What is God?

Can somebody tell me what God is and isn't? I leave this topic up for discussion. Post your answers

reply to post by pellian


One of several conceptions of either a very potent or omnipotent supernatural being which may or may not have a personal investment in humanity...

That's about as close of a definition as you're going to get.

Personally, I think it's just a way for people to provide comfortable answers for troubling questions.

reply to post by pellian


You will get an infinite number of answers and they are all right... and all wrong.

You could not possibly define god for there are so many answers and perspectives on what "god" is. I think God just simply is, whether you believe in it or not, its either there or it isn't, but what it is nobody knows, and anyone who claims too is simply ignorant.

maybe it is easier to describe what God is not.

I can't answer your question but I find it so interesting that people may ask, "Do you believe in God"? And the answer will be, "YES"! But then when they each tell what their idea of "God" is, they are totally different! That just amazes me.

Anyway, good luck.

All i know is that you will not find God in religion, only fragments of himitsheustheyourthem.
The whole game is believing in him regardless what poeple tell you and how things APPEAR to be.

The question you should be asking is, who are you? And If im yooohu, who æm aæææi? AÆAEÆÆEA.. IS THAT MY BABY HÆEAIEHIEAE? - THATS O U R BABY!!!! ÆEAØÆEHHA

(It may appear that i am ranting, but for those of you who'v seen this sketch, hollah!) :

:-)

If God exists, who created God?

God is everything, there is no bearded man in the sky. God is you me your dog and cat, your tv, this entire existence. 1 is everything and everything is 1. 1 universal consciousness exploded into billions of particles called matter. everything on the most simple level is vibrating strings of energy. Its as if there was this infinite creative "mind" that existed. And it had all of these ideas, but for an idea to have any worth it must be executed or manifested. Energy cannot be destroyed or created, but change forms. God "killed himself" i.e changed forms to be reborn as matter and the universe. We are a collective consciousness and we manifest a collective reality. That is why people must be woken up to the happenings of out current time, because we collectively create our own existence. Watch the Quantum Activist, it is a very good documentary. I am only 21 and Ive discovered so much through my own experiences. One Love

God is the constant creation/recreation that goes on every moment in everything, it transcends boundrys and connects us all. God is the energy that is, and creates existence, and the energy that is created from the existing.

Not to sound all new age, because I'm not a fan, but foe me, that is the short summary.

You are god just as I am god.

Originally posted by binkbonk
God is the constant creation/recreation that goes on every moment in everything, it transcends boundrys and connects us all. God is the energy that is, and creates existence, and the energy that is created from the existing.

Not to sound all new age, because I'm not a fan, but foe me, that is the short summary.

its sounds kabbalastic

Originally posted by Benevolent Heretic
I can't answer your question but I find it so interesting that people may ask, "Do you believe in God"? And the answer will be, "YES"! But then when they each tell what their idea of "God" is, they are totally different! That just amazes me.

Anyway, good luck.

Exemplified in this thread. Good observation.

Originally posted by pellian
Can somebody tell me what God is and isn't? I leave this topic up for discussion. Post your answers

Heres a better question for you....

What isn't God?

I once gave the following answer to someone's request for a definition of the Christian God;

The Creator.
That which is not the Universe, but the originator of the Universe.

I then continued;

I'd like to expand the original definition.
(very cautiously, because Philosophy isn't really my field)

Let's make it a really trinitarian one;

God is a Creator
God is one who Communicates
God is one who becomes Incarnate

God is a Creator

I see this view as distinct from both Monism and Dualism.

As I understand the difference;
Monism resolves everything to one point of origin.
Dualism resolves everything to two points of origin, distinct and independent.

Creation theory falls short of being genuine Monism, because the created universe is understood as distinct from God.

Creation theory falls short of being genuine Dualism, because the created universe is understood as dependent upon God.

My private theory is that Creation teaching ought to be called "One-and-a-half-ism", but I don't suppose it will catch on.

As far as I can see, this involves the traditional teaching of "ex nihilo" ("out of nothing") Creation.

Because if God is "creating" using pre-existing raw material, then the material is not genuinely dependent upon him- this has become Dualism.

Or if God is producing the material of the universe "out of himself", then the material is not genuinely distinct- this has become Monism.

"Ex nihilo" is the only logical alternative, which is presumably why the teaching was developed in the first place.

God is one who Communicates

This assumption is built into Biblical religion.

In the first place, the Bible is believed to contain examples of communication (as reported, for example, by the prophets).

Furthermore, the Bible is believed to reflect a policy of communication.
It is said that God is using the Bible to "reveal himself", and so Biblical religion used to be described as "revealed religion".

The belief that "God is one who Communicates" links back with the belief that "God is one who Creates".

In the first place, some of the content of the communication points to God as Creator.

The proper Biblical answer to the question "Why do you believe your God made the universe?" is not really "Because that's the only way to account for the universe."
The truly Biblical answer is "Because he says he did, and I believe him."

But I think the very act of communication also points to God as a Creator.

Any act of communication necessarily implies a distinction between the communicator and the other party.
I've already said the Biblical understanding of Creation involves a distinction between God and the universe.

An act of communication implies the existence of a "will" in the communicator, or at least some sort of analogy of one.
But the same could be said, surely, of an act of "Creation".

Finally, a God who creates a universe thereby sets up a relationship between himself and the universe.
The effect of communication is to set up a relationship between himself and individuals (or even a group of individuals) within the same universe.

I assume that a purely monistic deity would not be communicating with, or setting up a relationship with, parts of itself.

