Define God

[HummingbirdSong]

How is it that you define "God?"

What attributes do you give to "God." What is "God" responsible for or not responsible for?

Is there only one "God?"

 

[NiamhDhabolt]

(1)How is it that you define "God?"

(2)What attributes do you give to "God." (3)What is "God" responsible for or not responsible for?

(4) Is there only one "God?"

(1) "God" to me is the psychic/spiritual energy that is all around and in all of us. Spirit (what I call it) connects us all, but at the same time has a distinct portion that is just him/her/it, if that makes sense.

(2) I believe Spirit is a balanced being. It is Light/Dark, Masculine/Feminine, God/Goddess, Beautiful/Ugly, Loving/Hateful, etc etc etc.

(3) I dont know, and I'm ok with that. I dont know if Spirit created the world or if Spirit was created. I'm not sure if Spirit has any responsibilities or even if it's a thinking being... I go back and forth on that one. Maybe Spirit was created and then started creating. I dont know what Spirit's responsibilities are (if there are any), but I do know that we are all responsible for ourselves and I dont think Spirit "makes" us do anything that we dont want to do.

(4) Hmm... in a sense. As I said, Spirit is balanced. It is both Masculine and Feminine... what I call the God and Goddess, respectively. The God and Goddess have different aspects to eachother and can be seen as several deities. Spirit is one being, yet billions at the same time. I dont like to pin my belief down to "monotheistic", "duotheistic", "polytheistic", or any other version. Spirit presents itself to us how we feel comfortable.

I hope those answers were sufficient enough!

 

[HummingbirdSong]

I hope those answers were sufficient enough!

Sufficient and beautifully put. Thank you!

 

[HummingbirdSong]

Oh...and I'd love to hear more input on this, from any and all religions.

 

[Isis-Astoroth]

My god isn't a creator (too complicated to explain why now). He didn't magic the world into existence, he didn't give humans fire, and he hasn't helped write any book meant to lead people. My god is less the divine, and more the real. He is the inspiration for things that people do for themselves. He is less about sex and drink and drugs, and more about choice and knowledge. I do not guess about gender, because I believe he probably has no gender, but even if he did I don't think that would probably make much of a difference to how I would view him, or the way he is.
In my view, he is responsible for nothing, we are responsible for ourselves, and nature is responsible for the way it acts.
It's too complicated to speak of things in the terms of good and evil, monotheistic and polytheistic. One thing governs it all, no need to split it up.

 

[HummingbirdSong]

My god isn't a creator (too complicated to explain why now). He didn't magic the world into existence, he didn't give humans fire, and he hasn't helped write any book meant to lead people. My god is less the divine, and more the real. He is the inspiration for things that people do for themselves. He is less about sex and drink and drugs, and more about choice and knowledge. I do not guess about gender, because I believe he probably has no gender, but even if he did I don't think that would probably make much of a difference to how I would view him, or the way he is.
It's too complicated to speak of things in the terms of good and evil, monotheistic and polytheistic. One thing governs it all, no need to split it up.

I actually understood all that.

 

[ravenscape]

It's no doubt a sign of laziness, but I don't usually try to define the Divine. The only attribute that I'm fairly certain of is that the Divine is immanent in the universe, or at least this corner of it. I don't hold God or Gods responsible for keeping the universe running, or for stuff that happens along the way. It's more of a joint effort and joint responsibility. But, I know (or experience the illusion) that when I ask for help I get help.

I have no strong theistic answers about how many, or who is God, so I'll put a big question mark down as my final answer .

This week, I'm an agnostic Pantheist. My beliefs tend to oscillate around that point.

 

[Bookofknowledge]

How is it that you define "God?"

What attributes do you give to "God." What is "God" responsible for or not responsible for?

Is there only one "God?"

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1:1
In the name of Allah Most Gracious Most Merciful.

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Unique attributes of Allah

112:1
Say: He is Allah the One and Only;

112:2
Allah is the Self-Sufficient (independent of all, while all are dependent on Him);

112:3
He begets not, nor is He begotten;

112:4
And there is none comparable to Him.

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20:90
Aaron had already before this said to them: "O my people! ye are being tested in this: for verily your Lord is (Allah) Most Gracious: so follow me and obey my command."

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He is:

Ar-RAHMAN (The Compassionate)
Al-Khaliq (The Creator)
Al-QUDDUS (The Holy One and One Who is Free from All Blemishes)
As-Salam (The Giver of Peace or One Who is Immuned from All Distress)
Al-Jabbar (The Over Powering Lord)
Al-Aziz (The Mighty)
Al-Bari (One Who Gives Life)
Al-Gaffar (Exceedingly Forgiving)
Al-Wahhab (The Giver of All Things)
Ar-Razzaq (The Sustainer and Provider)
Al-Alim (The All Knowing)
Al-Khafid (The One Who Humbles and Lowers)
Al-Muizz (The Giver of Honour)
Ash-Shakur (Highly Greateful)
...
...
...



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[LibertyChic]

This morning I saw where someone had written in the back window of their car, "GOD DID IT"

I wondered if they meant that it was God's fault or if they were just so shocked and amazed that God actually did "it" they had to announce it to the world.....

I assume they meant the Christian God, being as I live in the bible belt.

/random musing

 

[Bookofknowledge]

This morning I saw where someone had written in the back window of their car, "GOD DID IT"

I wondered if they meant that it was God's fault or if they were just so shocked and amazed that God actually did "it" they had to announce it to the world.....

I assume they meant the Christian God, being as I live in the bible belt.

