The Best Definition of God

[averageJOE]

I mean by holy book ANY book that millions or hundreds of thousands of people believe in.

Because if not like that any one can write anything and we are searching for the correct answer not for the probabilities

Believe it or not but there are people who find God in their own personal ways. There are thousands (if not more) people who do not need religion nor a "holy book" to find God. And they still feel the "connection". Are you saying that their personal definition doesn't contain merit? With all due respect, regardless of what you believe or how you feel your definition is still a probablity. There is nothing "correct" about it. Just because millions of people believe it does not make it true. Personal interpretations of God should be valued.

But I can play that game if you'd like. Tell me what you think of this definition. It is from a "holy book" that hundreds of thousands of people believe in:

"God" - by whatever name he is called, or by no name at all - is seen as the
balancing factor in nature, and not as being concerned with suffering.

 

[Tiapan]

God is the social manifestation of mans alter ego.

 

[Copernicus]

I agree that the OP does not really define "God". It describes an Islamic version of God. A definition is a succinct description of one of the senses of a word.

I would define a god (or deity) as an intelligent agency that has absolute power over some aspect of reality. For example, the god of volcanoes (Vulcan) has absolute power over volcanoes. The word "God" is a proper name for a monotheistic deity--a singular god that has absolute control over all of reality. Different religions and different religious sects attribute various properties to God. Even within Islam, people may differ over the exact nature of God, although most might think that they share a common understanding.

 

[DadBurnett]

God IS.
Anything else that may be said is opinion, belief, imagination, assumption ...
Whatever we can say of God, God is always more ...

 

[BucephalusBB]

I mean by holy book ANY book that millions or hundreds of thousands of people believe in.

So a dictionary or encyclopedia will do?

Because if not like that any one can write anything and we are searching for the correct answer not for the probabilities

You asume the correct answer is found in religion. I asume that if a correct answer exists and at least one person knows it, it will be that one person only, and he will not even know he holds the answer.
Now how to solve this?

 

[BucephalusBB]

God IS.
Anything else that may be said is opinion, belief, imagination, assumption ...
Whatever we can say of God, God is always more ...

Wich is an opinion, belief, imagination and assumption.

We answered so many question with "god" already that I asume "Whatever we can say of God, he's probably not that much as you think"..

 

[Riverwolf]

Please if any one has a definition of God (the creator of cosmos) better than the following definition (Quran definition), just inform me.

but this definition must be from a holy book which millions of people believe in.


2:255. Allah. There is no god but He,-the Living, the Self-subsisting, Eternal. No slumber can seize Him nor sleep. His are all things in the heavens and on earth. Who is there can intercede in His presence except as He permitteth? He knoweth what (appeareth to His creatures as) before or after or behind them. Nor shall they compass aught of His knowledge except as He willeth. His Throne doth extend over the heavens and the earth, and He feeleth no fatigue in guarding and preserving them for He is the Most High, the Supreme (in glory).

I am interesting to know>>>

Why "better?" Most of them are good, including the one you've provided. (Though it is pretty simplistic and seems to be directed at those who feel the need to attach human elements to God, which I feel is very inappropriate except in poetry.)

But here's my personal favorite:

"The wise speak of what is One in many ways."
-Rig Veda 1:164:46

 

[Beaudreaux]

God IS.
Anything else that may be said is opinion, belief, imagination, assumption ...
Whatever we can say of God, God is always more ...

How do we know God "IS"?

 

[DadBurnett]

How do we know God "IS"?

Well now ... I don't know that God is not ... so, if I have to choose, I choose 'IS."

 

[DallasApple]

Even if God "isnt" for some people thats still God to them.

Is that a riddle?(help me Patty!)

Love

Dallas

 

[Copernicus]

Well now ... I don't know that God is not ... so, if I have to choose, I choose 'IS."

Where did you get the idea that you HAD to choose? What is true has nothing to do with choice, and we are not always in a position to know it.

 

[MoonWater]

The tao that can be told
is not the eternal Tao
The name that can be named
is not the eternal Name.

The unnamable is the eternally real.
Naming is the origin
of all particular things.

Free from desire, you realize the mystery.
Caught in desire, you see only the manifestations.

Yet mystery and manifestations
arise from the same source.
This source is called darkness.

Darkness within darkness.
The gateway to all understanding.

:clap:clap:clap:clap

This is my favorite definition as it actually doesn't try to define god, just admits that god is undefinable.

The I prefer to use the term "the Force(s)" instead of "god" or "the one". While I believe wholeheartedly in the definition given in the Tao Te Ching I also am a bit of a hypocrite in this regard as I still have my own personal definition. But I recognize this as a belief of mine and by no means expect any existing "god" or "one" to fit this definition.

My definition is actually very similar to that of Hinduism's definition. I believe there is The Force which is the all encompassing energy of the universe and that everything that exists is an aspect or manifestation of this Force. Thus there are many Forces and at the same time one Force, hence why I place the "s" in parentheses.

 

[DadBurnett]

Where did you get the idea that you HAD to choose? What is true has nothing to do with choice, and we are not always in a position to know it.

In my world we are not compelled to believe or not believe ... all is choice.

 

[Copernicus]

In my world we are not compelled to believe or not believe ... all is choice.

On Earth, we are all too often forced to confront reality, whether we choose to or not. If I did not have to read my bank statements, I would choose to believe that there were more money in the account.

 

[Beaudreaux]

Well now ... I don't know that God is not ... so, if I have to choose, I choose 'IS."

How do you know the Flying Spaghetti Monster, or Zeus "IS"? You do not (and cannot) know that they are not. Do you choose "IS" for them?

 

[gnomon]

Santa Claus.

 

[DadBurnett]

On Earth, we are all too often forced to confront reality, whether we choose to or not. If I did not have to read my bank statements, I would choose to believe that there were more money in the account.

On Earth, reality is little more than persistant illusion ...
About your bank account, knowing or not knowing your balance is a choice you make. Whether or not you have money in the bank is the result of choices you make - you choose to put money in, you choose to take money out.

 

[Beaudreaux]

On Earth, reality is little more than persistant illusion ...

Why do you say this?

 

[Copernicus]

On Earth, reality is little more than persistant illusion ...

There is a difference between illusion and reality. Being shot by an imaginary bullet is better than being shot by a real one, no matter what you choose to believe.

About your bank account, knowing or not knowing your balance is a choice you make. Whether or not you have money in the bank is the result of choices you make - you choose to put money in, you choose to take money out.

I am not disputing that I make choices. I am disputing that truth and reality depend on what I choose to believe. I cannot choose to put money that I do not have into the account, nor can I choose to take out money that does not actually exist in the account. But I do concede that I can base choices on beliefs that are delusions.

 

[Buttons*]

The tao that can be told
is not the eternal Tao
The name that can be named
is not the eternal Name.

The unnamable is the eternally real.
Naming is the origin
of all particular things.

Free from desire, you realize the mystery.
Caught in desire, you see only the manifestations.

Yet mystery and manifestations
arise from the same source.
This source is called darkness.

Darkness within darkness.
The gateway to all understanding.

I love this I used to call myself Taoist Gnostic... but then I realized I was being somewhat redundant