the definition of god

[freedom13]

Nothing personal really, but could you do a logical reasoning instead of spamming bible quotes endlessly? You can try to explain your reasoning with quotes, but all I see here is quotes with nothing to explain. I can read Bible of my own.

The topic is “definition of God” so logical reasoning is from the bible. Don't take it personally, it’s my prerogative.

[ChinUp]

Quote by: freedom13 The topic is “definition of God” so logical reasoning is from the bible. Don't take it personally, it’s my prerogative.

So you don't define God personally ? What do you aim to gain by allowing others to stand in your light like that ?

[freedom13]

Quote by: ChinUp So you don't define God personally ? What do you aim to gain by allowing others to stand in your light like that ?

God of the living: To "Know thy self" is indeed personal, because that what those words means.

Thats using your noodle :-) The more I think about it the more I think defining the word God is like guessing what comes after death or guessing time & space have an origin. NO need, show some freeking self control I say. let the butterfly fly, no need to kill it & pin it to a board to feel the the clever one . but then I do love a good mystery. like watching a gull fly, where did you come from where are you going. I can hang out with that for hours fill up with sheer joy @ existence. Nothing makes me feel more alive than being baffled .

Are you sure your definition of God is not a delusion? A mystery God is fantasy and it cannot be defined as reality.

[ChinUp]

freedom13 .. Are you calling scriptural definitions for the word God reality & personal observations about the word God fantasy ?

How can you know the true nature of God when the God you have is one handed to you by people who confuse religion with government ? How can you think making out the word God refers to a despot can be anything but fantasy ?

[freedom13]

freedom13 .. Are you calling scriptural definitions for the word God reality & personal observations about the word God fantasy ? How can you know the true nature of God when the God you have is one handed to you by people who confuse religion with government ? How can you think making out the word God refers to a despot can be anything but fantasy ?

ChinUp: What's the problem? You don't understand my question?

Are you sure your definition of God is not a delusion? Meaning some people perception of God is delusion. A mystery God is fantasy and it cannot be defined as reality. Meaning that false interpretation of God is fantasy.

God of the living: To "Know thy self" is indeed personal, because that what those words means.

No one define God for me, I define God within my self, and in the bible metaphorically reveal reality and not fantasy. To "Know thy self" is based on sanity and delusion is based on insanity.

[ChinUp]

Are you frustrated with me or yourself ? Do you feel anger @ my ability to have faith in God without any of the trappings of deity worship ?

[freedom13]

Quote by: ChinUp Are you frustrated with me or yourself ? Do you feel anger @ my ability to have faith in God without any of the trappings of deity worship ?

Which ones? Delusion or Reality!

[ChinUp]

Quote by: freedom13 Which ones? Delusion or Reality!

Can you tell the difference between what is made up by people & what is present in nature ?

[Nemiroff]

You don't need a definition of god, but simply a few points that everyone in an argument can debate on. Is he all powerful, is he all knowing, is he in or outside of time. For example I have brought up several arguments that I began by saying this is about the judeo/Christian god, which means perfect and the 3 omni attributes. There's still much mystery to the definition of that god, but at least those points were generally agreed upon by all who believe in that diety, and therefore had common ground to debate. If I say god is a man and you say god is a female and we believe in different gods, then we could both be right and we're just wasting time.

[Athena]

Quote by: nerdvincent Where is the limit of our understanding? If we understand him will he stop being God? If fish don't understand us, are we Gods? Are every women godess to men? My way of worshiping God (universe in my case) is by understanding it, so ,agreeing to your definition, to make him stop being god. Nature is my Bible.

We can not understand God, because we can not directly experience God, and no one has, at any time in history, despite what holy books say. The God of Abraham no more walked in the Garden of Eden than Zues seduced human females. These humanized gods are myth, not a being we can experience with our senses, so we can not study God.

What we can study is the physical manifestion of the universe, and laws of nature. Laws of nature include our own nature and relationships between cause and effect. Democracy is awesome, because unlike religions, is it is the shared study of that which we can study and every day we add to what we know.

It is understanding we defend our liberty by practicing the principles of democracy and assuring everyone freedom of speech, and an understanding of the responsibility that goes with that freedom. It is through freedom of speech that we gain enlightenment, and that is, as close as we can come to knowing God.

