I would start with your definition of "God" so that we can truly have a meaningful conversation. There are many examples of deities that you listed that wouldn't fit the bill of "God", regardless of what faith you come from. There are a few prerequisites for being "God". 1) God must be the most powerful being of all beings. If something more powerful comes along, then the less powerful being is put in a position of no longer being God. That being could be called - in human terms - "like a god" compared to humans, but is only an imitation. 2) God must be the most knowledgeable being of all beings. If another being comes along that knows more, then it can technically overcome the first being by virtue of greater knowledge or understanding, thus rendering the first being no longer God. The first being may be called - in human terms - "like a god" in intellect compared to humans, but is only an imitation of the being that is most knowledgeable. 3) God must be able to be anywhere at any time. This is in part a subset of the most powerful being category, but with a different nuance. Not only must God be unlimited in power, but God must be unlimited in presence. If another being can be in a place that the first being cannot, then the actions/plans/ideas of the first being can be thwarted by limitations of time and space and getting beaten to the punch so to speak, and rendering it no longer in the position of being God. That being may be called - in human terms - "like a God" compared to humans in its ability to arrive in a certain time and place, but is only an imitation of the more powerful being.
When we deal with the concept of "God", you will be hard-pressed to honestly render a being as "God" in your mind that doesn't fit these 3 qualifications. And these are just 3 of the considerations. We haven't broached the topics involved with the character of that being, the influence of that being, or anything else. Just looking at the 3 levels of ability of that being are enough to cancel most "deities" out of the "God" category. (i.e. - ALL the greek/roman pantheon gods are out, the titans are out, Krishna is out, buddha is out, etc) My point is, it is actually not so mundane a thing to realistically qualify a being as "God". It is not as arbitrary a matter as to simply "declare whatever a deity". The being cannot be limited to being symbolic, finite, or natural, mundane only, or even cosmic only, because there are "greater" examples of all of those things. In limiting "God" to those things, we effectively remove them from the category we seek to discuss.
The second implied part of your original question deals more with the know-ability of "God" (e.g. the "humanly understandable attributes, role in creation of existence, plan for that creation of existence). THAT question, is definitely going to fall into the category of "faith". How do we come to know that a written work represents the thoughts and intentions of communication from "God"? By faith. Evidence may or may not support the claim, but it is by faith that the information is accepted as true. How do we come to see known universe as being a creation of "God"? By faith. Evidence may or may not support the claim, but it is by faith that it is accepted as true.
There is quite a bit that can be discussed about God, that is not arbitrary, we simply have to start with a good definition and parameters for that definition that are fair for the assessment of the "God" of any faith, and then we have to accept what is true about the nature o the discussion itself.
Hope these thoughts help!
When we deal with the concept of "God", you will be hard-pressed to honestly render a being as "God" in your mind that doesn't fit these 3 qualifications. And these are just 3 of the considerations. We haven't broached the topics involved with the character of that being, the influence of that being, or anything else. Just looking at the 3 levels of ability of that being are enough to cancel most "deities" out of the "God" category. (i.e. - ALL the greek/roman pantheon gods are out, the titans are out, Krishna is out, buddha is out, etc) My point is, it is actually not so mundane a thing to realistically qualify a being as "God". It is not as arbitrary a matter as to simply "declare whatever a deity". The being cannot be limited to being symbolic, finite, or natural, mundane only, or even cosmic only, because there are "greater" examples of all of those things. In limiting "God" to those things, we effectively remove them from the category we seek to discuss.
The second implied part of your original question deals more with the know-ability of "God" (e.g. the "humanly understandable attributes, role in creation of existence, plan for that creation of existence). THAT question, is definitely going to fall into the category of "faith". How do we come to know that a written work represents the thoughts and intentions of communication from "God"? By faith. Evidence may or may not support the claim, but it is by faith that the information is accepted as true. How do we come to see known universe as being a creation of "God"? By faith. Evidence may or may not support the claim, but it is by faith that it is accepted as true.
There is quite a bit that can be discussed about God, that is not arbitrary, we simply have to start with a good definition and parameters for that definition that are fair for the assessment of the "God" of any faith, and then we have to accept what is true about the nature o the discussion itself.
Hope these thoughts help!
But I can promise you, that if you and I are both honest, we will agree together, that I could never be God. I simply don't fit the "job description/qualifications" in general to be considered "God" of ....well.....anything! And here's the thing, I am not even in absolute control of my own authority! Don't believe me? What do you think would happen if I decided all the money in the local bank was mine and went and demanded it "...or else..." from the bank teller? My personal authority would go out the window by another person and groups of people who would take all authority from me! Even my personal authority would fall under theirs..."or else". I don't get to make up my own mind free and clear when I make decisions, because there are ALWAYS outside influences getting in and contributing to my thinking and feeling. I could keep going, but the point is very clear....I am not....In ANY way qualified to claim the title of God. Regardless of my faith or religion, I am not God....never have been, never could be...just don't fit the bill.
