The Definition and Existence of God

[Jolt]

But what is God in the true sense of the word for people? What defines it?

IMO, God is a State of Mind. An opinion, a preference, an option. A moral code.

[Adrian II]

But who says we deserve better?

I do. Maybe I don't deserve better, maybe Dawkins is not a good man (I dont know him personally like you apparently do).

But my children deserve to live in a world without your petty, vindictive, pestilential paper god.

[Philippus Flavius Homovallumus]

I do. Maybe I don't deserve better, maybe Dawkins is not a good man (I dont know him personally like you apparently do).

But my children deserve to live in a world without your petty, vindictive, pestilential paper god.

To be honest, I don't think even Rhy actually likes his God, Adrian.

What about my infinitely merciful, benevolant, loving and compassionate God. Are your children better off without His as well?

[Adrian II]

What about my infinitely merciful, benevolant, loving and compassionate God. Are your children better off without His as well?

As long as he keeps his hands to himself.

But it is not the god of the bible you are talking about here. It is a god of your own choice and your own making. You make him up as you go really. In one post you state that a person can not know another person's substance, let alone god's substance. Yet in another post you discuss god's 'threefold substance' as if he had been your bowling partner for the last 25 years.

Arghh, millions of Napoleons

[Rhyfelwyr]

To be honest, I don't think even Rhy actually likes his God, Adrian.

What about my infinitely merciful, benevolant, loving and compassionate God. Are your children better off without His as well?

Nah he's a great guy. All I am saying is that temporal sufferings should not be used as an argument for God being nasty, when in fact all the harsh things throughout the OT are in some respect done for the good of the church. I'm not just talking about the slaying of the reprobate either. Even for those in covenant with God, look at their lives. Abraham, David, Moses, and most obviously Job; none of these guys had it easy, and yet their wordly sufferings were all in some way for their spiritual good.

As for your God being merficul, you don't even believe he died on the cross for our sins! You believe he only let Christ's human nature suffer in that respect.

[Philippus Flavius Homovallumus]

As long as he keeps his hands to himself.

But it is not the god of the bible you are talking about here. It is a god of your own choice and your own making. You make him up as you go really. In one post you state that a person can not know another person's substance, let alone god's substance. Yet in another post you discuss god's 'threefold substance' as if he had been your bowling partner for the last 25 years.

Arghh, millions of Napoleons

You still haven't asked why I support Trinitarian doctrine.

The "God of the Bible" is a complete non-entity, you have to sift the books to see the shape God leaves begind. I sift the Gospels, Rhy sifts the Prophets etc.

As for your God being merficul, you don't even believe he died on the cross for our sins! You believe he only let Christ's human nature suffer in that respect.

What I believe is that we are saved through His infinite mercy, as exemplified by His sacrifice, and that the message of forgiveness and repentance can only be conveyed through the suffering of a God and King for His people.

As I said, I don't seperate Christ's natures, but I make the distinction between how the should be percieved, and how He can be percieved in different contexts. Such as whether he speaks primarily as a Man or a God. This is exactly the same distinction as I make about myself, depending on whether I am speaking as a Clerk or a Christian.

[Rhyfelwyr]

In one post you state that a person can not know another person's substance, let alone god's substance. Yet in another post you discuss god's 'threefold substance' as if he had been your bowling partner for the last 25 years.

Knowledge of the particular manifestations of God are a different matter entirely from knowledge of what God actually is. For example, we can claim that the Godhead is present in Christ, without comprehending the substance of the Godhead any more than if it was not.

What I believe is that we are saved through His infinite mercy, as exemplified by His sacrifice, and that the message of forgiveness and repentance can only be conveyed through the suffering of a God and King for His people.

Ah, the substitutionary atonement debate. Well, most of Christendom is with me on this one at least.

[Hax]

I've seen the concept of suffering come up several times in this thread. If you suffer, why not try to end it?

[Adrian II]

For example, we can claim that the Godhead is present in Christ, without comprehending the substance of the Godhead any more than if it was not.

I refer the honourable member to the ghost in my backyard.

[Philippus Flavius Homovallumus]

I refer the honourable member to the ghost in my backyard.

Is this Ghost only in your backyard? If he is, how are we supposed to check if he exists or not.

[Banquo's Ghost]

Is this Ghost only in your backyard? If he is, how are we supposed to check if he exists or not.

I infract, therefore I am.

[Aemilius Paulus]

I've seen the concept of suffering come up several times in this thread. If you suffer, why not try to end it?

Hehe, Buddhism and you... This is not the time to recite the Four Noble Truths about Duhka, Hax. We are on the topic of Judeo-Christianity and Islam.

[Philippus Flavius Homovallumus]

I've seen the concept of suffering come up several times in this thread. If you suffer, why not try to end it?

Someone has to suffer, I'd rather it was me than anyone else. I am ashamed to say there are some people I am much more willing to suffer for than others.

I infract, therefore I am.

I thought you had your own, rather large, backyard?

[Hax]

Hehe, Buddhism and you... This is not the time to recite the Four Noble Truths about Duhka, Hax. We are on the topic of Judeo-Christianity and Islam.

IF AN ARROW STICKS FROM YOUR SIDE, DO NOT WORRY WHO MADE IT BUT SIMPLY PULL IT OUT

In any case, I thought about it. I think the big issue with Christianity that most people have is the fact that there is no room for anything else. People dislikes absolutism. Most need it, but they dislike it still.

[Philippus Flavius Homovallumus]

IF AN ARROW STICKS FROM YOUR SIDE, DO NOT WORRY WHO MADE IT BUT SIMPLY PULL IT OUT

In any case, I thought about it. I think the big issue with Christianity that most people have is the fact that there is no room for anything else. People dislikes absolutism. Most need it, but they dislike it still.

Well, that's why the Romans hated the Christians: Atheism, at the time I think it was unique to Judaism and Christianity.

[Furunculus]

we don't need to define god or decide the existence thereof, for the glorious EU is doing it for us:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worl...ining-God.html

At the same time, Brussels bureaucrats have funded a whole range of questionable projects including £93,000 on a puppet theatre, £1.4 million on a programme to "define God", more than £87,000 on a fake silkworm-breeding business and £750,000 on a crocodile zoo.

the only upside to this horrific story is that Britains EU indoctrination budget is being underspent, thank god!

Meanwhile in the "citizenship" section, which is defined as "fostering European culture, identity and diversity" as well as "promoting health, consumer and civil protection" Britain's total of 27.1 million euros was well down on France (73.8 million) and Italy (75.6 million) and dwarfed by Germany (217.8 million).