What is the Best or Proper Attitude of Humans Towards the Gods?

[Sunstone]

I Fiddler on the Roof, Teyve talks to God as if God were his good or best friend -- albeit a somewhat imperfect good or best friend (imperfect as a friend, not imperfect as a being).

Do you consider Teyve's attitude towards deity appropriate? Why or why not?

How would you characterize the best or proper attitude of humans towards deity?

 

[JJ50]

Disbelief unless there is verifiable evidence to support their existence, which there isn't.

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

I Fiddler on the Roof, Teyve talks to God as if God were his good or best friend -- albeit a somewhat imperfect good or best friend (imperfect as a friend, not imperfect as a being).

Do you consider Teyve's attitude towards deity appropriate? Why or why not?

How would you characterize the best or proper attitude of humans towards deity?

For a person who believes this deity exists, I take it... right?

Not as a buddy, certainly.

If a deity were to exist, then it would be:

- higher in status and more remote than any human monarch is.
- more alien and less relatable to humans than an octopus is.
- uncaring enough to watch but not intervene in every human tragedy ever.

So if I had to pick an attitude toward deity (and actually believed that this deity existed), it would probably be basic avoidance.

 

[Polymath257]

Loyal opposition.

 

[Erebus]

I Fiddler on the Roof, Teyve talks to God as if God were his good or best friend -- albeit a somewhat imperfect good or best friend (imperfect as a friend, not imperfect as a being).

Do you consider Teyve's attitude towards deity appropriate? Why or why not?

How would you characterize the best or proper attitude of humans towards deity?

I don't think a one size fits all approach can work here. People have varying needs, perspectives and inclinations and trying to view deities in a way that isn't appropriate to your nature is likely to bring more hassle than personal benefit. Somebody naturally inclined towards atheism shouldn't be compelled to view deities as their best friends. Somebody inclined to view deities as their best friends shouldn't be compelled to view them as impersonal and so on.
Forcing yourself to adopt a perspective that you don't truly agree with would be akin to a natural introvert forcing themselves to spend the majority of their free time at crowded parties. A lot of stress that achieves very little.

So rather than trying to decide which perspective is best, I would say it's better to look at which perspectives are harmful. I believe that as a general rule people will find greater satisfaction and purpose in life by being honest about who they are and acting accordingly. Unfortunately, for some people that entails dominating and bullying others and their attitude towards deities often reflects that. Some people exult in viewing their deity as a vindictive authoritarian who condones or even demands bigotry and the coercion of others. This is the point where an individual's needs have to be weighed against the needs of those around them. It's also the point where you get a hell of a lot of arguments about exactly what constitutes harm and where to draw the line on a person's freedom to act in accordance with their nature.

 

[Vinayaka]

No 'right' way. I have relationships with various Gods of the Hindu pantheon.

Friend, wise big brother, King/Queen from a distance, helper, father, mother, entertainer, teacher, mind clarifier, grace bestower, encourager, light giver, provider, one who inspires ... and more.

 

[BSM1]

I Fiddler on the Roof, Teyve talks to God as if God were his good or best friend -- albeit a somewhat imperfect good or best friend (imperfect as a friend, not imperfect as a being).

Do you consider Teyve's attitude towards deity appropriate? Why or why not?

How would you characterize the best or proper attitude of humans towards deity?

If you want to see the face of God, go look in a mirror....

 

[crossfire]

I Fiddler on the Roof, Teyve talks to God as if God were his good or best friend -- albeit a somewhat imperfect good or best friend (imperfect as a friend, not imperfect as a being).

Do you consider Teyve's attitude towards deity appropriate? Why or why not?

How would you characterize the best or proper attitude of humans towards deity?

Well, I would say the same as with any other sentient being: prone to delusion and worthy of compassion. (This approach would work whether they are actual sentient beings or manifestations within your mind. See the Golden Rule.)

 

[Shiranui117]

Loyal opposition.

Care to expand?

