How Would You Describe God, What is Your Concept of Him

Originally posted by sinohptik
i consider God to be all things, and that which contains them.

Relatively simple

i believe he works through Love, which i define as the human experiential concept of the electromagnetic forces which drive core movement (not strictly the emotion, in other words).

 

i do enjoy the idea of this thread, anyway. Even those who do not believe in such things with "faith," have a definition for that which they do not believe in.

It is good to foster cooperation between us all, as we all view the world differently (even when we agree), and we learn and teach simultaneously in dance of sorts.. Quite the amazing thing, really.

Dear sinohptik,

So glad you joined and so very happy that you understood the purpose of this place, this thread. Isn't the dance beautiful when we insist upon manners and set boundaries that are fair to those outside and those inside. I can begin to see where we may differ in interpretation. It is a chicken or an egg issue and may have a very weird solution that I just read. New 'Double Slit' Experiment Skirts Uncertainty Principle. It is absolutely fascinating as a possibility, it means that neither wave nor material; but, that both move in conjunction to impact the result.

Let me try this, all of us have emotions, the totality of that emotional experience is God, we are all a part of that emotional experience, the experience impacts us and we impact the experience, neither defining it 100% apart from the other part having a say? I do hope that is understandable. It fits within my Christian beliefs and I believe is in agreement with yours; but, please feel free to explain where we might differ.

reply to post by AQuestion


A really great thread has just started talking about. You don't need long term memory to love. Isn't that cool, I mean the guy can only remember love, how to play piano and the last 30 seconds; but, he is always still himself. Perhaps this is a possibility that we discussed earlier, it is for this man. Always himself, always in love with his soul mate and how to play piano, how to make music.

Originally posted by AQuestion
Dear SuperiorEd,

I have read this before and am familiar with the concept. It does have a unique elegance; but, my description would be different. I believe our soul is born again in that it is refreshed; but, that we do not lose the memory completely. Maybe I put that poorly. The soul memory, the knowledge and wisdom that we gained from the experience here. Not so much in thoughts as in keeping the emotional structure that we learned, chose, whatever, in place. Perhaps we are not that far apart, perhaps we are not apart at all and are only describing it slightly differently. Why don't we see where this goes and agree that we will never have the exact same take on it as we are each ourselves. Peace

As they say, "All paths lead to the top of the mountain, the only thing that changes is the view."

Originally posted by AQuestion

Originally posted by AdamsMurmur
reply to post by SuperiorEd

 

Well put, very concise.

The fact that the Church of Rome declared it a heresy is yet another reason to believe it.

And

to this.

Dear AdamsMurmer,

I left the Catholic church 40 years ago at age 12 and was an agnostic for 12 after that. I came to my beliefs slowly and over time. I cannot say that I did not learn what I believe without the help of the fine priests and nuns that I knew and priests were Jesuit. Irish, smoking, drinking and boxing Jesuit priest. They never did any wrong to me or those around me and exposed me to the love of God, I just wasn't ready to accept anything I had not investigated on my own. They gave me that freedom and never told me any question I asked was stupid. I know that is not everyone's experience with the church; but, it was mine.

When I became a Protestant I had to endure hearing how all the people that I had grown up with and loved me, were evil because they were Catholic, it truly hurt me and perhaps even distanced me from the Protestants that believed like me. See how insidious division is? It gets us on both ends.

I understand what you went through. I was taken to Kingdom Hall (Jehovah's Witness) and the Orthodox church (was baptized Orthodox as well) around the same age. I too fell away from them, as I already mentioned that I believed God wasn't real at that time in my life. Plus I hated sitting in church, and having to wear a suit no less! (lol)

And while I did not physically rejoin any specific church, I still respect those roots and where I came from. Like foot prints in the snow, I'm glad to be taking the journey and be out of that town, but will always cherish it. It was my brother though, who I saw as a missionary at the time, that made me give faith a second chance. From then on, things gradually changed after an initial bang. I was set from that point on. It was only recently that a second bang occurred (the result of that "fasting" that SuperiorEd spoke about), which really jump-started things for me in a much more profound way.

