NationStates Jolt Archive

Everybody argues that god exists. But what is god(s)?

god Audio pronunciation of "god" ( P ) Pronunciation Key (gd)
n.

1. God
1. A being conceived as the perfect, omnipotent, omniscient originator and ruler of the universe, the principal object of faith and worship in monotheistic religions.
2. The force, effect, or a manifestation or aspect of this being.
2. A being of supernatural powers or attributes, believed in and worshiped by a people, especially a male deity thought to control some part of nature or reality.
3. An image of a supernatural being; an idol.
4. One that is worshiped, idealized, or followed: Money was their god.
5. A very handsome man.
6. A powerful ruler or despot.

The symbolic representation of the valors and morals of a society.

The symbolic representation of the valors and morals of a society.

so. u'r saying that religous ppl r arguing how "The symbolic representation of the valors and morals of a society" made us humans? Come on, u can do better than that.

Geshpenst']so. u'r saying that religous ppl r arguing how "The symbolic representation of the valors and morals of a society" made us humans? Come on, u can do better than that.
he was sayinf what it realy is not what people belive (to him)

God is an imaginary father figure, who people believe to guide them, rewarding them for good and punishing them for evil.

A myth.

An emotional or mental crutch.

A superstition.

A rather evil bastard, according to the Bible.

God could be an anthropocentric explanation for the unknown.

What kind of question is this? Your not very smart, are you.

What kind of question is this? Your not very smart, are you.
If the question is that simple, then why not answer it?

It is something made up to scare little kids. Kinda like the boogie man or michael jackson.

Geshpenst']so. u'r saying that religous ppl r arguing how "The symbolic representation of the valors and morals of a society" made us humans? Come on, u can do better than that.

Yeah, well, if you look at the bible, the exactly "how humans were made" is a really small part. Even if you take genesis, how the universe was created it´s just a introductory bit so the fanatics can be happy that this question is answered, the rest is really about a symbolic figure (may it be god itself or a prophet) teaching people how to love each other and how to hate foreigners.

I'm god. It's all to do with sexual prowess you see.

Yeah, well, if you look at the bible, the exactly "how humans were made" is a really small part. Even if you take genesis, how the universe was created it´s just a introductory bit so the fanatics can be happy that this question is answered, the rest is really about a symbolic figure (may it be god itself or a prophet) teaching people how to love each other and how to hate foreigners.

LoL. So true!!

Weak-minded people, those who have fragile mental conditions or are just simply not bright, have the need to validate there existence with something. They can not just accept the fact that they are simply born, that they are just one of billions of people. They need to prove to themselves that they are important, that their lives have meaning, and thus, they turn to religion.

Religion makes them feel special, that they are not alone or just a number. Everyone needs to have a purpose in life. Mine is to be on the edge of a rainstorm, half-in, half-out. Once I have done this, I will have a new purpose in life. GOD is the personification of all of mankinds fears and safeties. They need some feeling of security in their lives as well. GOD is really also an overblown father figure. Something that they would get a feeling that they are safe around, that if anything that happened would be met with swift and harsh retribution.

Weak-minded people, those who have fragile mental conditions or are just simply not bright, have the need to validate there existence with something. They can not just accept the fact that they are simply born, that they are just one of billions of people. They need to prove to themselves that they are important, that their lives have meaning, and thus, they turn to religion.

Religion makes them feel special, that they are not alone or just a number. Everyone needs to have a purpose in life. Mine is to be on the edge of a rainstorm, half-in, half-out. Once I have done this, I will have a new purpose in life. GOD is the personification of all of mankinds fears and safeties. They need some feeling of security in their lives as well. GOD is really also an overblown father figure. Something that they would get a feeling that they are safe around, that if anything that happened would be met with swift and harsh retribution.

Ok, here goes another question for you. why is god "FATHER"-figure, no mother-figure?

One could consider that God is a maternal figure as well, perhaps I should have said that it was a parental figure that GOD was in place for...

As master Campbell says.
"jesus says that the he is the only way to the Father. But hey, I what if I choose the way of the mother?"

God is a streaker from the Philippines...speaking of which...








...*Disrobes and streaks thread*

*Salutes Crabcakes*

*Bows and then continues streaking*

Cod

1. A hook-shaped peninsula of southeast Massachusetts extending east and north into the Atlantic Ocean. Fishing, whaling, and shipping were important here until the late 1800s; the economy today is based largely on tourism.
2. Any of various marine fishes of the family Gadidae, especially Gadus morhua, an important food fish of northern Atlantic waters. Also called codfish.
3. A husk or pod.
4. Archaic: The scrotum
5. Obsolete: A bag

Oh wait ...

