The Definition and Existence of God

[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.

[Philippus Flavius Homovallumus]

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?

Well, He, tells me He is called "He", though He is also called "I am".

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

But I've already admitted I can't, and it's not a red herring.

[ajaxfetish]

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?

For what it's worth, gender is a linguistic concept not necessarily related to sex (though they've become all but inseparable in modern English). You could say the word 'god' is a masculine word, as the word 'goddess' is a feminine word. Then, if discussing 'god,' it is only natural to say 'him.'

Definitions are overrated, and much abused.

I do not see how you can make this claim. If we didn't use definitions for our words, how would communication work? If I don't define my words, then you can't understand what I'm saying. It would be as if I just randomly pressed the buttons on my keyboard: it wouldn't mean anything, and the whole post would be pointless.

Do you learn definitions for words before using them? Were you taught to speak your native language from a dictionary? People were communicating effectively in countless languages before anyone thought to start defining their terms. As far as I know, the first English dictionary that was more than a phrase book for foreigners was created in the 18th century. Is this when communication in English began?

Ajax

[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."