But yeah, division and intolerance is the root of much suffering in this world. I wholeheartedly believe that as well. Mankind needs to learn to agree to disagree - pride/ego is the blockage we need to overcome.


Oh, and I want to make it clear that I'm not against Roman Catholicism as a whole, just the men who changed things to suit their needs. Deeming things heretical as they did is what brought about the dark ages, Inquisitions, witch hunts, and so on -- that's why.




It lends credence to giving said things a second look and second thought.

reply to post by AdamsMurmur


Dear AdamsMurmer,

I loved reading you words and continue to enjoy it.

Originally posted by AQuestion
Dear sinohptik,

So glad you joined and so very happy that you understood the purpose of this place, this thread. Isn't the dance beautiful when we insist upon manners and set boundaries that are fair to those outside and those inside. I can begin to see where we may differ in interpretation. It is a chicken or an egg issue and may have a very weird solution that I just read. New 'Double Slit' Experiment Skirts Uncertainty Principle. It is absolutely fascinating as a possibility, it means that neither wave nor material; but, that both move in conjunction to impact the result.

Let me try this, all of us have emotions, the totality of that emotional experience is God, we are all a part of that emotional experience, the experience impacts us and we impact the experience, neither defining it 100% apart from the other part having a say? I do hope that is understandable. It fits within my Christian beliefs and I believe is in agreement with yours; but, please feel free to explain where we might differ.

i would hope we would differ in some areas i talk to myself far too much as is While i can easily claim myself a christian, i would/have/will be considered a massive heretic by most. It would be disingenuous to suggest otherwise. i talk to teach and learn simultaneously, or make what i consider true "movement" and growth. i strive to find the actual means through which God makes movement. i feel we scratch the surface of this with things like physics, math, etc. All representative of the system that is already in place.

i feel that the double slit experiment might be suggesting that our perspective may introduce duality, or a specific point/counterpoint, out of a larger wave cycle. When "x" is observed by one residing within duality (including computers, 0/1), it gives two perceived choices (yea/nay) out of a much greater over-arcing wave. Perhaps this behavior we see is representative of the flux that is created by "residing" in a dualistic system in totality.. say, ones mind. It is also a possibility that the quantum realm we are exploring are the physics of a universe that is in close proximate orbit to our own (akin to the earth and moon.) If we were able to look equally far on the macro scale, we might find something similar at the bounds of this universe.

i see our emotions as part of what i define as our "action." This is complemented dualistically by what i refer to as the "observer." All things derived from physical systems are considered to be part of the "action," including emotions, thoughts, etc. The observer is that which contains them. i generally follow the "systems within systems" philosophy, if you hadnt noticed that is quite close to my definition of God as well It is in simultaneous balance between the observer and the action where balance is created in the "orbit" and true growth can occur, like we see with our planets and stars. Otherwise, in an unstable orbit, things tend to look like a strewn asteroid field..

So, in this, i view all these "things" as parts of God, but not God exclusively. To fully understand this, i felt i had to do the same within my own body. Wherein, i allow all parts of "me" to shine equally, and not be limited by what individual systems perceive the others to "be." Meaning, i breathe with my lungs, i do not "think" about my lungs breathing with my mind. Allowing the lungs to rise up alongside the mind/thoughts in continuous perspective allowed them to shine truly as the glorious individual (but not separate) parts of the whole.

i truly and deeply appreciate your effort in cooperative exploration of.. life! i feel it is the only path to true growth, if we can do it throughout our own system as God does it throughout us. Close that flux that was opened by free will alone (adam and eve)

Originally posted by sinohptik

Originally posted by AQuestion
Dear sinohptik,

So glad you joined and so very happy that you understood the purpose of this place, this thread. Isn't the dance beautiful when we insist upon manners and set boundaries that are fair to those outside and those inside. I can begin to see where we may differ in interpretation. It is a chicken or an egg issue and may have a very weird solution that I just read. New 'Double Slit' Experiment Skirts Uncertainty Principle. It is absolutely fascinating as a possibility, it means that neither wave nor material; but, that both move in conjunction to impact the result.

