Religion

edhopper

(37,315 posts)

269. I did look it up

Fri Jul 18, 2014, 06:21 PM

Jul 2014

Is it saying were are all there is, as in existentialism? Or that we are part of a larger consciousness that includes everyone, which is sort of buhdist I guess?

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Describe the God you believe in. [View all] edhopper Jan 2014 OP

And could people be specific? AleksS Jan 2014 #1

They could if they like edhopper Jan 2014 #2

Do you think there is a singular description of god in the bible? cbayer Jan 2014 #3

If someone believes in God edhopper Jan 2014 #5

Agreed, but you asked specifically if it deviated from the god described in their holy book. cbayer Jan 2014 #7

True edhopper Jan 2014 #10

At any rate, it could be a really interesting discussion. cbayer Jan 2014 #12

It was quite a while ago edhopper Jan 2014 #13

I think the Lord's Prayer and the Nicene Creed are interesting, too. Goblinmonger Jan 2014 #4

I say both regularly. arely staircase Jan 2014 #33

Glad you started this thread. trotsky Jan 2014 #6

It has. This is a distraction, I think. AtheistCrusader Jan 2014 #9

The Tao that is spoken of safeinOhio Jan 2014 #8

That's fine edhopper Jan 2014 #11

Expect a lot of responses like that skepticscott Jan 2014 #14

I have more of a Taoist view than Buddhist. safeinOhio Jan 2014 #36

I believe in a loving God. hrmjustin Jan 2014 #15

Does a "loving god" commit genocide or total extermination of people? cleanhippie Jan 2014 #23

I think humans did that. hrmjustin Jan 2014 #25

Humans created the great flood that exterminated everyone but Noah? cleanhippie Jan 2014 #27

I think if there was a flood it was not God. hrmjustin Jan 2014 #28

Who did it then? Who told Noah he was gonna do it? cleanhippie Jan 2014 #29

Lol. The bible says that creation was made in a week. hrmjustin Jan 2014 #30

So what parts are and aren't true then? cleanhippie Jan 2014 #37

Imo I take the NT more literally. hrmjustin Jan 2014 #40

What criteria do you use to determine what is and isn't to be taken literally? cleanhippie Jan 2014 #59

I don't believe God killed anyone. hrmjustin Jan 2014 #61

So you are a "cafeteria" christian? cleanhippie Jan 2014 #63

I follow most of the traditional ideas of Christianity but I don't believe 100% like a hrmjustin Jan 2014 #66

So were in agreement then? cleanhippie Jan 2014 #67

The God of the ot is fire and brimstone. The God of the NT is love. I believe in love. hrmjustin Jan 2014 #69

So your god changed? trotsky Jan 2014 #70

I can not speak to that. I will say humans idea of him has evolved. hrmjustin Jan 2014 #73

Right. You take what works for you and leave the rest. cleanhippie Jan 2014 #78

I put things in perspective. I try to ddetermine whati think is just human invention and hrmjustin Jan 2014 #79

Right. We're in agreement then. cleanhippie Jan 2014 #80

remind me what we are agreeing on again. hrmjustin Jan 2014 #81

Stop being obtuse. cleanhippie Jan 2014 #87

What do you find wrong with that? Starboard Tack Jul 2014 #110

I've asked this question before, so respectfully, I'd like to ask it again EvolveOrConvolve Jul 2014 #291

Tradition. hrmjustin Jul 2014 #295

Would it be fair to say that edhopper Jul 2014 #302

Yes this is a good explanation. hrmjustin Jul 2014 #306

Thanks for illustrating the point so succinctly el_bryanto Jan 2014 #31

If you even knew a fraction about what you think you do when you spout off... cleanhippie Jan 2014 #39

Dangerous? That's an interesting choice of words. nt el_bryanto Jan 2014 #41

Intellectually dangerous. cleanhippie Jan 2014 #60

With respect, I'd like to point out that only some atheists do that Starboard Tack Jul 2014 #111

Do you believe the Bible was written by a god? Do you believe that humans are incapable lumpy Jan 2014 #35

