Is God's existence necessary?

[Ben Dhyan]

Then we can't verbally communicate with each other.



2 questions:

1) Are the perishable "immanent forms" separate from your God?

2) Is your pantheistic God's existence necessary?

Sure we can....I am non-denominational wrt religious labels...but I don't care if you call me a pantheist...

1) No (..and btw, God is not mine)

2) 'Existence' is just another label to represent the one and same reality as the label 'God'... as I noted before...to ask if existence is necessary is like asking if the universe is necessary, is life necessary, is reality necessary? ....silly yes..

 

[Gambit]

Correct; it is saying we don't know the explanation. Like, even positing God begs the question what caused God. Either way we are in over our heads.

We are talking about beliefs here. And theists believe that God is a necessary being whose existence is uncaused. That does explain why there is something rather than nothing.

 

[Sunstone]

But the point is that you cannot conceive of one.

Nice spin.

That would imply an infinite regress (a logical fallacy).

If it's a logical fallacy, what is your demonstration/proof that it is?

 

[Gambit]

Nice spin.

I'm failing to see why an "unknown natural cause" that transcends the physical doesn't qualify as a supernatural one.

If it's a logical fallacy, what is your demonstration/proof that it is?

You either understand why an infinite regress is a logical fallacy or you don't. If you don't, then we have nothing more to debate.

 

[Gambit]

Sure we can....I am non-denominational wrt religious labels...but I don't care if you call me a pantheist...

The term "pantheism" is a philosophical one, not a religious one.

1) No (..and btw, God is not mine)

Then something must necessarily exist to account for these contingent forms.

By the way, I said "your God" to refer to your conception of God.

2) 'Existence' is just another label to represent the one and same reality as the label 'God'... as I noted before...to ask if existence is necessary is like asking if the universe is necessary, is life necessary, is reality necessary? ....silly yes..

You apparently don't believe the the existence of any particular form is necessary.

 

[Cap'n MacDougal]

While the essence of God is unknowabe for us I believe God has sent Messengers and Prophets to guide us... as humans in a progressive direction...so yes God is "necessary" for us to progress. God has progressively revealed Himself to us through the Prophets which include the teachings that are necessary for our advancement.

That's pretty ad hoc.

 

[Unveiled Artist]

I have already made this clarification for you.

I looked at all the posts. Give an example of a metaphysical answer.

 

[Jumi]

God's existence is formless.

If your God is formless does that mean it's changing?

 

[Jumi]

That doesn't qualify as an explanation.

Is it better to make up a nice explanation that is wrong?

 

[Unification]

Is God's existence necessary?

Seeing it's human "being's" that abstractly define and create "God," if we didn't exist... "God's" existence wouldn't be necessary.

What makes sense is that the definition of "God" is "Being."

No human "being's," no "God."
No "God," no human "being's."
A mutual dependence.

It's only "necessary" if there is "Being."

Going further,
Perhaps "being" Good is "being" God.
Perhaps "being" wicked is "being" human.

The "Being" is metaphysical.

 

[Gambit]

If your God is formless does that mean it's changing?

That means that God doesn't change.

 

[Ben Dhyan]

The term "pantheism" is a philosophical one, not a religious one.

Then something must necessarily exist to account for these contingent forms.

By the way, I said "your God" to refer to your conception of God.

You apparently don't believe the the existence of any particular form is necessary.

For your further religious instruction....Information about the Pantheistic Religion of India...
. http://www.truthforsaints.com/Compare_World_Religions/Hinduism_Hindu_Beliefs/

Yes God exists...everything lives moves, and has their being in God...the essence (energy and matter) of the perishable things does not perish..

The existence of every perishable thing is the manifestation of God...there was never a time when perishable things like stars, planets, human, rocks, etc., were not present... to ask if they are necessary is like asking if universal manifestation is necessary?

 

[Parsimony]

You either understand why an infinite regress is a logical fallacy or you don't. If you don't, then we have nothing more to debate.

So basically you're telling him, "I know why you are wrong, but I'm not going to tell you"?

 

[Lyndon]

You might claim God is unnecessary, but with out God I don't believe any life as we know it would exist.

 

[lewisnotmiller]

But you do believe that there is something nonphysical that necessarily exists?

I allow that it's possible, I guess, but to be honest I can't even conceptualize what such a thing would be like, or what it means.
Above my pay grade, basically.

 

[Gambit]

What makes sense is that the definition of "God" is "Being."

Actually, that is the classical definition of God.

"God is the only being whose essence is existence itself." - St. Thomas Aquinas

Going further,
Perhaps "being" Good is "being" God.
Perhaps "being" wicked is "being" human.

"Goodness and being are really the same. They differ only conceptually. ...Something is obviously good inasmuch as it is a being" - St. Thomas Aquinas

 

[McBell]

You either understand why an infinite regress is a logical fallacy or you don't. If you don't, then we have nothing more to debate.

Ah, the "if you don't play the game I want to play, I am taking my ball and going home" strategy.
Nice.

 

[allfoak]

With all due respect. .
Do you actually think humanity has all the answers?
Time exceeds humanity..

Actually, you have all the answers.
As well as every other individual.

There is a source of knowledge within that is our eternal soul.
We have not been abandoned to the ravages of time..

 

[Oldsoul]

Actually, you have all the answers.
As well as every other individual.

There is a source of knowledge within that is our eternal soul.
We have not been abandoned to the ravages of time..

So..
TOGETHER / Collectively we have all the answers?

Or..

TOGETHER / Collectively we will find all the answers ?

 

[Rick O'Shez]

"No" has the most votes in the poll, so that proves it then. Hurrah!