Describe your God

[GreenMunchkin]

A logic/philosophy professor recently stated that God cannot think. The reasoning being that if God is timeless and already knows everything then he would reasonably know everything about himself and all his future actions as well, because of this God would never need to think. He went on to say of course that there is no God because of the errors in how he is defined.

All this only applies though if Christians actually define God as he described. I don't think that's the case. In reality it seems that God is a more dubious
and amorphous concept for Christians.

Not at all. God as a "concept" is very clear indeed because we don't think about Him or know Him in the abstract. But describing God Himself is where it all becomes a little more amorphic, absolutely.

 

[Chesterton]

A logic/philosophy professor recently stated that God cannot think. The reasoning being that if God is timeless and already knows everything then he would reasonably know everything about himself and all his future actions as well, because of this God would never need to think.

I don't see why knowing necessarily prevents thinking; I know what I had for dinner an hour ago and that doesn't stop me from thinking about it if I choose to. If I knew what I was having for dinner a week from tonight, I could also think about that now.

 

[Radagast]

"We all believe with the heart, and confess with the mouth, that there is one only simple and spiritual Being, which we call God; and that he is eternal, incomprehensible, invisible, immutable, infinite, almighty, perfectly wise, just, good, and the overflowing fountain of all good." -- Belgic Confession

 

[Harry3142]

The Ultimate Realist, The Author of Justice, The Epitome of Mercy, The Creator of All Creation:These are some of God's attributes. But to describe him in toto is not in our power.

 

[JCFantasy23]

God is perfect, forgiving, wonderful, the God of all things and everyone, a savior, a friend, a Father

 

[aiki]

A logic/philosophy professor recently stated that God cannot think. The reasoning being that if God is timeless and already knows everything then he would reasonably know everything about himself and all his future actions as well, because of this God would never need to think. He went on to say of course that there is no God because of the errors in how he is defined.

This is an attempt to define the infinite by the finite. As you can see, it doesn't work very well. Your professor has no actual idea what it is like to be outside of time. This being the case, he can't really comment on what it must or must not be like for God to know all things past, present and future. All your professor can do is extrapolate from what he knows, what his experience is, and then, making the huge assumption that God's situation and his own are similar enough to warrant comparison, presume to declare that God cannot think. Such an ignorant and silly comment reveals a surprising lack of thought on the part of your professor!

All this only applies though if Christians actually define God as he described. I don't think that's the case. In reality it seems that God is a more dubious
and amorphous concept for Christians.

As far as God has revealed Himself in the Bible, He is known. It is true that what God has chosen to share of Himself with us is by no means all that He is. Nonetheless, I can confidently say that God is no stranger to me. He is not some "dubious and amorphous concept"; He is my Heavenly Father with whom I speak every day.

He can be your Heavenly Father, too.

Peace.

 

[DarkProphet]

This is an attempt to define the infinite by the finite. As you can see, it doesn't work very well. Your professor has no actual idea what it is like to be outside of time. This being the case, he can't really comment on what it must or must not be like for God to know all things past, present and future. All your professor can do is extrapolate from what he knows, what his experience is, and then, making the huge assumption that God's situation and his own are similar enough to warrant comparison, presume to declare that God cannot think. Such an ignorant and silly comment reveals a surprising lack of thought on the part of your professor!

It's quite logical if you accept the definitions put forth.

As far as God has revealed Himself in the Bible, He is known. It is true that what God has chosen to share of Himself with us is by no means all that He is. Nonetheless, I can confidently say that God is no stranger to me. He is not some "dubious and amorphous concept"; He is my Heavenly Father with whom I speak every day.

He can be your Heavenly Father, too.

Peace.

Can you describe your God then?

 

[LogosRhema]

IMHO one word suffices for me... Love.

1 Cor
4Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8Love never fails.


1 John
7Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son[a] into the world that we might live through him.

1 Corinthians sums God up in a nut shell pretty well... Assuming if you conclude God is love and the Bible depicts love as such.

As far as your analogy of wrath you brought up, at this point, post Christ and Old Testament Law... Things are based on discipline. Why do you discipline your children? You love them and want them to learn whats best for them. Mind you, discipline is not only punishment, its punishment that brings forth a lesson and brings correction.



dis·ci·pline
(dĭs'ə-plĭn) Pronunciation Key
n.

