At the end of the day, certain things are real and actual -- they exist in the physical world, they're there whether you want them to be or not, and they are experienced identically by everyone -- and some things are imaginary, and are never experienced outside the confines of your own brainpan. For example: no matter how much I'd like to be able to fly, and how much I feel I deserve to fly, good ol' real-and-actual Mr. Gravity is there like a cold shower, ruining my little daydream...
If your god is real and actual, you should be able to say things about him -- things that mean something, things that are verifiable by observation and testing and that can be observed equally by all without requiring any pre-assuming that he's real.
So...what can you say about YOUR god that's real and actual? And don't bother citing life or the universe as evidence -- without a guaranteed "god-free universe" to compare it to, the assertion is unverifiable and means nothing.
2006-08-16 03:29:55 · 18 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
There is no such thing as number in Nature. 'Five' and 'Seven' and 'More than I can count' are not things you can see in the world around you - numbers exist only inside your head.
This is even more true of transfinite numbers and compound numbers - but it is true enough even of the integers.
Perhaps people who believe in God don't believe because they think He is real the way a tree is real. Perhaps they believe He is real the way that 'the square root of minus two' is real. Nobody ever saw the square root of minus two, but if you don't believe in it the world makes a lot less sense.
And then again a tree will grow old and die; the square root of minus two will last forever.
2006-08-16 03:38:56 · answer #1 · answered by insincere 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
God is not in the same category of thought as gravity, I don't believe in a personal God, God is a concept with many resonances and is really irrelevant from a practical perspective. By a personal journey people simply mean that in order to know God it is necessary to know yourself. Where else would you start? Without changing our own programming how can we ever hope to see objectively? To me 'God' is a long way from where we are, although paradoxically we are all 'God' - we just don't realise it. Get to know yourself and see that we are all different but at the same time connected -we are all on the same 'journey' ultimately. The thing is that in reality there is nowhere to go, it's all right here right now and always has been.
2006-08-16 03:44:09 · answer #2 · answered by Mick H 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well, at the end of the day, there are certain things in your head, some there whether you want them there or not. As long as it's real to me, it's real enough and your perception matters not. I'm worried about my world here. It has to be a "personal journey" and you have to "decide for yourself" because no one else can experience it for you or put it in your head but you.
I don't believe in God, but your question seems a little silly. You're kind of questioning the whole point, which is faith and your own inner experiences. No one else's experience of religion really matters. Not everything in life has to be "out there".
The only person's opinion who really matters to me is me.
2006-08-16 03:42:58 · answer #3 · answered by Phoenix, Wise Guru 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You are correct, on all counts.
However I feel the "personal journey" allegory is an allusion to the fact that - although things may be "real and actual" our experience of them is deeply individual and personal.
A kiss may move the world for one of its participants but barely be noticed by the other. The kiss is real and actual, its meaningfulness is personal.
I do not defend a "real and actual" god. I merely wanted to explain how such a thought might have occured.
2006-08-16 04:10:38 · answer #4 · answered by Alexander Shannon 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My God is a personal God. He sent His Son, Jesus, to die for everyone. What kind of God would He be if He wasn't personal? One wouldn't feel that He wants a relationship with you. One would feel that they are just another face in the crowd. He made me individually different from anybody else so that He could love me differently. When you look at a sunset, you may feel and think something different than if I looked at it. In a similar fashion, God is personal to you according to what you are doing in life. If you could see Him plain as day as you are wanting, how would that require faith (Confident belief in the truth, value, or trustworthiness of a person, idea, or thing)? I see His work in my life... That's why I have faith and believe.
2006-08-16 03:41:13 · answer #5 · answered by notseenbutloved 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
God is personal BECAUSE there is-and there will never be-any real and actual, verifiable assertions. You have to decide for yourself because proof is not forthcoming...and there are no reasonable arguments for the existence of God.
I take it you need proof, so you don't believe. That is your personal choice.
The general reason people don't like Christians is because they insist they are right and try to tear down people who believe differently. You are in danger of developing that same mindset.
2006-08-16 08:13:33 · answer #6 · answered by limendoz 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
When you say "real and actual" you really mean material, do you not? God is not material.
Logic is a closed construct that has its own rules. Like a chess game. God is outside that construct.
Nothing can actually be "proved" within the construct, except our own perceptions, and even in that case, they are only verified by the rules.
So "real and actual" are only perceptions verified by rules within a closed finite system. You have blind faith in the rules.
Just like the Bible, get it?
2006-08-16 04:05:47 · answer #7 · answered by grdnoviz 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Religion is a personal journey because there is no "fact" when it comes to spirituality. At least no fact that we're fit to discover until death, if then. So, you have to search inside and find out what you believe because faith is all about belief. Those that sit and believe as they were taught to believe without putting any thought or effort into it are sad and lost.
What can I say about my God that's real and actual. Well, you're standing on her aren't you? You can feel her beneath your shoes? You breathe her air, swim in her waters... how much more real can you get?
2006-08-16 03:41:50 · answer #8 · answered by Phaylynn 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
No one can provide you with an answer to this I'm afraid---but that does not necessarily negate the reality of God. The 'proof' of God lies in the believer---God cannot be 'proven' to you if don't believe in God---plain and simple. It is the same as trying to prove that you 'love' someone---you could exhaust yourself with all of the external expressions that have been exercised and trusted by so many to be true 'proof' of love, but if the recipient of these expressions did not believe in your intent, does that unbelief prove that your love did not exist? Perhaps to that particular person---but to those around you, your love may appear as evident as a sunrise---and yet even they could not prove that you loved either---we simply cannot apply physical laws and measurements to intangible concepts yet---maybe we shouldn't be able to either...
2006-08-16 04:05:21 · answer #9 · answered by George A 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
there was a storm and a very religious man noticed the flooding, but had no fear because his god would save him. the water level got higher and he moved to the first floor, a boat came to take him away but he said ' it's ok my god will save me'. the flood continued and he was forced to the roof when a helicopter came and still the man refused. his faith was so strong.
anyway he died and when he went to heaven he asked god why he let him die? after all he was a strong believer.
god replied, ' my son i sent you a boat and a helicopter but still you chose not to be saved !'
that is how it works i'm afraid, you just have to follow what you believe.
2006-08-16 03:41:03 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