God, the Author

[SalixIncendium]

Some faiths claim divine authorship; in other words, God either wrote or dictated, either by Himself or through messengers, their holy book.

Why does God only communicate exclusively through books? Why not music, film, or computer software?

I understand that in ancient times, books were the only medium with which these words were passed on, but with today's technology, why are books still the only medium with which God communicates?

 

[Twilight Hue]

I think all puported communication is man-made. Hence books, other people etc.

That is whom authors everything and is the voice of whatever God they invent.

 

[loverofhumanity]

Some faiths claim divine authorship; in other words, God either wrote or dictated, either by Himself or through messengers, their holy book.

Why does God only communicate exclusively through books? Why not music, film, or computer software?

I understand that in ancient times, books were the only medium with which these words were passed on, but with today's technology, why are books still the only medium with which God communicates?

Good question though I think that this depends on our capacity. Only recently in the 19th century, was the Revelation of God actually written by the Pen of the Prophet Himself, namely, Baha’u’llah and signed by Him. He revealed thousands of Tablets which can all be authenticated.

There is a photo of Baha’u’llah which only was available because humanity had progressed to that level. we have a voice recording of His Son saying a prayer but again it was a wax recording which is all we had at the time.

Likely when the next Prophet appears He will have all the facilities you mention to be able to publish His Revelation through film and software. But today most Holy Books of all the major faiths are spread on software and in many songs.

 

[sun rise]

Some faiths claim divine authorship; in other words, God either wrote or dictated, either by Himself or through messengers, their holy book.

Why does God only communicate exclusively through books? Why not music, film, or computer software?

I understand that in ancient times, books were the only medium with which these words were passed on, but with today's technology, why are books still the only medium with which God communicates?

I certainly don't find God's communications limited to books - far from it. I find an intellectual approach only the start of real communication. There are endless examples of real communication that don't involve words. The New Troubadours song "Change Can Come" refers to God's communication as something that changes us and God's communication as the "Light":

Change can come in the twinkling of an eye,​

In the ripple upon a lake.​

Change can come in the color of a flower,​

In the sparkle of morning dew,​

When the Light catches you.​

In that tiny moment, you are transformed.​

​

And the radiance of Christ​

Shines forth in reply​

From within, and has made itself known,​

And from the two is born​

A new world.​

​

Come, let us join​

Our many golden flickering​

And create one Light,​

Together,​

Forever.​

 

[JustGeorge]

Some faiths claim divine authorship; in other words, God either wrote or dictated, either by Himself or through messengers, their holy book.

Why does God only communicate exclusively through books? Why not music, film, or computer software?

I understand that in ancient times, books were the only medium with which these words were passed on, but with today's technology, why are books still the only medium with which God communicates?

I think some believe that God/dess(singular or plural) do, but are in the minority right now.

I suspect part of that is that due to the antiquity of the 'book' religions, there were less ways to communicate. As new religions take their places in the coming centuries, I think we may see more faiths spring up that have 'God' communicating in different ways.

In my opinion, mantra is somewhat of a way 'God/s' communicate, and that people use to become closer with whichever divine principle they are envisioning.

 

[Eddi]

Some faiths claim divine authorship; in other words, God either wrote or dictated, either by Himself or through messengers, their holy book.

Why does God only communicate exclusively through books? Why not music, film, or computer software?

I understand that in ancient times, books were the only medium with which these words were passed on, but with today's technology, why are books still the only medium with which God communicates?

I believe that The Gods do communicate through music, film, and computer software

I believe they communicate all the time but that it is mostly not possible to discern when a thing comes from them so we can't really know it when it happens

Maybe when you wrote the OP of this thread you did so because The Gods wanted this thread to exist?

Maybe this thread is the product of divine providence!

 

[sun rise]

Something else just came to me - the difference between the "Hindu" and the West. I saved this back in 2020. It's focused on the Hindu tradition but it also indirectly speaks to how God communicates with us:

1) Believe in God ! - Aastik - Accepted

2) Don't believe in God ! - You're accepted as Nastik

3) You want to worship idols - please go ahead. You are a murti pujak.

