NationStates Jolt Archive

What are the roles God, were it to exist, would perform according to religious belief?

I can think of these so far:

1 - The Creator - made the world
2 - The Mind Behind Nature - controls the world
3 - The Judge - decides right and wrong

4. The Cop-out - if you can't explain it, attribute it to god.

4. The Cop-out - if you can't explain it, attribute it to god.

Perhaps I should have been more specific. The roles that a God, were it to exist, would perform, according to religious belief.

Note: I am not religious, I just want to know.

There's really only one: Sheilding people from reality

There's really only one: Sheilding people from reality

This is not an answer to the question I asked.

This is not an answer to the question I asked.
I could ask assuming the cat in the hat excisted what would his role be in regards to controling the space-continuum, but noone could promise me the answer I wanted.

I could ask assuming the cat in the hat excisted what would his role be in regards to controling the space-continuum, but noone could promise me the answer I wanted.

Thank you. Your combination of unhelpfulness and lack of humour is very constructive.

Thank you. Your combination of unhelpfulness and lack of humour is very constructive.
Well considering I wasn't trying to be helpful, humourus or constructive, I've only failed in one of my obejectives. Since you seem content assuming I've been constructive. My work here is done.

Perhaps I should have been more specific. The roles that a God, were it to exist, would perform, according to religious belief.

Note: I am not religious, I just want to know.
Well... you are kinda going about it backwards. The proper question would be... if God were to exist, what role would people perform in His design.
If you understand the difference Im trying to make.

Well... you are kinda going about it backwards. The proper question would be... if God were to exist, what role would people perform in His design.
If you understand the difference Im trying to make.

I may be going about asking your question backwards, but I'm asking my question forwards. However, I think I may be able to get the answers to my question from the answers to your question with some work, so feel free to answer it.

I think that God is more a creation of the people to explain things that could not be explained when theology was developed. So, in my mind, god's role is to explain things that science cannot yet explain.

Well, that and a useful thing to say when justifying irrational hatred towards other groups.

"Why do you hate ________, little Timmy?"
"Cause God told me to. . .duh."

I may be going about asking your question backwards, but I'm asking my question forwards. However, I think I may be able to get the answers to my question from the answers to your question with some work, so feel free to answer it.
Well given the answer you want is to the question he's asking, I'd say you need to change your question.

Well given the answer you want is to the question he's asking, I'd say you need to change your question.

Given that your given is not given, I wouldn't say what you'd say.

There's really only one: Sheilding people from reality

Despite what others are saying to you, know that I 100% agree with what you have said.

Despite what others are saying to you, know that I 100% agree with what you have said.

Oh, I agree that the role of the belief of God in the real world is a shield from, or at least warped perception of reality, but I was asking about the role of a hypothetical God in a hypothetical world where it exists. Anyway, I think the three I said pretty much cover everything.

Oh, I agree that the role of the belief of God in the real world is a shield from, or at least warped perception of reality, but I was asking about the role of a hypothetical God in a hypothetical world where it exists. Anyway, I think the three I said pretty much cover everything.

Fair enough and the answer is quite simple.. Control.

I may be going about asking your question backwards, but I'm asking my question forwards. However, I think I may be able to get the answers to my question from the answers to your question with some work, so feel free to answer it.
I guess I didn't express myself the way I wanted to.
You ask what role god serves in human's religion. If god were a creation of humans to explain the unexplainable, then god would serve what ever roles that particular religion was created for.

However, if humans were creations of God, then he wouldn't serve a role in humans existance... rather humans serve some role in God's purpose.

Since, religious people believe (at least I do) that humans were creations of God's, I don't think God performs a specific role, rather it is I that must fulfill a role he has planned for me.

I hope that explains what I meant by backwards.

if there were a god, which is highly unlikely, the major role he would play is to hold the fabric of the universe together. anyone powerful enough to construct and run the universe wouldnt have much need for praise and his fondness for flaws in his sentient beings indicates that he has no great need for compliance to moral laws.

...if humans were creations of God, then he wouldn't serve a role in humans existance... rather humans serve some role in God's purpose.

Since, religious people believe (at least I do) that humans were creations of God's, I don't think God performs a specific role, rather it is I that must fulfill a role he has planned for me.

Wow, that completely blows my mind. I mean, that thought never even occured to me. Maybe theists and atheists are really different species. Kinda like lions and tigers. Similar, they can breed, but at least the offspring of a theist and an atheist isn't like a Liger. Those things are huge, sterile, and REALLY weird lookin.

Or maybe atheists are the next step in human evolution. Kinda like being psychic or something...:p

Fair enough and the answer is quite simple.. Control.

I suppose what I should have asked is what are the particular roles that are focused on, e.g. creation, judgement, and controlling natural phenomena. I suppose giving people messages to spread is another one.

I guess I didn't express myself the way I wanted to.
You ask what role god serves in human's religion. If god were a creation of humans to explain the unexplainable, then god would serve what ever roles that particular religion was created for.

However, if humans were creations of God, then he wouldn't serve a role in humans existance... rather humans serve some role in God's purpose.

Since, religious people believe (at least I do) that humans were creations of God's, I don't think God performs a specific role, rather it is I that must fulfill a role he has planned for me.

I hope that explains what I meant by backwards.

I see what you mean.

What are the roles God, were it to exist, would perform according to religious belief?
- creation (small case "c") of everything, from the world to self, to life, to stop signs and parking tickets.
- destruction of everything, which opens the way for recreation of world, self, life, stop signs, etc. being restored in all their glory.
- organizing the world, assuming responsibility for its maintenance.
- watching over us, humans, and caring.
In other words, teaching us everything we are capable of.

This is a really big topic. But Ill set you on the right track. The biblical God is many things. There are many names given to him based on the various roles he fulfills. Among them: saviour, provider, creator, healer, God of hosts (commander in chief of the armies of heaven), etc. Here is a rather comprehensive listing you can use as a starting point:

http://www.ldolphin.org/Names.html