Definitions of God

[chelseeyuh]

I think the biggest problem with decided whether or not to believe in a god is the ambiguity of the idea. So many people define god in so many different ways.
I've considered myself to be atheist until recently when I heard someone say, "I refuse to say whether or not I believe in God until someone can give me a definitive definition of 'God.'" And this really opened my eyes. How you define "god" affects whether or not you believe there is a god. If you define God as the creator of the universe, then you can't argue that there is no god, because the universe had to have been created. But in this case, the universe itself could be god.

So anyway.. How do you define god, and why?

[Silverrida]

In my thread on time, I defined God as the first cause of everything. As that is not a choice, I am forced to choose that I do not believe in a God that has any of the attributes listed. The closest would be an abstract idea, but that is not necessarily the case because an abstract idea cannot really be defined adequately whereas my accepted philosophical definition can, in my opinion.

[Ryan]

God - A supreme ultimate reality or being with beyond natural powers, a God has no physical descriptors, and all adjectives that describe a God are non-quantitative


This is a rough combination of all of the dictionary definitions of god I could find. The problem with God is, until people accept a single definition - like one available in a dictionary - there is no way to argue the existence or non-existence of such a being. I know in philosophy, when discussing God a standard definition is used so that all philosophers can discuss the same construct/being/idea.

[mashuga31]

God is the Admin

We are members of his forum

Scientists hack into the forum and change things

People who die are inactive users

Those who believe are granted favors from the admin

The admin created everything in said forum

if this is true, who are life's moderators and what happens when you get banned?

[stephen5000]

I think that's a major problem with Christianity (and associated religions) that God is so ill-defined. Now because of this adherents can have God be whatever they want - whatever best suits them, and thus this somewhat abstract mishmash of a God has attained quite the following and managed to survive through the millennia, while so many others have been forgotten.

As for me, I'm not going to believe in something that can't even be defined properly. And even if one is defined, then we need to have concrete evidence to support its existence.

[Nakor]

Merely believing that something caused the universe doesn't stop you from being an atheist. When in doubt, hit the dictionary. This is the Mirriam-Webster definition that isn't specific to one religion:

a being or object believed to have more than natural attributes and powers and to require human worship; specifically : one controlling a particular aspect or part of reality

If you don't actively believe in the supernatural -- even if you don't actively disbelieve in it -- you are an atheist.

[eileen1992]

Apr 3, 2010 2:09:44 GMT -5 @mashuga31 said:

God is the Admin

We are members of his forum

Scientists hack into the forum and change things

People who die are inactive users

Those who believe are granted favors from the admin

The admin created everything in said forum

if this is true, who are life's moderators and what happens when you get banned?

....I actually found this definition really really good XD


And I guess its tricky to define God as lots of people will have his own view on what he is.
And you've got to factor in the holy trinity of God , Jesus and The Holy Spirit , who are all one entity 'God'. Well I think...for most Christians anyway?

Though if you look at the Nicene Creed that does actually set out a little who or what God is....well if you're part of one of the churches who uses that. Its worth checking out though because it does break it down a little! Well...for me anyway

[chelseeyuh]

I know you can look in a dictionary and get a definition, but that can't even come close to encompassing the different ideas that everyone has about god.
I guess I should share my reasoning to explain:
At first, I thought God had to be an omniscient, omnipotent, omnibenevolent being. But then, there's evil the world, so either God isn't omnibenevolent for allowing it, or he's not omnipotent because he can't stop it. So maybe he's just an idle watcher. But if that's so, why do we need his existence at all? Well, he must just created the universe, and that's all. But that we don't need a being to do that; the universe could have created itself, then the universe itself would be God. So, at what point is this no longer God?

[Cortney]

Apr 3, 2010 2:39:31 GMT -5 Nakor said:

If you don't actively believe in the supernatural -- even if you don't actively disbelieve in it -- you are an atheist.

Erm, I'm Agnostic and I don't like this. I know Agnosticism is TECHNICALLY a form of "weak atheism," but I honestly think being called an Atheist is a bit insulting when I don't think like one at all.

[Nakor]

That assumes that all atheists think the same or similarly though. I don't think it's really insulting, it's just a definition. All atheists definitely don't think the same. And as a note, I would say that the majority -- not the minority -- of atheists are also agnostics. Only the most dogmatic of atheists refuse to accept the possibility that they are wrong, and people with a tendency to accept the dogmatic tend toward religion rather than atheism.

[click3tyclick]

Apr 3, 2010 10:57:28 GMT -5 Nakor said:

That assumes that all atheists think the same or similarly though. I don't think it's really insulting, it's just a definition. All atheists definitely don't think the same. And as a note, I would say that the majority -- not the minority -- of atheists are also agnostics. Only the most dogmatic of atheists refuse to accept the possibility that they are wrong, and people with a tendency to accept the dogmatic tend toward religion rather than atheism.

