The definition of God

[cacian]

Is god one or anyone with certain aspect of the human design?

I tend to believe that God is a made up word to try and give the idea that god comes across as one, a ruler by himself and the rests are shepperds or worshippers.
I feel this idea is a replica of what goes on in real life where a ruler/dictator/president/prime minister assumes a role of control over a population a kind of government or a base of power.
The population is to live and obide by the rules.

I see the concept of 'god' as a majority of people coming together because they share a same meaning.
Therefore to worship one is irrelevant and leads to nowhere but to aspire to be one is what it is all about.

how do you perceive god?

[krishna_lit]

Concept of 'God' is no different from a language - its just that there is no specific one to speak in - different people from different parts of the world have different languages, or here, different GODS. But there is one exception, THIS language even the people who are unable to speak can also communicate in. As simple as that.

[LIB]

"Gods" can be defined as beings with supernatural powers. To the highest degree of belief, "God" was the "one who created it all".

Scientifically, in my opinion, "God" can only be defined as "Big Bang before its explosion", and after the explosion He/She is the each and every particle existing in the universe and its laws. So God lives in us all. But in science they obviously don't use the term "God", so it doesn't really make too much sense. It's just one way of interpretating the word.

[RicMisc]

I think I would agree most with LIB's definition of a god. Although the real definition of god is I think non-existent. Religion and god(s) are very personal things, and there are probably as many views on religion and/or god(s) as their are people on this planet. God has a different meaning to everyone, even between those of the same religion there are different approaches to religion and views on god. In my opinion god is something made up by people to explain things they had no control over and could not explain. I think the notion of god is heavily outdated. It is however up to everyone to make up his own mind about this subject, because it is very personal and if people feel comforted by the notion of a god than that is up to them and not up to me to criticize that.

[YesNo]

I was reading a survey by Justin L. Barrett, Born Believers: The Science of Children's Religious Belief, that described "Gods" as superhuman intentional agents. I like this way of putting it because it includes demigods, angels, demons, or something beyond all of them. To be a superhuman intentional agent these entities have to be able to make choices.

It would also be nice if they liked us since they are, by definition, more powerful than we are. :)

[mal4mac]

I was reading a survey by Justin L. Barrett, Born Believers: The Science of Children's Religious Belief, that described "Gods" as superhuman intentional agents. I like this way of putting it because it includes demigods, angels, demons, or something beyond all of them. To be a superhuman intentional agent these entities have to be able to make choices.

It would also be nice if they liked us since they are, by definition, more powerful than we are. :)

According to Epicurus, the gods have nothing to do with humans, that makes them a non-intentional suoerhuman force, at least as regards humans, and thereby any aspect of the material world

[blazeofglory]

The definition of God is misconceived idea, for there is nothing to compare God with, or there is no metaphor to understand God. However we have volumes of books defining God and confining God to mere words and sentences. This is stupid, for God goes beyond our physical realities and mundane dimensions.

What is God? We borrow the meaning of God from few mythological books or from the mouths of a few priests and transcend these parameters there is no God. Yet we are incapable of living without thinking about God.

We do not want to limit the beauty of living to death's cold hand on us. We aspire to live beyond death. In that case only the existence of God can enable us to realize this truth.

[mounamrit]

Hi everybody including Blazeofglory

I am new here, and I just would like to learn a bit and share with anyone whatever comes to my mind..

I believe that an accurate definition of God has never been written to date, as their as as many definitions available as there are people on this earth. Many of the religious texts emunerate definitions that were scribed by disciples of religions founders (Masters)... Not the founders themselves, and they are always open to interpretation and new editions as time goes by.

Philosophers opinions are mostly gained from their own knowledge, which is usually second hand knowledge. Some knowledge is downloaded directly from the cosmos or inner self.

The big questions as blazeofglory correctly points out have yet to be tackled scientifically, and yes deep thinking about the meaning of God can help us reveal our real nature.... Without God their is no meaning of life in my opinion.

Thank you

[cafolini]

There is no possible definition of God. They are just useless attempts, with or without science.

[mounamrit]

@Cafolini you are absolutely right.

[cacian]

I was reading a survey by Justin L. Barrett, Born Believers: The Science of Children's Religious Belief, that described "Gods" as superhuman intentional agents. I like this way of putting it because it includes demigods, angels, demons, or something beyond all of them. To be a superhuman intentional agent these entities have to be able to make choices.

