What is life's priority... Is it knowing or loving God... and is either really possible?

I recently read an article by Dan Peterson, "Reason, Experience, and the Existence of God."

In the article he addresses the question of how to come to know and love God. In doing he juxtaposes two answers to the question: "what is our first duty" or "what is the greatest commandment"

Is it:

"Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself."

Or is our first duty to God:

"Speculative reasoning which leads to knowledge of God, because He is not known intuitively or by the senses. Thus, He must be known by reflection and speculation."

Who or what is God? If the first priority is to love God and if God is not currently self-evident then the first priority is to know who it is you need to love. Put another way, someone might say that in a marriage, loving your spouse is your first priority. If you're not yet married then it clearly isn't. Your first task is finding and knowing that spouse before you can love them. So too with loving God.

The two questions above aren't really an either/or proposition. Clearly we need to conclude who God is before we can consider loving God. Whether through logic or intuition, religion invites us to know God. While many religions teach that God is a multifaceted being it seems people discover him/her/it/them in many ways, or rather only discover certain aspects or facets of him (for convenience, I'll stick with 'him').

Whether he chooses the particular aspects of himself that he wants us to discover or whether we simply select characteristics to build gods in our own image is still a question I don't have a conclusive answer to. Ultimately, it seems that neither logic nor intuition is an effective method for knowing the "true" nature of God because the process leads to so many 1000s of contradictory definitions, certainties and conclusions. To take one simple and relatively non-confrontational example, does God a body or not? He can't have both a body and not have a body. It must be one or the other. Whichever it is, millions of sincere truth seekers have used both or either logic and to reach conclusions that are in opposition. Both methods are proven unreliable by nature of the fact that both methods lead to contradictory conclusions.

Instead, it seems to me, that either logic or intuition only provide the "useful" picture or description of God. Perhaps, when we come to know and love God, we are really being guided, by ourselves or by God, to love something in or about ourselves.

Some of the interesting conclusions in the book 'How God changes your brain' is that how you see God activates or rewards certain parts of your brain, depending on your perception of him (or her/it/them). The authors' theory suggests to me that an influence on how we see God is from how we are predisposed to see him. In other words, the part of our brain that is most active or most seeking to be activated could be having an influence in how we ultimately perceive and then love God. Perhaps we are really learning to love an aspect of ourselves. I'm not saying that's a solely organic, internal process. It's quite possibly being guided by a divine external influence.

Whichever it is, it seems that neither logic nor intuition ultimately take us to a state of really "knowing" and instead guides us to state of "being." Given the fruit of "being" is widely and vastly different I return to my conclusion that the exploration of "who is God," through logic or intuition leads is to that which is useful, not that which is established to be true.

As such, the rest of the article seems a little redundant. It's arguing between two methods of "knowing" despite the fact that neither method can demonstrably lead to an absolute knowledge of what is absolutely true. It can lead to personal certainty, which we might describe as knowledge, but it really, at best, only leads to certainty.

I don't agree with Qadi ‘Abd al-Jabbar that, "Knowledge of God can only be gained by speculation with rational argument" But I'm not sure that intuition is a more effective alternative.

Talking of intuition, or revelation, as a source for knowing Dan Peterson says, "...even if we doubt that such a revelation has ever actually been received by anybody anywhere, we can easily conceive (at least in principle) of a divine self-disclosure so powerful that it would eliminate all doubt and essentially, at least for the recipient herself, render further intellectual investigation of the question of God’s existence rather frivolous."

The key to this statement is: "at least for the recipient." The experience of Blaise Pascal coming to know God is beautifully articulated: "Certitude, certitude, feeling, joy, peace."

This is really the crux of the matter. Coming to know God, particularly coming to know him through intuition, is not a matter of knowing, it's a matter of reaching personal certitude and personal peace.

Peterson goes on to give some good arguments for intuition or spiritual revelation being a far better source of knowing God than logic and reason. If a choice has to be made between the two, I can agree that intuition is a better way of coming to an understanding or conclusion of who God is and how we should love him. Logic and reason alone don't seem to be a viable way of coming to know something or someone that is so intangible and uncertain. But that doesn't mean that God should be illogical and unreasonable.

C.S. Lewis is quoted as asking, "...are we sure that He is even interested in the kind of Theism which would be a compelled logical assent to a conclusive argument?" Firstly, I would paraphrase Lewis to ask the question, "... are we sure that He is...?" If one answers "Yes," "I think so" or even "I hope so" then it would be nice to think that this conclusion of God was also logical.

I agree with Peterson's conclusion that "(r)evelation... should never be detached from rationality." I don't, however, see that even the combination of these approaches leads to anything conclusive beyond a personal perspective.