That's most likely what happened. cleanhippie Jan 2014 #38

Describe the god you don't believe in. rug Jan 2014 #16

Anything that has the power to create the universe LostOne4Ever Jan 2014 #19

So said Epicurus. But simplify it. rug Jan 2014 #20

My views don't include anything that has the power to create the universe. eomer Jan 2014 #24

Then the attributes of a creator are irrelevant to nonbelief. rug Jan 2014 #34

Something didn't knock me silly this morning but it happened so fast... eomer Jan 2014 #42

Have you done laundry recently? rug Jan 2014 #43

Ah, you may be onto something. eomer Jan 2014 #44

Maybe someone else can help: what do you believe it was... eomer Jan 2014 #49

"But you were silly already", you may say. eomer Jan 2014 #51

I dont know LostOne4Ever Jan 2014 #58

I think it is something that will never be known. rug Jan 2014 #62

I agree and thus another of my issues with religion LostOne4Ever Jan 2014 #65

I don't think the fate of your soul, if there is one, depends on that choice. rug Jan 2014 #68

I don't believe in anything supernatural edhopper Jan 2014 #45

Not at all. rug Jan 2014 #46

So what is your concept of God edhopper Jan 2014 #48

I wouldn't even attempt it. rug Jan 2014 #50

Okay edhopper Jan 2014 #53

It would be less interesting if it weren't. rug Jan 2014 #55

the creator of all that is seen and unseen arely staircase Jan 2014 #17

+1 freshwest Jan 2014 #88

Do you believe that "god" wants to be worshipped? Or that you can plead with it? PassingFair Jan 2014 #91

When I did believe... LostOne4Ever Jan 2014 #18

I believe in God as a spiritual father who has ordered the universe el_bryanto Jan 2014 #21

She is the Mother of Creation nt LiberalEsto Jan 2014 #22

I don't believe in god. Yet I'm not an atheist. Or a deist for that matter. pinto Jan 2014 #26

I don't know if there is a god, I simply don't know who created the universe and all it's trappings. lumpy Jan 2014 #32

Would you say you are agnostic then? edhopper Jan 2014 #47

I'll let Beethoven do it. elleng Jan 2014 #52

That's beautiful edhopper Jan 2014 #54

No, as asked, I'm 'describing' the 'God' I believe in, elleng Jan 2014 #56

ahh! edhopper Jan 2014 #64

Spinoza's God? n/t Stargleamer Jul 2014 #288

Dunno; haven't studied. elleng Jul 2014 #316

I can tell you the god I believe in Prophet 451 Jan 2014 #57

I don't know that you meant it to be, but I found this post highly entertaining. cbayer Jan 2014 #72

LOL, thank you n/t Prophet 451 Jan 2014 #74

Brilliant! Starboard Tack Jan 2014 #94

Will you describe Lucifer, please? Mariana Jul 2014 #96

Hmmm Prophet 451 Jul 2014 #97

Thank you. Mariana Jul 2014 #98

You're very welcome n/t Prophet 451 Jul 2014 #308

Nonexistent. MineralMan Jan 2014 #71

I believe in the God who says "If you really want to worship me, then love your neighbor" struggle4progress Jan 2014 #75

Does believing in that god mean you actually have to do it? n/t trotsky Jan 2014 #76

No, it just means I have to try very seriously to do it: if I fall short now and then -- struggle4progress Jan 2014 #77

So basically, you could be a total ass and it's ok? trotsky Jan 2014 #82

Or, since Christianity is not your religion, perhaps I would do better to ignore struggle4progress Jan 2014 #83

Oh, I apologize. trotsky Jan 2014 #84

Maybe you should just give it a rest struggle4progress Jan 2014 #85

Again, I apologize. trotsky Jan 2014 #86

if you used hydroflouric acid johnnypneumatic Jul 2014 #192

Not short of cash n/t Fumesucker Jan 2014 #89

??? edhopper Jan 2014 #90

A line from a U2 song Fumesucker Jan 2014 #92

Oh edhopper Jan 2014 #93

I don't believe in the God I was raised with. No way could God be all good AND all powerful. raccoon Jan 2014 #95