Let me try this, all of us have emotions, the totality of that emotional experience is God, we are all a part of that emotional experience, the experience impacts us and we impact the experience, neither defining it 100% apart from the other part having a say? I do hope that is understandable. It fits within my Christian beliefs and I believe is in agreement with yours; but, please feel free to explain where we might differ.

i would hope we would differ in some areas

i talk to myself far too much as is

While i can easily claim myself a christian, i would/have/will be considered a massive heretic by most. It would be disingenuous to suggest otherwise. i talk to teach and learn simultaneously, or make what i consider true "movement" and growth. i strive to find the actual means through which God makes movement. i feel we scratch the surface of this with things like physics, math, etc. All representative of the system that is already in place.

i feel that the double slit experiment might be suggesting that our perspective may introduce duality, or a specific point/counterpoint, out of a larger wave cycle. When "x" is observed by one residing within duality (including computers, 0/1), it gives two perceived choices (yea/nay) out of a much greater over-arcing wave. Perhaps this behavior we see is representative of the flux that is created by "residing" in a dualistic system in totality.. say, ones mind. It is also a possibility that the quantum realm we are exploring are the physics of a universe that is in close proximate orbit to our own (akin to the earth and moon.) If we were able to look equally far on the macro scale, we might find something similar at the bounds of this universe.

i see our emotions as part of what i define as our "action." This is complemented dualistically by what i refer to as the "observer." All things derived from physical systems are considered to be part of the "action," including emotions, thoughts, etc. The observer is that which contains them. i generally follow the "systems within systems" philosophy, if you hadnt noticed that is quite close to my definition of God as well

It is in simultaneous balance between the observer and the action where balance is created in the "orbit" and true growth can occur, like we see with our planets and stars. Otherwise, in an unstable orbit, things tend to look like a strewn asteroid field..

So, in this, i view all these "things" as parts of God, but not God exclusively. To fully understand this, i felt i had to do the same within my own body. Wherein, i allow all parts of "me" to shine equally, and not be limited by what individual systems perceive the others to "be." Meaning, i breathe with my lungs, i do not "think" about my lungs breathing with my mind. Allowing the lungs to rise up alongside the mind/thoughts in continuous perspective allowed them to shine truly as the glorious individual (but not separate) parts of the whole.

i truly and deeply appreciate your effort in cooperative exploration of.. life! i feel it is the only path to true growth, if we can do it throughout our own system as God does it throughout us. Close that flux that was opened by free will alone (adam and eve)

Dearest sinohptik,

You don't know how relieved I am to be finally understood. This is what I wanted, to share with others their experience first (so as to not interrupt and then mine and then discover commonality). I cannot fully share the thought with those that do not fully share the love. That is the commonality if we let it be. It always goes back to emotion, the cement of the universe, that which gives meaning. How do we discover each part of us, that is the journey and it is marvelous and only gets easier if we let it. Isn't it amazing to know that others who completely critique your beliefs also love you, it is the wrong approach, I know this; but, if it is out of love we can have true joy rather than just comfort. Be well, peace and keep talking. No hater wants to see this thread be successful.

Originally posted by AQuestion
This is really quite a simple question. It does not require you to be fully understanding, I don't believe we can fully understand anything, I do believe we can grow in our understanding of everything by sharing information, our little bit of knowledge. If you join this thread to tell me that there is no God then you are off topic. If you tell me you don't believe in God, you can remain on topic if you explain what you think he could be like. This is not a thread for endless statements about religion and all it's evils, that would also be off topic, you don't have to believe in a religion to have a concept of a God.

