Discussion of God (Not Definition)

[DaveInVain]

Since there is no way of defining God, we can only define his Idea. That is different for everybody. God to Christians is this loving father who offers them eternal salvation (which to my standards may be highly unlikely). I want to know, what is the Idea of God to all of you. My idea of him is the unimaginable. A perfect being as people say God is doesn't need to be created. If God lives outside of time, God has no meaning. If God is amongst us, he was probably created at some point. If God created the Universe, he is a desiring being, so he isn't perfect (according to Christians, lust or desire is a sin *Contradiction*).

So just tell me, who is God or what is God?

 

[Minty]

Hmm... good question.

I don't see god as a He, I see god as Them. Male and Female, Goddess and God. Twin aspects of a power that is too large for humans to grasp. (Not too sure about whether I'm a hard or soft polytheist, my feelings about it change depending on my mood sometimes I see all of the gods gaining their power from this source and sometimes I see it differently... probably a mixture of the two, hard polytheist as I see all of the gods as existing, softer when it comes to the origins of Their power... it's complicated )

I also don't think that the Gods answer requests for help, like prayers... I see Gods as giving humanity the means to help themselves. Yes, I give Them thanks and I do send Them prayers (of sorts) but They don't do things for me just because I have got myself into trouble and need to be bailed out.

Neither do we need each other... if I chose to stop honouring my Gods, They wouldn't care, They don't need me... I choose to honour Them because I want to and not because I have to.

 

[David69]

I have seen God but at the same time it apeered that no'one else seen him that was there at the time!
Maybe he stems from the first man that realised that the mind manifests then subconscious communication was born allowing everyones subconscious to communicate together, so maybe man created god through our own evolution.

 

[awitch]

So just tell me, who is God or what is God?

Short version: In my opinion...

Multiple deities with distinct personalities.
Not perfect/omniscient/omnipotent.
Mostly indifferent.
What else can I say?

 

[razeontherock]

I see G-d as Them. Male and Female,

This I agree with. Saw your post on the how ya doin thread, didn't want to expand there but you said wanting to read the whole OT before you get through the NT, right? I've read the Bible to the point where most of it is rich in meaning to me and I'll tell you, the OT expounds upon the NT. So I'd recommend reading the NT first, except for Revelation which doesn't begin to make much sense until you've mastered the other 66 books. Once the NT is under your belt the OT means more, and after finishing that the NT means a LOT more ... careful though, if you listen to me it might just come alive to you!

I also don't think that the Gods answer requests for help,

Not until after the Bible comes alive to you, nope.

And to our Deist OP, not only did you make a Deist statement but you messed the Christian statement all up. Not only does the Father not express G-d, but desire is not a sin so no contradiction.

 

[Penumbra]

Since there is no way of defining God, we can only define his Idea. That is different for everybody. God to Christians is this loving father who offers them eternal salvation (which to my standards may be highly unlikely). I want to know, what is the Idea of God to all of you. My idea of him is the unimaginable. A perfect being as people say God is doesn't need to be created. If God lives outside of time, God has no meaning. If God is amongst us, he was probably created at some point. If God created the Universe, he is a desiring being, so he isn't perfect (according to Christians, lust or desire is a sin *Contradiction*).

So just tell me, who is God or what is God?

I tend to define gods in any way that the person I am discussing with does so that we may discuss a given concept. If, however, their description seems as though it could just be called, "the universe" then that word seems more applicable. Generally if it doesn't involve some sort of non-material-based consciousness I think I can apply more precise words for it.

As for God creating the universe, it doesn't imply that it has desire. And even if it does, I have found very few Christians say that desire is a sin (especially if it's a desire to do something good). I'm not sure where you got that doctrine from.

-Lyn

 

[ToHoldNothing]

If you want to discuss God without significantly defining it, then at best you could define God by what God isn't by way of negative theology. Although this seems to pose a problem in the way of making God in essence very little if anything that we can really coherently understand in any sense beyond imagination. If God is not finite, what is the nature of God's non finitude? And the questions would continue on for a while

 

[Arthra]

We cannot of ourselves and alone know God as one of the definitions of God is an Unknowable Essence..but we can know somthings about God such as some of His attributes through His Messengers and Prophets.

