What does God look like to you?

[Trichakra]

2nd of trinity

 

[MrMrdevincamus]

Scripture... like Romans 14:4?


Frankly, I think the Bible is so ambiguous, contradictory, and supportive of multiple interpretations that anyone can use it to support virtually any position. I've heard it described as "the Big Book of Multiple Choice", and I think the term fits.

Your particular denomination may have its own official interpretation of scripture, but this is more about your denomination than it is about the scriptures, IMO.

First a disclaimer. This reply is not personalized but rather a generalized opinion.

Many, but not all who hold that (above) position are usually pathologically angry atheists that hate God and most things related to religious beliefs. I say pathologically angry because the level of disdain for Christianity is so out of line, far beyond bigotry, that most psychologists/ psychiatrists would classify it so. Also in the vast majority of cases those usual suspects know little or nothing of theology or related subjects. Still they consider themselves experts, so they think nothing of critiquing all forms of Christianity, theology, and the more than four billion souls that practice religion as being something less than rational, when in fact the opposite is true.

 

[savagewind]

First a disclaimer. This reply is not personalized but rather a generalized opinion.

Many, but not all who hold that (above) position are usually pathologically angry atheists that hate God and most things related to religious beliefs. I say pathologically angry because the level of disdain for Christianity is so out of line, far beyond bigotry, that most psychologists/ psychiatrists would classify it so. Also in the vast majority of cases those usual suspects know little or nothing of theology or related subjects. Still they consider themselves experts, so they think nothing of critiquing all forms of Christianity, theology, and the more than four billion souls that practice religion as being something less than rational, when in fact the opposite is true.

I haven't seen any disdain for Christianity here. Some people here do not like unreasonableness. Do you? Do you love unreasonableness in other people?

 

[savagewind]

To me God looks like a highway to peace, but I fear men have changed the direction of God, that is something I believe Jesus warned about, (which they changed to suit their own understanding, even though Scripture warns about leaning on understanding) [I'm going for the longest savagewind sentence here- give me a break! LOL], but what he said was to pray that we are NOT led to tempt God (oh did you think it was the other way around? Why would God tempt us in the first place?), and Jesus gave us an illustration of what they did, which was they tore down what God had done (given us the Way) and made their own way, and are now satisfied with that way (the wrong way), so the assumed best people in the world, are really the worst people imo. They deserve to be hated, but they are not. Imagine! The wicked world more righteous than what?

Luke 12:
16And he told them this parable: "The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest. 17He thought to himself, 'What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.' 18"Then he said, 'This is what I'll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain. 19And I'll say to myself, "You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry."' 20"But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?'
21"This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God."

Oh look! Examples right here that they changed God's words. Where do you want to start?

THINGS is added. It was really thus: This is how it will be with whoever treasures* for themselves but is not rich toward God

Nobody but a fool can deny that they treasure their own understanding.

And the other thing I noticed is that we have here God calling someone a fool. Is that right? You tell me.

 

[savagewind]

Is it true that someone who will tear up God's way to peace and call his own way God's way NOT to be hated?

 

[`mud]

I can't find an image, nor do I personally believe.....
but I was a Catholic, or so I'm told, so 'God' should have an image ?
~
Well all I have is a tremendous fog bank crawling up the beach,
in the very early sun, and rays of the sun peeking through.
But silence there, fog doesn't have a voice, or a whisper,
like the Abrahamic 'God' had, and shout He did, didn't He ?
~
Right out of the scriptures is the image of your 'God',
count the dead !
~
NuffStuff
'mud

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

First a disclaimer. This reply is not personalized but rather a generalized opinion.

Many, but not all who hold that (above) position are usually pathologically angry atheists that hate God and most things related to religious beliefs. I say pathologically angry because the level of disdain for Christianity is so out of line, far beyond bigotry, that most psychologists/ psychiatrists would classify it so. Also in the vast majority of cases those usual suspects know little or nothing of theology or related subjects. Still they consider themselves experts, so they think nothing of critiquing all forms of Christianity, theology, and the more than four billion souls that practice religion as being something less than rational, when in fact the opposite is true.

Or they're just familiar with a few denominations.

Look at what sincere Christians have claimed is Biblical and you'll find pronouncements that all sorts of things are both sanctioned and forbidden by the Bible:

- Trinitarianism
- slavery
- waging war
- same-sex marriage
- racial segregation
- communism
- child brides
- acceptance of evolution
- voting
- consuming alcohol
- infant baptism

... and on and on.

Chalking all of this up to "angry atheists" seems to me to be just blaming the messenger.

