The Definition and Existence of God

[The Celtic Viking]

Definition of God: Is.

What? "Is"? I'm afraid I don't quite understand. What is "is"? Do you mean "is" as I just used it? If so, that doesn't seem to make sense. Explain.

Alternate Definition (Incorrect): Ineffable.

What? Are you saying that "god", whatever it is, is ineffable? Then that's not a definition. That's an excuse for not giving a definition.

No one has ever tried to define the Christian God as "rational" or "coherent", such a definition would require accurate and comprehensive information about Him.

I meant that the definition should be rational and coherent, not that the "god" (whatever it is) must be.

Simply put, I want to know what you mean when you say "god". If there is no definition for it, then the word means absolutely nothing.

[Lemur]

What? "Is"? I'm afraid I don't quite understand. What is "is"? Do you mean "is" as I just used it? If so, that doesn't seem to make sense. Explain.

As both Popeye and the Burning Bush said, "I am what I am and that's all whats I am."

[The Celtic Viking]

As both Popeye and the Burning Bush said, "I am what I am and that's all whats I am."

... but that still doesn't explain what "I" am. If I said that "Xrathla" exist, and you ask me what that is, and I respond that "it is what it is and that's all that it is", would that really make you any wiser?

[Philippus Flavius Homovallumus]

... but that still doesn't explain what "I" am. If I said that "Xrathla" exist, and you ask me what that is, and I respond that "it is what it is and that's all that it is", would that really make you any wiser?

Yep, you've got it exactly.

[The Celtic Viking]

So you have no definition of "god", then? So why, nay, how can you believe in it?

[Philippus Flavius Homovallumus]

So you have no definition of "god", then? So why, nay, how can you believe in it?

Well, I have no adaquate definition. I could sketch you an image of where he is Not or what he Does, but not of God himself.

Anyway, I challenge you to define me accurately, or even yourself.

[The Celtic Viking]

Well, I have no adaquate definition. I could sketch you an image of where he is Not or what he Does, but not of God himself.

If you don't have an adequate definition of "god", how can you believe it to exist?

You also seem to be saying that you don't know what "it" is, yet consistently refer to it as a "him". Why is that? How can you feel confident enough to say that something you don't know what it is is of the male gender? This, by the way, seem to say that you do have some definition of "god" in which being a "male" is a part of. Why don't you share that definition with me?

Anyway, I challenge you to define me accurately, or even yourself.

Red herring. The discussion is about finding a definition for the word "god", so either answer that or just admit that you can't.

[Lemur]

So you have no definition of "god", then? So why, nay, how can you believe in it?

Definitions are overrated, and much abused. How many philosophy students does it take to screw in a lightbulb? Well, first you have to define your terms ...

To quote my mother's brand of Christianity, in which I was raised but subsequently abandoned for a more traditional church: "All is infinite mind and its infinite manifestation, for God is all-in-all."

[Philippus Flavius Homovallumus]

What? "Is"? I'm afraid I don't quite understand. What is "is"? Do you mean "is" as I just used it? If so, that doesn't seem to make sense. Explain.

What? Are you saying that "god", whatever it is, is ineffable? Then that's not a definition. That's an excuse for not giving a definition.

I meant that the definition should be rational and coherent, not that the "god" (whatever it is) must be.

Simply put, I want to know what you mean when you say "god". If there is no definition for it, then the word means absolutely nothing.

Well, He IS, any human definition would be inaccurate, so there's no point. "rational" and "coherent" are two human concepts, to constrain God within them is therefore pointless.

It's rather like asking a painting to define its painter, except it really isn't. It's not like asking a child to define its parent, either.