My idea of what God is like is a bit split. Essentially, the key verse for me is 1 John 4.6, "God is love". However, my experience has been that God is distant, and that God is holy and high above we humans. God's ways and decisions can never really be understood...
I like what C S Lewis has someone say about Aslan (his Christ figure in the Narnia books).
"(Aslan) is not a tame lion". Maybe God can never really be known when we're here?
Vicky

reply to post by AdamsMurmur


Dearest AdamsMurmer,

I pray that you like where this is going. No leaders, just sharers of our love. Why must others say we are haters when we are not as we live our faith and you only live it when you know love, all faiths teach that somewhere. They just mess up their priorities. In my bible it says "Your tradition makes void the word of God". Tradition, unthought beliefs, not thought out ones. Think about this, I am old and you I believe are younger, you have so much time. If what we learn here today from others, from all of us, not me and not you, all of us. If you learn that all of us want to love one another in the end, then that will impact how you act later and how others learn what is possible. Here is where it gets wild, this has already occurred, we have already learned and learned to our core because we experienced enough to know it is the truth, we can be different and love one another, you understand that more than anyone else. LOL, your username.

One who tried to stop this thread from being well managed was ManOnTrial, think about his username. It says that the Devil is before God, day and night accusing us. I always ask other of what does the Devil accuse us, perhaps he accuses us of not having complete love.

Originally posted by Vicky32

Originally posted by AQuestion
This is really quite a simple question. It does not require you to be fully understanding, I don't believe we can fully understand anything, I do believe we can grow in our understanding of everything by sharing information, our little bit of knowledge. If you join this thread to tell me that there is no God then you are off topic. If you tell me you don't believe in God, you can remain on topic if you explain what you think he could be like. This is not a thread for endless statements about religion and all it's evils, that would also be off topic, you don't have to believe in a religion to have a concept of a God.

My idea of what God is like is a bit split. Essentially, the key verse for me is 1 John 4.6, "God is love". However, my experience has been that God is distant, and that God is holy and high above we humans. God's ways and decisions can never really be understood...
I like what C S Lewis has someone say about Aslan (his Christ figure in the Narnia books).
"(Aslan) is not a tame lion". Maybe God can never really be known when we're here?
Vicky

Dear Vicky32,

Firstly, the worst trouble I ever got into in my life was for flirting with a girl Vicky, this is the truth. My soulmate, Julia, somehow found out and put me in a very awkward situation, although I promise, Julia and I had no understanding. I hope to make this both off point and on point.

Now to your comment. If there is a push and pull to the universe and we ever experience as much as we can at any moment, will we not be both tame and a lion? If I speak too vaguely, please let me know.

Originally posted by manontrial

I mean c'mon man. Do YOU really believe that Hercules killed a minotaur? Do ya? If so, why? If not, why not?

Point of order - Hercules was not a god. Just sayin..

Well, that's really just it. My concept of God is that God is too big to put into any words or be properly described. My concept of God is my concept of infinity; things just kinda keep going.

reply to post by Vicky32


Oh Miss Vicky,

You do have quite the sense of humor.
and I am so pleased that I get to enjoy it and share a heartful moment rather than a hurtful moment with another. I do hope you feel the affection. I am in favor of hugs always and kisses when we know each other well enough and other things when committed for eternity. Heck, I think I just wrote poetic and that is not my style. LOL.

Originally posted by gnosticquasar
Well, that's really just it. My concept of God is that God is too big to put into any words or be properly described. My concept of God is my concept of infinity; things just kinda keep going.

Dear gnosticquasar,

And there is nothing wrong with your description, things just keep going, I like that. Is that okay that I like your answer, I hope it is. Your sentence, single handedly summed up my whole post about my belief. It really did. Thank you and I mean that from my heart, read every post and you will know I speak the truth.

reply to post by AQuestion


I think that God is a man made object or deity that man has used to describe everything that he couldn't explain before science. Therefore my answer is that man is God.

Originally posted by superman2012
reply to post by AQuestion

 

I think that God is a man made object or deity that man has used to describe everything that he couldn't explain before science. Therefore my answer is that man is God.

