The Wooden Boat and the Boundless Ocean: In Search of Truth Beyond Our Mental Image of God
Undoubtedly, one of the most profound questions humanity has faced since the dawn of history is the concept of God. But have you ever considered that the image you hold of God in your mind might be entirely different from someone else’s? This article explores this very fascinating distinction: the difference between our “personal God” and His transcendent reality.
My God: A Construct of the Human Mind
The image that each individual nurtures in their mind of God is their “My God.” This image is a construct built from religious teachings, personal experiences, societal culture, and even individual fears and desires. Psychologists of religion believe this mental image often reflects the individual’s relationship with their parents or authority figures in life. For example, if a person experienced unconditional affection in childhood, they might nurture an image of a kind and forgiving God. This “My God” provides a cognitive and emotional framework that makes understanding the concept of the infinite possible for our finite minds. In other words, this image is like a wooden boat that helps us cross the boundless ocean of truth. This boat is essential for the journey, but it is a mistake to equate it with the ocean itself.
The Parable of the Elephant in the Dark Room: Why My God Differs from Your God
The problem begins when we consider our “My God” to be the only correct and complete image of God. This is where the ancient and eloquent parable of the elephant in the dark room becomes relevant. In this parable, different people in a dark room touch different parts of an elephant: one feels a pillar-like base (the leg), another a cold fan (the tusk), and a third a thin rope (the tail). Each provides a completely different description of the elephant based on what they touched and vehemently insists on their own correctness. We are no different when facing the boundless truth of God. Each of us touches only a small part of this truth with our small hands of perception: one emphasizes His justice, another His endless mercy, and a third His majesty and grandeur. When we mistake this small part for the entire truth, conflict and strife begin. This divergence of images is the root of many religious disputes and also the feeling of spiritual loneliness in humans.
Beyond the Image: Towards a Singular Truth
So, should we completely abandon our mental image of God? The answer is no. Our spiritual journey is not about destroying “My God,” but about recognizing its limitations. The goal is to move from the “God of the tribe and the self” towards the “God of all.” We must cultivate the courage to let go of the wooden boat of our minds and surrender ourselves to the current of the ocean of existence. This transition requires accepting that God cannot be confined to any limited mental image or framework. The same Being who simultaneously hears the prayer of a grieving mother and allows illness and suffering to exist in the world is beyond any description or definition. This recognition liberates us from dogmatism (mental rigidity) and guides us towards a deeper and broader experience of the sacred. This is where the true journey of spirituality begins—a journey from image to reality, from concept to presence.
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Resources and References
1. Shojaei, Mohammad Sadegh. (2016). Psychology of Religion: A Look at the Psychological Mechanisms of Religious Belief. Tehran: Research Center of Hawzeh and University Publications.
2. Hakim Soleimani, Mohsen. (2019). The Parable of the Elephant in the Darkness and the Problem of Religious Pluralism. Scientific-Research Quarterly Journal of Religions and Mysticism, 52(1), 45-62.
3. Motahhari, Morteza. (1999). Divine Justice. Qom: Sadra Publications. (For discussion on divine justice and mercy in contrast to the existence of evil).
از خدا ناباوری تا خداگونگی, [10/23/2025 6:56 AM]
4. Zarrinkoob, Abdolhossein. (2011). The Value of the Sufi Heritage. Tehran: Amir Kabir Publications. (For understanding the viewpoint of mystics on the transcendence of God’s truth).
5. Jung, Carl Gustav. (2013). Psychology and Religion (Translated by Fouad Ruhani). Tehran: Scientific and Cultural Publications. (For discussion on the God archetype in the collective unconscious).
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Footnotes:
· The term “Personal God” in this text refers to any image, concept, or mental belief that an individual holds as their own definition and description of God. This image is not necessarily incorrect, but it is incomplete and limited to individual experience and capacity.
· The parable of the elephant in the dark room has roots in the mystical and philosophical literature of Iran and India and has also been beautifully used in the poems of Rumi and other mystics.
