The Concept of the One God

[Thief]

be definition.....there is only ONE.....Almighty

 

[Tmac]

That is my understanding, yes. The only difference is that I don't think that God is unknowable, so forth.

/I have religious beliefs.

That is my understanding, yes. The only difference is that I don't think that God is unknowable, so forth.

/I have religious beliefs.

What good is an unknowable God?

 

[Tmac]

be definition.....there is only ONE.....Almighty

And we are its descendants.

 

[Desert Snake]

What good is an unknowable God?

Your premise is describing an unknowable god.

So your premise is unclear, and is not actually what you mean...

 

[Tmac]

Your premise is describing an unknowable god.

So your premise is unclear, and is not actually what you mean...

I'm just curious, did, even if for just an instant, you think, maybe I don't understand, maybe it was written incorrectly and I'll ask if this is what was meant.

As to whether I described a unknowable/ knowable God, I know that there is only one and that all attempts to describe God, down through the age are that individuals attempt to express their impressions and knowledge of the God, they believe in, all the one God. I might add that if you were to contemplate on God you will find that in truth it is all things, even the very private thoughts and desires you believe are yours and yours alone. Thus the phrase, Know thy Self is pertinent.

 

[WalterTrull]

Kinda hard to get my head around this thread. On the surface, it seemed pretty straight forward, then the water balloon hit the pavement and splattered near and far.
Coupl'a thoughts:
I was thinking it would be nice if we had a common language. Then I thought: "We do!" we just tend to use it as a last resort.
One God. Well yeah. If there were more that one it wouldn't matter anyway 'cuz those would be of totally separate and unknowable universes. (That's just a mind game. Don't pay attention)
Unknowable God. Yes and no. Eventually probably, but we've got sooo much baggage. Drop the baggage, head for the edge of the forest. Really nice waters over there I'm told. On the way, start remembering that common language. A lot of us will have to squint when we clear the trees, it's really bright.
Man, the drops from that balloon still haven't all come down. I suppose I should mop up. Nahh, it's fun to slip and slide around.
I hope this clears up all the confusion.

 

[Tmac]

Kinda hard to get my head around this thread. On the surface, it seemed pretty straight forward, then the water balloon hit the pavement and splattered near and far.
Coupl'a thoughts:
I was thinking it would be nice if we had a common language. Then I thought: "We do!" we just tend to use it as a last resort.
One God. Well yeah. If there were more that one it wouldn't matter anyway 'cuz those would be of totally separate and unknowable universes. (That's just a mind game. Don't pay attention)
Unknowable God. Yes and no. Eventually probably, but we've got sooo much baggage. Drop the baggage, head for the edge of the forest. Really nice waters over there I'm told. On the way, start remembering that common language. A lot of us will have to squint when we clear the trees, it's really bright.
Man, the drops from that balloon still haven't all come down. I suppose I should mop up. Nahh, it's fun to slip and slide around.
I hope this clears up all the confusion.

A wise man can get more from a foolish question that a fool can get from a wise answer, (Bruce Lee) for me the alternative holds true as well, a wise man can get more from a foolish answer than a " " can get from a wise question.

If common language equates to common denominator, then I think this is yet to be determined.

As to the one god, I don't think you understand it the way I do. To me, its a number, in fact the only number, all other numbers are made up of adding ones to it. Now I can spend my time, focusing on any number but if honest to my motive of my focus I will eventually come to the one.

 

[WalterTrull]

... As to the one god, I don't think you understand it the way I do. To me, its a number, in fact the only number, all other numbers are made up of adding ones to it. Now I can spend my time, focusing on any number but if honest to my motive of my focus I will eventually come to the one.

Ya got me there. I REALLY don't understand it the way you do. That's probably because I'm not a math guy. I was reading some quantum physics folks' stuff that claimed everything was numbers. Can't see it, I think mostly because I don't speak numbers. (By-the-way, I can't follow the math of quantum physics, but I LOVE the conclusions.)
I feel our common language is the language of mind, which, I think, allowed for all that speaking in tongues stuff. Conversely, it lead to the results from Nimrod's tower.

(Question: Do we really need to preface all of our statements with "I think" or "I feel"? I know it's polite, but shouldn't it be obvious? I think. Well maybe. Ohh, nevermind.)

 

[Tmac]

Ya got me there. I REALLY don't understand it the way you do. That's probably because I'm not a math guy. I was reading some quantum physics folks' stuff that claimed everything was numbers. Can't see it, I think mostly because I don't speak numbers. (By-the-way, I can't follow the math of quantum physics, but I LOVE the conclusions.)
I feel our common language is the language of mind, which, I think, allowed for all that speaking in tongues stuff. Conversely, it lead to the results from Nimrod's tower.

(Question: Do we really need to preface all of our statements with "I think" or "I feel"? I know it's polite, but shouldn't it be obvious? I think. Well maybe. Ohh, nevermind.)

If you were able to show me how to eliminate the "I feel/think" part of communication, without coming off as preaching then I'm all for it.

