Why Your Particular God?

[RickSp]

One of my favorite quotes regarding theism is :

“I contend that we are both atheists. I just believe in one fewer god than you do. When you understand why you dismiss all the other possible gods, you will understand why I dismiss yours.” Stephen F Roberts

For the believers here, why do you believe in your particular God? If you believe in only one God, why do you reject all other possible Gods?

It has always struck me that any belief in a Christian, Islamic, or Judaic God, to name only three related sects, comes bundled with complex sets of dogmas. Selecting any one of these dieties also involves buying into beliefs which contradict the beliefs of the followers of other dieties. Given that there are hundreds of different dieties worshipped by sects around the world, how does one choose only one?

Beyond the usual, "that's how I was raised", why choose one god over all the other possible gods? And, as suggested by Stephen Roberts, if you reject all other gods, do you understand why I reject yours?

[Gods_Mercenary]

First of all, many theists believe that we're all really worshipping the same deity, our ideas of what he is, whether He is in many parts or one being etc. are just different. I, in that case, just chose the belief system I was most comfortable with because we can't be sure which one or if any are right.

[RickSp]

Quote by: Gods_Mercenary First of all, many theists believe that we're all really worshipping the same deity, our ideas of what he is, whether He is in many parts or one being etc. are just different. I, in that case, just chose the belief system I was most comfortable with because we can't be sure which one or if any are right.

Yet most belief systems specify that if you do not follow a specific dogma that you are doomed to hell of one form or another. This, along with a bloody history of religous conflict, doesn't jibe particularly well with the idea that you are all "worshipping the same deity". How could you possibly be worshipping the same diety with such conflicting dogmas?

[Gods_Mercenary]

That's a belief no longer held by my particular faith. Not to mention that the three great monotheistic faiths openly acknowlwge the oneness of their deity. No history and even the present doesn't jibe with this belief, but we're talking about the present. Anyway, as I said, conflicting dogmas don't mean it isn't the same. I might think you're an idiot while your mom thinks you're wonderful, but we're both talking about you. So I choose the faith that expresses what I believe God to be. I'm not rejecting gods, I'm accepting one interpretation of what God is.

[Captain Chaos]

I believe it likely that god(s) exists, because of a variety of reasons I have posted on this site before, especially infinite emergence.

I see relatively little that would indicate details about the nature of God(s).


This is part of why I consider myself a deist, and why I consider this distinct from traditional theism.

We do not know the nature of God, if he exists. If God wanted us to know all about him, we would. Better to accept a lack of knowledge than to make up answers.

[Plasma Snake[D]]

People have designer Gods because it is a reflection of themselves. It is a window into that certain culture. Just look at the way different races worship their gods. White people tend to be more reserved, while black people tend to be more animated. Im pretty sure if you left black people alone for a while, they will branch off and create a set of rules for their religion that better suits their lifestyle.

[RickSp]

OK, so GM, you reject the idea of any gods other than your own and you "chose the belief system [that you find] most comfortable". Why do you believe that yours is the only God? And why is your belief system better than any other? Faith? Because you were raised that way? Because you just do?

[Gods_Mercenary]

I don't reject any other gods because I believe that God is trying to reveal himself to everyone, so that every religion that worships a deity or two is really worshipping this divine presence. I don't believe that mine is the only God, I believe He is every God, if you follow. I don't think that my belief system is better than any other except that it suits me and my personal beliefs, but it might not suit a muslim or a pagan, and, as long as they're good people, I'm really O.K. with that.

[RickSp]

So you don't reject any other gods, you just don't think they exist. And you don't think you belief system is any better than anyone elses, except that is is for you. Is that about right?

I hope you understand if I find these answers somewhat nonresponsive. I presume that you were raised Catholic?

[Gods_Mercenary]

No to first statement, yes to second, and how did you know, although its probably obvious.

No, I think that all gods exist in the person of this divine presence we all worship. We just have different ideas about what this presence is.

[Captain Chaos]

Quote by: Gods_Mercenary No to first statement, yes to second, and how did you know, although its probably obvious. No, I think that all gods exist in the person of this divine presence we all worship. We just have different ideas about what this presence is.

If this presence actually wanted us to know the truth, surely we would?

[Gods_Mercenary]

Maybe it wants us to find out on our own, after all, learning by investigation is better than being told.

[Captain Chaos]

Quote by: Gods_Mercenary Maybe it wants us to find out on our own, after all, learning by investigation is better than being told.

But, there is no definite set of answers to be derived from the available evidence.

[Gods_Mercenary]

I'm talking about all of humanity eventually learning what it is, not one person looking at it and figuring it out.

[Captain Chaos]

Quote by: Gods_Mercenary I'm talking about all of humanity eventually learning what it is, not one person looking at it and figuring it out.

hmmm....

perhaps



I am certainly one part of humanity trying to figure it out. The most relevant thing that I can figure out, though, is that if you knew that paradise awaited, you would have far less incentive for sticking it out when things got bad on Earth.

Perhaps ignorance is necessary.

[Gods_Mercenary]

Wait, how would you not stick it out?

[Captain Chaos]

If you are playing a video game, and it gets crappy and you don't want to play anymore, then you just quit.

If life was miserable, and you knew something much better awaited you, then you could quite reasonably quit (suicide).

Since we do not know what, if anything, comes next. That is, we do not know for sure, we are forced to take this life much more seriously. Perhaps there is benefit in that.

[Gods_Mercenary]

True, but most faiths regard suicide as a grave sin, kinda pointless to kill yourself if you're gonna go to Hell anyway.

Although, I'll agree that there are definately plusses to being less dogmatic and more philosophical.

[RickSp]

GM, I can't help but conclude that the reason that you have chosen the particular God that you have is primarily because you were raised that way and that it feels good. That may work well for you. It obviously doesn't for me.

[Gods_Mercenary]

Possibly, if the reason I believe the things I do is because I was raised that way than yes.

By the way, how did you know I was Catholic?