What is God?
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What is God?
Post #1As an atheist, I have a hard time understanding what a god might look like. Please help.
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Tcg
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Post #62
[Replying to post 61 by TLIG]
1 Thessalonians 5:7:
7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night.
Whichever your rest involves, enjoy!
1 Thessalonians 5:7:
7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night.
Whichever your rest involves, enjoy!
Post #63
Psalms 127:1 Except the LORD build the house,Tcg wrote: [Replying to post 61 by TLIG]
1 Thessalonians 5:7:
7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night.
Whichever your rest involves, enjoy!
they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city,
the watchman waketh but in vain.
Re: What is God?
Post #65all gods except the true Living God looks like those who imagen them.Mr.Badham wrote: As an atheist, I have a hard time understanding what a god might look like. Please help.
but the God of Jesus Christ looks like Righteousness, Judgement, Mercy, Love, Faith, Hope, Wisdom Knowledge, Understanding, the Truth, the Way, and the Life.
hence the gods made of men are in the image and likeness of their creators, men. but the Creator and Judge makes sons of God out of men in His own likeness and image.
Re: What is God?
Post #66Mr.Badham wrote: As an atheist, I have a hard time understanding what a god might look like. Please help.
As an atheist, it should be easier to see that God isn't a "what" to begin with. God cannot be, or look like anything unless we want to create our own gods. God cannot be comprehensible without becoming something we can comprehend. God cannot descend to the level of our own understanding without ceasing to be God.
It is no accident that Abram is referred to as the father of the three main monotheistic faiths. He is told by "God" to pack up his belongings and leave his home with no destination in mind. Why no destination in mind? Because the God of the universe has just told him to do it, that's why. When God says, "Jump!", the response is "How high?".
Abram's father was an idolater just like Abram, but suddenly Abram becomes aware that God cannot be anything to worship or obey, but must necessarily be beyond all ideas or imagination. God cannot be objectively obeyed or worshipped like some idol can.
Your question originates in the same place all religiously minded questions come from, and stems from a context steeped in idolatry. We're essentially all born into a culture of idolatry so there's no way out of it except to note that nothing ultimate exists in a temporal world.
Re: What is God?
Post #67[Replying to post 1 by Mr.Badham]
The Old Testament makes it clear that God is invisible. However, it also claims that celestial beings (angels) came to present themselves before God. This seems like a contradiction, but it really isn't…
Since, God is the Supreme Being, nothing is impossible for God. Hence, God can project a visible image, which would represent Himself to the created. This is how God interacts with the celestial beings. We shouldn't be surprised by this, where a "life-like" hologram would be a "crude" example of the premise. The image would appear somewhat similar to what the celestial beings would accept as God. So, the general appearance along with some amazing special affects would be how this image appeared to the celestial beings. Where, the special effects would be the means to show a difference between God and themselves.
Yet, God decided to take a different approach with human beings. God's great power caused a virgin women to conceive a human child, where the required male DNA would be supplied from God's knowledge of the linage related to King David or simply: the child/adult would physically look somewhat like any other Israelite. However, God also introduced a part of Himself into the process. This would assure that the child born was both human and divine or unique. As the Christ came into adulthood, he was asked by one of his apostles: "Lord, show us the Father," where the Christ replied: He who has seen me, has seen the Father. But, the Christ was not claiming that the Father (God) looked like himself. He was referring to his actions and mind-set, where he was in complete agreement with the Supreme Being and has a relationship to God that no one else has. Hence, those who want this connection with God would need to accept His existence and interact with God in spirit and in truth…There is no other way to see the Father (God).
The Old Testament makes it clear that God is invisible. However, it also claims that celestial beings (angels) came to present themselves before God. This seems like a contradiction, but it really isn't…
Since, God is the Supreme Being, nothing is impossible for God. Hence, God can project a visible image, which would represent Himself to the created. This is how God interacts with the celestial beings. We shouldn't be surprised by this, where a "life-like" hologram would be a "crude" example of the premise. The image would appear somewhat similar to what the celestial beings would accept as God. So, the general appearance along with some amazing special affects would be how this image appeared to the celestial beings. Where, the special effects would be the means to show a difference between God and themselves.