 

[Mock Turtle]

Treat them like a black box? That is, to determine what they are, we must probe them with every tool at our disposal - praise them, rebuke them, plead with them, curse them, project anything we like onto them, etc. - after all, we can then analyse the results to determine exactly what we have here. Isn't that what we do anyway - when things go our way we praise them; when we are in need, we beg from them, and all the rest. But we just seem to be quite bad at analysing the results.

 

[JJ50]

If you want to see the face of God, go look in a mirror....

I realise I am a female god.

 

[Shiranui117]

I Fiddler on the Roof, Teyve talks to God as if God were his good or best friend -- albeit a somewhat imperfect good or best friend (imperfect as a friend, not imperfect as a being).

Do you consider Teyve's attitude towards deity appropriate? Why or why not?

How would you characterize the best or proper attitude of humans towards deity?

I agree with @Erebus here. I think different faithful will naturally tend to relate to God in a way that makes the most sense to them in light of their personal experience. Most Orthodox seem to agree that God is certainly "higher on the pecking order" than we are; the church is God's house, and God is both Lord and Master. I know some people who seem to overflow with intense love for God and who enjoy composing prayers of love and thanksgiving. I know others who are able to freely weep before God out of joy and sorrow. There are some who view God as a close and intimate friend or Father, or in the case of Jesus a brother, or in the case of the Spirit a constant companion within their own soul.

For my own part, maybe because of my own sins, I tend to view God as somebody who is before and above me, dwelling in utter silence, yet Who hears my prayers, Who grants me His mercy when I inevitably sin and am in need of repentance and reconciliation to Him, and Who lends me His grace and strength to get me through the day.

 

[pearl]

Do you consider Teyve's attitude towards deity appropriate? Why or why not?

I don't think its a question of being appropriate. What it does say about Teyve is that he was in constant awareness of being in the presence of God. His life was a continuous prayer.

 

[SalixIncendium]

If you want to see the face of God, go look in a mirror....

I tried. God appears to be wearing a mask.

 

[SalixIncendium]

I Fiddler on the Roof, Teyve talks to God as if God were his good or best friend -- albeit a somewhat imperfect good or best friend (imperfect as a friend, not imperfect as a being).

Do you consider Teyve's attitude towards deity appropriate? Why or why not?

How would you characterize the best or proper attitude of humans towards deity?

I think it was appropriate...for him.

The best or proper attitude towards a deity depends on the individual...and the deity.

 

[Polymath257]

Care to expand?

it's an old quote of Woody Allen.

'To you, I am an atheist. To God, I am the loyal opposition'.

 

[ChristineM]

I Fiddler on the Roof, Teyve talks to God as if God were his good or best friend -- albeit a somewhat imperfect good or best friend (imperfect as a friend, not imperfect as a being).

Do you consider Teyve's attitude towards deity appropriate? Why or why not?

How would you characterize the best or proper attitude of humans towards deity?

Not something i think of but as i have said before, if a god turned up he/she/it would have some explaining to do.

As to Teyve, i know several Jews who consider friendly chats with god to be comforting.

 

[BSM1]

I tried. God appears to be wearing a mask.

Now you get it...

 

[PureX]

I Fiddler on the Roof, Teyve talks to God as if God were his good or best friend -- albeit a somewhat imperfect good or best friend (imperfect as a friend, not imperfect as a being).

Do you consider Teyve's attitude towards deity appropriate? Why or why not?

How would you characterize the best or proper attitude of humans towards deity?

I think it depends on what we need our 'God' to be, for us. And I think it also depends on how capable we are of developing and holding onto more sophisticated conceptualizations of the 'Divine Mystery'.

I don't think there's any one right way of conceptualizing God. The relationship works on many different levels and in many different ways. Which is why, I think, there are so many different kinds of theists within the human family.

 

[Terese]

Very appropriate to me I see God as an intimate friend

There are many forms of relationships with God within my religion. One can feel parental love for God Such is the grace of Narayana taking many forms

Best/most proper way of having a relationship depends on the worshipper, but there must be loving service