At first I though you had the temerity to repost this piece of disingenuous horse manure, cbayer Jul 2014 #99

Not disingenuous at all edhopper Jul 2014 #100

I constantly tell people that they are not commenting on the god people actually believe in? cbayer Jul 2014 #102

Untrue. AtheistCrusader Jul 2014 #107

Good for you! Notches in your belt, I suppose. cbayer Jul 2014 #112

He thinks so. AtheistCrusader Jul 2014 #114

I am sure he does. Best of luck to both of you in your future crusades. cbayer Jul 2014 #115

Thank you for your condescension AtheistCrusader Jul 2014 #116

You are most welcome. cbayer Jul 2014 #117

How dare you show someone he was wrong about something edhopper Jul 2014 #118

Just trying to 'make the world a better place'. AtheistCrusader Jul 2014 #119

But you think people giving up their beliefs edhopper Jul 2014 #120

The reason I found that sarcastic response so annoying is, it takes a very honest person to be willi AtheistCrusader Jul 2014 #121

See it for what it is edhopper Jul 2014 #122

Are you calling my response an incoherent attack on rationality and progress? cbayer Jul 2014 #127

Since you have half the room on ignore skepticscott Jul 2014 #128

That's ok, you have the other half on ignore. rug Jul 2014 #177

Okay edhopper Jul 2014 #131

"When I have the opportunity to help someone find and evaluate the truth on their own" cbayer Jul 2014 #126

Actually, it was the truth, based on peer reviewed archeological findings and geology. AtheistCrusader Jul 2014 #145

Oh, I don't doubt that. It was the "completely unwound his faith" that I passed judgement on. cbayer Jul 2014 #168

But he did that, not me. AtheistCrusader Jul 2014 #190

See, here is the difference. cbayer Jul 2014 #125

Oh, so when you called creationists skepticscott Jul 2014 #129

LOLOLOL trotsky Jul 2014 #130

Any belief about edhopper Jul 2014 #132

I didn't condemn him, I sarcastically congratulated him. cbayer Jul 2014 #133

Bullshit edhopper Jul 2014 #135

Yes, it was. I don't think much of evangelizing whether it is to convert or deconvert. cbayer Jul 2014 #137

You asked me to respond edhopper Jul 2014 #139

I understand the game, edhopper. cbayer Jul 2014 #164

But I didn't do that. You inferred or invented that. AtheistCrusader Jul 2014 #191

And we disagree about that edhopper Jul 2014 #226

"You seem to be always looking for the wrong in what I say." AtheistCrusader Jul 2014 #153

Not sure what that means exactly, but I am going to assume it means that cbayer Jul 2014 #165

I'm referring to the assumptions you make about how I AtheistCrusader Jul 2014 #181

Really? Well that's nice. Ignorance of one of the effects I illustrated for him AtheistCrusader Jul 2014 #151

What? Perhaps I misread your comment, but it seemed pretty clear to me that you cbayer Jul 2014 #166

You might want to read what I said again, because I said nothing of the sort. AtheistCrusader Jul 2014 #186

You have such a narrow view of what is possible. AtheistCrusader Jul 2014 #148

Flimsy and brittle really works to the advantage of the evangelizing crusader. cbayer Jul 2014 #167

Really? I find most believers are pretty confident in their faith. AtheistCrusader Jul 2014 #188

For some reason, this one is scared to death skepticscott Jul 2014 #218

"disingenuous horse manure" trotsky Jul 2014 #101

This message was self-deleted by its author cleanhippie Jul 2014 #123

I believe in a creator who doesn't take an active, interventionist role in our lives. riqster Jul 2014 #103

Did your God create the Universe? edhopper Jul 2014 #104

Good question, and of course no one really knows. riqster Jul 2014 #106

Thanks for the reply edhopper Jul 2014 #108

Quite true. Religion and philosophy have a lot of touchpoints. riqster Jul 2014 #109

