The Definition and Existence of God

[Sigurd]

Adrian,

You do make a witty point in the comparison between religious experience and schizophrenia.
But do you really believe that every claimed religious experience is schizophrenic or a result of a mental disorder? That every religious person on this planet suffers from schizophrenia?

[Adrian II]

Adrian,

You do make a witty point in the comparison between religious experience and schizophrenia.
But do you really believe that every claimed religious experience is schizophrenic or a result of a mental disorder? That every religious person on this planet suffers from schizophrenia?

The cheap way out would be to say ´yes, all believers are mad´.

However, I think the similarity points to something else. In a way, the fact that schizophrenia is so widespread makes it normal. That changes the whole equation. A folie à deux is manageable, a folie à millions becomes a fact of life.

I tend to think that such widespread attitudes have or have had evolutionary or cognitive advantages that should not be dismissed out of hand. Religion may have served us well at certain stages and may still serve us well in certain situations, even if the supreme being around which it revolves is a figment of the imagination.

[Jolt]

Another question. "Why capitalize while you are speaking about God? Its something so absurd, as if such a God as the Christian Church proposes he exists would enjoy such a vain idolatration.

EDIT: As for the definition I agree with the most for god is "God is a State of Mind"

[Rhyfelwyr]

Another question. "Why capitalize while you are speaking about God? Its something so absurd, as if such a God as the Christian Church proposes he exists would enjoy such a vain idolatration.

I'm not sure, but I heard it's one of the quirks of the English language. Back in more superstitious times it was supposed to reverence God by referring to "Him" rather than "him", and so even when people became less religious it was still the correct use of the language to do so. At least that's what some people say, I'm not sure if that's correct. I find it's helpful anyway, since if you're writing a long sentence about God and another person, you can say "Him" and they'll know you are referring to God without having to mention His name again.

[Beskar]

Because you capitalise a name. That is why it is capitalised. Since the name "God" came applied to their god.. it becomes a name, therefore capitalised.

[Jolt]

Because you capitalise a name. That is why it is capitalised. Since the name "God" came applied to their god.. it becomes a name, therefore capitalised.

Sure you capitalize a name. You don't capitalize a "whatever its called in English".

Here's an example.

"There's Obama! I love >>him<<."
"There's God! I love >>Him<<."

Unless God's Full name is "God He Him His You Yourself Your". Of course, if that's the case, then all those Him's are just one of his many names, and that would make sense.

[Hax]

God is mostly used to denote the Judeo-Christian/Islamic God, as opposed to other gods.

[Jolt]

No I didn't mean the capitalization of "God" but of regular words like "Him" instead of "him".

[Aemilius Paulus]

God is mostly used to denote the Judeo-Christian/Islamic God, as opposed to other gods.

Yet more accurately, it is capitalised when you believe in what you are capitalising . If one does not believe in the deity they are writing about, then one would normally leave out the uppercase letter. Although some will do it out of respect, if they have it.

Ideally though, we are all (Jews, Christians, Muslims) supposed to believe in one, same god, as that is how it was (we all worship the same deity). Now certain people may argue otherwise, although just as many will insist the god is shared.