It is my hope as we better know of God as expressed in the laws of nature, the easier it will be for us to give up myths about a God that is as humanized as Zeus. With good intensions, people projected themselves into gods. Now it is time to separate myth from the greater reality that is beyond our comperhension. We must come to know our own nature.

We have a whole lot of Christian myths to over come, from what is our nature, to how we determine morals.

[ChinUp]

Athena .. Who has convinced you you cannot experience God personally ? Anyone who has ever reached their personal extreme has found God waiting for them @ the other end. Its just God cannot be explained without confusing what you experienced . Kind of like what it feels like when you fall in love .

Creation myths & deity myths that come along with them are just a confidence trick to get people to feel beholding to the clergy for their lives & thus do whatever they are told. old world slave mentality.

Really people don't they teach ancient history any more ? Check 6th century BC

Zoroastrianism ..
Taoism Confucianism .. wiki is your friend !!
Buddhism ..
Pythagoras ..

Empire vs state .. despotism vs democracy .. scripture vs reason

[Athena]

Quote by: ChinUp Athena .. Who has convinced you you cannot experience God personally ? Anyone who has ever reached their personal extreme has found God waiting for them @ the other end. Its just God cannot be explained without confusing what you experienced . Kind of like what it feels like when you fall in love . Creation myths & deity myths that come along with them are just a confidence trick to get people to feel beholding to the clergy for their lives & thus do whatever they are told. old world slave mentality. Really people don't they teach ancient history any more ? Check 6th century BC Zoroastrianism .. Taoism Confucianism .. Buddhism .. Pythagoras ..

Okay, this may be off subject, but it is related to the subject. Naw- not here- look for the thread "experiencing God".

[ChinUp]

Can you define what makes things natural ? Define what regulates the flow of life ? Define what causes all the effects we observe in life ? Define the massively complex mechanism of reality ?

[freedom13]

Quote by: ChinUp Can you define what makes things natural ? Define what regulates the flow of life ? Define what causes all the effects we observe in life ? Define the massively complex mechanism of reality ?

Can you define how to give an answer to some of these questions instead of asking so many questions? Such as what making things natural - cause and effect and reality…

[ChinUp]

Quote by: freedom13 Can you define how to give an answer to some of these questions instead of asking so many questions? Such as what making things natural - cause and effect and reality…

A question promotes thought. I prefer to keep an open mind accept I have no provable answer, than to close my mind with unprovable answers, just becasue I'm to lazy (lack the courage) to deal with not having a solid answer yet .

Where is the value in lying ? Better to keep asking questions.

[Rainbow]

Quote by: Nemiroff the definition of god

I have no definition for the God. A sort of understanding, only.
The most comprehended and/or understood (by myself) :
- the living form of Intellect-formed-by-or-based-on Entity, that created the very first atom for the Universe we live-in

[Zhavric]

Quote by: ZNFYRH I think that it is backwards to insist that "God" must always mean "created the universe." I think that's the easiest way to change context to make a debate "winnable."

But we both know it's irresponsible and dishonest to ignore this very common definition nor do we need to know "how" god does things to give him a definition or discuss his attributes. Do we need to know "how" Superman flies to know this is one of his abilities? Certainly not.

This is a situation where the m-w.com definition really does work just fine:

1capitalized : the supreme or ultimate reality: as a: the Being perfect in power, wisdom, and goodness who is worshipped as creator and ruler of the universe bChristian Science : the incorporeal divine Principle ruling over all as eternal Spirit : infinite Mind2: a being or object believed to have more than natural attributes and powers and to require human worship; specifically : one controlling a particular aspect or part of reality3: a person or thing of supreme value4: a powerful ruler

[Rainbow]

Quote by: ZNFYRH I think "God" is better defined with the more general "abilities beyond understanding" and not "created the universe."

Do you mean the world we live-in as the Universe ?
God is a part of the Universe ?
Does God have to obey all the rules and/or laws within that Universe ?

[ZNFYRH]

Simply put, I think what makes a God a God is that they have abilities beyond our comprehension.

The Greek Gods, for example, were not tri-omni. But they were still Gods because of the powers they had.

[Zhavric]

Quote by: ZNFYRH Simply put, I think what makes a God a God is that they have abilities beyond our comprehension.

Have abilities beyojnd our comprehension is an attribute.

The Greek Gods, for example, were not tri-omni. But they were still Gods because of the powers they had.

Ah, so you've finally admitted that defining gods isn't an issue and that we can freely address different definitions of god on a case by case basis. Better (a few years) late than never.