Do you think there is a God? If so, why?

[YoursTrue]

So that is the question. Do you think there is a God? Please describe how you envision this God. Thank you.

 

[an anarchist]

I envision "god" as a infinite power source, not a deity. I call this source "infinite intelligence". Proper noun God gets it's power from this power source. As conscious beings, it is our right to access infinite intelligence, so we are in effect gods. I believe in deities, spirits, souls, and the such. but all derive their life energy from infinite intelligence, which people mistake for God.

 

[an anarchist]

I have interacted with god. that is why I believe

 

[YoursTrue]

I envision "god" as a infinite power source, not a deity. I call this source "infinite intelligence". Proper noun God gets it's power from this power source. As conscious beings, it is our right to access infinite intelligence, so we are in effect gods. I believe in deities, spirits, souls, and then such. but all derive their life energy from infinite intelligence, which people mistake for God.

So let me get this straight so I understand you, because I'm finding it a bit difficult to understand. So the god you envision is not a person, right?

 

[an anarchist]

So let me get this straight so I understand you, because I'm finding it a bit difficult to understand. So the god you envision is not a person, right?

Well... allow me to confuse you some more.

Humanity as a collective consciousness can in effect be viewed as god. It is my personal belief that we can collectively bring about heaven on earth i.e. merge with "god" i.e bring an end to all suffering.

An individual human, such as myself, can be viewed as god. But what makes me god? It is the access to infinite intelligence that I am granted.

It is infinite intelligence which is truly "god" I guess. It is not a figure, a man or deity or anything, it is the source of all existence. Consciousness stems from infinite intelligence and consciousness makes us god.

I used the word "god" quite liberally there

 

[Evangelicalhumanist]

NO.

Because there's no reason to.

 

[an anarchist]

NO.

Because there's no reason to.

Well, because you have no reason to. Perhaps others, such as myself, have a reason to.

 

[MikeF]

So that is the question. Do you think there is a God? Please describe how you envision this God. Thank you.

I think there are, and have been, tons of them. None literal though.

 

[YoursTrue]

Well, because you have no reason to. Perhaps others, such as myself, have a reason to.

Well, it's interesting, that's for sure. So I can understand your experience to an extent. Because I see God in my mind and heart as a Person. And when I think of my belief I do recognize how "God met me" after all my years of searching. (There is no doubt in my mind...as I consider it.)

 

[YoursTrue]

I think there are, and have been, tons of them. None literal though.

Can you explain more about this? I mean you are saying you think there are gods, lots of them, but none literal. None literal? What does that mean, thank you. You mean you think there are gods, but not really, if I understand you correctly.

 

[dybmh]

I believe in God probably for the same reasons a lot of people believe. It feels like there is a unseen benevolent being who is looking out for me, helping me, and guiding me. I've asked for God's help, and God helped me a few times in my life. I've had some other mystical experiences along the way. Not that it's always been great. I've struggled, but God was always there to help me. And I am very very grateful. I zoom with my parents each week who live in another state. And whenever God helps us, we share those experiences with each other. So that's why I believe.

 

[MikeF]

Can you explain more about this? I mean you are saying you think there are gods, lots of them, but none literal. None literal? What does that mean, thank you. You mean you think there are gods, but not really, if I understand you correctly.

We human beings have the wonderful abstraction of language that allows us to not only communicate to others but to think about and reason upon things in our own mind. Language can be used to reference or talk about real things or events in the world, but also, it allows us to create abstract constructs that we can share with each other, and how we relate to those shared constructs can affect how we behave and interact with each other. An example of an abstact construct is currency. The idea that something like a sea shell or bits of metal can be given a value by mutual agreement such that these shells or bits of metal can be use as a convenient medium of exchange. Political systems would be another example of a set of abstract ideas that, if agreed to (or imposed upon) can have a tremendous impact on the lives affected by those systems. These abstract ideas exist as ideas. The category of gods or supernatural entities are just another example of abstract constructs, that when agreed to can impact the behavior and actions of those who adopt the construct as well as those who interact with those that adopt the construct. The greater the number of adoptees to a particular abstract construction or system, the greater the resulting social impact on the population involved.