Pick any central tenet of a denomination that is supposedly Biblical and you can find some other denomination that opposes that tenet and cites the Bible to do it.

 

[MrMrdevincamus]

I haven't seen any disdain for Christianity here. Some people here do not like unreasonableness. Do you? Do you love unreasonableness in other people?

You don't see any here because you have become desensitized, or you are being untruthful. I suspect the former. What is reasonable? What is moral? Both are subjective unless they possess a source of truth.

 

[MrMrdevincamus]

Or they're just familiar with a few denominations.

Look at what sincere Christians have claimed is Biblical and you'll find pronouncements that all sorts of things are both sanctioned and forbidden by the Bible:

- Trinitarianism
- slavery
- waging war
- same-sex marriage
- racial segregation
- communism
- child brides
- acceptance of evolution
- voting
- consuming alcohol
- infant baptism

... and on and on.

Chalking all of this up to "angry atheists" seems to me to be just blaming the messenger.

Pick any central tenet of a denomination that is supposedly Biblical and you can find some other denomination that opposes that tenet and cites the Bible to do it.

Name a discipline that has no discord or no disagreement among its adherents. Science, philosophy, politics, fiance, even mathematical theory and logicians. Disagreement, even (seeming) contradictions between members etc are not proof that the entire system is untenable, irrational, stinky, unreasonable, wrong, nasty, stupid or otherwise diminished in intrinsic value, real value, intellectual and otherwise, respectfulness etc.

So what to do? What I do as a religious man that follows a complicated religion is read the bible, become as educated both self educated and formally, and attempt to keep an open mind especially in matters of my faith . My method may not be every Christians way to salvation. That's OK, Most, I would bet 99% of Christians may not agree 100% about anything and everything concerning Christianity. However, I would bet nearly that same percentage believe in God. That is the most important thing required for salvation, which in the end that is what is important. All the rest is just gravy, and redeye gravy is the best...lol.

Oh btw thanks for the reply you are one of my fav members.

 

[MrMrdevincamus]

To me God looks like a highway to peace, but I fear men have changed the direction of God, that is something I believe Jesus warned about, (which they changed to suit their own understanding, even though Scripture warns about leaning on understanding) [I'm going for the longest savagewind sentence here- give me a break! LOL], but what he said was to pray that we are NOT led to tempt God (oh did you think it was the other way around? Why would God tempt us in the first place?), and Jesus gave us an illustration of what they did, which was they tore down what God had done (given us the Way) and made their own way, and are now satisfied with that way (the wrong way), so the assumed best people in the world, are really the worst people imo. They deserve to be hated, but they are not. Imagine! The wicked world more righteous than what?

Luke 12:
16And he told them this parable: "The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest. 17He thought to himself, 'What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.' 18"Then he said, 'This is what I'll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain. 19And I'll say to myself, "You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry."' 20"But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?'
21"This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God."

Oh look! Examples right here that they changed God's words. Where do you want to start?

THINGS is added. It was really thus: This is how it will be with whoever treasures* for themselves but is not rich toward God

Nobody but a fool can deny that they treasure their own understanding.

And the other thing I noticed is that we have here God calling someone a fool. Is that right? You tell me.

I do not trust 'formal education' ie the federally funded public school system. Why? Because if you are poor or even these days middle class the public school system a way to 'indoctrinate the clueless, naive and the poor'. But to stay on topic, and to keep some of my atheist leftist friends heads from exploding, I will not elaborate. Where I am going is to say that even with the mistrust your reply is a fine example of why anyone that practices Christianity to the point of walking the walk should have a little advanced schooling in the subject. With an education you don't have to blindly accept or what your well meaning preacher is teaching, especially if his words don't make sense or what he teaches is not in the bible. Also, as you point out (I think) the bible has been edited by by the rich and powerful many times since it was created, even while being created. That is why I am what I call a 'primitive christian'. I trust only the oldest non-corrupted scriptures, and documents. The newer they are the least trustworthy they are imo. Yes there are ways to know to a very high degree of probability which scripture is the closest to the original. As an ordained minister I tell any one who is confused by the real and the seeming contradictions in the bible not to worry about the details. Concentrate on the core message of the bible until you have the resources to learn theology, even difficult advanced the advanced subjects necessary to resolve your troubling question or remove (hopefully) anything that is preventing a personal relationship with God.