1. Training expected to produce a specific character or pattern of behavior, especially training that produces moral or mental improvement.
2. Controlled behavior resulting from disciplinary training; self-control.
3. 1. Control obtained by enforcing compliance or order.
   2. A systematic method to obtain obedience: a military discipline.
   3. A state of order based on submission to rules and authority: a teacher who demanded discipline in the classroom.
4. Punishment intended to correct or train.
5. A set of rules or methods, as those regulating the practice of a church or monastic order.
6. A branch of knowledge or teaching.

Proverbs 12
1 Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge,
but he who hates correction is stupid.


Proverbs 10
16 The wages of the righteous bring them life,
but the income of the wicked brings them punishment.
17 He who heeds discipline shows the way to life,
but whoever ignores correction leads others astray.
18 He who conceals his hatred has lying lips,
and whoever spreads slander is a fool.


So if God is love and He loves us, and we are in the wrong, how then can we not expect some sort of dicispline from Him?

 

[DarkProphet]

IMHO one word suffices for me... Love.

1 Cor
4Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8Love never fails.


1 John
7Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son[a] into the world that we might live through him.

1 Corinthians sums God up in a nut shell pretty well... Assuming if you conclude God is love and the Bible depicts love as such.

As far as your analogy of wrath you brought up, at this point, post Christ and Old Testament Law... Things are based on discipline. Why do you discipline your children? You love them and want them to learn whats best for them. Mind you, discipline is not only punishment, its punishment that brings forth a lesson and brings correction.



dis·ci·pline
(dĭs'ə-plĭn) Pronunciation Key
n.

1. Training expected to produce a specific character or pattern of behavior, especially training that produces moral or mental improvement.
2. Controlled behavior resulting from disciplinary training; self-control.
3. 1. Control obtained by enforcing compliance or order.
   2. A systematic method to obtain obedience: a military discipline.
   3. A state of order based on submission to rules and authority: a teacher who demanded discipline in the classroom.
4. Punishment intended to correct or train.
5. A set of rules or methods, as those regulating the practice of a church or monastic order.
6. A branch of knowledge or teaching.

Proverbs 12
1 Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge,
but he who hates correction is stupid.


Proverbs 10
16 The wages of the righteous bring them life,
but the income of the wicked brings them punishment.
17 He who heeds discipline shows the way to life,
but whoever ignores correction leads others astray.
18 He who conceals his hatred has lying lips,
and whoever spreads slander is a fool.


So if God is love and He loves us, and we are in the wrong, how then can we not expect some sort of dicispline from Him?

Love is an abstraction, so God is an abstraction?

Also, what kind of discipline? In the story of the bald prophet God sends bears to rip children limb from limb, at Sodom God destroyed a city, at Jericho God had his chosen people commit genocide, and during the flood God killed everyone except Noah and his family. This is God's discipline that shows that he loves us?

 

[LogosRhema]

Love is an abstraction, so God is an abstraction?

Also, what kind of discipline? In the story of the bald prophet God sends bears to rip children limb from limb, at Sodom God destroyed a city, at Jericho God had his chosen people commit genocide, and during the flood God killed everyone except Noah and his family. This is God's discipline that shows that he loves us?

For one, please leave opinions out. Unless of course you have a source other than your opinion that love is an "abstraction". Please, lets be intelligent.

Could you give me the reference about the bald prophet?

Most of the mass murder was because there was no God left in these people's hearts. And being creatures of habits God would have never been passed down.

Genesis 6 (In reference to the flood)
5 The LORD saw how great man's wickedness on the earth had become, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time. 6 The LORD was grieved that he had made man on the earth, and his heart was filled with pain.

So instead of letting this destroy hope completely from the planet... for instance the flood... He had to intervene and start anew, or else those who were good would eventually been murdered or passed away... And God would not be able to coexist with man. So He poured out His coup of wrath so that there may be a future hope for a relationship between God and man. The greater good in a world full of evil comes at a cost (Which we can see through Christ's sacrifice).

Then you must also take in mind any who were a threat to the blood line leading to Christ I believe He ensured that nothing would spoil or corrupt it. So you may see specific individuals who may have got in the way of that, that were disposed of.

I'm also one to question if death is really the true end of choice for man.

People are not judged until after Jesus' rule on earth. Then Satan is released for a time and people can truly choose between him or Christ... Which makes sense by then.. You made your final decision. Both would be harshly present and you can't say you didn't know or thats how u were raised.

 

[aiki]

It's quite logical if you accept the definitions put forth.

To which definitions are you referring?

Can you describe your God then?

You mean, more than I already have?

In respect to what aspect of God would you like a description? To cite each and every biblical description of God would require more time than I'm prepared to give in answer to your question. Instead, I would suggest you simply read the Bible.

Peace.