Does God really exist? I want to know your views.

[chinu]

Does God really exist?

Evident DOESN'T require evidence.

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

Does God really exist?

Can't see how.

 

[Fool]

Does God really exist?

Love is divine. Love is GOD. with love comes light.

what could be more divine than that of a friend who would lay down their life, or set aside their selfish "wants" for you in "need"?

 

[Evangelicalhumanist]

If you can ask the question, the answer is already yes. Existence takes many forms. If nothing else, God exists in incredibly powerful idea that has had very significant influence on humans and human cultures worldwide for hundreds of years. I'm not one to deny the reality and power of ideas.

That the idea of something exists, no matter how powerfully, does not make the thing itself necessarily exist. The ideas of witches, ghosts, elves, sprites, fairies, dragons, orcs, ents and any number of other things exist, while none of those things exist themselves.

 

[eik]

Does God really exist?

Depends which one(s) you're talking about. Generally gods don't exist. One God of truth does. If you're asking the question, I'd guess he isn't known to you, but he can be easily known.

Contrariwise many socially accepted gods do not really exist in the sense that they aren't God-like at all but idols.

It can get confusing, with many people saying God doesn't exist but secretly acting as if God does exist, but similarly many people say God does exist but secretly act as if God does exist.

 

[Sw. Vandana Jyothi]

Does God really exist? ...I want to know your views.

Yes, God really exists.
Diamondgirl, I'm sorry if my previous response ["God is Existence, really."] appeared flippant or cryptic. Although the statement's completely truthful, it seemed to have an edge, I confess, so I really do apologize.

The phrase, "Does God really exist?" hints or conveys a sense inherent to the question the idea that there is a "beginning" to God's existence. But that truly cannot be. God was, is and will be. And that's pretty much the definition of existence, isn't it? Only unborn, undying immortal God (and immortal souls--not these mortal human body containers--made in His "image") can claim that distinction, the sense of "I AM-ness" which is Existence itself and nothing short of it.

However, there's a difference between having a "view" (belief) and knowing. Only an experience with God gives knowledge of God. By purification and maintaining patient faith, saints and sages of all religions speak of having that kind of experience and the possibility that all souls may have them. The hearers of such divine stories, where God interacts with His devotees, are gladdened and inspired, faith renewed and then it simply doesn't matter one's "personal religion."
Everybody loves a good God story.

 

[Windwalker]

I could worship whatever, like the universe, or be an animist and worship nature. The object of my worship would be external to my mind. I've always believed people could define God into or out of existence.

But if you are imagining God, that that is not external to you mind. It is part of your mind. That you imagine it exists external to you, is still part of you because you imagine it. Therefore, "God", in however you imagine that, is part of you.

 

[Polymath257]

What do you mean by the term 'God'?

How do you determine 'exists'?

For the first, there are too many different interpretations of the meaning of the word 'God' to sensibly address the question unless you give proper context. For example, some people identify the universe with God. With that definition, God exists.

For others, God is some white-bearded man in the sky. That being almost certainly does NOT exist, except as a cultural symbol.

Then, the question of 'exists'. Do numbers exist? Does Sherlock Holmes? How about freedom? For each of these, some people say yes and others say no. And, even if they do exist, they exist in very different ways. So, in what way are you asking if God exists? As a mythological creature, sure. In other ways? Define how you want to use the language.

 

[Nakosis]

Either:
1 - God created the universe
2 - a fairy created the universe

But no, the universe did not create itself when it didn't exist.

I'll go with option 3 - a giant toad.

 

[Polymath257]

Either:
1 - God created the universe
2 - a fairy created the universe

But no, the universe did not create itself when it didn't exist.

or

3- the universe simply exists and was not created

 

[Nakosis]

But if you are imagining God, that that is not external to you mind. It is part of your mind. That you imagine it exists external to you, is still part of you because you imagine it. Therefore, "God", in however you imagine that, is part of you.

I suspect you've never been a Druid. Nature spirits are very much a physical presence.

 

[Nakosis]

or

3- the universe simply exists and was not created

What!?...
No toad?

 

[QuestioningMind]

I'm all ears. If you would like to share what you have learned about the actual truth with us I'd be more than willing to listen. I always like learning.