 

[Servant_of_the_One1]

No, no human has seen Allah swt

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

Name a discipline that has no discord or no disagreement among its adherents. Science, philosophy, politics, fiance, even mathematical theory and logicians. Disagreement, even (seeming) contradictions between members etc are not proof that the entire system is untenable, irrational, stinky, unreasonable, wrong, nasty, stupid or otherwise diminished in intrinsic value, real value, intellectual and otherwise, respectfulness etc.

Honest disagreement is a sign that the discipline's source material supports multiple interpretations.

 

[MrMrdevincamus]

Honest disagreement is a sign that the discipline's source material supports multiple interpretations.

I can agree with that, 'honest disagreement' is the key word. There is so much mistrust in both camps. Mistrust breeds disrespect it seems, and so both sides scramble to position and posture themselves for 'debate', which again seems to not be real debate but just an excuse to attempt to harm each other with words. It's sad eh? The worst part is that I have been guilty of the same juvenile BS, lol.

 

[Acim]

I wish art could depict God accurately. Would be really cool if that were possible. But alas, art tends to have borders, like a frame of the canvas where the art ends.

To me, using mere words, Creator God/Father looks like light everywhere around me, and that I am this light as well. Actually sounds kinda boring presented that way, till perhaps colors, sound and form are added. And the fact that with God all things are possible. Then not so boring.

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

I can agree with that, 'honest disagreement' is the key word. There is so much mistrust in both camps. Mistrust breeds disrespect it seems, and so both sides scramble to position and posture themselves for 'debate', which again seems to not be real debate but just an excuse to attempt to harm each other with words. It's sad eh? The worst part is that I have been guilty of the same juvenile BS, lol.

I meant honest disagreement between believers.

When Christians on both sides of an issue both claim that the Bible supports their views, this is a sign that the Bible supports both views.

... and this situation happens all the time. It would be hard to find any issue where there aren't sincere Christians on both sides saying that the Bible supports their position.

 

[MrMrdevincamus]

I wish art could depict God accurately. Would be really cool if that were possible. But alas, art tends to have borders, like a frame of the canvas where the art ends.

To me, using mere words, Creator God/Father looks like light everywhere around me, and that I am this light as well. Actually sounds kinda boring presented that way, till perhaps colors, sound and form are added. And the fact that with God all things are possible. Then not so boring.

Wouldn't that be fantastic! According to scripture and other few things written about Gods image, his real form may literally be impossible to describe. It makes sense. A being that created all things material but is atemporal (and or eternal). A being not of the material universe preferring his realm (a guess), a being usually sends messengers (angels, weird non-human ambassador, or dreams and visions etc) when he must visit this tensed universe. And and lastly a being that loves mankind but may very well be lethal to humans if viewed directly or touched seems a lot like a being made of something like anti matter, but anti matter is not eternal. Just some thoughts.....

 

[MrMrdevincamus]

I meant honest disagreement between believers.

When Christians on both sides of an issue both claim that the Bible supports their views, this is a sign that the Bible supports both views.

My brain is too tired to determine if that is a logical statement, I mean a logical truth. I can agree that one side is closer to truth than the other. Maybe after my brain gets to sleep, lol I can provide a better answer....

... and this situation happens all the time. It would be hard to find any issue where there aren't sincere Christians on both sides saying that the Bible supports their position.

Yes, is that bad or good in your opinion? My opinion is that rarely does an disagreement about details of a religion make very much difference in the core issues of the religion, so really but how important are the details most Christians disagree, would it change their chances of salvation? So minor (disagreement) within the parameters of a religion is no reason to discredit a religion or any kind of discipline, or even lose a bit of sleep. There is no such thing in the material universe as absolute truth. Only God can be truth because God created everything in the material world. However if God is not truth God does not exist.

 

[Aštra’el]

 

[VioletVortex]

Satan as a force can manifest in various ways. I believe that Satan is omnipresent, and doesn't have a set appearance, however, he can manifest physically (in the form of certain happenings), and symbols can be endowed with the force of Satan. For example, the "horned god" is merely an image endowed with the power of Satan. I think Satan can manifest in such form psychologically.

If Satan were to be compressed into one body, he would be a blue aura. I think this because electricity typically has a bluish glow when it travels through our atmosphere.

 

[Astravalon]

If Satan were to be compressed into one body, he would be a blue aura. I think this because electricity typically has a bluish glow when it travels through our atmosphere.

I'm just thinking out loud here; I wonder if a similar electrical phenomenon
would have been why Lord Krishna was said to be blue. Might've just been
symbolism in His case though, I dunno, but it would make sense that
otherwordly beings would produce such an effect when condensing
and manifesting in our atmosphere.

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