Peterson talks of the Search for Extra-Terrestrial Life (SETI) and the desire to receive radio signals for a third party source to prove, conclusively, that we are not alone in the universe. Receiving such a radio signal would prove the existence of extra-terrestrial life. "Just as," Peterson suggests, "an unmistakable revelation directly from God would render every debate about his existence moot."

This is an unfair comparison. A radio signal could be examined and tested by multiple third parties. There would be a single transmission with multiple opportunities to evaluate it and examine it. Not so with "unmistakable revelation directly from God." There are 1000s of examples of people claiming this... and yet no-one has yet produced a revelation from God that is truly unmistakable. No-one has offered a revelation that can be evaluated and examined under consistent circumstances by a third party.

Here are seven different examples of religious "radio transmissions." They are first quoted with the religious cues removed. Later they are quoted without redaction, but I think it's important to first read them without knowing the religion, scripture or deity they "know" the truth of:

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1) "I asked <DEITY NAME> for a sign to show that the <RELIGION NAME> has the whole truth...
One day, I was sitting under a tree, thinking deeply. I was trying to recall some <BOOK OF SCRIPTURE> verses on <DOCTRINE> and praying about a doubt that I had. Suddenly, a miracle happened to me. It was like a light that I could not exactly figure out. It shone on me and took away the doubt in my mind. It seemed that the darkness in my mind was lifted. The <DOCTRINE>, which I could not at first accept, suddenly became very clear me. I could then accept it with my mind and heart. Since that incident, each time I read the <BOOK OF SCRIPTURE>, that former opinion to oppose and the refusal to believe and accept were gone. Today I believe <DOCTRINE>.
...Now I know and am confident that this is the end of my search for the whole truth. I thank <DEITY NAME> for answering my prayer and giving me a sign. I have found the whole truth of my <RELIGIOUS OBJECTIVE>. Glory be given to <DEITY NAME>. <RELIGIOUS EXPRESSION>!!" 

2) "I had the feeling of waking up, as if all my previous life I had been asleep. The printed words on the page of the book seemed like the surface of a vast and fathomless ocean of truth and wisdom. Whatever it was, I knew that it was completely true and infallible. Therefore the author must also be true and infallible. The <DESCRIPTOR> book, which I still have, was <BOOK OF SCRIPTURE>." 

3) "In mid-August of 1969, I humbly knelt in the shadows behind my barracks and prayed. I told <DEITY NAME> that I had read the book that <RELIGION NAME> say is from Him. I admitted that there were some good things in it and that I wanted to know if it was true.
I closed my prayer in <DEITY NAME>. No sooner had I done so than I received the most powerful witness that I have ever experienced. It was not the answer I was seeking. But I had asked, and now I knew. <RELIGION NAME> was the only true church on the earth! I knew it; <RELIGIOUS EXPRESSION>."

4) "I will never forget <RELIGIOUS PRACTICE>. At 17 I read <BOOK OF SCRIPTURE>. But not only did I read it I thought about it's beautiful teachings of <DEITY NAME>. I then prayed sincerely to <DEITY NAME>. I asked him for that confirmation that <BOOK OF SCRIPTURE> was true. I will never forget the sweet, humbling answer that came. I knew <DEITY NAME> loved me and I knew that Yes <DOCTRINE>.  ...<DOCTRINE>. <DOCTRINE>, it's tangible. It's for everyone!  ...My testimony is real. It's mine, I have forged it out of the fire. It makes me really happy!!" 

5) "After months of study and research I could not deny the truth anymore. I had put it off too long, but was still living the life I had before, and knew that if I became a <RELIGION NAME> I had to give all that up. One day while reading <BOOK OF SCRIPTURE>, I began to cry and fell to my knees and thanked <DEITY NAME> for guiding me to the truth. I found out that there was a <RELIGIOUS BUILDING> by my house so I went one <RELIGIOUS DAY> to see how <RELIGION NAME> prayed and conducted their service... A man got up and began to <PRAY>. When I heard it my eyes filled up with tears because it sounded so beautiful. It was all so strange at first, but seemed so right at the same time. <RELIGION NAME> is not just a religion but a way of life." 