God!

Well, that's easy. "God" is a deity or anything someone worships. It's also the noun, when used as a proper noun, that Christians pray to through Jesus.

I find it really strange that it's used as a name. I mean ... it's like naming your children "Boy" and "Girl". Or if you meet someone and they point to your spouse and say, "Who's this?" and you say, "Friend, this is Wife."

It's just silly. At least name your damn god.

Also, NS in your first post you mentioned that EVERYONE argues FOR the existance of GOD, but I am arguing against it. Do you believe that a persons belief in something makes it real? Could we then take the inverse arguement and imply that peoples disbelief in something causes it to cease existence?

If no one responds within 5 minutes of THIS POST, me go play UT 2004....

Also, NS in your first post you mentioned that EVERYONE argues FOR the existance of GOD, but I am arguing against it. Do you believe that a persons belief in something makes it real? Could we then take the inverse arguement and imply that peoples disbelief in something causes it to cease existence?

er...ok. I think u've gotten it too far. I ws just simply asking ppl how they recognise god, which I hoped would get some funnyass answers from evangelical chirstians/catholics...

A couple of the are a little close minded, I mean, seriously, only weak minded people beleive in god because they need a purpose in life or whatever? That's the biggest cop out ever, and people always seem to use it as an attempt to argue against the existance of god. Well here's news for you, having faith isn't easy, kids growing up in school get bullied like crazy for saying they beleive in god, and the world we're living in really doesn't give them any kind of support, between nut-job evangelists and all the evil in the world, beleif in any kind of god is not for the weak minded or pathetic as lot of people seem to assume.

There are a lot of different Idas about god, pretty much every different Philosophy or religeon has their own one. I would say that God is a higher presence, he ws there when we were created, he will be there once we are gone. All else is a mystery.

ugh, the daeontalogical argument makes my brain hurt...

*Streaks around for another lap ending with his post count at 1000*

Geshpenst']I was just simply asking ppl how they recognise god

By the moustache and leather pants.

*Streaks around for another lap ending with his post count at 1000*
I think you should streak tell you add that next 0 :) 10000

... kids growing up in school get bullied like crazy for saying they beleive in god ...

WHAT? wait, what country r u from, seriously. Who gets bullied by saing they belive in god?

GOD = General Operations Director

By the moustache and leather pants.

what does homosexuals have to do with this?

Geshpenst']what does homosexuals have to do with this?
He dident say anything about homosexuals

Geshpenst']what does homosexuals have to do with this?

Well I don't know what your brand of god looks like, but I know mine by the moustache and leather pants. He can't help it. He's going through a phase.

Geshpenst']what does homosexuals have to do with this?
Are you saying only homosexuals wear leather pants and have moustaches? But God wears those!
The LORD thy God will be quite angry and your assertion that he is a sinner. I have heard it firsthand from him that the posters of handsome men on his wall mean nothing whatsoever.

:D

Are you saying only homosexuals wear leather pants and have moustaches? But God wears those!
The LORD thy God will be quite angry and your assertion that he is a sinner. I have heard it firsthand from him that the posters of handsome men on his wall mean nothing whatsoever.

:D

LOL. my bad, my bad.

OK, we're going off topic here. I'll ask again; what is GOD(S)?

Geshpenst']what does homosexuals have to do with this?

Incidently, just how many leather pants adorned, moustachioed homosexual men have you seen since 1985?

Geshpenst']OK, we're going off topic here. I'll ask again; what is GOD(S)?

I answered. It's whatever someone worships. It's a noun and an adjective. It's not a name.

Since your question is answered, the topic is now moot and we're free to do as we wish.

Geshpenst']OK, we're going off topic here. I'll ask again; what is GOD(S)?
According to Clarke, a god is simply a sufficiently powerful entity.

Like moi.

Since your question is answered, the topic is now moot and we're free to do as we wish.

okok, but I need to hear the answers from OTHER ppl too.

Geshpenst']Everybody argues that god exists. But what is god(s)?
I've also asked this question and to date, no one has came up with a clear and reasonable answer.

I answered. It's whatever someone worships. It's a noun and an adjective. It's not a name.

Since your question is answered, the topic is now moot and we're free to do as we wish.
You have failed to define this thing/things nature and physical/spiritual identity in a fashion that all can understand.

