What is your god like? (7 Viewers)

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Luca

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Apr 22, 2007
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#24
This is what interests me. What are god's attributes?

Anselm:'God is a being than which no greater can be thought'

From this Anselm argues while it is possible to exist in the mind only, and remain a mere definition, it is much betterto exist in both mind and reality. Therefore when staying true to the very definition of God logic suggests God must exist firstly in the mind as a definition and secondly in reality.
 
Jun 13, 2007
7,233
#25
what's not to say the old testament God is a better portryal of God though?
Personally, what attracted me mostly to Christianity was Jesus of the New Testament. Ofcourse, any portayal of God could be the better one but I suppose the message of forgiveness and hope of the New Testament is the reason people prefer it more to the more blunt and rather gloomy message at times of the Old Testament.
 
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Martin

Martin

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Dec 31, 2000
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  • Thread Starter #26
    Anselm:'God is a being than which no greater can be thought'
    Define "greater" and "being".

    And unless you have redefined "thought" under my feet I have no problem imagining an arbitrarily great (in the classical definition) being (also in the classical definition). The only thing I have no concept of is infinity, but if god is a being (classical def) then he is not infinite. If he is infinite then the word "being" doesn't apply unless redefined.

    So you have told me nothing.

    But this is only the top of the iceberg.
     

    Sadomin

    Senior Member
    Apr 5, 2005
    7,327
    #27
    You mean something that is simply not visible to the eye (eg. electrical forces) but can be detected?
    Whether it can be detected or not, it has to exist. A spirit is more abstract, whereas the sun is concrete.

    This is what interests me. What are god's attributes?
    Everything. Nothing. Power. Goodness. If it's an abstract being it could be anything. If it's something concrete such as the sun, then god's... hot.

    Well one could also call everything in the universe god as a synonym. But what's the point?
    There is no point. It's just a wish, a nice thought. Or an explanation. Or an excuse.

    God is what we want it to be and I guess it helps us digest reality.
     
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    Martin

    Martin

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  • Thread Starter #28
    I'm talking about the new testament God ofcourse.
    Since I haven't read it (no more than fragments anyway), why don't you describe god's nature. What is he? What is he like? Is there a consciousness? If so, can you say he has moral values? Personalty? Is he made of matter? Does he exist in the universe? If so, where is he?
     
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    Martin

    Martin

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  • Thread Starter #29
    Whether it can be detected or not, it has to exist. A spirit is more abstract, whereas the sun is concrete.
    What does the word "existence" mean if detection is impossible? And I don't mean impossible in the sense that our ancestors didn't have voltmeters, I mean in the sense being undetectable by humans by definition.

    Everything. Nothing. Power. Goodness. If it's an abstract being it could be anything. If it's something concrete such as the sun, then god's... hot.
    A being is not abstract. It implies a physical body. Or do you have a different definition?

    God is what we want it to be and I guess it helps us digest reality.
    Does it?
     

    Luca

    Senior Member
    Apr 22, 2007
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    #30
    Define "greater" and "being".

    And unless you have redefined "thought" under my feet I have no problem imagining an arbitrarily great (in the classical definition) being (also in the classical definition). The only thing I have no concept of is infinity, but if god is a being (classical def) then he is not infinite. If he is infinite then the word "being" doesn't apply unless redefined.

    So you have told me nothing.

    But this is only the top of the iceberg.
    being connotes existance, right. You could think of the perfect Island right, it is merely contingent. God is nessacary
    you are almost coming from a kantian response by saying that 'being' being a predicate of God is not an analytical statement right but a synthetic statement that needs to be proved; becuse if something is not proved then predicates are pointless.
    right?
     

    Sadomin

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    Apr 5, 2005
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    #31
    What does the word "existence" mean if detection is impossible? And I don't mean impossible in the sense that our ancestors didn't have voltmeters, I mean in the sense being undetectable by humans by definition.

    A being is not abstract. It implies a physical body. Or do you have a different definition?
    Let me rephrase. Being might have been the incorrect word. I need to have a logical explanation for God. I simply can't believe that it's "up there", but I need to project God on something to believe in it. Be it the sun, aspects of human behaviour or something else of importance. So God has to be something for me to be a believer. I can't simply be religious since someone tells me that God is there.

    You're not going to get a definite answer from me since these possible beliefs have no effect on my life. If there was a God however, this is how I would perceive it.

    For most, yes.
     
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    Martin

    Martin

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  • Thread Starter #32
    being connotes existance, right. You could think of the perfect Isald right, it is merely contingent. God is nessacary
    the what?

    you are almost coming from a kantian response by saying that 'being' being a predicate of God is not an analytical statement right but a synthetic statement that needs to be proved; becuse if something is not proved then predicates are pointless.
    right?
    totally don't follow you
     
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    Martin

    Martin

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  • Thread Starter #33
    Let me rephrase. Being might have been the incorrect word. I need to have a logical explanation for God. I simply can't believe that it's "up there", but I need to project God on something to believe in it. Be it the sun, aspects of human behaviour or something else of importance. So God has to be something for me to be a believer. I can't simply be religious since someone tells me that God is there.
    Right, that makes sense to me.

    But if god is just a synonym for something else, how does it help you?
     
    Jun 13, 2007
    7,233
    #38
    Since I haven't read it (no more than fragments anyway), why don't you describe god's nature. What is he? What is he like? Is there a consciousness? If so, can you say he has moral values? Personalty? Is he made of matter? Does he exist in the universe? If so, where is he?
    I guess my definiton of the New Testament God would be one that is omnipotent, one whom is the source of all moral obligation, one that exists infinitely outside space and time, one that is supernatural, a loving, caring, and forgiving God.
     
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