The collective consciousness of all living things CanonRay Jul 2014 #105

So you see consciousness edhopper Jul 2014 #113

Yes, there is a connection between all life CanonRay Jul 2014 #124

So did God arise edhopper Jul 2014 #134

"God' isn't a separate entity CanonRay Jul 2014 #138

You explained fine edhopper Jul 2014 #140

I will say I believe in a loving God of wonder and might. hrmjustin Jul 2014 #136

But he has edhopper Jul 2014 #141

Yes. hrmjustin Jul 2014 #142

And can he do so now? edhopper Jul 2014 #143

People's prayers are a conversation with God and is always worthwhile. hrmjustin Jul 2014 #144

I am not trying to trap you edhopper Jul 2014 #146

I do not limit his powers but from watching things I just don't think he decides things. hrmjustin Jul 2014 #147

I see edhopper Jul 2014 #149

Adequate to believe? hrmjustin Jul 2014 #150

Adequate edhopper Jul 2014 #152

Well I can't help you there. You either believe it or you don't. hrmjustin Jul 2014 #154

Yes edhopper Jul 2014 #155

Do you never ask yourself this question? cleanhippie Jul 2014 #156

Yes I ask myself this question. hrmjustin Jul 2014 #157

So you come to no conclusion at all? cleanhippie Jul 2014 #158

Life is ver complicated as is belief. hrmjustin Jul 2014 #159

I didn't ask if you know, I asked if you came to a conclusion. cleanhippie Jul 2014 #160

My conclusion is it is unlikely God decides what events taks shape in the world. hrmjustin Jul 2014 #161

Were your beliefs shown to be true, I would find them depressingly sad. cleanhippie Jul 2014 #162

What are you personal beliefs if I might ask? hrmjustin Jul 2014 #163

What are my personal beliefs about what? cleanhippie Jul 2014 #169

God amd life after death. hrmjustin Jul 2014 #170

I don't believe in the commonly held concept of "god" or an "afterlife". cleanhippie Jul 2014 #172

Do you think there is no more atter death or it is a wait and see thing? hrmjustin Jul 2014 #173

I've seen nothing even remotely convincing that would support the idea of an "afterlife". cleanhippie Jul 2014 #174

Thank you. hrmjustin Jul 2014 #175

Do you have an uncommonly held concept of god or an afterlife? rug Jul 2014 #178

No. I was an effort to be specific to the topic at hand. cleanhippie Jul 2014 #180

Perhaps you missed this part of my question. cleanhippie Jul 2014 #182

It is very hard to. hrmjustin Jul 2014 #183

So how do you reconcile that? cleanhippie Jul 2014 #184

Christ tells us God is love. I take him at his word. hrmjustin Jul 2014 #185

How is such suffering considered "love"? cleanhippie Jul 2014 #187

It is a contridiction. hrmjustin Jul 2014 #189

So what makes such an entity that allows or is powerless to stop suffering worthy of worship? cleanhippie Jul 2014 #193

Required? I don't think God requires us to bow down to him. hrmjustin Jul 2014 #194

Isn't believing in and worshiping god required to get into heaven? cleanhippie Jul 2014 #195

Depends on who you ask. hrmjustin Jul 2014 #196

Are you denying that a basic tenet of your faith is the requirement to believe and worship your god? cleanhippie Jul 2014 #197

It is how you interpet it. I personally don't believe in hell and think most if not all make it to hrmjustin Jul 2014 #198

Aside from that, why would such a god be worthy of our worship and devotion? cleanhippie Jul 2014 #199

Interesting qeuestion. hrmjustin Jul 2014 #200

What do you mean by "strength of spirit"? cleanhippie Jul 2014 #201

I pray to God to give me inner strength or to help me find my inner strength. hrmjustin Jul 2014 #202

Inner strength to do what? cleanhippie Jul 2014 #203

Strength to get through life. hrmjustin Jul 2014 #204

Do you always get it when you pray for it? cleanhippie Jul 2014 #205

Usually I feel it. hrmjustin Jul 2014 #206

Is it possible that your "inner strength" is always there and is not something to be given cleanhippie Jul 2014 #207