Dear superman2012,

Lets see, where to begin, you are off topic (please read the OP) and added nothing to any conversation that you thought to disrupt. Too much free time? Please tell us how you intend to spread love is this life, let us see the sunshine within your heat, amaze us with your brilliance. At least read the complete OP, I know you can do that.

Originally posted by SuperiorEd
Yes. I do believe in reincarnation. John 3 is where we find Nicodemus speaking to Jesus about being born again. Jesus says that we must be born again in the water. If we are born in the water and the spirit, then we escape the born again part in the water. Most people miss this because there was a decree from Justinian in 545 AD that declared this belief of Origen, the Christian philosopher, to be a heresy. The fact that the Church of Rome declared it a heresy is yet another reason to believe it.

That isn't quite true! Nevertheless, up until 7 years ago, when my only brother died, I believed in reincarnation, (although I was and am a Christian), and I suppose a part of me still does, so I find your post very interesting..

Originally posted by SuperiorEdThere is also the problem of divine justice. One life seems a bit short. A just God must act justly.

The tree of life is the symbol used for this development. You are the roots of the tree and the tree is what you create above. It bears fruit when you gain union with the spirit. The flaming sword that protects the tree of life is bias and hatred. Love is the sword of truth. Once we find the sword of truth and use it, we gain atonement. At-One-ment with God and His Holy Spirit. This is the marriage supper of the lamb. The lamb is the self (ego) that gains union through Christ's atonement. Humans were found to be incapable of this on their own. God steps in and offers salvation through atonement. This is the sacrifice of the ox on the alter in the temple. The temple is your body. The ox is the one carrying the burden in life as the wheel turns. Two sets of verses can show you what I am saying.


It's called the Veil of Forgetfulness. Each person born must have this veil. The reason for the veil is to allow the soul to experience this reality in faith, not fact. If the soul remembered it's first estate, it would not have faith. Once a person wakes up to their former estate with God, they are said to be awake. Regardless of the veil being lifted, the person is awake to reality.

I am a Christian Universalist, which means that I believe that all people will eventually be saved (re-united with God). That takes care of my worries about justice!
"All in good time" as my parents used to say.

reply to post by Vicky32


Dear Vicky32,

And I believe the same, all are saved. That may take some time; but, it is always available. As I understand hell better, I understand salvation better. In my view, we save our selves by loving others.

Originally posted by AQuestion

Dear Vicky32,

Firstly, the worst trouble I ever got into in my life was for flirting with a girl Vicky, this is the truth. My soulmate, Julia, somehow found out and put me in a very awkward situation, although I promise, Julia and I had no understanding.

That's cool! I hope it's all sorted between you and Julia now...

Originally posted by AQuestionNow to your comment. If there is a push and pull to the universe and we ever experience as much as we can at any moment, will we not be both tame and a lion? If I speak too vaguely, please let me know.

Hey, that is a good point... It's given me some food for thought, thank you!
Vicky

Originally posted by AQuestion
reply to post by Vicky32

 

Dear Vicky32,

And I believe the same, all are saved. That may take some time; but, it is always available. As I understand hell better, I understand salvation better. In my view, we save our selves by loving others.

Yes, the important thing is, "that may take some time" - but God is patient!
(I saw your thread about Aspergers, BTW, my 2 nephews have Aspergers, the younger one tending towards autism, and my son and I both have aspects of Aspergers... )
Vicky

Originally posted by Vicky32

Originally posted by AQuestion

Dear Vicky32,

Firstly, the worst trouble I ever got into in my life was for flirting with a girl Vicky, this is the truth. My soulmate, Julia, somehow found out and put me in a very awkward situation, although I promise, Julia and I had no understanding.

That's cool! I hope it's all sorted between you and Julia now...

Originally posted by AQuestionNow to your comment. If there is a push and pull to the universe and we ever experience as much as we can at any moment, will we not be both tame and a lion? If I speak too vaguely, please let me know.

Hey, that is a good point... It's given me some food for thought, thank you!
Vicky

Dear Miss Vicky,

Never a shortage of space. To know her for but a moment is to know her love for forever.