What is "God"? - Page 2 - DiscussWorldIssues - Socio-Economic Religion and Political Uncensored Debate

**zenihan** · 09-13-2006, 03:46 PM

I hold no religious view concerning this (or any thing else, for that matter).

It is my beloef that the creating power existed "Before" any thing existed. How is one able to define/describe something that is not a "thing"?

However, since you are part of what existed before things existed, I will say that "God" looks like Greyface.

Peace & Love!

**bxxasxxa** · 09-13-2006, 09:15 PM

I attend church (UU) with an athiest, and she says that while she believes in the human spirit, she simply does not believe in a diety.
Personally, I don't believe in a diety either, but I do believe in a Life Force with which we are all co-creators.

Love,
Terri/MW

**AnypecekceS** · 09-13-2006, 09:23 PM

Wasn't it John Lennon (who was quoting someone else) who said, "God is a Concept...by which we measure our pain?"

**SarSerceSaice** · 09-13-2006, 10:00 PM

Wasn't it John Lennon (who was quoting someone else) who said, "God is a Concept...by which we measure our pain?"

Yep. That is in one of his songs. I don't know where the original quote came from though.

Peace & Love!

**CHEAPSOFTOEMONLINE** · 09-14-2006, 12:24 AM

Good timing! There was an article in USA Today yesterday about a Baylor University/Gallup survey on this topic.

"View of God can predict values, politics"
By Cathy Lynn Grossman, USA TODAY

The United States calls itself one nation under God, but Americans don't all have the same image of the Almighty in mind.

A new survey of religion in the USA finds four very different images of God — from a wrathful deity thundering at sinful humanity to a distant power uninvolved in mankind's affairs.

Forget denominational brands or doctrines or even once-salient terms like "Religious Right." Even the oft-used "Evangelical" appears to be losing ground.

See the rest of the article here: http://www.usatoday.com/news/religio...y_x.htm?csp=34

Rob

**Diwokfkq** · 09-14-2006, 04:50 AM

I believe that God is the Ocean of Existence. The Begining, Middle, and End of everything and every sentient being.

I believe God to be my Father, Mother, Friend, ... the Beloved One (my favorite name for God).

Sometimes I chant the many Names of God ...

Sometimes I contemplate God in different Forms ... Lord Ganesha, Lord Shiva, Mother Kali, Jesus Christ, Bhagavan Krishna, Sakyamuni Buddha, Gurudeva, my grandson ...

Yet I know that God is beyond all Names and all Forms!

I enjoy repeating with Mother María de Jesus Ortega (1917-1972), "God, God, God... I understand you not, yet I love you."

Hermano Luis
Moriviví Hermitage

**nmnrIjGB** · 09-14-2006, 05:18 AM

I am thinking that God is everything and anything that makes people feel good about what they are doing in their lives and makes them a happier.

Like when they are sick they pray.... makes them feel secure and feel good
When someone dear dies, they have a faith in where they are going .... Makes them not feer death as much, which makes them feel good.

Now I do believe there is a higher power out there, whether its name is god or muhumad... or ali... of what not,

I believe that if yout ake a lil from every religion (all the good stuff) and compare all the good stuff, it is all basically the same, apply it to my life... and I got a pretty good god in my head.

Sorry I babble I will end this right here lol

**denyffishh** · 09-14-2006, 06:24 AM

strange place for this topic,but the orignal question was,what do athiests believe.

that depends on who you ask.most all athiests will tell you they have no belief in a diety,period.some will say there is no higher power than humanity itself(and no that is not being redundent).

i believe that the buddha said it best:it isn't importent to the path.

**bWn4h8QD** · 09-14-2006, 06:51 AM

I believe God is Dog spelled backwards.......
it is....I'm not lying I swear.....

**codecouponqw** · 09-14-2006, 03:04 PM

I love this...

I believe that God is the Ocean of Existence. The Begining, Middle, and End of everything and every sentient being.

I believe God to be my Father, Mother, Friend, ... the Beloved One (my favorite name for God).

