Buddhists will say they do not believe in God. But what they are actually trying, is to become God. Something eternal. Something outside this reality. The void.

Reality is beyond comprehension.

The self is not above. The self is down there below. That hurt child. That is you. And the managers (one of them is Buddha), and the firefighters (in IFS terminology), are trying to do their job to protect you. Not above. Below. At the basement you are. Talk to angels. Talk to demons. Talk to managers, and firefighters. They are doing their best.

Maybe.

Maybe not.