Is God completely independent?

Question

If he is a completely independent being nothing would affect him (prayers, humans, etc). If he is a dependant being he changes depending on what is affecting him.

Seems to me an independent God inherently could not exist, and a dependent God is no real God.

?

I'm confused. The word 'independent' means "not influenced or controlled by others".

So, if God is 'independent' he is not influenced by you, me or anyone else.

*sigh*

happymrzot, let me get out the sock puppets for you; An *independent* God cannot *inherently* exist because the *interpretation* of God is that he somehow cares about you.

Caring is not independence by definition.

Answer 1

There are no Gods.

Answer 2

God of the bible is independent of any thing . Because He answer prayer does not mean He is dependent on us . Its just like You as a Father in a way if your small child ask for something you determine if it is a good thing to do or not .
You may do it you may not that does not make you dependent on that child what you do through your own Independence make a decision to be responsible to care and love that child so hopefully when to child grows up they will have the same values you do , ( in a perfect scenario that is )

Answer 3

See, I think God is actually just the energy force that powers this existence. In that respect it is almost more like room service, the Concierge's Desk or the ships computer and replicators, as it were. You think things and they send it right up.

Unfortunately, it only brings what you think most (that's the part that people aren't reading in the manual). If you think and say "I can't afford that" more often than you think and say "I love my prosperous lifestyle" , "god" thinks the course is too easy for you and sends you more lack.

So, I would say God is independent, but here to nourish and to some extent, serve us (as our own parents are when we are children - hence the analogy), so his actions are dependent upon requests received and pre-determined plans made by each of us.

Peace!

PS - I just have to say "Oh Contrar!" to Lily above. There is more evidence that the Gods need us a lot more than we need them. Some say that it is belief itself that makes a god real and when belief and praise and worship end, so does the God. Life goes on pretty much the same here on earth, no matter what god is currently in charge (long before Jesus and our current lot), but they are nothing more than myths and legends without devout followers (like poor old Ra and others like him).

Answer 4

Bad Buddhist,
Independent has a lot of meanings:
1. Not governed by a foreign power; self-governing.
2. Free from the influence, guidance, or control of another or others; self-reliant: an independent mind.
3. Not determined or influenced by someone or something else; not contingent: a decision independent of the outcome of the study.
4. often Independent Affiliated with or loyal to no one political party or organization.
5. Not dependent on or affiliated with a larger or controlling entity: an independent food store; an independent film.
6.
1. Not relying on others for support, care, or funds; self-supporting.
2. Providing or being sufficient income to enable one to live without working: a person of independent means.
7. Mathematics.
1. Not dependent on other variables.
2. Of or relating to a system of equations no one of which can be derived from another equation in the system.
8. Independent Of or relating to the 17th-century English Independents.

But I see that you picked one meaning:
"The word 'independent' means "not influenced or controlled by others"."
So the second meaning I believe is closest.

The answer then is no. He is not independent in that way. He cares for those that trust Him.

Answer 5

How could something inherently not exist if it is independent?

You need to go back to Philosophy 100!

inherent

adjective
Forming an essential element, as arising from the basic structure of an individual: built-in, congenital, connatural, constitutional, elemental, inborn, inbred, indigenous, indwelling, ingrained, innate, intrinsic, native, natural.

God is defined as inherent!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


I am not pulling a string to make you write this crap and able to refute the poorly thought words you write. We are not dependent but still are communicating.


Just because you see a commercial you do not go buy kotex pads. Influence does not detemine action!

Answer 6

Good thought and not uncommon. I am going to answer your question to the best of my human capabilities but first I need to point something out. God is God....not a human like us (this could turn into a whole 'nother argument so let's chat about that later) so we need to be careful not to think he reacts like you or me. He is God for a reason....the same reason you or I are not God. So if God is God and different than the both of us, he can have different attributes that neither you or I possess.

God is all-knowing (He knows past, present, and future). We only know the past, experience the present, and hope for the future. The past, present, and future aren't chronological for Him like they are for us so that is why He can listen to our prayers and yet deal with our concept of the "future" accordingly.

I don't know how well I explained this but read C.S. Lewis' book "The Screwtape Letters"....you might like it and it explains this rather well! Good luck!

Answer 7

Is God completely independent? yes

Answer 8

God is as independent as HE wants to be, meaning he is our father and he has feelings of a father towards his children and he loves when they talk to him and tell him they love him! >>>Now that God also does not need us to exist, and if we ceased to exist it would not change the fact that he still is! Now if he ceased to exist , at that exact time we would cease to exist, because his body is holding the whole thing together!All life.....Now that is a real God! Seek and it will be given to you!

Answer 9

Yes, God is completely independent....
God have written all what we do before even Adam (Peace upon him), even before God created the universe...
God knows what you are going to do long long time ago before you are born...
God knows when you will made a sin, and when will you pray...
And every thing is known by him....
But, although God knew what you will choose, God give you the right to choose....
God is God, and we all have to lean on him, all we have is given by him, we have to ask him to give us, and thank him for everything we have....
Thanks God

Answer 10

I think your interpretation is questionable but God is independant..Yet independence does not infer apathy..how did you reach that conclusion?