6) "As I was skeptical of anything other than the Bible, time passed before I actually began reading <BOOK OF SCRIPTURE>...  I began with <SECTION OF BOOK OF SCRIPTURE> and quickly read to where <DOCTRINE>. I was blown away. I had never heard of the things I was reading; I didn't even know that <DOCTRINE>. I already knew and loved <DESCRIPTION OF DEITY>, but through <BOOK OF SCRIPTURE> I began to fall in love with <DESCRIPTION OF DEITY>. Still, I was not convinced that <BOOK OF SCRIPTURE> was really true; I fought with my old mental tapes regarding the infallibility of the Bible - 'Thou shalt not add to...,' etc. My old beliefs were being challenged.
I put <BOOK OF SCRIPTURE> down for several months, and then a devastating thing happened. My father died in a truck/train accident on May 1, 1980. After the initial shock and grief, I was angry that <DEITY NAME> would take my father at this time of his life; he hadn't even been able to retire! Then I started reading <SECTION OF BOOK OF SCRIPTURE>. The peace I felt after reading them convinced me that the teachings in the book were genuine. They were too beautiful to be anything else.
Since then I have grown enough in understanding to realize that <DOCTRINE ABOUT DEITY NAME>. I know that my earthly father's soul <AFTERLIFE DOCTRINE>. I need not worry about his salvation. Most comforting of all, I believe that as soon as I get to <AFTERLIFE NAME> I shall see my father in person." 

7) "She told me she had come across a book that I might like, though she herself could not understand it.  [the friend tells of <BOOK OF SCRIPTURE>'s divine origin]  ...Something inside me knew that was true and I wrote down the name of the book... 

I found myself thinking about <DEITY NAME> and what little time I had given to learning about him. Suddenly, the room was filled with a warm and glowing light. I felt so strange, as if I had received the gift of faith right at that moment, as if I had been 'born again.'

...I came home and had such tremendous urges - to read <BOOK OF SCRIPTURE>, to join a church, to learn everything I could. I called different churches at random, went to the library, and got some books on <RELIGIOUS LEADER>, <BOOK OF SCRIPTURE>, world religions, <BOOK OF SCRIPTURE>, even <BOOK OF SCRIPTURE>.
That same day I called <RELIGIOUS CONTACT> and told him how I felt. He suggested I read <RELIGIOUS SCRIPTURE> but to start with <SECTION OF BOOK OF SCRIPTURE> this time. I read for about five hours without stopping and <RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE> I knew that every word I was reading was the truth. It was exciting to finally believe in something, to have faith in <DEITY NAME>!"

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I wonder how many people could read those and identify the religious scriptures and "radio signals" that delivered those experiences and certainties? Certain expressions, even after redacting, might sound familiar to a practiotioner of one religion or another. We naturally develop certain idioms that are recognisable. Outside of those, the overall conclusions and experiences, from multiple different religious practices, seem very consistent.

Before reading on, try to compare whether the personal "radio signals" are significantly different in method or conclusion.

Here are the quotes in full:

1) "I asked the Lord Jesus Christ for a sign to show that the True Jesus Church has the whole truth...
One day, I was sitting under a tree, thinking deeply. I was trying to recall some Bible verses on baptism and praying about a doubt that I had. Suddenly, a miracle happened to me. It was like a light that I could not exactly figure out. It shone on me and took away the doubt in my mind. It seemed that the darkness in my mind was lifted. The doctrine on infant baptism, which I could not at first accept, suddenly became very clear me. I could then accept it with my mind and heart. Since that incident, each time I read the Bible, that former opinion to oppose and the refusal to believe and accept were gone. Today I believe that infants must be baptized in order to be saved.
...Now I know and am confident that this is the end of my search for the whole truth. I thank the Lord Jesus Christ for answering my prayer and giving me a sign. I have found the whole truth of my salvation. Glory be given to the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Hallelujah!!"
Religion: True Jesus Church (Source) 

2)"I had the feeling of waking up, as if all my previous life I had been asleep. The printed words on the page of the book seemed like the surface of a vast and fathomless ocean of truth and wisdom. Whatever it was, I knew that it was completely true and infallible. Therefore the author must also be true and infallible. The small red book, which I still have, was The Hidden Words."
Religion: Baha'i (Source)  

3) "In mid-August of 1969, I humbly knelt in the shadows behind my barracks and prayed. I told God that I had read the book that Latter-day Saints say is from Him. I admitted that there were some good things in it and that I wanted to know if it was true.
I closed my prayer in the Savior’s name. No sooner had I done so than I received the most powerful witness that I have ever experienced. It was not the answer I was seeking. But I had asked, and now I knew. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was the only true church on the earth! I knew it; I dared not deny it."
Religion: LDS (Source) 

