What if God did exist?

[bowingtoGod]

This isn't a topic of debate so much as a "what do you think?". What if there was undeniable proof that God existed, what do you think He, she, it, or they would be like? Would they be all knowing? Would they send people to hell? Would there be paradise at all? Would they even care what happens to people? I am just curious
I thank you for your time
Salaam (peace)

 

[HonestJoe]

I think a "god" could be pretty much anything we could imagine (and a whole load of things we can't).

I do think it can be interesting to consider the (IMO) diametrically opposed two "forms" traditionally attributed to the Abrahamic God.

First you have the omnipotent, omnipresent master of everything. I don't think it would be possible for us as "mere" humans to even begin to identify or understand such a god including, significantly, understanding what it wanted (if such a being could want anything). If such a god was (somehow) demonstrated to exist, I'm not sure the knowledge could make any practical difference to us. We'd still have 99% of the mystery that we have now.

The other aspect is the god who communicates directly with people, expresses opinions, desires, love and hate. This god can apparently change it's mind and (significantly) make mistakes. Rather than the all-powerful, all-knowing being, this is just something more knowing and powerful than us. I'd make a comparison with modern western explorers meeting a native tribe with no previous connection with anyone else. The westerners technology and world knowledge would be like magic to the native tribe. Notably, this wouldn't make the westerners "better" than the tribal people, just different and similarly, a god with emotions and flaws would necessarily be better than humans.

What we did with proof to us of such a god existing would be less significant that what the god did with it but that would really just extend the pattern within the human race of interactions between the powerful and the weak.

 

[The Neo Nerd]

Let's just assume your god is in fact real.

He allows all manner of atrocities to happen without lifting his omnipotent finger. What kind of douche bag would allow so much suffering to happen when it could stop it with less than a thought.

No god such as the one you believe in is worth worshipping.

 

[Kilgore Trout]

If there is some type of entity who created the universe, it is most likely so far beyond our comprehension, that I doubt we could ever have a meaningful understanding of it. Also, considering the sheer scales of size and age of the universe, the likelihood that such a being would find human beings at all significant would be small.

 

[LuisDantas]

This isn't a topic of debate so much as a "what do you think?". What if there was undeniable proof that God existed, what do you think He, she, it, or they would be like? Would they be all knowing? Would they send people to hell? Would there be paradise at all? Would they even care what happens to people? I am just curious
I thank you for your time
Salaam (peace)

Either he wouldn't be all-powerful and supremely good, or the world would be far more devoid of injustice than it is.

Assuming the first option, who knows? I don't think there is any reason to expect any differences in that case.

 

[Robert Landbeck]

"What if there was undeniable proof that God existed" There is such a proof and it's on the web for anyone interested. You'll have to work out the link as I'm not yet able to post active links.

 

[LuisDantas]

You mean this?

The Final Freedoms

The opening page warns that it is for "dreamers and fools only", so I guess it is not really undeniable.

 

[Skwim]

What if God did exist?

Then I'd start praying. Praying that he isn't the god of Abraham.

 

[Silver]

If God existed.......
then perhaps he could be reasoned with:-
* no more tsunamies
* no more earthquakes
* no more floods
* no more famines
* no more killer viruses
But the universe is meant to be 'natural', obeying 'natural laws'.
Anyway it makes me wonder.
I just find it strange that the Universe could have 'naturally popped into existence' all by itself!

:foot:

 

[Penumbra]

If there exists a god that created or became this universe, then the only evidence we'd have in regards to the personality and powers of this god is the universe itself.

The universe is extremely huge, following a strict set of physical laws, and without benevolence or malevolence. Diseases spread, flowers blossom, asteroids strike planets and cause mass extinctions, snakes hunt prey, love makes people happy, etc. It's an arbitrary set of desirable and undesirable actions. Nature is a constant force of change, sometimes violent, while sometimes renewing. In the universe, individual things matter little, but instead only matter in regards to how they make up the whole.

From this, I suppose that if a god existed, it would likely be vast and neutral. It would have no reason to create a hell, as that's a sadistic and irrational concept. It may or may not care for the happiness of creatures in the universe (as that could have been the intent of creating the universe, or merely a side effect). It may or may not even know that humans exist, let alone have any personal feelings towards individuals.

