What is God?

[leftrightleftrightleft]

For theists: What is God? How is God defined? Does God have a measurable impact on the universe?

For atheists: What is God? What is it exactly that you don't believe in? Does God need to have a measurable impact on the universe in order for you to believe God exists?

 

[durangodawood]

For theists: What is God? How is God defined? Does God have a measurable impact on the universe?

For atheists: What is God? What is it exactly that you don't believe in? Does God need to have a measurable impact on the universe in order for you to believe God exists?

God is whatever is worthy of genuine reverence.

The person-deity of the Bible seems like a face painted on God in the colors that suited the Hebrews. You could say this for other cultures and their gods too, I think.

 

[Eight Foot Manchild]

What is God?

At its most coherent, an anthropomorphized imagination. At its least coherent, a vacuous non-concept.

What is it exactly that you don't believe in?

I don't believe in anything I'm not convinced of.

Does God need to have a measurable impact on the universe in order for you to believe God exists?

A god that has no measurable impact on the universe is indistinguishable from a non-existent god, so yes.

 

[Oafman]

God is a...gas. He's not a small gas, like Calor gas, but...a large gas, like oxygen or carbon dioxide. No, carbon dioxide, that's bad isn't it...that's the Devil.

 

[quatona]

For atheists: What is God? What is it exactly that you don't believe in? Does God need to have a measurable impact on the universe in order for you to believe God exists?

I have no god concept of my own. I experience nothing in this world that would prompt me to call it "god" - for everything I experience there already seem to be a better and sufficiently precise terms (not that "god" appears to be a particularly precise word, anyway).
I´m just responding to other people´s god concepts. I can´t be expected to define their terms for them.

 

[Hetta]

God is nothing like the deity represented on these forums. Thank God.

 

[Resha Caner]

For theists: What is God? How is God defined? Does God have a measurable impact on the universe?

From Luther's Large Catechism:

"What does it mean to have a god? or, what is God? Answer: A god means that from which we are to expect all good and to which we are to take refuge in all distress."

From there, God (Yahweh, I Am, the god of the Bible) is my god. "Defining" him is as difficult as defining any person I happen to know - actually, moreso.

 

[GoldenBoy89]

As I see it, God is a magical being from ancient myths regarding the creation of the universe and the purpose of human existence. He is considered the ultimate being of supreme or infinite intellect, power, benevolence and presence. Though the way he is often depicted gives the impression that he has faults similar to our own.

 

[leftrightleftrightleft]

God is whatever is worthy of genuine reverence.

Do you believe such a god exists?

The person-deity of the Bible seems like a face painted on God in the colors that suited the Hebrews. You could say this for other cultures and their gods too, I think.

Fair enough. So it seems that you do not believe in God, as depicted in the Bible, but do you believe in some other god-concept that is worthy of genuine reverence?

 

[leftrightleftrightleft]

At its most coherent, an anthropomorphized imagination. At its least coherent, a vacuous non-concept.

Fair enough.

I don't believe in anything I'm not convinced of.

Indeed. I feel that this is true of everyone. People just happen to be convinced of different things.

A god that has no measurable impact on the universe is indistinguishable from a non-existent god, so yes.

So, are you saying that if something does not have a measurable impact then it does not exist?

 

[leftrightleftrightleft]

God is a...gas. He's not a small gas, like Calor gas, but...a large gas, like oxygen or carbon dioxide. No, carbon dioxide, that's bad isn't it...that's the Devil.

 

[leftrightleftrightleft]

I have no god concept of my own. I experience nothing in this world that would prompt me to call it "god" - for everything I experience there already seem to be a better and sufficiently precise terms (not that "god" appears to be a particularly precise word, anyway).

Does the word "god" have any meaning to you?

You said that you are not prompted to call anything "god". Does "god" have no connotations? Is it equivalent to saying, 'I experience nothing in this world that would prompt me to call it "yzzeudla"'?

Is "god" just a random combination of letters to you? Or do you have some inner definition that, if you were to experience it, you could identify it and say, "That's god!"

 

[leftrightleftrightleft]

God is nothing like the deity represented on these forums. Thank God.

What is your definition of God, apart from these forums?

 

[prov1810]

God is Love. 1 John 4:8,10,16

 

[leftrightleftrightleft]

From Luther's Large Catechism:

"What does it mean to have a god? or, what is God? Answer: A god means that from which we are to expect all good and to which we are to take refuge in all distress."

From there, God (Yahweh, I Am, the god of the Bible) is my god. "Defining" him is as difficult as defining any person I happen to know - actually, moreso.

So anything good is God? Is this just a euphemism for "objective morality"?

"Take refuge in all distress". How do you "take refuge" in God? Is this just a euphemism for things like meditation, prayer and reflection?

 

[PsychoSarah]

For theists: What is God? How is God defined? Does God have a measurable impact on the universe?

For atheists: What is God? What is it exactly that you don't believe in? Does God need to have a measurable impact on the universe in order for you to believe God exists?

God to me is an idea, uniquely interpreted by each individual. As far as deities in general with no specific religion in mind, I don't believe in such entities because of their lack of necessity and presence. When you start getting into specific religions, such as Christianity, my reasons for not believing such entities exist are far more numerous. I can assure you, that regardless as to whether or not deities do exist, I 100% doubt that any religious text had a godly influence. I view all as the writings of humans, and nothing more.

A deity wouldn't have to have a measurable impact on the whole universe for me to believe, something very small could easily make me a believer. However, that something would have to be a true miracle, something that could not naturally happen. Perhaps me flipping a coin and it landing perfectly on the edge rather than on heads or tails and remaining stable in that position. It would have to be something like that, and I guarantee you that if I knew it wasn't a trick coin that I would give religion some serious consideration, because something like that just should not happen.

 

[PsychoSarah]

God is Love. 1 John 4:8,10,16

God is also jealous, of other gods being worshiped. Guess it didn't want to share the love.

 

[Eight Foot Manchild]

So, are you saying that if something does not have a measurable impact then it does not exist?

I'm saying it may as well not exist, since the there is nothing to distinguish its existence from non-existence.

 

[leftrightleftrightleft]

As I see it, God is a magical being from ancient myths regarding the creation of the universe and the purpose of human existence. He is considered the ultimate being of supreme or infinite intellect, power, benevolence and presence. Though the way he is often depicted gives the impression that he has faults similar to our own.

So you view God through the purely Abrahamic lens. If you think the Bible is wrong (which, based on your faith icon, I would assume you do), then why do you think God as depicted in the Bible is the correct definition of God?

Its like looking at Ptolemy's geocentric model and concluding the universe doesn't exist. Maybe his definitions are just wrong and the way he has depicted the universe is wrong and definitions need to be updated to better represent reality.

 

[quatona]

Does the word "god" have any meaning to you?

I think I have explained it already:
No, it has no meaning to me. I do, however, know that other people use it in certain meanings - so when talking to them about their concepts I am going to try to understand what they would like to talk about.

You said that you are not prompted to call anything "god". Does "god" have no connotations?

Yes, it has no connotations to me - until someone comes up to me and offers me their concepts and connotations.

Is it equivalent to saying, 'I experience nothing in this world that would prompt me to call it "yzzeudla"'?

Well, haven´t come to me talking about "yzzeudla" - that´s the only difference, as far as I am concerned.

Is "god" just a random combination of letters to you?

Every word is just a random combinations of letters. The question is, however: Do we attach a meaningful concept to them? and even more importantly: Is the concept we attach to them of any relevance for any given intent or purpose?

Or do you have some inner definition that, if you were to experience it, you could identify it and say, "That's god!"

No. That´s pretty much what I have been trying to say.