4) "I will never forget putting Moroni's challenge to the test. At 17 I read the Book of Mormon. But not only did I read it I thought about it's beautiful teachings of the Savior. I then prayed sincerely to my Heavenly Father. I asked him for that confirmation that the Book of Mormon was true. I will never forget the sweet, humbling answer that came. I knew my Heavenly Father loved me and I knew that Yes I can live with my family forever.  ...I have a Savior. Forgiveness is real, it's tangible. It' for everyone!  ...My testimony is real. It's mine, I have forged it out of the fire. It makes me really happy!!"
Religion: LDS (Source) 

 5) "After months of study and research I could not deny the truth anymore. I had put it off too long, but was still living the life I had before, and knew that if I became a Muslim I had to give all that up. One day while reading the Qur'an, I began to cry and fell to my knees and thanked Allah for guiding me to the truth. I found out that there was a Mosque by my house so I went one Friday to see how Muslims prayed and conducted their service... A man got up and began to call the Adthan (call for prayer). When I heard it my eyes filled up with tears because it sounded so beautiful. It was all so strange at first, but seemed so right at the same time. Islam is not just a religion but a way of life."
Religion: Islam (Source)

6) "As I was skeptical of anything other than the Bible, time passed before I actually began reading The Urantia Book...  I began with 'The Life and Teachings of Jesus,' and quickly read to where Jesus had reached the age of 23. I was blown away. I had never heard of the things I was reading; I didn't even know that Jesus had brothers and sisters. I already knew and loved the divine Jesus, the Son of God, but through The Urantia Book I began to fall in love with the human Jesus, the Son of Man. Still, I was not convinced that The Urantia Book was really true; I fought with my old mental tapes regarding the infallibility of the Bible - 'Thou shalt not add to...,' etc. My old beliefs were being challenged.
I put The Urantia Book down for several months, and then a devastating thing happened. My father died in a truck/train accident on May 1, 1980. After the initial shock and grief, I was angry that God would take my father at this time of his life; he hadn't even been able to retire! Then I started reading the mansion world papers. The peace I felt after reading them convinced me that the teachings in the book were genuine. They were too beautiful to be anything else.
Since then I have grown enough in understanding to realize that God does not take our loved ones, that the accidents of time just happen. I know that my earthly father's soul had plenty of 'mercy credits'. I need not worry about his salvation. Most comforting of all, I believe that as soon as I get to the mansion worlds I shall see my father in person."
Religion: Uranthian (Source)  

7) "She told me she had come across a book that I might like, though she herself could not understand it.  [the friend tells of the Urantia Book's divine origin]  ...Something inside me knew that was true and I wrote down the name of the book...
 I found myself thinking about God and what little time I had given to learning about him. Suddenly, the room was filled with a warm and glowing light. I felt so strange, as if I had received the gift of faith right at that moment, as if I had been 'born again.'
...I came home and had such tremendous urges - to read The Bible, to join a church, to learn everything I could. I called different churches at random, went to the library, and got some books on Edgar Cayce, the Dead Sea Scrolls, world religions, The Koran, even The Talmud.
That same day I called Mr. Dychko and told him how I felt. He suggested I read The Urantia Book but to start with the Jesus section this time. I read for about five hours without stopping and my Thought Adjuster must have responded because I knew that every word I was reading was the truth. It was exciting to finally believe in something, to have faith in God!"
Religion: Uranthian (Source) 

All of the above are seven of several hundred personal testimonies from dozens of different faiths collected on Testimonies of Other Faiths.

While all of those divine "radio transmission" have lead the individual to a level of certainty, none of them are conclusive beyond the recipient. If God is the source of all of those radio transmissions, then apparently he is comfortable telling people contradictory messages. He his happy teaching truth and untruth. If some of those transmissions are correct and the others are simply personal, but not divine, experiences, then whole method is flawed. Peterson claims that "certainly an indubitable and spectacular revelation would obviate the need for secular, rational proofs." Unfortunately religion, in its entire multi-millennial history, has never produced an "indubitable" transmission. It may be that the "recipient of that revelation" feel an absolute certainty - enough to entirely remove personal doubt but it bears no resemblance to a true radio signal that can be experienced and evaluated under the same circumstances by multiple different people.

In the end, knowing God and therefore loving God, becomes an entirely subjective and personal experience. Whether that understanding and therefore love of God comes through logical or intuitive methods seems immaterial.

Perhaps the whole question of knowing and loving God becomes such a subjective and intangible pursuit that it gets in the way of the second advice in Jesus' commandment - loving ones neighbour. Perhaps it's even more difficult if that neighbour's process of reaching a conclusion about God leads to such a strongly contradictory conclusion that loving the neighbour becomes difficult. Perhaps, in the end, discovering the best way to know and love humanity has far greater merit than the unreliable pursuit of creating an intangible and often contradictory image of God.