A personal God?

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04-03-2007, 04:05 PM
Virgil

Quote:

Originally Posted by Madhuri

If yes, then won't it make Him like a human being, given God like status?

Yes, that's why Catholics (or is it Protestants too? I don't know) that believe this from the definitions:

Quote:

In the case of the Christian belief in the Trinity, God is an impersonal 'ousia' or substance, manifested in three 'hypostasis' or persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Which makes this highly complex in that it is both an impersonal and personal God at the same time.
04-03-2007, 05:16 PM
cuppajoe_9

The protestants are divided on the issue of the trinity. Some believe in it, some don't.

'Personal', in the context of that article, refers to having the quality of personhood. I would imagine that the percentage of Britons who believe that they have their own individual gods is even lower.
04-03-2007, 10:54 PM
Pendragon

Quote:

Originally Posted by andave_ya

Second that. "Man shall not live by bread alone but by every Word of God."

For me, personal God means that God isn't some far off, stern being who tells you to be good. God is a Friend. You can talk to Him without having to worry about being on His level (we'll never get there.) And He loves to hear you pray and speak with Him.

I like that. There is a song I sing sometimes, I don't know who wrote it, I first heard it sung by The Gaither Vocal Band: He came Down to My Level, When I Couldn't Get Up to His. God Bless.
04-05-2007, 05:31 PM
JGL57

So, then, from the standpoint of an atheist or western materialist/physicalist, a belief in a personal god would be explicable as a psychological state wherein the believer in such has personified nature to the point that he, the believer, hears god's voice, has conversations with god, feels god's presence, etc.

So, then, no matter where you are, you are never alone, because your special friend is there too (either lurking over your shoulder, inside your head, or just permeating everywhere, inside and outside your skin.

I think I'll stick with atheism. When I close the door to the bathroom I like to feel confident that I am alone. TOTALLY alone.
04-05-2007, 05:39 PM
cuppajoe_9

Quote:

Originally Posted by JGL57

So, then, from the standpoint of an atheist or western materialist/physicalist, a belief in a personal god would be explicable as a psychological state wherein the believer in such has personified nature to the point that he, the believer, hears god's voice, has conversations with god, feels god's presence, etc.

Umm, no. Belief in a personal God means belief in a God who is also a person. Whether or not one can have conversations with him is an entirely different question.
04-05-2007, 05:58 PM
JGL57

Quote:

Originally Posted by cuppajoe_9

Umm, no. Belief in a personal God means belief in a God who is also a person. Whether or not one can have conversations with him is an entirely different question.

That's why I included "feeling god's presence" as an option. Certainly, more liberal or sophisticated believers don't view god as a personal friend - many may think of "him" as a reification of love, intelligence or whatever that is far removed from mundane experience. My late brother was an Episcopalian who viewed god in this way.

I am speaking of those who have a personal relationship with a person, named "god", who just happens to be invisible, immaterial, all-powerful, a strict but loving parent, a close personal friend, etc. THAT'S the idea of god that engenders the thought that paranoia would be the result. Personally, I must eschew that kind of thinking. I would find it incompatible with my goal of maintaining my sanity at all costs. :thumbs_up
04-05-2007, 09:44 PM
hyperborean

Your own personal jesus
Someone to hear your prayers
Someone who cares --Depeche Mode
04-06-2007, 07:27 AM
Nightshade

Humm You know what Ive just got myself confused now....*sigh* God is God hes not a person , :confused:
04-06-2007, 12:32 PM
cuppajoe_9

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nightshade

God is God hes not a person

Not a person in the sense of a member of the species Homo sapiens sapiens, but a person in the sense of having the qualities of personhood, such as a distinct personality, the capacity for emotion and rational thought, &c.
04-06-2007, 03:42 PM
Neo_Sephiroth

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nightshade

Humm You know what Ive just got myself confused now....*sigh* God is God hes not a person , :confused:

I second that!:D Word.
05-13-2008, 11:58 AM
blazeofglory

We have Godhead in India, for India is a fertile ground where God and His offspring can flourish and expand and that is why there is a billion Gods for a billion people, each has his own particular deity. It is amazing.
05-15-2008, 05:16 PM
hellsapoppin

"each has his own particular deity"

The Bible speaks of each person having guardian angels. Are these personal deities that you speak of angels or gods?? How do people communicate with them or do they do so at all???
05-16-2008, 07:23 AM
Madhuri

The deities are Gods.

For example, if a person is starting a new venture or any new task, they will pray to Lord Ganesha, for good luck; there is a goddess of knowledge and learning -- Saraswati, there is a goddess of money -- Lakshmi, and likewise. So, people pray accordingly to each. There are different manisfestation of the same god. They can pray to all the gods and godesses or only one.
05-17-2008, 10:34 PM
hellsapoppin

Aha, I see.

BTW, you're not Memsahib from "Lagaan" are you? That was one of my all time favorite movies! :)
05-17-2008, 10:37 PM
Beautifull

God is the savior, and if he saved me, he can save you too before you go to hell!

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