23) GRANDPA’S BELIEFS

• Having thoroughly read the Bible from cover to cover, I hold firm to the belief that the story of Jesus Christ epitomizes the perfect embodiment of a man filled with perfect love. He is not only my hero, but also my savior, Messiah, Lord, and God. If any evolutionist can believe in God, then so can I.

• I am convinced that an infinite intelligence permeates the entirety of the universe, and that the Bible is divinely inspired by this boundless intelligence. While the Bible is indeed inspired by God, it mustn't all be interpreted literally, as certain parts are conveyed through allegorical or parable form. For instance, the narrative of creation featuring Adam and Eve may contain allegorical elements alongside literal truths.

• Furthermore, I perceive the universe as a living entity unto itself, with an infinite intelligence at its core. Much like a seed that unfolds from perfect singularity (0) into an infinite living cosmos, only to cycle back to a state of perfect singularity, the universe undergoes a continuous process of recycling. God exists within the universe, yet transcends it. This cyclical nature of the universe, recognized by many religions, is echoed in the Bible's references to a new heaven and a new earth. Perhaps, this signifies a deeper understanding of the universe's recycling process, attainable through the marriage of science and religion.

• In essence, God—the Holy Trinity—is one: Yahweh (the Father), Jesus Christ (the Son), and the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit represents that aspect of God which flows through the universe, communicating with us through a still, small voice—if only we would heed it. My personal moral foundation is shaped by what I refer to as The Three Great Moral Codes of the Bible: The Ten Commandments, the Two Great Commandments articulated by Christ as God's directives, and the Golden Rule.