Read a book on astronomy and physics. As I stated before, the scientific method has BY FAR been the most effective means we've ever found for determining how reality works. That's because it's all based on verifiable evidence that can be replicated, not on 'evidence people find within and verify for themselves'.

 

[QuestioningMind]

God can know, it's just science that might interfere with omniscience.

I have still yet to be presented with any verifiable evidence that any proposed god being actually exists.

 

[Windwalker]

I suspect you've never been a Druid. Nature spirits are very much a physical presence.

I would be considered a mystic, and the experience of the Presence of the divine, is commonplace to me. What I am saying is to point out that even while God may be envisioned as external to ourselves, that envisioning, is something emmanting from within ourselves. That which is within, and that which is experienced as without, are not separated by divisions of inner and outer that cleanly. If you did not first have an inner expeirence, you'd have no outer experience, when it comes to God.

To try to explain it another way. Think of a water faucet. If the faucet is closed, nothing flows. The ground is dry outside as the water is damned up inside the pipes. Open up the faucet, and the water is everywhere, both inside the pipes and on the ground outside of them.

If you are envisioning God in the first place, that's because the water is in your pipes already. The pipes don't create the water, but simply channel it. You feel the pressure of it within, and by imagining God, envisioning God, you are opening up that faucet.

That openness to God originates within us, for us, while its reality is that it is everywhere, inside us and outside us, in everything and everyone. Faith is about opening the flow. "Flow states", you could think of it as, effortless, energetic, and real.

You may have heard me say this before, but it bears repeating, meditation is about learning how to allow what is already there to flow. It doesn't create it. It simply gets in touch with it. That's what any faith is supposed to be about, but sadly gets distorted into belief systems, rather than lived experience.

 

[Jimmy]

Read a book on astronomy and physics. As I stated before, the scientific method has BY FAR been the most effective means we've ever found for determining how reality works. That's because it's all based on verifiable evidence that can be replicated, not on 'evidence people find within and verify for themselves'.

I thought rational experience wrote that. But anyway yeah I know all about the science

 

[Jimmy]

I have still yet to be presented with any verifiable evidence that any proposed god being actually exists.

You might be waiting forever just like you'll be waiting forever waiting for evidence of the origins of life verified by science

 

[QuestioningMind]

You might be waiting forever just like you'll be waiting forever waiting for evidence of the origins of life verified by science

And if we never figure out the origins of life that's just fine. I'd MUCH rather simply not know than to just make stuff up because not knowing makes me uncomfortable.

 

[QuestioningMind]

I thought rational experience wrote that. But anyway yeah I know all about the science

Good! Then I suggest you start using it. It actually works, while looking within for evidence that you can confirm for yourself' doesn't lead to any genuine truth. It's simply a childish way of convincing yourself that whatever you want to believe is true.

 

[Nakosis]

I would be considered a mystic, and the experience of the Presence of the divine, is commonplace to me. What I am saying is to point out that even while God may be envisioned as external to ourselves, that envisioning, is something emmanting from within ourselves. That which is within, and that which is experienced as without, are not separated by divisions of inner and outer that cleanly. If you did not first have an inner expeirence, you'd have no outer experience, when it comes to God.

To try to explain it another way. Think of a water faucet. If the faucet is closed, nothing flows. The ground is dry outside as the water is damned up inside the pipes. Open up the faucet, and the water is everywhere, both inside the pipes and on the ground outside of them.

If you are envisioning God in the first place, that's because the water is in your pipes already. The pipes don't create the water, but simply channel it. You feel the pressure of it within, and by imagining God, envisioning God, you are opening up that faucet.

That openness to God originates within us, for us, while its reality is that it is everywhere, inside us and outside us, in everything and everyone. Faith is about opening the flow. "Flow states", you could think of it as, effortless, energetic, and real.

You may have heard me say this before, but it bears repeating, meditation is about learning how to allow what is already there to flow. It doesn't create it. It simply gets in touch with it. That's what any faith is supposed to be about, but sadly gets distorted into belief systems, rather than lived experience.

Not to devalue anything you say, I had at one time the same understanding as you.

However now what I believe is what I accepted as external is created by the subconscious mind. I understanding the feeling of this coming from an external source and the justification for believing this. I believe the subconscious mind capable of creating this experience. Not that I expect you to agree because I wouldn't have previously.