Defining God

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~Solum-Ipsum Aug 9, 2012 Hobbyist General Artist

I've seen this issue come up again and again, and I think it's worth discussing: God, beyond whatever we say of it, is a definition – even if "it's really not an entity but a reality beyond our means of comprehension and definition" or whatever.

Now, what atheists do, is form a different definition: "God is a mental construct of wish-thinking to be able to deal with the ability to comprehend that our life would end. Certain smart guys have seen through this, so they decided to immorally seize power by making up a moral code to keep the less intelligent, superstitious people in line, respecting them for claiming to have a tight relation with a deity, thus religions were born."

We kind of heard that definition ad nauseam. However, religions have different definitions for God, so what are those definitions? What makes God what it is?

I'm mostly expecting answers from people who believe in a certain form of a final transcendental state (enlightenment) or being (God), and would care to try and define it for the rest of us.

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~Mystieka-Senko Aug 10, 2012 Student General Artist

I think that if we would be able to define it we wouldn't need religion. Since most organised religion is so preoccupied with dictating what deity is and what (according to them) he/she wants from us...
I think that if at all our relationship with deity should be personal, without forced imagery.

I know deity through interacting with deity, I might view them different from others, I might find that deity does not commune with me as it does with others but that is how a personal relationship works. For me to define deity for you would be no better than me telling you what I think is truth on something that is neither true nor false.

~TimeHasAnEnd Aug 9, 2012 Hobbyist

God is the creator of all things and whole universe is under His control. He has authority to destroy us or construct us; He has authority to give us pain or happiness. He can do whatever He wants to do. Who are we to question His authority? After all we are His creatures. I am no one to question the creator of all things that is living or dead. Once I started to think like that, I came to know other things, which were of great surprise to me.

I came to know that God is the one who gives us good and bad situations, so that we may learn that in God there is nothing bad. It is also said in the Bible, "whether it is favorable or unfavorable it is for our own good". It is not victory that shapes us, but adversity. Tribulation molds and refines the character of ones life. This ordeal is part of God's plan for perfecting His chosen children...

~Kimihro Aug 9, 2012 Hobbyist General Artist

What makes God what it is?

To me, (b>God is an idea that becomes your personal definition of the unexplained.</b> So ALL iterations of God are different, be it a man in the sky, people who have powers or something that doesn't exist.

But God is also manifested in people's lives as the unknown unknown, the big "maybe" that applies to metaphysics and spiritual talk (origin of the uni/multiverse, souls, spirits, etc.)

All that being said, you're only as right as you think you are when it comes to what God is. I personally think everyone's headed to the same place anyways (which is definitely not such silly concepts as heaven or hell). Well... until they transcend sentience, which can take eons or just one lifetime. That's my personal bit, so disregard that if you feel it wasn't necessary.

!Dagakki Aug 9, 2012 General Artist

There's a difference between god and God. Usually "god" refers to any god, while God is more specific to the God Christians follow. So that's my definition of God, the One revealed and described in Scripture.
A god is a much looser definition, and I'm not sure if I can give you a completely accurate answer. I just got back from India, and I saw more gods in the one town I was in, than I ever have in my entire life. We visited a Hindu temple one day (probably around 100ft tall) that was completely covered in idols of Hindu gods. Getting to know their religion a little more while I was there, I was told that most Hindus cannot tell you how many gods they believe exist because almost anything can be a god. So, I guess my definition of god is any person or thing someone worships or idolizes. In that sense, everyone worships a god - whatever you strive after and want to achieve (money, possessions, power, relationships, positions, etc...) is your god(s).
Personally, I strive after God, which means He is above everything in my life.

~Lytrigian Aug 9, 2012 Hobbyist Writer

No, that's not what atheists do, at least not at first. Atheists look at the definitions offered by the religions, and then decide that the entity to which these definitions apply does not really exist. This leads them to certain conclusions about God. Conclusions are not definitions. They're what you get after reasoning from definitions.

If you want God defined as well as Christianity cares to, see the Nicene Creed.

~Solum-Ipsum Aug 10, 2012 Hobbyist General Artist

Oh, and thanks.

~Solum-Ipsum Aug 10, 2012 Hobbyist General Artist

Okay, I looked up the two terms because you got me interested. You were right. I did mix up a couple of things there.

But still, I want kind of axiomatic foundations from the forum visitors' perspective. I'll take a look at Nicene Creed later, when I have some more time and energy to read up on it.

~Lytrigian Aug 10, 2012 Hobbyist Writer

Incidentally, I have to say I'm puzzled at your remark about the Creed, considering your sig. I'd expect any Catholic, or anyone who knows about Catholicism, to be very familiar with it.

~Solum-Ipsum Aug 12, 2012 Hobbyist General Artist

Oh, but I'm neither Catholic, nor someone who knows much of it. I've been sort of a Perennialist/Integral Traditionalist for about two and a half years, and I have only been into doctrines of any religion for a little more than a year, maybe. I still have lots and lots to learn.

~Lytrigian Aug 12, 2012 Hobbyist Writer

Well then, I wish you a spiritually profitable journey.

The Nicene Creed isn't just doctrinal, but it's also used liturgically, so you may have heard it at some point if you've ever been to a Catholic mass. I think Catholics may also use the Apostle's Creed, but the Nicene is the more common. The controversy between East and West is over the word "filioque", "and the Son", added to the clause about the procession of the Holy Spirit. It's agreed by all that it wasn't there originally and was added in the West sometime after the 10th century. The Orthodox contend that this was done improperly, since the Nicene Creed was produced by an Ecumenical Council and would therefore require another such Council to amend, and that it's theologically incorrect as usually understood in the West -- that last being heard mainly from more conservative elements. The Catholics insist that it was well within the authority of the Pope in his councils to add the word, and that it's NOT incorrect.

"Filioque" therefore contributes to the split in two different ways, by introducing a point of contention over Papal authority, and an actual theological disagreement.

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