The abstraction of gods (the label in English) is applied to a very broad category of abstract entities. And any such entity adopted is usually adopted in a very subjective and personal way. Those of the same denomination for example are going to internalize the abstract entity such that their version, although asigned the same label, will be a subjective and personal concept unique to themselves. This is not to say there is not broad agreement in general terms on characteristic and expectations assigned to the abstract construct, but as each of us is a unique individual, our use of any abstraction will be personalized to our subjective selves in some fashion.

So, as an abstraction, the abstract entities do not literally exist in the physical world with the ability to interact with or affect the physical world, but as ideas adopted by individuals, their adoption affects how those individuals interact in the world to varying degrees.

 

[YoursTrue]

We human beings have the wonderful abstraction of language that allows us to not only communicate to others but to think about and reason upon things in our own mind. Language can be used to reference or talk about real things or events in the world, but also, it allows us to create abstract constructs that we can share with each other, and how we relate to those shared constructs can affect how we behave and interact with each other. An example of an abstact construct is currency. The idea that something like a sea shell or bits of metal can be given a value by mutual agreement such that these shells or bits of metal can be use as a convenient medium of exchange. Political systems would be another example of a set of abstract ideas that, if agreed to (or imposed upon) can have a tremendous impact on the lives affected by those systems. These abstract ideas exist as ideas. The category of gods or supernatural entities are just another example of abstract constructs, that when agreed to can impact the behavior and actions of those who adopt the construct as well as those who interact with those that adopt the construct. The greater the number of adoptees to a particular abstract construction or system, the greater the resulting social impact on the population involved.

The abstraction of gods (the label in English) is applied to a very broad category of abstract entities. And any such entity adopted is usually adopted in a very subjective and personal way. Those of the same denomination for example are going to internalize the abstract entity such that their version, although asigned the same label, will be a subjective and personal concept unique to themselves. This is not to say there is not broad agreement in general terms on characteristic and expectations assigned to the abstract construct, but as each of us is a unique individual, our use of any abstraction will be personalized to our subjective selves in some fashion.

So, as an abstraction, the abstract entities do not literally exist in the physical world with the ability to interact with or affect the physical world, but as ideas adopted by individuals, their adoption affects how those individuals interact in the world to varying degrees.

Thanks for the explanation. I've been reading about animals, some insects (reading National Geographic) are fabulous in their apperance and inclinations, but do not read or write. (Right?) So I believe -- and I'm purty sure it's true -- that humans are vastly different from cows, horses, spiders, etc. Even though these have their fabulous qualities also. Maybe I'm "seeing" things differently than you. But thanks anyway for offering your viewpoint.

 

[MikeF]

Thanks for the explanation. I've been reading about animals, some insects (reading National Geographic) are fabulous in their apperance

Cool.

 

[YoursTrue]

I believe in God probably for the same reasons a lot of people believe. It feels like there is a unseen benevolent being who is looking out for me, helping me, and guiding me. I've asked for God's help, and God helped me a few times in my life. I've had some other mystical experiences along the way. Not that it's always been great. I've struggled, but God was always there to help me. And I am very very grateful. I zoom with my parents each week who live in another state. And whenever God helps us, we share those experiences with each other. So that's why I believe.

Thank you for your response. I would like to say that I used to dabble with mysticism, such as the Ouija board, and found it not helpful to say the least. (Way out, as the expression used to go...) I no longer do those things because -- I believe that God allows me to recognize He does not want me to do such things. That is one thing. I see him with my spiritual eyes as a person. Depictions of him as a person have been described by the prophets in the Torah. Thank you, dybmh.

 

[F1fan]

I have interacted with god. that is why I believe

Why do you only believe that a God exists when you claim to have interacted with it? Do you only believe your friends exist? Do you only believe your car exists?

When we interact with things we KNOW they exist.

 

[osgart]

I believe unconditioned non living intelligences are infinite as well and consciousness or living creatures emerges from it. So eternal beings would not be out of the question.

So for me the foundational reality is unconditioned intelligence. The universe is a conditioned reality not the base root of existence. The universe is mostly inanimate matter and energy, and intelligence manifests here in the right conditions. This is just one realm of the infinite.

I stop short of God concepts because I firmly believe life is free for the innocent and no one should exert power , authority and control over another. I see no divinity in nature.

 

[Jimmy]

Nothing would exist without god.

 

[an anarchist]

When we interact with things we KNOW they exist.

Hence my belief

 

[F1fan]

Hence my belief

We only believe in ideas we can't be sure are true or exist. When we interact with things we know they exist as a certainty.