Man’s Position in the Universe

MAN’S POSITION IN THE UNIVERSE The principle underlying the proper relationship between God and man is this: Man’s freedom ends where God’s domain begins. Social reformers and thinkers have concerned themselves with the relationship between one man and another. This relation is this: Every man is free as long as his freedom does not impinge on or interferes with the freedom of others. This concept can be conveyed through the following story: It is said that when America won political independence from Britain, a man came out of his house, wanting to celebrate his ‘freedom’. So he went out into the streets, waving his hands in glee. Then, suddenly, his hand hit another man’s nose. The second man got angry and said, “What foolishness is this? Why did you hit my nose?” The first man replied, “Today, America is free, and now I can do anything I like!” The second man retorted, “Brother, America may be free now, but your freedom ends where my nose begins.” This story clarifies the moral principle regulating the relationship between one person and another. However, as far as the issue of the relationship between man and God is concerned, man has not been able to properly discover it through his efforts.