Of course. If there is no God and I am talking to myself then I am calling on my inner strength. hrmjustin Jul 2014 #208

Has there ever been a time when you didn't get this "inner strength"? cleanhippie Jul 2014 #209

I woukd say my sekf doubts take over. hrmjustin Jul 2014 #210

So self doubt is lack of inner strength? cleanhippie Jul 2014 #211

I would say just because I find my inner strength with the help of God does not mean my hrmjustin Jul 2014 #212

I was just using your example. Can you better explain a time when you failed to find your inner cleanhippie Jul 2014 #213

Off hand I can't think of one now. hrmjustin Jul 2014 #214

To use the example of your mother and her surgeons that you gave.. cleanhippie Jul 2014 #215

Yes but things going badly is not Gods fault. hrmjustin Jul 2014 #216

Or a lack of inner strength? cleanhippie Jul 2014 #217

Remember that I believe people make things happen. hrmjustin Jul 2014 #219

Then why pray for assistance from your god? cleanhippie Jul 2014 #220

Because it is a personal relationship with God. hrmjustin Jul 2014 #221

But if it has no tangible effect on reality, it's not necessary, right? cleanhippie Jul 2014 #222

In my opinion it is not required. hrmjustin Jul 2014 #223

So help me understand, after reviewing this conversation as a whole... cleanhippie Jul 2014 #224

My faith is my faith. If another considers it not rational that is their issue. hrmjustin Jul 2014 #225

Can we agree that there is a common definition of the word "rational"? cleanhippie Jul 2014 #227

I am sorry but I am not going to. hrmjustin Jul 2014 #228

Why not? We've been having a perfectly civil and productive conversation so far. cleanhippie Jul 2014 #230

We both know that I am not going to be able to do this. hrmjustin Jul 2014 #231

Being unable to is something I understand. cleanhippie Jul 2014 #232

I have at times said my faith is not necessarily logical. hrmjustin Jul 2014 #233

I appreciate that, but that's not what I asked you. cleanhippie Jul 2014 #234

As long as it is not being hurled as an insult then I have to say no. hrmjustin Jul 2014 #236

Does saying "your beliefs are irrational" meet that? cleanhippie Jul 2014 #238

I know you did not mean it as an insult. hrmjustin Jul 2014 #239

Can we agree then that by definition, these beliefs are irrational? cleanhippie Jul 2014 #240

We can agree that many believers and non-believers would say so. hrmjustin Jul 2014 #241

But I'm asking you, not anyone else. cleanhippie Jul 2014 #242

By definition no. hrmjustin Jul 2014 #243

But if you are unable to explain how these beliefs ARE rational... cleanhippie Jul 2014 #244

I am not saying you are wrong. hrmjustin Jul 2014 #245

Then what are you saying? cleanhippie Jul 2014 #247

I am saying it is a matter of opinion and opinions change. hrmjustin Jul 2014 #248

It's not a matter of opinion, it's a matter of definition. cleanhippie Jul 2014 #249

I am not disputing you. hrmjustin Jul 2014 #250

Then what are you doing? cleanhippie Jul 2014 #251

I do not have a definate opinion either way. I can certainly see your argument. hrmjustin Jul 2014 #255

What's the barrier causing you to not having an agreement on the definition of a word? cleanhippie Jul 2014 #257

because it is not as easy for me than it is for you. hrmjustin Jul 2014 #259

I urge you to consider the points made during this conversation cleanhippie Jul 2014 #311

Yes it is was a pleasant conversation and look foward to taking it up again. hrmjustin Jul 2014 #317

Thank you both for the civil and thoughtful discourse edhopper Jul 2014 #318

Your welcome my friend. hrmjustin Jul 2014 #319

Suffering reveals much more about humans than it does God. rug Jul 2014 #176

I agree. Real people facing real problems reveals more about reality than an ambiguous concept. cleanhippie Jul 2014 #179