I remember the story about the tower and my conclusions as to what it meant/means to me;
My teachers had me focus first on man's vanity and God's reaction and I used the metaphor as a possible explanation for the differences amongst us so I didn't feel a need to see it in any other perspective but if you were to look at God as a loving father then you'd look for a loving meaning. Its the same group of people, working together, happily and productively as one, possibly unconscious to their uniqueness, by changing the language we get to choose whether we want to learn how to celebrate our uniqueness within the similarity.

 

[WalterTrull]

I remember the story about the tower and my conclusions as to what it meant/means to me;
My teachers had me focus first on man's vanity and God's reaction and I used the metaphor as a possible explanation for the differences amongst us so I didn't feel a need to see it in any other perspective but if you were to look at God as a loving father then you'd look for a loving meaning. Its the same group of people, working together, happily and productively as one, possibly unconscious to their uniqueness, by changing the language we get to choose whether we want to learn how to celebrate our uniqueness within the similarity.

I have a kind of different take on it: Trying to construct a means to achieve heaven with earthly materials will just result in total confusion. Can’t be done, but the attempt will scatter thought all over the place. Scenarios will abound and no one will understand the other’s language. (Hmmm... reminds me of... never mind) Anyway, my take-away is that achieving heaven needs be a matter of revelation.

 

[Tmac]

I have a kind of different take on it: Trying to construct a means to achieve heaven with earthly materials will just result in total confusion. Can’t be done, but the attempt will scatter thought all over the place. Scenarios will abound and no one will understand the other’s language. (Hmmm... reminds me of... never mind) Anyway, my take-away is that achieving heaven needs be a matter of revelation.

So you believe (from what I glean from your response) that heaven is place different from the space you now occupy and yet it is said that heaven is where God is and God is everywhere and everywhere includes the space that you believe is occupied solely by yourself.

We already know the answer erstwhile we wouldn't know it when we found it.

 

[WalterTrull]

So you believe (from what I glean from your response) that heaven is place different from the space you now occupy and yet it is said that heaven is where God is and God is everywhere and everywhere includes the space that you believe is occupied solely by yourself.

We already know the answer erstwhile we wouldn't know it when we found it.

I think heaven is a different understanding of god. (After reading a bunch of stuff by the Quantum guys, I'm not sure of my use of the terms: space and time and maybe where,- still thinking) I believe God's name is creator and my name is observer (one of countless numbers).

 

[LillyChaos]

I’m sure, if I were to search, I could find another origin of the concept of the one god but it was introduced to me in a chapter from a book called the old testament, now the concept, before the religious fanatics got a hold of it was that by definition there can only be one and anything else if there were anything else, was lessor and not god at all, ergo, if one truly believes in god then we all, true believers, believe in the same god and that goes all the way back to the primitive and simple beliefs of our ancient ancestors. Do you believe in the one God, do you believe that the God you believe in is the one God, then you must open your mind and temper your emotion so that your understanding and awareness of the one God, evolves, for none of us have it right or all of us would see it.

I suppose, at this point, I believe simultaneously in no Gods, one god, infinite gods & total nihilism. But that's just me.

 

[DawudTalut]

Peace be on you. Welcome.

 

[Mohsen]

Peace all,

I'm new here. This thread interested me, so I'm making my introduction here. I am a Muslim and believe God can be only One, without second - Ahad'un Ahad! Meaning - incomparably One!

God bless us all, Amen!

 

[arthra]

Do you believe in the one God, do you believe that the God you believe in is the one God, then you must open your mind and temper your emotion so that your understanding and awareness of the one God, evolves, for none of us have it right or all of us would see it.

Baha'is believe in the oneness of God and that there is only one God. In our view the essence of God is unknowaable however we also acknowledge that God has attributes. The attributes of God are knowable. We also believe that God manifests Himself through Prophets and Messengers from time to time and that these Manifestations perfectly reflect God's attributes as say in a perfect Mirror. We believe God manifests Himself through these Manifestations in the context of the needs of humanity and that certain laws and ordinances are revealed to meet the growing needs of humanity and can vary as our capacity to receive them increases.

 

[WalterTrull]

Baha'is believe in the oneness of God and that there is only one God. In our view the essence of God is unknowaable however we also acknowledge that God has attributes. The attributes of God are knowable. We also believe that God manifests Himself through Prophets and Messengers from time to time and that these Manifestations perfectly reflect God's attributes as say in a perfect Mirror. We believe God manifests Himself through these Manifestations in the context of the needs of humanity and that certain laws and ordinances are revealed to meet the growing needs of humanity and can vary as our capacity to receive them increases.

I also believe much of this, but a question:
Do you believe this because the Baha'is believe this, or have you observed things that make you believe this. No disrespect intended.

 

[arthra]

I also believe much of this, but a question:
Do you believe this because the Baha'is believe this, or have you observed things that make you believe this. No disrespect intended.

Walter,

Thanks for your questions!
Well in answer to your first question "because Baha'is believe this(?)" I am a Baha'i and so believe it
and in response to your later "have you observed things that make you believe this (?)" is also in the affirmative
from my personal study of world religions and first hand experiences of them.

- Art

 

[Mohsen]

Pearls do get trampled by swine, evidently