My Relationship with God

In Descartes’ Meditations, which has had the greatest influence on my system of thought, the relationship between humans and God is explored.

Descartes bases his philosophy on the “Cartesian mind.” The Cartesian mind is a mind free from preconceptions, detached from the senses, pure, independent of experience, connected to God, and a priori—existing prior to experience. Thus, the central theme of Descartes’ Meditations begins with the doubt—Is what I see and feel actually true? (also known as the method of skepticism)—leading to an awareness of human limitations and a turn inward to reflect on oneself.

Possessing a divided self—one subject to the senses, doubt, and opinions—I wish to find a firm and unchanging truth, so I once again doubt what I currently believe to be true. Thus, I sever the connection between the external world and my mind, enter my inner self, and contemplate myself. This is the prerequisite for pure insight.

Next, I attempt to refute what I believe to be true. Then, my second self—the doubting self—re-examines the reasons and principles behind my belief that I am right. I investigate the source of the knowledge I claim to possess. I become two selves: the self that knows through the senses, and another self that doubts the self dependent on the senses.

Then, a third self emerges—one that re-examines this second, doubting self—a self that seeks certainty. This third self is convinced that there is a “me” who knows that nothing is certain. Thus, the third self knows that while nothing in the world is certain, my mind—the doubting self—definitely exists. It also realizes that, as a finite being, I have limitations.

Here, I become the object of thought, and the third self observes me from a transcendent vantage point. What makes this possible is my reliance on God. It is precisely through God that I perceive objects and recognize myself. This is because the only reason I, as a finite being, can perceive objects is that the infinite God guarantees it. Therefore, as I engage in the activity of knowing while eliminating the parts of myself that are subject to doubt, I can be certain of the existence of my self; that knowledge is ultimately guaranteed by God, and it is because God exists that I can know with certainty.

The reason we have no choice but to rely on God is that we are finite beings who can never become infinite. A finite being can never know the truth. This is also discussed in Augustine’s Confessions. The moment I realize that I am a finite being, I become aware of my dependence on the Infinite and come to know God’s infinity. A finite being can never know the truth. Therefore, Descartes concludes: Although humans have limitations as finite beings, if God vouches for it, my perception becomes infallible; this is because humans originally exist within God, so even if we have strayed from God, if we turn back toward Him and return to Him, we can engage in true reasoning.

I exist to think, and I rely entirely on God for that act of thinking. Because I am a finite being—far too weak and small to ever become God or know the true truth—I dwell in God even today.

01/01/2020 by Dr. Lan Joo