You may agree but you do not understand. rug Jul 2014 #253

This is another post that deserves a rec all on its own. okasha Jul 2014 #261

So actively trying to minimize suffering edhopper Jul 2014 #263

Useless? that is insulting. hrmjustin Jul 2014 #267

Not meant for you justin edhopper Jul 2014 #275

oh ok. But that hour is not useless. hrmjustin Jul 2014 #276

You don't see it that way.No. edhopper Jul 2014 #278

Ok my apologies. I should have read the whole exchange. hrmjustin Jul 2014 #280

No problem edhopper Jul 2014 #283

No need to choose. okasha Jul 2014 #303

Why can't one discuss Epicurus edhopper Jul 2014 #304

No need to choose. okasha Jul 2014 #307

So why did you applaud and rec edhopper Jul 2014 #309

Wrong question. okasha Jul 2014 #320

You just contradicted edhopper Jul 2014 #321

Read more carefully. okasha Jul 2014 #322

If you want to interpret this as just a talking point about Epicurus: edhopper Jul 2014 #323

How do you do that? Do you first have to upaloopa Jul 2014 #171

This thread came about edhopper Jul 2014 #235

Goddess! atreides1 Jul 2014 #229

Do you think edhopper Jul 2014 #237

I don't believe in God. Maedhros Jul 2014 #246

I had to look up coterminous edhopper Jul 2014 #256

"Coterminous with" roughly means "encompassing". Maedhros Jul 2014 #268

I did look it up edhopper Jul 2014 #269

It's from the Upanishads, which predates Hinduism/Buddhism. Maedhros Jul 2014 #274

So you think there is more to reality than edhopper Jul 2014 #277

Not really. We are an inseparable part of the infinite universe. Maedhros Jul 2014 #284

Okay edhopper Jul 2014 #287

I have tried (and failed) to have an out-of-body experience. Maedhros Jul 2014 #296

Thanks edhopper Jul 2014 #298

I should add the qualification that I do not ascribe 100% to any given philosophy. Maedhros Jul 2014 #300

That is probably a good philosophy edhopper Jul 2014 #305

OK BlueJazz Jul 2014 #252

OK edhopper Jul 2014 #258

I left the message blank....same as my feelings. BlueJazz Jul 2014 #260

No feelings about God edhopper Jul 2014 #262

Mainly because I'm an atheist and I don't think about a God but.... BlueJazz Jul 2014 #266

So this thread wasn't meant for you edhopper Jul 2014 #272

An Angry Conservative White Man in the sky bluestateguy Jul 2014 #254

Me. You, him, them. That rock, that tree Erich Bloodaxe BSN Jul 2014 #264

The natural laws edhopper Jul 2014 #265

'supernatural' is just a way of saying 'I don't know'. Erich Bloodaxe BSN Jul 2014 #270

Thanks edhopper Jul 2014 #271

You could if you were a solipsist! ;) nt Erich Bloodaxe BSN Jul 2014 #273

I should say edhopper Jul 2014 #281

The God I believe in is not a human being but a force--a force that makes nature run Louisiana1976 Jul 2014 #279

A force beyond the physical and laws edhopper Jul 2014 #286

love think Jul 2014 #282

Love exists edhopper Jul 2014 #285

God is love and He or She is the river that the spirit of love flows from think Jul 2014 #290

So God is an entity of some sort? edhopper Jul 2014 #292

That is an impossible request.. Peacetrain Jul 2014 #289

I can get why you would reply that way edhopper Jul 2014 #293

Well good luck in your quest Peacetrain Jul 2014 #294

Thanks edhopper Jul 2014 #297

I'm an avowed non-cannibal. That doesn't mean I don't take an interest in the beliefs of cannibals. AtheistCrusader Jul 2014 #299

This knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain unto it. The Velveteen Ocelot Jul 2014 #301

The knowledge of who or what God is? edhopper Jul 2014 #310

Honestly, I haven't a clue. The Velveteen Ocelot Jul 2014 #312

Not to pin you down edhopper Jul 2014 #313

Agnostic, I guess. The Velveteen Ocelot Jul 2014 #314

Thanks edhopper Jul 2014 #315