Yet, God decided to take a different approach with human beings. God's great power caused a virgin women to conceive a human child, where the required male DNA would be supplied from God's knowledge of the linage related to King David or simply: the child/adult would physically look somewhat like any other Israelite. However, God also introduced a part of Himself into the process. This would assure that the child born was both human and divine or unique. As the Christ came into adulthood, he was asked by one of his apostles: "Lord, show us the Father," where the Christ replied: He who has seen me, has seen the Father. But, the Christ was not claiming that the Father (God) looked like himself. He was referring to his actions and mind-set, where he was in complete agreement with the Supreme Being and has a relationship to God that no one else has. Hence, those who want this connection with God would need to accept His existence and interact with God in spirit and in truth…There is no other way to see the Father (God).
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JehovahsWitness
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Re: What is God?
Post #68FWI wrote: [Replying to post 1 by Mr.Badham]
The Old Testament makes it clear that God is invisible. However, it also claims that celestial beings (angels) came to present themselves before God. This seems like a contradiction, but it really isn't…
The bible indicates that God is invisible to humans not to everyone, if scripture is to be believed the angels and Jesus can see Him just fine.
Simple,
JW
INDEX: More bible based ANSWERS
http://debatingchristianity.com/forum/v ... 81#p826681
"For if we live, we live to Jehovah, and if we die, we die to Jehovah. So both if we live and if we die, we belong to Jehovah" - Romans 14:8
http://debatingchristianity.com/forum/v ... 81#p826681
"For if we live, we live to Jehovah, and if we die, we die to Jehovah. So both if we live and if we die, we belong to Jehovah" - Romans 14:8
Re: What is God?
Post #69[Replying to post 68 by JehovahsWitness]
Well, it isn't as simple, as you may think…What most attempt to do is put God into a "box" or confine Him to their own perception. God is omnipresent, which means that He exist as Infinity. So, in simple terms: Infinity will not be visible, within the universe that angels and humans inhabit. The Presence of God is surely "sensed" by the Christ and the angels, but to see God, as He exist, is unrealistic.
So, as you suggest: if scripture is to be believed or as explained by human thoughts, do these writings indicate that God is visible to the Christ and the angels? No, they don't!
Note: When using the term "visible" it is understood that this means to see something as it exists.
Therefore, present your case, if you choose…
JehovahsWitness wrote:The bible indicates that God is invisible to humans not to everyone, if scripture is to be believed the angels and Jesus can see Him just fine. Simple.
Well, it isn't as simple, as you may think…What most attempt to do is put God into a "box" or confine Him to their own perception. God is omnipresent, which means that He exist as Infinity. So, in simple terms: Infinity will not be visible, within the universe that angels and humans inhabit. The Presence of God is surely "sensed" by the Christ and the angels, but to see God, as He exist, is unrealistic.
So, as you suggest: if scripture is to be believed or as explained by human thoughts, do these writings indicate that God is visible to the Christ and the angels? No, they don't!
Note: When using the term "visible" it is understood that this means to see something as it exists.
Therefore, present your case, if you choose…
Re: What is God?
Post #70Good points! I would also point out that an omniscient deity cannot, by definition; be known. As soon as anyone claims to know anything about their god, they are presenting a god of their own imagination. The only other alternative is transcendence, and transcendence can't be understood, known, felt, experienced or articulated. Transcendence must also transcend existence, therefore the "God" of the bible can't exist.FWI wrote: [Replying to post 68 by JehovahsWitness]
JehovahsWitness wrote:The bible indicates that God is invisible to humans not to everyone, if scripture is to be believed the angels and Jesus can see Him just fine. Simple.
Well, it isn't as simple, as you may think…What most attempt to do is put God into a "box" or confine Him to their own perception. God is omnipresent, which means that He exist as Infinity. So, in simple terms: Infinity will not be visible, within the universe that angels and humans inhabit. The Presence of God is surely "sensed" by the Christ and the angels, but to see God, as He exist, is unrealistic.
So, as you suggest: if scripture is to be believed or as explained by human thoughts, do these writings indicate that God is visible to the Christ and the angels? No, they don't!
Note: When using the term "visible" it is understood that this means to see something as it exists.
Therefore, present your case, if you choose…
Paul says as much in 1 Corinthians 8:6, when he points out that God is the origin of everything that exists while Christ is the means of all that exists. For anything to exist, requires existence, and the origin of existence can't exist without negating itself (paradoxically) into existence which immediately creates an infinite regression. That infinite regression negates an origin which would contradict what Paul has articulated.
Paul's claim negates an infinite regression.
It also agrees with the introduction to John's gospel, e.g. "in the beginning was the word". John knows that God cannot exist "in the beginning" because God transcends existence. Therefore only the word exists eternally. God can only exist in, with and through the word. There can be no referent for God. To worship God objectively is to ignore the commandment and become an idolater.