4) You dont want to worship idols- no problem u can focus on Nirguna Brahman.

5) You want to criticise something in our religion. Come forward. We are logical. Nyaya, Tarka etc are core Hindu schools

6) You want to accept beliefs as it is. Most welcome. Please go ahead with it.

7) You want to start your journey by reading Bhagvad Gita - Sure !

You want to start your journey by reading Upanishads - Go ahead

9) You want to start your journey by reading Purana - Be my guest.

10) You just don't like reading Puranas or other books. No problem my dear. Go by Bhakti tradition.

11) You don't like idea of Bhakti ! No problem. Do your Karma. Be a karmayogi.

12) You want to enjoy life. Very good. No problem at all. This is Charvaka Philosophy.

13) You want to abstain from all the enjoyment of life & find God - jai ho ! Be a Sadhu, an ascetic !

14) You don't like the concept of God. You believe in Nature only - Welcome. (Trees are our friends and Prakriti or nature is worthy of worship).

15) You believe in one God or Supreme Energy. Superb! Follow Advaita philosophy

16) You want a Guru. Go ahead. Receive gyaan.

17) You don't want a Guru.. Help yourself ! Meditate, Study !

18) You believe in Female energy ! Shakti is worshipped.

19) You believe that every human being is equal. Yeah! You're awesome, come on let's celebrate Hinduism! "Vasudhaiva kutumbakam" (the world is a family)

20) You don't have time to celebrate the festival. Don't worry. One more festival is coming! There are multiple festivals every single day of the year.

21) You are a working person. Don't have time for religion. Its okay. You will still be a Hindu.

22) You like to go to temples. Devotion is loved.

23) You don't like to go to temples - no problem. You are still a Hindu!

24) You know that Hinduism is a way of life, with considerable freedom.

25) You believe that everything has God in it. So you worship your mother, father, guru, tree, River, Prani-matra, Earth, Universe!

26) And If you don't believe that everything has GOD in it - No problems. Respect your viewpoint.

27) "Sarve jana sukhino bhavantu " (May you all live happily)

 

[Link]

Some faiths claim divine authorship; in other words, God either wrote or dictated, either by Himself or through messengers, their holy book.

Why does God only communicate exclusively through books? Why not music, film, or computer software?

I understand that in ancient times, books were the only medium with which these words were passed on, but with today's technology, why are books still the only medium with which God communicates?

I think the Quran of Ali (a) is designed best for software. It would be hard to read it without it. Imam Mahdi (a) will bring that book, and the purpose of 23 years of slow revelation will be known through that. The Quran of Ali (a) has not only commentary but exact timing/order of which verses were revealed when. This can be put into software and we can easily see how Quran is dynamically built.

 

[Left Coast]

Some faiths claim divine authorship; in other words, God either wrote or dictated, either by Himself or through messengers, their holy book.

Why does God only communicate exclusively through books? Why not music, film, or computer software?

I understand that in ancient times, books were the only medium with which these words were passed on, but with today's technology, why are books still the only medium with which God communicates?

In the Jewish and Christian faiths, the written Scriptures are only part of a larger oral Tradition passed down to each new generation. So God's primary means of communication, we could say, was/is orally, directly to his people.

You also mentioned music. As you know, the Bible contains an entire book of music - the Psalms. And both Jews and Christians have always worshipped via musical liturgy.

Film and computers are both new technologies, historically. We'll have to see if some religions eventually incorporate them more formally into what they consider revealed.

 

[Quintessence]

I think I have a different view of what "ancient times" means. I think about pre-literate cultures. So... really, for most of human history, the gods were not communicating with books. Gods are in the whistling of the winds, the crashing of the waves, the dancing of shadows through leaves. Letter/symbols and books is actually a very modern phenomena, all things considered.

 

[beenherebeforeagain]

Some faiths claim divine authorship; in other words, God either wrote or dictated, either by Himself or through messengers, their holy book.

Why does God only communicate exclusively through books? Why not music, film, or computer software?

