The Definition of God

scumquat1 · 07-01-2007, 09:18 PM

Can someone define God for me? Is He/She/It some sort of being with a human form, or is God simply energy or perhaps consciousness without a body? Is God all powerful or is he governed in any way by the laws of nature and reality?

Given that there are so many believers on this forum, I'd appreciate one of you giving us a clear description of and definition of God. That would increase our understanding of the concept and might even bring a few more believers into the fold.

Sweet_Hitch-hiker · 07-01-2007, 09:34 PM

i personally dont believe God is any of those things, because those things can be easily defined and imagined by a human... no one really knows what God is except for the fact that he is God

Ari Shaffir · 07-01-2007, 10:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scumquat1

Can someone define God for me? Is He/She/It some sort of being with a human form, or is God simply energy or perhaps consciousness without a body? Is God all powerful or is he governed in any way by the laws of nature and reality?

Given that there are so many believers on this forum, I'd appreciate one of you giving us a clear description of and definition of God. That would increase our understanding of the concept and might even bring a few more believers into the fold.

I think pretty much every faith has a different understanding of what they think god is. I personally lean towards the "consciousness without a body"

Believer · 07-01-2007, 10:32 PM

God defines himself in Quran 112

In the Name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

Say: He is God, the One;

God, the Eternal, Absolute;

He begetteth not, nor is He begotten;

And there is none like unto Him.

of course there are more ways to describe him but i enjoy this explanation

Mps2216 · 07-02-2007, 12:02 AM

It'd seem to me that the instance you define God, he ceases to be "God". I only say this because when one defines something, he becomes quantified, and I don't think this omnipotent figure would be quantifiable. But perhaps that's just me, although I suppose this is one reason why don't believe in it/him/her/shim.

warbeak2099 · 07-02-2007, 12:24 AM

There is no one universal description of God. That's why there is Polytheism, Monotheism, Pantheist, Panentheism, Pandeism, Deism, etc.

Example:
https://www.pbnation.com/showthread.php?t=2245989

Adema3412 · 07-02-2007, 12:26 AM

God is Truth.

bannedbi slaughter · 07-02-2007, 01:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Adema3412

God is Truth.

naaaa. possibly "faith" but not truth.

*Blitzkreig* · 07-02-2007, 02:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ari Shaffir

I think pretty much every faith has a different understanding of what they think god is. I personally lean towards the "consciousness without a body"

I kind of agree with you. To me, it would seem impossible to put a face on God or give him some sort of wordly image.

Why is God always some old guy with a beard?

NEp8ntballer · 07-02-2007, 02:59 AM

are you talking about the abrahamic god, aka god with a capital G, or are you talking about a god in general. There is no real easy way to define a god, so I'll see what dictionary.com has to offer.

1. the one Supreme Being, the creator and ruler of the universe.
2. the Supreme Being considered with reference to a particular attribute: the God of Islam.
3. (lowercase) one of several deities, esp. a male deity, presiding over some portion of worldly affairs.
4. (often lowercase) a supreme being according to some particular conception: the god of mercy.
5. Christian Science. the Supreme Being, understood as Life, Truth, Love, Mind, Soul, Spirit, Principle.
6. (lowercase) an image of a deity; an idol.
7. (lowercase) any deified person or object.

NicoleW · 07-02-2007, 08:16 AM

For a little bit on the nature and attributes of God through the Catholic eye, take a peek at http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/06612a.htm

Here is an outline of what the article discusses:

I. As Known Through Natural Reason
A. Infinity of God
B. Unity or Unicity of God
C. Simplicity of God
D. Divine Personality
II. As Known Through Faith
A. Eternity
B. Immensity and Ubiquity, or Omnipresence
C. Immutability
D. The Divine Attributes
1. Divine Knowledge
2. The Divine Will
3. Intellect and Will (Providence, Predestination, and Reprobation)

DYE baller FOR life · 07-02-2007, 01:19 PM

i believe God is a man, only because of what is stated in Genesis, man created in Gods own image?
would make sense that God looked like a man.
but then again, no two men look exactly the same (twins look similar, none are 100% the same though)
so that poses a question as to what God looks like.
i personally don't think we will ever find out, even once you get to His judgment.
because (correct me if im wrong, nicely please) i believe it says somewhere in the Bible you cannot look upon Gods face?
or somthing along those lines.

