This is most certainly the trickiest to write and understand. Not because it is too complicated or too simple. Simply, because the moment I say divinity, there are 10 different meanings and 100 different emotions attached to the idea.
I don't want this to be another speech on how there are a million beliefs and that universe is a complex situation, etc. In fact, I want to put divinity across as a breath of fresh air!
Let go of all judgements when you read this one. After all, there is something divine!
The concept of Divinity, as defined by dictionaries is something like this -
'The state or quality of being divine'
But then arises an even more important question. What is divine? To start with, from whatever little I've managed to understand, "Anything that is beyond the understanding of the human mind, is divine!"
Don't believe it?
Okay, let's think. I am going to list the 5 things that are classically accepted as divine.
1. Godrn2. The Universern3. Naturern4. Human Mindrn5. Mankind (Not even kidding!)
If you've paid close attention, all these five are beyond the understanding of the common mind.
Especially the last one! Every man struggles to understand a woman and vice versa! Although, jokes apart, man has always been the most divine creation. Or at least that's one fact, nobody ever contests.
The other four things, are divine for the same reasons. No matter how hard we try, we just can't answer the fundamental question regarding them!
• What/Who is God?
• What is the Universe? How big is it?
• What is Nature?
• How does the Human Mind work? (I am personally interested in this one!)
Now, many people may argue, that the working of the universe and the human mind can be found on the internet and any good textbook!
But I am not talking about the mechanical working! I am talking about the very fundamental form of the universe (which is called 'nothingness') and the human mind (which is called 'non-matter!).
Here it is also important to mention, that divinity has been greatly impacted (not necessarily in a positive way) by theories like the Darwin Theory of Human Evolution, which talks about the fact that man wasn't really a divine creation, but simply the next stage of evolution. We, (the apes with opposable thumbs!) were led into a new world and forced to look at divinity differently.
Some eminent scientist, once said, "What the Darwin Theory essentially did, was shake the very foundation upon which the human faith was founded. The empirical evidence supporting the theory, only adds fuel to the fire!"
This is true. For centuries, before Charles Darwin came up with his revolutionary theory, the divine laws were all that mattered. Nobody questioned and nobody doubted that there was any other possible explanation about the creation of Man. But our aim is to simply get a picture. So let's see what religions say about divinity.
Divinity in Religion
In the religious context, divinity is seen under three categories.
1. Entity:
The concept involves religious beliefs, where one person forms the central power and the whole religion follows the power. In such a scenario, divinity becomes the proper noun and so when we say, "The Divinity", we are actually talking about that singular God.
2. Divine Force or Power:
The divine force or the ultimate power, talks of a supreme energy or one being above all. This is what we witness in religions across the world which are polytheistic. When there is more than one person acting as a messenger or leader or face of a larger power. So in Christianity, Jesus was the son of God. God, being the father or the Holy father who governs the world. Similarly, in Hinduism, there are millions of Gods, but one Supreme Being or Paramatman (Sanskrit for Supreme Soul). In Islam, you find the Prophet being the messenger of Allah.
Like this various religions across the world, have different takes on divinity.
3. Mortality
This is the easiest to understand. The divine laws state that among mortals, some are capable of divine intervention and they are thus immortalised. So, all the Saints, Prophets, heroes, etc. are considered to be higher than the mere mortal.
There is a difference between mortals with divine powers and Deities, like the ones mentioned in the Entity concept. These mortals who attain divinity, are granted or chosen to be worshipped for their powers, which set them apart.
Understanding the position of Divinity in religion, is not something we can hope to do over a few pages. But we can come to the fair understanding that divinity is something that comes from within.
To end with, I would simply quote author Dan Brown, who in his book, The Da Vinci Code, wrote,
"What is human? What is Divine? Maybe... Human is Divine!"
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