You have failed to define this thing/things nature and physical/spiritual identity in a fashion that all can understand.

why don't u try to define it? Give it a try

I agree that it's a bit of an arrogant position to take that the only people who believe in God are weak-minded or indeed of a crutch. While it is certainly true that many people do believe in God to help validate and structure their lives, many people come to that belief through reasoned consideration or, in my case, drug abuse.

To me God is conciousness at it's most pure. If you think of what you are, strip away your memories, your personality all your desires... everything that is generated by the physical brain. What you are left with is God, that small spark which is interpreting the data generated by the brain. And that spark is the same in all of us, and it is the one thing that is truly real, and all reality is an extention of it. It is the perfect balance between all forces, total contentment. The world exists only because conciousness is driven to express itself. Everything you see, everything you can imagine, that is a manifestation of God.

To me, there is no proscribed morality tied to this idea of God, because both "good" and "evil", to use rather loaded terms, are a part of God. Nothing you can do is against God, because God is in everything. All morals become subjective. That doesn't mean, though, that you should surrender your own conceptions of morality. Rather, you should follow your own moral compass. Do what you feel is right, oppose what you feel is wrong. Listen to tohers and think for yourself. make up your own mind. God loves you anyway, because you are literally a part of it, him, her, whatever. [edit] Forgot to throw this point in... God has created you to view the world, and in doing so view itself, through. Your conceptions of morality are key to this. What the whole world boils down to is God looking at itself through 6 billion pairs of eyes and fathoming out it's own nature.

And yeah, I know, shut up and pass.

...What you are left with is God...

whoa, dude, no wonder ppl pray to the deadbodies.

Geshpenst']why don't u try to define it? Give it a try
How can I define the unknown? Firstly, I am an athiest and obviously don't believe in the existence of God/Gods. I may as well try to define the nature and description of the Invisible Pink Unicorn God.

Many people, think it's enough to anthropomorphize their God. I consider this to be more a reflection of the believer's faith/opinion/hope , than the alleged existence and description of their god. As believers, it is assumed that your understanding of the nature of god and it's physicality/spirituality is shared by others who share the same failth.

Faiths and beliefs come and go, many have died out, so what has happened to the god/gods of those faiths? How many today believe in the ancient gods that predate the Judeac beliefs.

Geshpenst']whoa, dude, no wonder ppl pray to the deadbodies.

dead bodies? What the hell are you talking about?

How can I define the unknown? Firstly, I am an athiest and obviously don't believe in the existence of God/Gods. I may as well try to define the nature and description of the Invisible Pink Unicorn God.

Many people, think it's enough to anthropomorphize their God. I consider this to be more a reflection of the believer's faith/opinion/hope , than the alleged existence and description of their god. As believers, it is assumed that your understanding of the nature of god and it's physicality/spirituality is shared by others who share the same failth.

Faiths and beliefs come and go, many have died out, so what has happened to the god/gods of those faiths? How many today believe in the ancient gods that predate the Judeac beliefs.

....u really are taking this serious aren you...

You have failed to define this thing/things nature and physical/spiritual identity in a fashion that all can understand.

But it's like saying, "Describe Car" ... WHICH CAR?!?!

I'm saying that "god" has a specific meaning. It can be looked up in the dictionary. Question answered.

Nobody asked to describe Hashem, Allah, Shiva, etc.

But it's like saying, "Describe Car" ... WHICH CAR?!?!

I'm saying that "god" has a specific meaning. It can be looked up in the dictionary. Question answered.

Nobody asked to describe Hashem, Allah, Shiva, etc.My point exactly, the question cannot be answered in a definitive way. The next step is to question the validity of the existence of god/gods.

he sees you when your sleeping, he knows when your awake, he knows if you've bee....wait, wrong guy....god is an omnipresent father figure that watches you all the time, especially when masturbating, and then wags the guilty stick at you whenever you throw change at a homeless man or do something of equally weak moral fiber...oh well

My point exactly, the question cannot be answered in a definitive way. The next step is to question the validity of the existence of god/gods.

WOWWOWOWOWwow.....don't skip ahead. Arguing about god's exsistance is what everybody else is doing. I want ppl to answer what god is in this thread.

dead bodies? What the hell are you talking about?

You said If ppl take all their minds and shit. That's more like a deadbody..or atleast brain dead ppl.

My point exactly, the question cannot be answered in a definitive way. The next step is to question the validity of the existence of god/gods.

Validity? The existence of deities is quite valid.

However, we may be skipping ahead.

The question can be answered in a definitive way if you specify which deity.

Well yeah, but since when do people pray to dead bodies?

