If God really DOES exist...?

Question

...then how can human beings ever really hope to understand him. If he created the universe, then he must exist outside of space and time - and that is completely beyond our comprehension, surely. Therefore his motivations must be too.

I know I'll be told that we "don't need to understand him" - but he evidently wants us to believe in him, according to the bible.

Before you all start shouting at me, this is a genuine question. I am agnostic, and have an open mind. I'm interested in what others, from both sides of the fence, think.

Invincible - try reading through again. The question is the first line??!!

I'm going to have to be a cow here - if you don't understand, please don't answer. There IS a question here, although it may be beyond some. Sorry, but that's true.

Answer 1

You actually sound more like a Gnostic than an agnostic - Gnostics believed that god existed, but was utterly incomprehensible to humans.

My take is that if there is a god who is undetectable, does not interact with the universe in any perceptible way, and created a universe that matched exactly what you would expect from a naturalistic explanation, then to what extent could s/he be said to exist at all?

Why bother even thinking about the implications of a heavily edited and badly translated collection of Bronze-age myths? As my namesake the Chevalier Laplace said when Napoleon asked him why his book on Astronomy did not mention god
"I have no need of that hypothesis"

Answer 2

First forget about the bible, that has been written by man so can't be trusted in full , bu this i mean man does has not translated it right, made up what he didn't understand.
God is everything, he is the universe, he is space, he is time, to understand him, you need more than to believe in him, you need to have faith in him.
Many blame him for all the things that go wrong, and say that if there was a God how could he let these things happen, well easy answer, and there's an old saying that goes, (you've made your own bed now lie in it), what this means is why should God sort out our problems, most of the things that happen to us, or our loved ones are man made problems.
For example a child is killed in a car crash, not God's fault, people get killed in wars, wars in the name of God, what rubbish, God does not want us killing each other, there not in his name, but man hiding his real motives behind the name of God.
God is not as difficult as you think to understand, have faith in him, and not the holy books written by man, and you will start to understand. My faith comes from God, and no one else, religion is man made, and if you take the time to study this man made religion, you will find the faults that man has made in books like the bible.

Love & Peace

Answer 3

It all boils down to Faith - if you do believe there is a God then you just have to accept it. I think that because man is the way he is then we will always question. God knows this because He made us which is why having faith is so difficult. I was brought up christain and have have my crisis of faith many times but I do believe that there is something beyond our comprehension and it does not matter what name you give it or what stories are created around it. I think every religion uses this 'something else' and worships it. I find it very calming sitting in church so that it is why I continue in my religion. Sorry I couln't help more - good luck! :)

Answer 4

Donna , I think the simple answer is ,we will never understand ! I believe in something , but can't tell you what or who that is . When you do think about religion and start asking questions you do wonder about how we did all get here . For every answer a "believer " gives you , a "non - believer " will counter it . I think in the end it is all down to the individual and what gets them through life
That was a bit profound for me , must have something to do with the butter on the bacon sarnie Bill xx

Answer 5

You are correct in saying that God is completely beyond our comprehension. It's impossible for the created to know the Creator, especially when the Creator is limitless and the created have finite minds.

God knows He is unknowable, that's why He sends His Messengers to us. We these Messengers, they are the liaison between mankind and God. We learn about God via the Messengers, without them we would not know God at all. That's why Jesus said that to know him is to know God. That's why God tells the Muslims to obey Allah because obeying His Prophet is the same as obeying Allah.

God has always given us a Messenger, He has never abandoned us. We've always had Messengers.

I wanna share with you something from Baha'i scripture about the existence of God. I hope it helps clear up some stuff for you.


PROOFS AND EVIDENCES OF THE EXISTENCE OF GOD

One of the proofs and demonstrations of the existence of God is the fact that man did not create himself: nay, his creator and designer is another than himself.

It is certain and indisputable that the creator of man is not like man because a powerless creature cannot create another being. The maker, the creator, has to possess all perfections in order that he may create.

Can the creation be perfect and the creator imperfect? Can a picture be a masterpiece and the painter imperfect in his art? For it is his art and his creation. Moreover, the picture cannot be like the painter; otherwise, the painting would have created itself. However perfect the picture may be, in comparison with the painter it is in the utmost degree of imperfection.

The contingent world is the source of imperfections: God is the origin of perfections. The imperfections of the contingent world are in themselves a proof of the perfections of God.

For example, when you look at man, you see that he is weak. This very weakness of the creature is a proof of the power of the Eternal Almighty One, because, if there were no power, weakness could not be imagined. Then the weakness of the creature is a proof of the power of God; for if there were no power, there could be no weakness; so from this weakness it becomes evident that there is power in the world. Again, in the contingent world there is poverty; then necessarily wealth exists, since poverty is apparent in the world. In the contingent world there is ignorance; necessarily knowledge exists, because ignorance is found; for if there were no knowledge, neither would there be ignorance. Ignorance is the nonexistence of knowledge, and if there were no existence, nonexistence could not be realized.

