If I named God, I would name him more like a boat
than a dog, but more like a dog than a dead relative.
(Leslie Sainz, from “When I imitate myself, I am a number of certain people,” Poetry, January-February 2026)
The God I grew up with promises the wicked they’ll experience undying agony after they die. There’s a better post-death outlook for the non-wicked. By rights the godfearing fear God.
Is it possible to shop Gods? There’s a jealous God and an indulgent God. One personal and familiar, One high-and-mighty, stern but loving, vice versa. An almighty more-than-One, with many shapes or None, an ever-All-ness and back-of-Beyond-ness. There’s faith in a Her, in a Them, in the “primitive” God of the “savage,” and in ritual devoid of the divine altogether.
Capitalize what you will, it’s able to be rendered cult. Religion walks on water and rules the sky.
What about richness of possibility, plausibility, ineffability, of god -head and -hood and -lessness that’s conceivable or inconceivable, actual and latent, plural or unitary, unbelievable and doxological, above all supremely stateless? Does worship need sharp elbows?
(c) 2026 JMN — EthicalDative. All rights reserved
EthicalDative 
Another thoughtful and thought-provoking post Jim. II find it interesting to hear about the many spirits linked to country that guide indigenous Australians – probably the same for indigenous Americans I imagine. Perhaps that’s a good way to go? Sue
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I agree, Sue. There’s so much mystery in religion. It seems odd to tag anyone’s deity as “primitive,” though I’m not equipped to skate on this terrain. I wonder if “primordial” works any better?
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