Sometimes I chant the many Names of God ...

Sometimes I contemplate God in different Forms ... Lord Ganesha, Lord Shiva, Mother Kali, Jesus Christ, Bhagavan Krishna, Sakyamuni Buddha, Gurudeva, my grandson ...

Yet I know that God is beyond all Names and all Forms!

I enjoy repeating with Mother María de Jesus Ortega (1917-1972), "God, God, God... I understand you not, yet I love you."

Hermano Luis
Moriviví Hermitage

**MarythePuppy6** · 09-14-2006, 05:27 PM

Great answers everyone.
Isn't it interesting how no one can agree what God is? I find it even more interesting how everybody still has a similar answer inspite of that...
When we get a few more, I'll reveal my reason for posting this.

**JessicaLin** · 09-18-2006, 01:59 AM

For those who need to believe in the supernatural, God has always been and still is today the answer for all the questions we haven't yet answered. After spending my first 20 years in the Roman Catholic Church, I no longer see a use in believing in the supernatural. And I don't understand why someone would call the "life force" god . Calling something a god suggests to me that you worship it in someway or that you just want to be able to say that you are like everyone else and believe in some god. IMO the Bush adminstration has given religion a bad name and I don't really want to give any comfort to religious extremists or cave into fundamentalist bullying. I am glad to see some churches speaking out on the war in Iraq and the environment. I hope they continue to do so.

**himecthekWiff** · 09-18-2006, 02:35 AM

God for me is Goddess. She was the Creator then created God who then procreated with her to create the rest of their creation, everything from the smallest quark to humankind, trees, plants, animals, etc.

If this sounds like incest, read the bible. Adam and Eve had 2 sons who then had children, so Eve was both their mother and mother to their children.

**estelle** · 11-30-2006, 03:26 PM

Hi All,

Seems to me that we are on an endless journey here.

If "God" created every 'thing' then that would logically mean that "God" existed before 'things' existed.

How is it possible to describe some'thing' that is not a 'thing'?

But still every 'thing' is of "God" and therefore, in my mind, every 'thing' is a part of "God". Sure, I would even go so far as to say every 'thing' is "God".

Peace & Love!

The Vedic Seers reached a similar conclusion.

**Elissetecausa** · 11-30-2006, 03:39 PM

It's nice to know that I am not alone with my thoughts on this subject.

Peace & Love!

**TheReallyBest** · 11-30-2006, 05:24 PM

I was raised Christian, believing...God put me in this world and He will take me out....to reside forever with him in heaven. Then I grew up, had a family, and experienced many good and terrible things.
I no longer believe there is a heaven full of my relatives awaiting my arrival. I believe .....there is a creative force in this world (it may include the universe...gimme another 40 yrs to be sure tho) this force is female and male as are all 'things' in some way....we humans and everything else not made by man are both male and female and just a piece of this creative force. So I think...or believe....ALL things together is GOD/GODDESS

**Falik** · 11-30-2006, 06:31 PM

You are defintely not alone on this.....

It's nice to know that I am not alone with my thoughts on this subject.

Peace & Love!

**baritkello** · 11-30-2006, 08:39 PM

Hey SpiritDancer,

Just so I don't misrepresent myself, I too accept the concept of God being both female and male; Yin/Yang. But not personified, of course.

Peace & Love!

**Imiweevierm** · 12-01-2006, 03:23 AM

We're almost to the magic number....

**xquFzpNw** · 12-10-2006, 07:51 AM

After reading the other threads in this forum, I got to wondering. Just what, exactly, is "God"? Every religion has their own definition, but so does everyone else... Just what exactly is it that Athiests don't believe in?

What is your own personal definition of "God"?