Quote:

naaaa. possibly "faith" but not truth.

no one needs you're pointless input.
if you're going to state something like that, could you please rephrase yourself and show some respect?
like mabye "in my opinion"
instead of stating it as if it is a fact?
thanks...

Charles666 · 07-02-2007, 01:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by *Blitzkreig*

Why is God always some old guy with a beard?

Why is Jesus always some random Caucasian guy with long hair and a beard?

Mastermind26 · 07-02-2007, 01:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DYE baller FOR life

i believe God is a man, only because of what is stated in Genesis, man created in Gods own image?
would make sense that God looked like a man.

Your logic needs a little rethinking. If that were true then God would be both man and woman since verse 27 says:
So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.

The human body does not mechanically image God, as if God had a body. Rather, the whole human being, including the body, images God's attributes by ethical living in concrete settings. Humans are like God in that we are uniquely gifted intellectually (and in many other ways) so that we can relate to God and to each other as we live as stewards of the world God has given us to manage.

DYE baller FOR life · 07-02-2007, 01:43 PM

to both of you-
it's called an artists portrayal.

think before you post please.

and ask most people, Jesus was probably a dark middle eastern person, (no blonde hair blue eyed white guy, try brown hair brown eyed... brown guy... lol)
and he wouldn't have been a frail man, he was a carpentor, or the litteral translation was "laborer" or "someone who works with his hands"
so he would've had a good amount of muscle.

Mastermind26 · 07-02-2007, 01:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charles666

Why is Jesus always some random Caucasian guy with long hair and a beard?

IDK about the rest, but the beard part is correct. There are Bible passages that state that they plucked His beard before being crucified (while they tortured Him).

DYE baller FOR life · 07-02-2007, 01:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mastermind26

Your logic needs a little rethinking. If that were true then God would be both man and woman since verse 27 says:
So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.

The human body does not mechanically image God, as if God had a body. Rather, the whole human being, including the body, images God's attributes by ethical living in concrete settings. Humans are like God in that we are uniquely gifted intellectually (and in many other ways) so that we can relate to God and to each other as we live as stewards of the world God has given us to manage.

this is true, and you make a good point.
i guess it is just impossible to label God as a form of anything.
too magnificent.
hopfully once we reach Heaven many answers will be given according what we spend our entire lives wondering about.

DYE baller FOR life · 07-02-2007, 01:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mastermind26

IDK about the rest, but the beard part is correct. There are Bible passages that state that they plucked His beard before being crucified (while they tortured Him).

i believe that is true, but we just don't know how long of a beard, He can have a beard that is 1/6 of an inch, or He could have had a beard down to His shoulders, it's all speculation.

bannedbi slaughter · 07-02-2007, 02:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DYE baller FOR life

no one needs you're pointless input.
if you're going to state something like that, could you please rephrase yourself and show some respect?
like mabye "in my opinion"
instead of stating it as if it is a fact?
thanks...

he stated it as truth, and a gave a more open minded view. if a religion is based on faith then how can you call it truth? calling something truth, when all you have to stand on is faith is quite a bold thing to say.

Mastermind26 · 07-02-2007, 02:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DYE baller FOR life

i believe that is true, but we just don't know how long of a beard, He can have a beard that is 1/6 of an inch, or He could have had a beard down to His shoulders, it's all speculation.

Getting technical, it would have to be a beard long enough to grab, hold and use force to the point of pulling out flesh chunks.

IDK if that makes sense, but I doubt it was small beard. Still, it is not a matter that we should concerned with. The beard does not make the man, as it were.

DYE baller FOR life · 07-02-2007, 02:08 PM

yeah really.
i agree with you on that.

but about this thread-
does it really matter how they looked..?
seriously this isn't highschool.