It is certain that the whole contingent world is subjected to a law and rule which it can never disobey; even man is forced to submit to death, to sleep and to other conditions -- that is to say, man in certain particulars is governed, and necessarily this state of being governed implies the existence of a governor. Because a characteristic of contingent beings is dependency, and this dependency is an essential necessity, therefore, there must be an independent being whose independence is essential.

In the same way it is understood from the man who is sick that there must be one who is in health; for if there were no health, his sickness could not be proved.

Therefore, it becomes evident that there is an Eternal Almighty One, Who is the possessor of all perfections, because unless He possessed all perfections He would be like His creation.

Throughout the world of existence it is the same; the smallest created thing proves that there is a creator. For instance, this piece of bread proves that it has a maker.

Praise be to God! the least change produced in the form of the smallest thing proves the existence of a creator: then can this great universe, which is endless, be self-created and come into existence from the action of matter and the elements? How self-evidently wrong is such a supposition!

These obvious arguments are adduced for weak souls; but if the inner perception be open, a hundred thousand clear proofs become visible. Thus, when man feels the indwelling spirit, he is in no need of arguments for its existence; but for those who are deprived of the bounty of the spirit, it is necessary to establish external arguments.

Answer 6

Donna, you've answered your own question.....(in part)....when you said that "human beings" could never really hope to understand. As long as we have these earthly, human bodies, we won't completely understand Him. This is where faith and trusting in Him come in. God ask us to believe through faith and to trust that His will, will be done in our lives.

If you're being honest, and are really seeking answers, then you need to talk with a local pastor about any questions you have. I'm not saying you have to attend any service, if you don't want to. But you can talk privately, and understand better in person than on yahoo answers. You can even have someone with you durring any discussions....so that you won't feel perssured. A good local pastor will understand and appreciate your searching for answers.

Answer 7

You are asking a question that cannot be answered by anyone alive today. I believe we are our own God and Devil.

Lots of things in the past were accredited to a supreme being until we learned differently, so what is different now ---nothing.

There is a tribe in Africa that worship aeroplanes, they have never seen an airport or aeroplane on the ground. Their religion is just as real to them as other religions. But like all religions it is based on lack of knowledge and superstition.

If you wish to believe in a Supreme being that is your prerogative but (after considerable research) I would not take any notice of what the Bible says, its not worth the paper its written on. There was no such place as Nazareth when Jesus was born?

There is an extremely good book available by Thomas Paine called The Age of Reason

Answer 8

God does exist, if you cannot see that everyday in the beauty of the world, like that of an exquisite flower or a waterfall in summer or the beauty of sunrise or sunset, then I really feel sorry for you.
God is not about being here and now, like a Priest you could visit!

God is not confined to one existence either, God is in everything natural and beautiful from a newborn baby to the bud of an acorn, he is the gift of life.
The Alpha and the Omega (The Beginning and the End).

God created man in his image, he is not confined to houses of worship and religious doctrine, biblical text which is man made, these are just teachings, a sort of path to put you on the right path to find your inner self, the existence of God is within you and all around you from the smallest thing to the people you love in your life.

All the answers you seek are in yourself, the true path to spirituality and eternal life which God gave to us to help us find our way, God also gave us freewill otherwise we would be just one giant ant farm for him to play with!

Here is something you should think about...

"The Kingdom of God is inside you and all around you, not in mansions of wood and stone. Split a piece of wood and I am there -- lift a stone and you will find me. These are the hidden sayings that the living Jesus spoke. Whoever discovers the meaning of these sayings shall not taste death."

Read the Gospel according to Thomas, the true words of Jesus Christ on his last night upon this earth.
The church (Vatican) has it locked away and regards it as heresy as they fear these teachings would bring down the church because it goes against everything the church teaches...

Answer 9

God demonstrates his existence through the testimony of people lives hes changed. If he was totally comprehendable then he'd be no greater than anybody else would he? cos anyone could be God if that was the case. He would also be dead by now if he wasnt eternal and what would be the point of following a dead man?!!!
email me if you want to know more (im a born again christian.......funnily enough!!)

Answer 10

OK I'm not going to shout at you, but i will tell you what i think. I lost faith in him the day he took my grandmother away, she died of cancer a week before my wedding, and she never drank or smoked in her life. I dont believe he created us or this earth because that would be magic and there is no such thing as magic. There is no such thing as the virgin Mary, because you have to have sex to have a baby.... Right? I also dont belive that he performs miracles, because the only miracle workers are the Doctors who save lives., brain surgeons and scientist who creates a cure. If god does these things then let him show us because right now i havent seen a dam thing yet. Its only because our heads have been filled with so much crap over the years, that others will believe what they are use to hearing. So that's my opinion, i know it is a strong one, but if others can tell me differently please be free.