09-13-2006, 03:46 PM	#21
zenihan Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 485 Senior Member	I hold no religious view concerning this (or any thing else, for that matter). It is my beloef that the creating power existed "Before" any thing existed. How is one able to define/describe something that is not a "thing"? However, since you are part of what existed before things existed, I will say that "God" looks like Greyface. Peace & Love! Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter
	Quote

09-13-2006, 09:15 PM	#22
bxxasxxa Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 414 Senior Member	I attend church (UU) with an athiest, and she says that while she believes in the human spirit, she simply does not believe in a diety. Personally, I don't believe in a diety either, but I do believe in a Life Force with which we are all co-creators. Love, Terri/MW Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter
	Quote

09-13-2006, 09:23 PM	#23
AnypecekceS Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 554 Senior Member	Wasn't it John Lennon (who was quoting someone else) who said, "God is a Concept...by which we measure our pain?" Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter
	Quote

09-13-2006, 10:00 PM	#24
SarSerceSaice Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 486 Senior Member	Wasn't it John Lennon (who was quoting someone else) who said, "God is a Concept...by which we measure our pain?" Yep. That is in one of his songs. I don't know where the original quote came from though. Peace & Love! Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter
	Quote

09-14-2006, 12:24 AM	#25
CHEAPSOFTOEMONLINE Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 401 Senior Member	Good timing! There was an article in USA Today yesterday about a Baylor University/Gallup survey on this topic. "View of God can predict values, politics" By Cathy Lynn Grossman, USA TODAY The United States calls itself one nation under God, but Americans don't all have the same image of the Almighty in mind. A new survey of religion in the USA finds four very different images of God — from a wrathful deity thundering at sinful humanity to a distant power uninvolved in mankind's affairs. Forget denominational brands or doctrines or even once-salient terms like "Religious Right." Even the oft-used "Evangelical" appears to be losing ground. See the rest of the article here: http://www.usatoday.com/news/religio...y_x.htm?csp=34 Rob Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter
	Quote

09-14-2006, 04:50 AM	#26
Diwokfkq Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 394 Senior Member	I believe that God is the Ocean of Existence. The Begining, Middle, and End of everything and every sentient being. I believe God to be my Father, Mother, Friend, ... the Beloved One (my favorite name for God). Sometimes I chant the many Names of God ... Sometimes I contemplate God in different Forms ... Lord Ganesha, Lord Shiva, Mother Kali, Jesus Christ, Bhagavan Krishna, Sakyamuni Buddha, Gurudeva, my grandson ... Yet I know that God is beyond all Names and all Forms! I enjoy repeating with Mother María de Jesus Ortega (1917-1972), "God, God, God... I understand you not, yet I love you." Hermano Luis Moriviví Hermitage Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter
	Quote

09-14-2006, 05:18 AM	#27
nmnrIjGB Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 356 Senior Member	I am thinking that God is everything and anything that makes people feel good about what they are doing in their lives and makes them a happier. Like when they are sick they pray.... makes them feel secure and feel good When someone dear dies, they have a faith in where they are going .... Makes them not feer death as much, which makes them feel good. Now I do believe there is a higher power out there, whether its name is god or muhumad... or ali... of what not, I believe that if yout ake a lil from every religion (all the good stuff) and compare all the good stuff, it is all basically the same, apply it to my life... and I got a pretty good god in my head. Sorry I babble I will end this right here lol Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter
	Quote

09-14-2006, 06:24 AM	#28
denyffishh Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 443 Senior Member	strange place for this topic,but the orignal question was,what do athiests believe. that depends on who you ask.most all athiests will tell you they have no belief in a diety,period.some will say there is no higher power than humanity itself(and no that is not being redundent). i believe that the buddha said it best:it isn't importent to the path. Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter
	Quote

09-14-2006, 06:51 AM	#29
bWn4h8QD Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 436 Senior Member	I believe God is Dog spelled backwards....... it is....I'm not lying I swear..... Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter
	Quote

09-14-2006, 03:04 PM	#30
codecouponqw Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 547 Senior Member	I love this... I believe that God is the Ocean of Existence. The Begining, Middle, and End of everything and every sentient being. I believe God to be my Father, Mother, Friend, ... the Beloved One (my favorite name for God). Sometimes I chant the many Names of God ... Sometimes I contemplate God in different Forms ... Lord Ganesha, Lord Shiva, Mother Kali, Jesus Christ, Bhagavan Krishna, Sakyamuni Buddha, Gurudeva, my grandson ... Yet I know that God is beyond all Names and all Forms! I enjoy repeating with Mother María de Jesus Ortega (1917-1972), "God, God, God... I understand you not, yet I love you." Hermano Luis Moriviví Hermitage Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter
	Quote