My point is that
The idea of the God who Creates
and the idea of the God who Communicates
are very akin to one another.

The kind of God who would Create would also be the kind of God who could Communicate.

God is one who becomes Incarnate

I could hardly, really, leave this out of a definition of the Christian God.

The understanding is that the Incarnation is a more direct presence of God within the created universe.

If this is true, it's the ultimate form of Communication, as the author of Hebrews points out;
"God spoke of old to our fathers by the prophets
but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son".

But it's also the ultimate form of "establishing a relationship";

Because the doctrine of the Incarnation is that the Creator and his creation, divinity and humanity, are bound together within the person of the Son.
The bond is understood to be irrevocable.
It's impossible for a relationship to get any closer than that.

Anyone who tries to understand the church's teaching about the Incarnation will discover that it's all about finding the right "balance".

On the one hand, the distinction between the divinity and the humanity must not be exaggerated, to the point that the unity disappears.
On the other hand, the unity between them must not be exaggerated, to the point that the distinction disappears.
The correct position is somewhere halfway between the two extremes.

But this is exactly what I said, at the beginning of this piece, about Creation;
That it occupied a halfway position between Monism and Dualism.

So it seems to me that the "balancing act" which Jehovah's Witnesses love to mock, when it comes in the teaching about the Incarnation, is also inherent in the very doctrine of the Creation itself.

The kind of God who would Create is also the kind of God who could become Incarnate.


I began by naming the Christian God as
The one who Creates
The one who Communicates
The one who becomes Incarnate.

I now suggest that these three ideas are akin to one another.
They belong together, naturally.

Whether you can believe them or not, they all belong to the same kind of God.

reply to post by pellian


Salad...a brick...paper plates..the nation of Mexico...a comic book...a series of tubes...magma...an itch on your butt...a stress ball...yeah, this is going to take a while

Nah, I think trying to decide what this thing is would be more productive.

reply to post by pellian


42, obviously.

Seriously, though...what perspective are you wanting this from? Generally speaking, 'god' is the creative first source of all that exists in our perceived reality/existence. Within those who subscribe to this line of thought, there is at least some small disagreement as to details, identity, etc.

In some cases, 'god' just refers to a foreign being with access to abilities, technology, etc., standing outside or above our own understanding.

In my personal view (I'm a follower of the Way), 'god' is our father, our goal, long-suffering and loving. He gives good gifts to those who seek him and ask in faith, although he has not made a pretense of offering to make this an easy journey toward our reunion with him. He is the tester, the refining flame, and creative spark. All good that I have or am has come from him. He is in everything and nothing. The ultimate paradox, and he is the only truly self-determining one. We are separate from him yet in him, and he delights in us allowing him to discover himself.

reply to post by CasiusIgnoranze


If what created god exists, what created what created god?!

It's like looking into the eternal reflection from between two mirrors, NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!

reply to post by pellian


God is a word that means different things to different people. To many Taoist or Buddhist the word is not part of their religion's glossary. To Hindus that word has a different meaning than it does to a Christian. Muslims have a different perspective and so do the Jews. So for the purpose of The Reluctant Messenger website, we need a common definition of God.
Quoting different sources from each religion before revealing the definition.


Taoism
Tao, the subtle reality of the universe cannot be described, That which can be described in words is mearly a conception of the mind. Although names and descriptions have been applied to it, the subtle reality is beyond the description.
Tao Teh Ching - beginning of chapter 1

The subtle essense of the universe is elusive and evasive.
...
It is the subtle origin of the whole of creation and non-creation. It existed prior to the beginning of time as the deep and subtle reality of the universe. It brings all into being.
Tao Teh Ching - portions of chapter 21


Buddhism
"There is, O monks,
an unborn, unoriginated, uncreated, unformed.


Were there not, O monks,
this unborn, unoriginated, uncreated, unformed,
there would be no escape from the world
of the born, originated, created, formed.


"Since, O monks, there is an
unborn, unoriginated, uncreated, and unformed,
therefore there is an escape
from the born, originated, created, formed."

The Gospel of Buddha
Sermon at the bamboo grove at Rajagaha


Hinduism
Neither the multitude of gods nor great sages know of my origin, for I am the source of all the gods and great sages.

A mortal who knows me as the unborn, beginningless great lord of the worlds is freed from all delusion and all evils.
The Bhagavad-Gita - The tenth teaching, verses 2 & 3

Sihkism
There is One, only One Supreme Being, Truth Eternal, Creator of all seen & unseen, Fearless, Without hatred, Timeless Being, Non-Incarnated, Self created, Realized by the Grace of Guru (Perfect Master Only.)
Guru Granth Sahib Page 1

Judaism
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
Genesis 1:1

For thus saith the Eternal that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: I am the self existent One; and there is none else.
Isaiah 45:18


Christianity
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God Himself. He was present originally with God. All things were made and came into existence through Him; and without him was not one thing made that has come into being.
Gospel of John 1:1-3


Sufism
You are the Absolute Existence which causes (our) transient (existences) to appear.
Masnavi - Book 1 - Creator and Creation
Now, a definition of God.

God is the indescribable, uncreated, self existent, eternal all knowing source of all reality and being.

reluctant-messenger.com...

Originally posted by pellian
Can somebody tell me what God is and isn't? I leave this topic up for discussion. Post your answers

Short of us being told 'What' God is we can not possibly know.Our highest act of intellect would be to theorize as to what the nature of a supreme being might be. however, that would only leave us with to much room for error.

Thankfully we have been told 'what' God is.

John 4:24 tells us that God is a spirit. Better Question would be What is a spirit?