Well yeah, but since when do people pray to dead bodies?

You know...at their grave, funerals, etc

have you read C.S. Lewis's The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe? I think the way Aslan is described in there, that's a lot of what/who God is. He's wild, and he's not safe, but he's good.

I'm not sure which belief system you're refering to there, but every experience I've had with funerals has us praying to God to look after the dead person, and pay respects to the body.

I think a lot of your confusion about God could be solved by simply clicking here (http://www.albinoblacksheep.com/flash/you.html)

Validity? The existence of deities is quite valid.

However, we may be skipping ahead.

The question can be answered in a definitive way if you specify which deity.Thats only true if your definition of the deities existence is a valid one. That brings us back to the fact that it is impossible to state definitively the existence, physicality/spiritual description of god/any god.

As I cannot identify the description of a deity in an unambigious way, it is back to you to establish the exisitence of whatever deity you have a complete knowledge of to clear up my ignorance.

Thats only true if your definition of the deities existence is a valid one. That brings us back to the fact that it is impossible to state definitively the existence, physicality/spiritual description of god/any god.

As I cannot identify the description of a deity in an unambigious way, it is back to you to establish the exisitence of whatever deity you have a complete knowledge of to clear up my ignorance.

Ok, just don't start arguing about god's exsistance HERE.

not to be a kill-joy, but here are some thoughts from orthodox protestantism. the Westminster Larger Catechism defines God as "a Spirit, in and of himself infinite in being, glory, blessedness, and perfection; all-sufficient, eternal, unchangeable, incomprehensible, everywhere present, almighty, knowing all things, most wise, most holy, most just, most merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth."

Or to lighten things up a bit, a preferred defintion of God might be "a personal and perfect Spirit who is infinite, eternal, unchangeable in His being and attributes."

I think a lot of your confusion about God could be solved by simply clicking here (http://www.albinoblacksheep.com/flash/you.html)

Er...I have this feeling that that's a Spam, so I'll pass buddie.

God and religions were created as a sense of order and moral responsibility (and in some cases, consequences for breaking moral codes.. ie. going to hell for eternity)

The whole purpose for religion was for power and for order... through fear of a terrible after-life as well as punishment for not following religiouos law, people were subconciously forced to follow rules.. this doesnt necessarily mean religion is bad though... Throughout the history of time, mostly, religion is used to unite people, and used as a common background for different people to relate. Religion brings us together, mostly bringing good and charity to communities. Unfortunately, because of very minute instances, fundamentalist religious fanatics sometimes make religion seem a bit "crazy" and "dangerous".. but for 99.9% of the worshipping people, it is not so.

I can spend hours talking about how there really isnt a god, and the different theories of the creation of the universe (expansion-collapse theory, or the antimatter-matter collision...). The fact is, no matter how wrong any religion might be.. or how crazy the belief in one, or a multitude god is... religion is quite important to our history, to our law-making, and moral codes, and to the development of order and societal unity.

Thats only true if your definition of the deities existence is a valid one. That brings us back to the fact that it is impossible to state definitively the existence, physicality/spiritual description of god/any god.

As I cannot identify the description of a deity in an unambigious way, it is back to you to establish the exisitence of whatever deity you have a complete knowledge of to clear up my ignorance.

But that's avoidance. You have to name a specific deity in order to get a description. For instance, if you say "Medusa", I'll say, "Gorgon. Snakes for hair, not pretty, turns men to stone."

We're not arguing existence, the question was for a description. Nothing more.

sry.. dont know how it did it 3 times.. my bad

That's what the "edit/delete" button is for. :)

sry.. dont know how it did it 3 times.. my bad
It was obviously an act of God :)

It was obviously an act of God :lol:

*snicker*

Zeus must be messin' with the forums again.

Geshpenst']Everybody argues that god exists. But what is god(s)?
It's me. No, really, a god is something (or someone :eek: ...) that is supposed to direct your life and the world...

The symbolic representation of the valors and morals of a society.
I like that answer. There is no magically appearing omnipotent being which snapped its fingers and created life, but people have invented one as a way to embody everything they value. War-like societies create gods of war, for example.

*snicker*

Zeus must be messin' with the forums again.
Ok, I'm off to sleep now but first I'll say my prayers ;)

Guide
On
Draconic Order

I take this Quote from "The Devil's Dictionary" by Ambrose Pierce. He was a quite witty short story writer that I read while in American Literature at school.

"Arrest- Formally to detain one accused of unusualness
God made the world in six days and was arrested on the seventh.- The Unathorized Version"