I understand that in ancient times, books were the only medium with which these words were passed on, but with today's technology, why are books still the only medium with which God communicates?

I think in olden times, people transmitted such stories through song and dance, especially prior to the adoption of writing. Sometimes also using sculpture and drawing/painting. The other media are more recent, but do appear to be used by people telling the stories of the divine...

Now, the question of whether those stories of the divine are originally by or inspired by a/the deity is another matter entirely...but I would suspect that if an omnimax deity exists, it is quite capable of communicating with each and every person on a level they would understand. While I can conceive of a deity that chooses to only reveal HeSheItThem's messages through a limited 'revealed' source, suffice it to say that I find such a proposed deity to be entirely incomprehensible...Why choose such inefficient and ineffective method as communicating ONLY through revelation to a few? It makes no sense to me.

 

[Dan From Smithville]

Some faiths claim divine authorship; in other words, God either wrote or dictated, either by Himself or through messengers, their holy book.

Why does God only communicate exclusively through books? Why not music, film, or computer software?

I understand that in ancient times, books were the only medium with which these words were passed on, but with today's technology, why are books still the only medium with which God communicates?

According to my understanding, once the "book" was done, that was it. There were to be no more new messages and all claims of the new are heretical and to be dismissed. So the only movies can be about what was already written or expressing what was already written.

Besides, how much fun could a video game be if you always know the outcome.

 

[sun rise]

According to my understanding, once the "book" was done, that was it.

The book may be done but the endless quibbles and theological battles about interpreting those books goes on and on causing many books to be written with someone's idea of what the original book "really" is saying.

 

[The Hammer]

Some faiths claim divine authorship; in other words, God either wrote or dictated, either by Himself or through messengers, their holy book.

Why does God only communicate exclusively through books? Why not music, film, or computer software?

I understand that in ancient times, books were the only medium with which these words were passed on, but with today's technology, why are books still the only medium with which God communicates?

The Gods communicate through many means. Music, Nature, Birdsong, the quiet silence of snowfall, the smell of a crackling fire, through divinatory methods.

 

[Dan From Smithville]

The book may be done but the endless quibbles and theological battles about interpreting those books goes on and on causing many books to be written with someone's idea of what the original book "really" is saying.

There seems to be no end to that and the claims that this one is the right way to interpret it.

 

[Truthseeker]

Good question though I think that this depends on our capacity. Only recently in the 19th century, was the Revelation of God actually written by the Pen of the Prophet Himself, namely, Baha’u’llah and signed by Him. He revealed thousands of Tablets which can all be authenticated.

The Bab wrote Tablets too, remember.

 

[IndigoChild5559]

Some faiths claim divine authorship; in other words, God either wrote or dictated, either by Himself or through messengers, their holy book.

Why does God only communicate exclusively through books? Why not music, film, or computer software?

I understand that in ancient times, books were the only medium with which these words were passed on, but with today's technology, why are books still the only medium with which God communicates?

All religious texts are written by men. They do their best to correctly record what they believe God wants. But they are still fallible men.

 

[Twilight Hue]

I think some believe that God/dess(singular or plural) do, but are in the minority right now.

I suspect part of that is that due to the antiquity of the 'book' religions, there were less ways to communicate. As new religions take their places in the coming centuries, I think we may see more faiths spring up that have 'God' communicating in different ways.

In my opinion, mantra is somewhat of a way 'God/s' communicate, and that people use to become closer with whichever divine principle they are envisioning.

People whom possess that inner voice, can make their unique and personal God puppets say and act anyway they like. They live well in a person's mind should they prefer that route , of whom one seeks refuge and solace with.

I'm sure many new gods and the like will manifest in people's minds as time goes on and live their lives accordingly until they pass on.

 

[1213]

...
I understand that in ancient times, books were the only medium with which these words were passed on, but with today's technology, why are books still the only medium with which God communicates?

Maybe it is because a book is more stable format and it doesn't require electricity to be read, which makes it also more ecological.

 

[Yerda]

Why doesn't he just Godcast the truth straight into all of our minds?