“Learning when young is like carving in rock.”
This common expression, deeply rooted in Arab culture, emphasizes the fragility and impressionability of young minds. As children, we absorb the world around us like sponges, and that includes absorbing the abstract and profound concept of God. These early impressions often become deeply etched in our consciousness, shaping how we perceive and relate to the divine throughout our lives. The stories we hear, the images we’re shown, and the lessons imparted about God solidify as we grow. Consequently, some of us come to see God as a loving, omniscient force, while others may inherit a perception of God as judgmental or punitive.
But as we evolve, gaining new experiences and wisdom, shouldn’t our understanding of the divine evolve as well? Unfortunately, many of us remain locked in the concepts of God that we were taught as children, never questioning or re-examining these early definitions that may no longer serve us.
Anthropomorphizing the Divine
One of the most persistent misconceptions that often lingers from childhood is the tendency to anthropomorphize God—to attribute human characteristics and emotions to the divine. While this makes the idea of God more accessible to the human mind, it also introduces limitations. By projecting our thoughts, emotions, and behaviors onto God, we reduce the divine to a mere reflection of ourselves, a distorted image filtered through the lens of human frailty.
For instance, if we believe that God gets angry like we do, or becomes jealous and plays favorites, we begin to view God as a being who punishes or rewards based on human-like emotions. This anthropomorphized perception distorts the divine’s essence, leading us to approach our spirituality through guilt, fear, and inadequacy. Instead of fostering a nurturing connection with the divine, we approach God as though we must earn approval or avoid displeasure—much like seeking the favor of a temperamental figure of authority.
This reductionist view can be spiritually stifling. It prevents us from seeing God as an ultimate source of wisdom, compassion, and transcendence, far beyond the limitations of human emotions. If our relationship with the divine is filtered through such narrow, human lenses, we end up creating barriers between ourselves and spiritual growth, perpetuating unhealthy cycles of guilt, fear, and estrangement.
“Naught in the universe is like Him. He is All-Hearing, All-Seeing.” Quran 42-11
The Need to Rethink Childhood Perceptions
In my novel, A Pyramid Builder, I explore this struggle through the protagonist, who experiences a profound disconnection from prayer and the divine. His difficulty stems not from a lack of faith but from the inherited, false narratives about God that linger from his childhood. Prayer, for him, became associated with punishment rather than communion; he saw it as an obligation rather than a spiritual conversation. These misperceptions, born in childhood, prevented him from accessing the deeper, more meaningful connection he sought with the almighty.
This narrative highlights an essential truth: as we grow older, it’s vital to re-examine the lessons we were taught as children, especially regarding profound concepts like God. We must question whether these early ideas still hold relevance in our lives or whether they limit us, preventing us from seeing the broader, more expansive nature of the divine. Not every lesson learned in childhood is true or complete—why, then, should our early perceptions of God be exempt from re-evaluation?
Much like we shed outdated views on other aspects of life, we must also be willing to shed outdated or limiting views of the divine. Our childhood notions may have been comforting or simple, but they may not encompass the richness, depth, and mystery that an adult understanding of God requires. As we mature, we are called to embrace a more expansive view—one that allows for mystery, compassion, and a God that transcends the limits of human emotion and thought.
Expanding Our Understanding of the Divine
Redefining or expanding our concept of God requires a willingness to move beyond the familiar and comfortable childhood narratives that may have shaped us. It’s an act of courage to question whether these ideas still serve our spiritual growth, or whether they confine us within human biases. God is not limited by our understanding, but we often confine the divine to the limits of our own perception.
When we release the anthropomorphic tendencies and embrace the divine’s true transcendence, we open ourselves up to a relationship with God that is more meaningful, empowering, and fulfilling. This doesn’t mean rejecting what we were taught as children, but expanding those ideas to include the divine mystery—recognizing that God may be far more compassionate, wise, and loving than our human minds can comprehend.
By allowing ourselves to evolve in our understanding of the divine, we create space for a relationship with God that fosters spiritual growth, rather than one based on fear or limitation. Instead of viewing prayer as a punishment or obligation, we can see it as an opportunity for connection. Instead of approaching God as a being to be feared, we can approach the divine as a source of love and wisdom that transcends the human experience.
A Call for Spiritual Evolution
The ideas we inherit about God in childhood are powerful, but they are not immutable. As we journey through life, we must be willing to revisit, question, and expand those early notions to reflect the wisdom and maturity we gain along the way. Just as our views on life, love, and purpose evolve, so too must our understanding of God.
The divine is not a reflection of human limitations, nor is it confined to the simplistic images of our youth. By allowing our concept of God to evolve, we can cultivate a deeper, more authentic relationship with the divine—one that transcends fear, guilt, and outdated perceptions, and embraces a vision of God as an infinite source of love, wisdom, and mystery.
In the end, to grow spiritually is to continuously seek a fuller understanding of the divine, shedding the constraints of childhood perceptions and embracing the profound complexity that lies beyond.
Phenomenal!!