If god had a direct hand in creating humanity, then I would consider it to not be that skillful or powerful or benevolent, as biology is pretty messed up, nature is harsh, and the predator-prey system is sadistic. On the other hand, if a god merely set the universe in motion, or became the universe, and let it develop as it may, then it may be skillful and powerful, but aloof and not particularly involved or caring.

I once believed in a personal and benevolent deity but in hindsight I think it was just egocentric thinking.

 

[Thief]

There are four basic motivations.....

To influence your fellow man you could.....
Stand behind a pulpit and convince your fellowman....'God wants you to...'

Stand behind a podium and say to him...
'I have the plan. It's good for me. It's good for you. this is what we will do.'

You could find a uniform, an army, and dictate.

Last but not least....
'There's money in it for me...a paycheck for you...the time clock is over there.'

Religion, politics, military, and economy.

Remove God and the other three prevail.

Religion may be faulted.
But the other three are also dysfunctional.

Perhaps, religion buffers the other motivations and tempers the influence.

 

[MaybeSpartacus]

If it is a supreme infinite and all-powerful being it would beyond my scope to imagine it. It would also likely beyond such conundrums of 'good' and 'evil'. It probably also wouldn't care about me as I do not care about an amoeba. If it was a lower form... powerful but well meaning, forgiving, understanding and logical then sure, I'd offer it some form of respect. I doubt I'd pray though as I tend to focus on solving issues myself. My commune with it would more likely involve bouts cussing in frustration not meant to achieve anything but to release my frustrations. If it was malicious I would be the type to seek its destruction.

'bout it.

 

[McBell]

This isn't a topic of debate so much as a "what do you think?". What if there was undeniable proof that God existed, what do you think He, she, it, or they would be like? Would they be all knowing? Would they send people to hell? Would there be paradise at all? Would they even care what happens to people? I am just curious
I thank you for your time
Salaam (peace)

Seems to me that if there is a god, that most people will be down right surprised at what said god is actually like.
In fact, there will be several people who will flat out deny him as god simply because he does not fit into their preconceived notions of what god should be.

 

[PyreBorn]

Personally I'd say that, IF, there is a single being that would deserve the title of God, then there are a few possibilities in my mind.

1) This God is of a neutral mindset and could care less about our belief (or lack there of) in it

2) This God wants us to worship it, in which case, I would personally view it as sadistic or egocentric. My reason for that is this:

If this God figure wants us to worship it, and realizes that the small signs it may or may not have given are not convincing us (by us, I mean everyone), then

A) It wants those that don't believe to suffer whatever consequences it may or may not have for not worshiping it by not giving us more proof.
or
B) It is too self centered to believe that anyone could not believe in it and refuses to change the way it shows itself.

Those are just my viewpoints though, and a lot more spring to mind when contemplating a being of such power and knowledge to be considered, without a doubt, God.
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Pyre

*edit* on a side note, rereading the OP, everything under the sadistic god view may be considered void to many with the knowledge of undeniable proof. But I would still personally hold said god to that viewpoint for waiting so long to make itself known to humanity as a whole, leaving countless people to suffer for dying to early.

 

[MissAlice]

This isn't a topic of debate so much as a "what do you think?". What if there was undeniable proof that God existed, what do you think He, she, it, or they would be like? Would they be all knowing? Would they send people to hell? Would there be paradise at all? Would they even care what happens to people? I am just curious
I thank you for your time
Salaam (peace)

I would have trouble envisioning god as a "being" or a human-like person with feelings...if that makes any sense. I would probably see "it" as a phenomenon bringing life to this earth or rather creating the survival means for us to live. Death is beyond my thought process but if "god" created all of this, I would have trouble loving or even understanding a god that would send most of "his" creations to a place like hell to suffer all eternity. As a child I never understood the contradictions given about god being all loving and yet this vengeful being out to get people for not worshipping or living a certain way he deems acceptable. Religious dogma sounds too much like man's creation and therefore narrows scope of all creations including dinosaurs and insects.