There are also what we Baha'is call a Covenant.. that Ancient Covenant between God and man is that He will never leave us alone without Divine Guidance so from age to age He has sent His Messengers.

About "creation" and the universe.. human beings are still just beginning to learn more about it.. We know more things than our ancestors did about the universe but we're really just beginning..someday we'll know more about our celestial neighbors and such but we are still just learning .. Being products of the whole process of creation we are still learning...

 

[Isambard]

Pewpew
YouTube - Putting faith in its place

 

[ukgrace]

You start with the Gods you were given then you make them yours by using your imagination, the better the imagination the more real the God.

 

[AskTheFamily]

God is with his creation, his divine names of have descended, so you can know God through God, he guides to his essence by his essence, his Signs/Manifestations are not separate from him, his stations can be witnessed, and he is with us, and it's God's sword that is the sword of the believer.

He's been with you, if you can't recognize his thundering sword calling out to you, pull me out, don't belittle me, I am your treasure and your honor, you have nothing apart from me, you will not be able to overcome your enemies and will loose your resolve easily in times of trials.

 

[Under Grace]

Since there is no way of defining God, we can only define his Idea. That is different for everybody. God to Christians is this loving father who offers them eternal salvation (which to my standards may be highly unlikely). I want to know, what is the Idea of God to all of you. My idea of him is the unimaginable. A perfect being as people say God is doesn't need to be created. If God lives outside of time, God has no meaning. If God is amongst us, he was probably created at some point. If God created the Universe, he is a desiring being, so he isn't perfect (according to Christians, lust or desire is a sin *Contradiction*).

So just tell me, who is God or what is God?

That is not the christian view. Before crossing the flaming line, i'll just end it.

If nature is the standard by which god is understood, a gazelle that escapes the lion's grasp would be equivalent to someone having faith in G*d thru Jesus.

 

[ukgrace]

That is not the christian view. Before crossing the flaming line, i'll just end it.

If nature is the standard by which god is understood, a gazelle that escapes the lion's grasp would be equivalent to someone having faith in G*d thru Jesus.

That doesn't even begin to make sense, lions exist because they kill and eat gazelles and your God made it so.

 

[Under Grace]

Pewpew
YouTube - Putting faith in its place

I found the narrator saying "it is probable there is an alien life"... his belief is an act of faith.

 

[Under Grace]

That doesn't even begin to make sense, lions exist because they kill and eat gazelles and your God made it so.

You confirm my G*d's existence... great.

You're viewing it from the Lion's standpoint. Try the gazelle's viewpoint.

 

[jacks]

God is in you and he is smiling.

 

[Witchy Bee]

I think God - by whatever name you want to call it or form it is seen - is a manifestation of Divine energy. Personally, I see this energy in the form of a God and Goddess of Nature. They are the very essence of Life and Death itself. They are the Moon and Sun, Earth and Sky. Equal opposites. They are two halves of one Universe, imperfect and ever-changing.

P.S. I think it is so wonderful to see everyone's different views expressed on one thread and everyone - mostly - repecting one another.

 

[Eudaimonist]

So just tell me, who is God or what is God?

Naturally, as an atheist, I have no idea of God other than those reported to me by various theists.

God seems to be a kind of placeholder concept for the source of all reality. "Q: Why... everything? A: God."


eudaimonia,

Mark

 

[Eudaimonist]

I found the narrator saying "it is probable there is an alien life"... his belief is an act of faith.

No, it isn't. If he were to say that he was certain, or had firm belief, that there is alien life, that would be faith. But the probability is simply based on the observation that life started on Earth, and that the same conditions could exist elsewhere in the universe. We even have evidence of other planets orbiting stars other than our own.


eudaimonia,

Mark

 

[Isambard]

I found the narrator saying "it is probable there is an alien life"... his belief is an act of faith.

Do you know what probability means?