IS the christian god the only one that exists? Why?

workmx said:

I know people claim that gods exist.

I don't know why they claim that.

It seems like something that we cannot know.

So, sorry - I cannot answer the question because I don't know.

Which is why I asked people who DO claim to know.

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Then you don't have the necessary foundation of understanding for the level of learning you are attempting. What is your reason for not answering the questions I ask you?

workmx said:

From my point of view, it is a non-sensical question.

You may as well ask me: what is the taste of blue?

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I don't understand why you think my question does not make sense. It makes sense to me, can you please explain why you think it doesn't make sense?

workmx said:

Every theological position that I have explored assumes more about gods that I am happy to do.

I have no evidence that anything like a god could exist, let alone know anything about the characteristics of a single god.

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But, you are asking whether the Christian god is the only god that exists, and then asking why people believe one way or the other. To ask a question like this, you must have some concept of what a god is. I am prompting you to examine that concept, because once you have the correct understanding of that concept, I think you will be able to understand the answer to your root question properly. So, I asked you "what is a god". I still do not understand why you have said that question doesn't make sense. Do you perhaps think that you said the question doesn't make sense, when your reason for not answering it is something else instead?

workmx said:

I disagree.
The bible endorses slavery, rape and murder.

It is hardly a reliable text.

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Rubbish. You're certainly welcome to disagree but your mischaracterizations of the Bible do nothing but hinder productive conversation.

workmx said:

Did you read your post?

I have highlighted the relevant bit.

Are you denying now that you claimed that the bible is flawless?

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It is my English. I am claiming that the teaching of Buddha appears to be flawless. I am not claiming anything is flawless.

That is the key point: what made you reject those gods?

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See my post.

workmx said:

I don't know why you find this so confusing.

The OP is clear: lots of people have claimed that lots of gods have existed.

I know nothing of why they made those claims.

So I asked why do the people here believe in the christian god.

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Because the word of Jesus' teachings, here are just some of it, love your neighbor as yourself, love your enemy. He is the way, the truth, life.

workmx said:

It is all they claim to know, so it is reasonable to ask the question.

The flipside of that is: why reject the existence of other gods?

workmx said:

See my other posts, I investigated many, and the only one that appears to be without obvious faults is Buddhism, but Christianity, not Buddhism, made me a better man.

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What are the methods by which this could be done?

It is a genuine question - I really have no idea why some people make god claims, but reject others.

As I said it makes as much sense to me as stating that some colours can have a taste and others do not.

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see above.

workmx said:

I don't know why you find this so confusing.

The OP is clear: lots of people have claimed that lots of gods have existed.

I know nothing of why they made those claims.

So I asked why do the people here believe in the christian god.

It is all they claim to know, so it is reasonable to ask the question.

The flipside of that is: why reject the existence of other gods?

What are the methods by which this could be done?

It is a genuine question - I really have no idea why some people make god claims, but reject others.

As I said it makes as much sense to me as stating that some colours can have a taste and others do not.

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Ok, that is fine, and I am keen to see you get the understanding you claim to desire. So, I think that if you can answer this question then the answer to your OP will become more obvious: what is a god?

.

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workmx said:

DC - your post seems clear, you claim that:
1. you have done lots of research;
2. the bible appear to flawless; and
3. the teachings of Buddhism also appear to flawless.

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Sorry, my language is not clear. Change the last 2 to
2. The bible seems to be point to the right way
3. I didn't find faults in Buddha's teachings (other than it didn't change me)

workmx said:

As I said, I cannot.

I don't claim that gods exist, so I have no idea of how to start.

I would have thought that those who claim that gods exist would be better placed to define the concept of god.

By way of analogy, what you are asking of me is akin to getting me to describe the tatse of a fruit that I have never eaten.

It is nonsensical.

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The question is not nonsensical, the question makes good sense. "What is a god" has a clear meaning. Can you please confirm to me that you think that question does not make sense? (I intend to use that confirmation in our other thread).

Aryeh Jay said:

The extermination of the Canaanites seems to disagree with your interpretation of the bible.

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That part is still bordering me. Was hoping some of our Jewish friends can give a better answer. Is there any thing in the oral Torah that would help? TG would just jump in and put himself between the Canaanites and the Israel army.

workmx said:

I assume that:
- most christians believe in a single one god (monotheism); and
- that this god is the christian god.

In that case, how do you know that the gods in other monotheistic religions do not exist?

How do you know that there are not multiple gods (polytheism)?

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I know I'm late to this discussion, but here goes.

(a) I assume that most christians believe in a single one god (monotheism)

That's safe to assume. It's also safe to assume that they believe in the Trinitarian God.

I exclude from this most unorthodox religions, including, but not limited to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (they believe the Trinity is three distinct gods, and also in eternal progression, i.e., "As man now is, God once was; as God is now man may be" [Lorenzo Snow], so that there is an infinite cycle of Gods stretching through eternity), The Church of Christ, Scientist (they deny the Trinity, and God as a personal force), the Jehovah's Witnesses (again, deny the Trinity), and Unitarian Universalists (deny the Trinity and the authority of orthodox Christianity).

(b) I assume that this god is the christian god.

Yep, another safe bet. We don't believe in Cthulhu, if that's what you mean.

(c) In that case, how do you know that the gods in other monotheistic religions do not exist?

Because we have faith in the Bible, and that it is the inerrant and infallible Word of God. We believe that we are guided by the Holy Spirit ["Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says “Jesus is accursed!” and no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except in the Holy Spirit." 1 Corinthians 12:3 ESV], and thus know the Truth.

We trust in God when He says: "I am the LORD, and there is no other, besides me there is no God." Isaiah 45:5 ESV

You ask how we know that the gods in other monotheistic religions do not exist, but you said it yourself:

We are monotheistic. Thus we believe other gods do not exist.

(d) How do you know that there are not multiple gods (polytheism)?

Personally, as I am a recent convert, I have travelled in circles were Paganism is practiced.

Ásatrú to be exact. You know, Óðinn, Þórr, Baldr, Heimdallr, Hveðrungr [Loki], Yggdrasill, Bifröst, the Jǫtunn, Jǫrmungandr, Valhöll, Ragnarök, &c., &c.

You know, I wore a Mjǫlnir, and all that good stuff.

I was in the folkish branch, which believes that only the children of the North can follow the Gods of the North (I'm mostly English, Norwegian, and German, so I fit the mold perfectly).

But then I realized something.

My ancestors gave up the Forn Siðr a thousand years ago for a reason.

They threw their idols off the Goðafoss in Iceland,



They built Stave Churches,



All for a reason.

There is a reason why Christianity is the predominant religion in Europe.

There is a reason why Christianity is the worlds largest religion.

It's called the power of the Holy Spirit.

It's called Jesus.

It's called God.

The Old Gods are there if you look for them. But they were converted as well.

That's my two cents, at least.