What happens when the idea of god becomes diluted

[Az]

As some search for gods in this universe they alter their definitions of god to such a point that it becomes nearly meaningless. Yet they cannot abandon the idea of god.

I suspect it is because they feel a connectivity to things in this world and have learned to express this through feeling connected to god. Though their defintion of god may have eroded to nothingness their feelings of connectity still remain and they have no means to express this. Constrained by their language and semantics they apply the label god to that which they do not understand but seek to understand.

Semantics seem to create a great deal of trouble for us. We explore the same world but because we apply different labels to what we observe conflict arises. Thus two people that may believe nearly the same things can find themself at crossed swords over a mere word.

[davidinalameda]

1. I know that my definition of god has changed over the years

I was raised Catholic so for many years I had the Christian definition of god as the big guy sitting on the celestial throne

now I define myself as a polytheist with "god" being made up of many individual parts

I believe more in forces that surround us--if you want to call them gods, so be it

I think the use of the term god isn't quite correct, but with our limited grasp on the true nature of our environment, I guess that's all we can really use to describe what those forces are.

[Az]

2. Perhaps if we examine

Where our notion of god comes from and why we seek to place it on concepts we spy in the universe.

Let us say that I do not deny the observation there there are patterns within the universe. I do not apply direction or guidance to their paths. Instead I merely recognise them. Then we can proced to try to understand them. Instead of trying to place our own sense of identity on them we merely let them be what they are and discover their nature for ourselves.

[Maat]

3. That's very enlightened of you, Az.

Very intellectual. Interesting. I think I will have to think for awhile and absorb.

I don't see it as a weakness, though, recognizing the One-Energy, Human-Interconnectedness, or Spirit. Spirit is science, or made science. It is something wonderful for us to discover and model. Spirit is not threatened by that. It is our job to experience. Spirit experiences when we experience. I kind of think that's how it works.

[ixion]

4. this is actually a problem with any notion of purity

An object or entity has Quality only until you try and define what that Quality is, at which point the amount of quality decreases, and continues to do so the more you try to define it.

Think entropy. This is what happens with god.

Some orginates as an expression, event or idea. At that moment of origination, there is pure Quality. Over time, as the object becomes more highly defined, Quality decreases.

To be able to accurately define god without losing Quality would be to become that which is god. ;-)