human traditions and ideals” (Albert Einstein)

Since ancient times religions have consistently provided people with ideals and traditions to guide them towards an Eternal life of joy and happiness. However, ideals and traditions have constantly being updated through new revelations from God. From dark lawless times before 10 commandments, to times of Moses’s Law “eye for eye” and “love your neighbor and hate your enemy”, to times of Jesus’ advise “love your enemy” and “forgive and turn the other cheek”. We can see in human history a constant evolution of ideals and traditions.

Think about the ideals you share and traditions you follow. What is their final destination? Are they based on the vision of ideal world where everyone treated as God’s child, has equal rights and opportunities? Or are they some outdated ideals and traditions, which promise benefits of salvation and eternal life to only an exclusive group of people? If so, such future cannot possibly be realized, since True God wants everyone to be god’s child and does not plan leaving anyone behind in “eternal suffering”.

Ideals and traditions therefore can be compared to a house. They help to raise and protect us when we are small and naive. But when we become mature adults it’s our turn to take part in the maintenance, repair and even remodeling of the house, to accommodate a new and greater vision of God’s Dream for Humankind.

What would be the point to hang on to the outdated ideals and traditions if they are not benefiting us any more? Just like when salt looses it’s taste, you have to replace it with a fresh one, or you will spoil your meal. And when your clothes wear out, you would go and buy new ones to look pleasing to everyone’s eyes.

Don’t be afraid to get taste and feel for new ideas, ideals and traditions. That is what intended for us, if we want to arrive at the place of eternal joy and happiness inside our heart as well as in the world around us. If we want to experience Real and  not a “traditional” God.