It would also be nice if they liked us since they are, by definition, more powerful than we are. :)

Indeed I am sure they do they would not make us if they did not.
I am however less inclined to believe in this:
''demigods, angels, demons, or something beyond all of them''
Only because I think that no one would want a competition in a land where everyone including gods can be equal.

[cacian]

delete

[The Inkwell]

To try to define would be pointless, so let me write this: I think of "God" as something man strives to relate with--to comprehend. It could be scientific or supernatural. We have trouble with things that are beyond our own capacities... so we say "God."

[twist]

To worship God means to try to inculcate His Qualities in us - as much as humanly possible.

[cafolini]

To worship God means to try to inculcate His Qualities in us - as much as humanly possible.

Since God must ultimately be the author of anything, you could be capable of anything with that proposition. Morality is best left to the individual.

[twist]

Not anything but as much as our human capacity allows. The trouble with individual morality is that it can very often be very wrong. As God created us He provided us with guidance to reach Him through the many Prophets and Books that He sent.

[cafolini]

Yes, individual morality can be very wrong. Yet, it would have to be respected as an act of God. Even the fallen Angel is an act of God. I'm closing this case.

[cacian]

Yes, individual morality can be very wrong. Yet, it would have to be respected as an act of God. Even the fallen Angel is an act of God. I'm closing this case.

No such thing as morality just sensibility and courage. Again fallen angel no such thing if you believe that weight is what makes you fall and not an angel with wings that can fly. Birds are the same they don't fall they land.

[cacian]

Not anything but as much as our human capacity allows. The trouble with individual morality is that it can very often be very wrong. As God created us He provided us with guidance to reach Him through the many Prophets and Books that He sent.

I am not sure God provided with guidance as much as a brain intelligence and language. Guidance is a learned behaviour much desired these days.

[Anton Hermes]

Theologian Paul Tillich, in Dynamics of Faith:


God is the fundamental symbol for what concerns us ultimately.

Literalism deprives God of his ultimacy and, religiously speaking, of his majesty. The presupposition of such literalism is that God is a being, acting in time and space, dwelling in a special place, affecting the course of events and being affected by them like any other being in the universe. Faith, if it takes its symbols literally, becomes idolatrous!

It might sound a little vague. But I guess when you spend years as an army chaplain like Tillich did, and dig graves for thousands of teenaged boys, the notion of a God who's an active being of pure compassion starts to sound a little smug.

[chrisiacovetti]

I've always thought, more or less, that 'God' is something everyone believes in in some sort of way.

Whatever started the universe in motion (whether it was evolutionary or whatever else); whatever plants our deep senses of morality (that all tend to be strikingly similar over thousands of years); whatever gives us our senses of beauty and creativity; etc. etc.

I think this definition seems most universally applicable. Sure, it can branch out to include things that are more divisive, (and that's where religions come in), but I think that starting where everyone can agree to some degree makes most sense.

[cafolini]

As soon as man does not take his existence for granted, but beholds it as something unfathomably mysterious, thought begins. ~ Albert Schweitzer

[Pendragon]

Here's you all something to think about. Some people have no problem with God and for them, for me, God is not the answer to what I can't understand He is the answer to everything I do understand. Other people are trying to define God when the point is they don't believe in Him anyway.

Here's the thing: If as I believe God is everywhere and everything, omniscient and omnipotent, beginning and end, how can you possibly define Him? Is He not beyond anything that our minds could conceive?

If God doesn't exist as many people believe, why waste time trying to define and understand that which as far as you are concerned doesn't even exist. It would be the greatest waste of time you could have.

Then also ask yourself, whether you believe in God and Creation, or do not believe in God and take the Big Bang and chance evolution as your anchor, What would it take to make me believe differently? Why am I convinced in my belief against the numbers of those who believe opposite? What would it take for an Atheist to believe God or what would it take for the most devout person to disbelieve God?

I believe I would say choice, humanity's greatest gift...

God bless

Pendragon

[cafolini]

Here's you all something to think about. Some people have no problem with God and for them, for me, God is not the answer to what I can't understand He is the answer to everything I do understand. Other people are trying to define God when the point is they don't believe in Him anyway.

Here's the thing: If as I believe God is everywhere and everything, omniscient and omnipotent, beginning and end, how can you possibly define Him? Is He not beyond anything that our minds could conceive?