Oh. That means I'm a pretty dogmatic atheist.

[Cortney]

Apr 3, 2010 10:57:28 GMT -5 Nakor said:

That assumes that all atheists think the same or similarly though. I don't think it's really insulting, it's just a definition. All atheists definitely don't think the same. And as a note, I would say that the majority -- not the minority -- of atheists are also agnostics. Only the most dogmatic of atheists refuse to accept the possibility that they are wrong, and people with a tendency to accept the dogmatic tend toward religion rather than atheism.

A quick trip to Wikipedia.

Atheism is commonly defined as the position that there are no deities. It can also mean the rejection of belief in the existence of deities. A broader definition is simply the absence of belief that any deities exist.

None of these fit my beliefs. I know you're not trying to be insulting, and I'm not mad at you or anything. What I'm saying is I refuse to be classified as something I'm not, and I think I should have more say in that than some definition.

[Nakor]

So "the absence of belief that any deities exist" does not describe you? That would mean you do have a belief that a deity exists, which isn't what someone tends to mean when they say 'agnostic.'

[stephen5000]

I've noticed that many people reject the term "atheist" even if they technically fall into its category. The word "atheist" seems to have negative connotations in our culture, even though they are not necessarily warranted. (sort of like the term "anarchist")

This is getting off topic: maybe we need an "atheist vs agnostic" thread?

[Cortney]

Apr 3, 2010 11:23:31 GMT -5 Nakor said:

So "the absence of belief that any deities exist" does not describe you? That would mean you do have a belief that a deity exists, which isn't what someone tends to mean when they say 'agnostic.'

No, that is not me. I believe there is not enough proof for us to decide one way or the other when it comes to religion. This in no way means that I deny the plausible existence of some sort of god. The belief that there might be a god is indeed within my mindset, which is why I voted both "there is no god" and for the abstract concept of god. I believe both are possibilities and I dismiss neither, so the belief that there is a deity is not absent.

[Nakor]

Believing that there could be a deity is different from believing that there is one though. With your argument, you're basically saying that "I believe in one or more gods" is both true and false for you at the same time; but, that would be a contradiction. Absence of a belief does not mean belief against, nor does it mean absence of the belief of a possibility of a thing, it merely means that while you may (or may not) believe it to be possible for there to be a god (or not) you don't specifically believe in any at this time.

And I should note I won't object to your calling yourself an agnostic rather than an atheist. I'm just trying to say that my statement before is not incorrect. It isn't meant to paint anyone with the term so much as to explain why "belief that something created the universe, but that something could be natural, explainable event" does not preclude one from being an atheist. In fact, there are probably a lot of atheists who would agree with that.

[Silverrida]

Apr 3, 2010 4:24:07 GMT -5 eileen1992 said:

Apr 3, 2010 2:09:44 GMT -5 @mashuga31 said:

God is the Admin

We are members of his forum

Scientists hack into the forum and change things

People who die are inactive users

Those who believe are granted favors from the admin

The admin created everything in said forum

if this is true, who are life's moderators and what happens when you get banned?

....I actually found this definition really really good XD


And I guess its tricky to define God as lots of people will have his own view on what he is.
And you've got to factor in the holy trinity of God , Jesus and The Holy Spirit , who are all one entity 'God'. Well I think...for most Christians anyway?

Though if you look at the Nicene Creed that does actually set out a little who or what God is....well if you're part of one of the churches who uses that. Its worth checking out though because it does break it down a little! Well...for me anyway

Just a note, the Holly Trinity is BS fed by the Catholic church. It is not mentioned anywhere in the Bible. It is only mentioned in the Scriptures which are not the word of God. It does mention the spirit in Genesis, but specifically as a separate and all powerful entity. God even refers to "Us" in the Bible as opposed to himself, meaning there are at least two separate entities.

Also, Courtney, I'd like to send you a definition essay that I wrote and hear what you think of it. It might change your views on agnosticism versus atheism.

[Felix]

to the actual topic: The definition of god.
imo god is anything that was before the beginning of the universe. god is the power that started it all. religions kind of claim that he's a person but that's a bit profane. after all religions are for the people so everyone has to understand them and that's why god is reffered to as a person who interacts with humans. but anyway:
I tolerate anyone claiming that god exists (of course everyone else too! ^^) i do too, i just don't agree with the bible or i don't take the bible literally. A friend of mine once said, he feels god and so if god is a feeling that helps you managing tasks, that's great, there's no reason to hate against him ^^

[Lex]

I believe in God as a designer. I don't pray to Her, because it's just a waste of my time. It won't accomplish anything. If I want something done, I don't just wish it - I do everything in my power to get it done.