09-14-2006, 05:27 PM	#31
MarythePuppy6 Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 550 Senior Member	Great answers everyone. Isn't it interesting how no one can agree what God is? I find it even more interesting how everybody still has a similar answer inspite of that... When we get a few more, I'll reveal my reason for posting this. Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter
	Quote

09-18-2006, 01:59 AM	#32
JessicaLin Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 467 Senior Member	For those who need to believe in the supernatural, God has always been and still is today the answer for all the questions we haven't yet answered. After spending my first 20 years in the Roman Catholic Church, I no longer see a use in believing in the supernatural. And I don't understand why someone would call the "life force" god . Calling something a god suggests to me that you worship it in someway or that you just want to be able to say that you are like everyone else and believe in some god. IMO the Bush adminstration has given religion a bad name and I don't really want to give any comfort to religious extremists or cave into fundamentalist bullying. I am glad to see some churches speaking out on the war in Iraq and the environment. I hope they continue to do so. Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter
	Quote

09-18-2006, 02:35 AM	#33
himecthekWiff Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 374 Senior Member	God for me is Goddess. She was the Creator then created God who then procreated with her to create the rest of their creation, everything from the smallest quark to humankind, trees, plants, animals, etc. If this sounds like incest, read the bible. Adam and Eve had 2 sons who then had children, so Eve was both their mother and mother to their children. Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter
	Quote

11-30-2006, 03:26 PM	#34
estelle Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 505 Senior Member	Hi All, Seems to me that we are on an endless journey here. If "God" created every 'thing' then that would logically mean that "God" existed before 'things' existed. How is it possible to describe some'thing' that is not a 'thing'? But still every 'thing' is of "God" and therefore, in my mind, every 'thing' is a part of "God". Sure, I would even go so far as to say every 'thing' is "God". Peace & Love! The Vedic Seers reached a similar conclusion. Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter
	Quote

11-30-2006, 03:39 PM	#35
Elissetecausa Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 458 Senior Member	It's nice to know that I am not alone with my thoughts on this subject. Peace & Love! Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter
	Quote

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 2 (0 members and 2 guests)

11-30-2006, 05:24 PM	#36
TheReallyBest Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 385 Senior Member	I was raised Christian, believing...God put me in this world and He will take me out....to reside forever with him in heaven. Then I grew up, had a family, and experienced many good and terrible things. I no longer believe there is a heaven full of my relatives awaiting my arrival. I believe .....there is a creative force in this world (it may include the universe...gimme another 40 yrs to be sure tho) this force is female and male as are all 'things' in some way....we humans and everything else not made by man are both male and female and just a piece of this creative force. So I think...or believe....ALL things together is GOD/GODDESS Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter
	Quote

11-30-2006, 06:31 PM	#37
Falik Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 518 Senior Member	You are defintely not alone on this..... It's nice to know that I am not alone with my thoughts on this subject. Peace & Love! Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter
	Quote

11-30-2006, 08:39 PM	#38
baritkello Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 437 Senior Member	Hey SpiritDancer, Just so I don't misrepresent myself, I too accept the concept of God being both female and male; Yin/Yang. But not personified, of course. Peace & Love! Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter
	Quote

12-01-2006, 03:23 AM	#39
Imiweevierm Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 670 Senior Member	We're almost to the magic number.... Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter
	Quote

12-10-2006, 07:51 AM	#40
xquFzpNw Join Date Nov 2005 Posts 501 Senior Member	What is "God"? After reading the other threads in this forum, I got to wondering. Just what, exactly, is "God"? Every religion has their own definition, but so does everyone else... Just what exactly is it that Athiests don't believe in? What is your own personal definition of "God"? Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter
	Quote