If God doesn't exist as many people believe, why waste time trying to define and understand that which as far as you are concerned doesn't even exist. It would be the greatest waste of time you could have.

Then also ask yourself, whether you believe in God and Creation, or do not believe in God and take the Big Bang and chance evolution as your anchor, What would it take to make me believe differently? Why am I convinced in my belief against the numbers of those who believe opposite? What would it take for an Atheist to believe God or what would it take for the most devout person to disbelieve God?

I believe I would say choice, humanity's greatest gift...

God bless

Pendragon

It's more than choice. Faith is choice, but God is not. Choice would give men free will, but when it comes to God, even free will is His. You, however, are making some of the best points I read in the forum.

[russellb]

I have a hope, perhaps born of 20 years of mental illness, that one day we will all know God and that this will mean we are reconciled to ourselves, each other and the cosmos. But in a way we can never know God. That is we will we will never know God qua God. We have a concept...'infinite.' But that is all...

[cacian]

Well I think life has a meaning and whatever meaning that is should include a god or not. I can however see how the two can relate.

[cafolini]

I have a hope, perhaps born of 20 years of mental illness, that one day we will all know God and that this will mean we are reconciled to ourselves, each other and the cosmos. But in a way we can never know God. That is we will we will never know God qua God. We have a concept...'infinite.' But that is all...

To want to understand a God is a product of arrogance toward infinity. For every finite knowledge, we can think of an infinity we will never know. And that mystery cannot be violated with sincere ignorance and concientious stupidity, which is the mental illness.

[MorpheusSandman]

Trying to define something you can't observe or directly feel (and correlate with others) is a completely useless endeavor. All we can do is document how the term has been used by different people in different cultures and different times. The thing about language is that, ideally, you start with an existing, observable object and then you assign a term/symbol to it and then have everyone agree on it. It doesn't work when you only have a term and no objective thing to compare your definition with. When that happens, you aren't defining so much as just making crap up, which we humans have a tendency to do.

[cafolini]

Trying to define something you can't observe or directly feel (and correlate with others) is a completely useless endeavor. All we can do is document how the term has been used by different people in different cultures and different times. The thing about language is that, ideally, you start with an existing, observable object and then you assign a term/symbol to it and then have everyone agree on it. It doesn't work when you only have a term and no objective thing to compare your definition with. When that happens, you aren't defining so much as just making crap up, which we humans have a tendency to do.

It's okay to make crap up, but then you will have to say you are full of crap. ROFLMAO.

[Cioran]

It's okay to make crap up, but then you will have to say you are full of crap. ROFLMAO.

Why? He's not making God up. You are.

[cafolini]

Why? He's not making God up. You are.

I think you have trouble reading. He was talking about crap. God be on the side of your potential improvement.

Get off the horse and drink your milk. ~ John Wayne

[Cioran]

I think you have trouble reading. He was talking about crap. God be on the side of your potential improvement.

Get off the horse and drink your milk. ~ John Wayne

It seems you are the one having trouble reading. What God?

[cafolini]

If you want to play this stuff, learn first. This isn't even good as a double agent's CIA or FBI culture to entangle gnats. And where do you suppose is the benefit of presenting the Galilean Library without knowing a bit, at least, of his religious position, nor the premise of Bellarmino, who placed him under house arrest? LOL

[cacian]

If god could talk right now I wonder what he or she would say right now? I guess not a lot by the look of it.

[Cioran]

If you want to play this stuff, learn first. This isn't even good as a double agent's CIA or FBI culture to entangle gnats. And where do you suppose is the benefit of presenting the Galilean Library without knowing a bit, at least, of his religious position, nor the premise of Bellarmino, who placed him under house arrest? LOL

Care to translate this incoherent nonsense?

And what about Galileo and Bellarmino? Is there some point you are grasping at?

[Pendragon]

If god could talk right now I wonder what he or she would say right now? I guess not a lot by the look of it.

Sometimes I think that what God would have to say about belief and doubt, those that do their best and the people who are pure evil (not people I disagree with, they have as good a chance at being right as I do) we're talking rapists, murderers and serial killers is

I tried

[cacian]

Sometimes I think that what God would have to say about belief and doubt, those that do their best and the people who are pure evil (not people I disagree with, they have as good a chance at being right as I do) we're talking rapists, murderers and serial killers is

I tried

To try is usually followed by success. I am not sure even evil knows why evil is and that is the bigger issue. How to stop it is well worth a ponder.