/random musing

Though I am not a christian (people who call themselves son's of God) I would wonder what "they did" before asking them what God did.

If they did something and then claim "GOD DID IT" then they should be informed that God gave mankind free will to choose between right and wrong. Is it true that they have no knowledge to understand?

 

[urnotme]

How is it that you define "God?"

What attributes do you give to "God." What is "God" responsible for or not responsible for?

Is there only one "God?"

I define the word god as something or someone that somebody worships. John 4:8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.
Christians believe God is love, but it doesn't seem like it sometimes. God is omnipotent Rev. 1:6 And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth,, and God is just. 2 Thesalonians 1: 6 God is just: He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you
We only believe in one God although anti niceans say we believe in three. Mark 12: 29 And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord:

 

[Thirst_For_Knowledge]

Though this question seems easy, I must admit that I have no idea how to define God.

Is there even really an agreed upon definition?

 

[Isis-Astoroth]

It is impossible to define something that is believed to be immortal, omnipotent and omniscient, and that exists outside of the existence that we are in.

 

[Thirst_For_Knowledge]

It is impossible to define something that is believed to be immortal, omnipotent and omniscient, and that exists outside of the existence that we are in.

Does a god have to be immortal, omnipotent, and omniscient?

 

[Isis-Astoroth]

no, I certainly don't believe in one that is, I was speaking of an all powerful one, such as the Christian god

 

[NiamhDhabolt]

Does a god have to be immortal, omnipotent, and omniscient?

I dont think so. I dont believe "God" is omnipotent or omniscient. Of course, I dont know for sure... but I dont think It is. I dont even believe "God" to be perfect.

Also, to add onto my original response... I do not "worship" Spirit. I actually dont like the word worship at all when it comes to what I do. I dont see myself haveing a "master-servant" relationship with the Divine, and thats what the word makes me think of. I dont feel like I am "at the mercy" of the Higher Power. I do believe that Spirit is on a higher level than us (thus the term "Higher Power") but I dont believe Spirit expects any kind of worship. I see it more as a mentor/respected friend. I honour and revere Spirit, but I do not worship it. (and yes, I know those can sometimes mean the same thing... but they dont to me.)

 

[benmaarof]

(Quran 2:255)

God! There is no god but He,-the Living, the Self-subsisting, Eternal.

No slumber can seize Him nor sleep. His are all things in the heavens and on earth. Who is there can intercede in His presence except as He permitteth?

He knoweth what (appeareth to His creatures as) before or after or behind them. Nor shall they compass aught of His knowledge except as He willeth.

His Throne doth extend over the heavens and the earth, and He feeleth no fatigue in guarding and preserving them for He is the Most High, the Supreme (in glory).

 

[ravenscape]

Though this question seems easy, I must admit that I have no idea how to define God.

Nor I. Hence my waffling.

Is there even really an agreed upon definition?

Would there be so many different religions, and sects of those religions if there were?

 

[Druweid]

How is it that you define "God?"

The Great and Wonderful Mystery, The Sun Source of All Love, The Giver of Life Beyond Life, and The Most Divine Sage of Sages. They are an entity of an energy (for lack of a better term) that exist within and without all things of this world, perhaps the universe, and of a form and substance well beyond our limited ability to comprehend.

What attributes do you give to "God."

None. I believe it is improper to the point of sacrilege to ascribe specific attributes to the whole of the One Most Divine.

When one can truly marvel at the colors of the wind; be inspired by the harmony sung by the sunrise; be soothed by the melody played by the full moon; feel the electrical charge within water; rate the intelligence of the mountain; learn from the wisdom of the great oak; and feel the heartbeat from the earth itself, only then can one even began to fathom a single attribute of the Great Mystery.

What is "God" responsible for or not responsible for?

There are two sides to the word "responsible."

If you mean 'duties,' the Most Divine has no duty to us, the world, or the universe. They simply exist in harmony with the physical laws of nature. We choose to commune and be a part of that Divine, or not, on our own accord.

If you mean 'causation,' The Great Mystery is responsible for the 'energy' (again, for lack of a better term) that creates an entire world of awareness and ability beyond, yet in harmony with, the realm of physical laws. It connects us to each other, as well as to the Divine, and to the whole of the universe. We can tap into that energy to learn, or use it to create a change in the world around us. I believe the Divine is responsible for providing mankind with certain inspirations and motivations for desiring growth toward a more advanced state of being. When mankind was still little more than animalistic, existing on pure instinct and nothing else, it was the Great mystery which provided the first question of existence which, to this day, still inspires mankind to learn and grow: "Is there not more?"

Is there only one "God?"

Yes and no. I see the Divine as being a single entity, yet also as a collective of entities. Thus, they are many, yet they are singular. I also believe that due to our limited ability to perceive and understand, it is necessary for us to focus on aspects of the Divine in order to begin understanding, rather than to try to understand all at once, and become overwhelmed. I cannot hold the entire ocean, but I can hold a bowl of water. If I commune with, and worship, the bowl of water, it is a reflection of my communion and worship of the ocean, not the bowl of water unto itself. If I choose, I can have several bowls of water, each for a slightly different reason. One for the smell, one for the taste, one to be hot, one to be cold, etc., all for the purpose of learning more about the nature of the ocean as a whole.

Universally,
-- Druweid

 

[urnotme]

Though this question seems easy, I must admit that I have no idea how to define God.

Is there even really an agreed upon definition?

A higher power maybe? We say god is spirit, what is spirit? I think she was asking what your perception of god is but probably the most universally accepted definition is a supreme being. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/God