Should god be extremely powerful by human standards though not omnipotent or omniscient, would he somehow not qualify as god?
Couldn't god have been someone who has the ability to create and direct the world aound us without the ability to absolutely dictate present and the future?
Why shouldn't god have his own follies, likes and dislikes, strength and weakness?
By boxing god into omnipotent and omniscient we make him into someone who couldn't care less about the insignificant us.
However a god who is less than omnipotent and omniscient could still be powerful enough to pervade and influence our lives and could be one that craves for us to love him and worship him and is benevolent to his believers and either malevolent or indifferent to his non-believers.
Such a god could have created the universe and may be directing it without completely controlling it.
What would be the problem in accepting such a god?
2006-09-21 08:05:00 · 5 answers · asked by Harry 3 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Philosophy
My question is not about making up our own god but accepting god for what he is (could be). By ascribing omnipotence and omniscience to god we are actually worshipping a god as we want him to be than worshipping god as he is.
2006-09-22 04:02:49 · update #1
Surprised to see a Hindu point of view that states "God is not subject to speculation or philosophizing". Far from it, Hindu scriptures call for intense philosophizing, bordering on speculation, about the various nature of god(s). You need to re-read your scriptures again.
2006-09-22 04:13:45 · update #2
Mono-theism shouldn't preclude a less than omnipotent god. God just needs to be the being that most influence the events of the universe. He should have the vision to direct the universe (much like a Emperor of the universe). He need not be the most strong or most knowledgeable but one that has the most say in how things should be done and enough minions to carry out his wishes.
2006-09-22 04:21:41 · update #3
The problem is with the concept of God itself. God is the supreme being (at least in monotheistic religions). Anything that is not perfect, omnipotent, omniscient, etc... no longer qualifies as God. It just becomes a powerful being.
That's because for monotheistic religions, God is also a moral principle. If He stops pervading all things, theologians are in trouble. They have to explain why this being, which is not the ultimate being, has the authority to rule over creation.
2006-09-21 13:41:58 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Perhaps you may prefer the word transcendent [Beyond and outside the ordinary range of human experience or understanding ] when discussing the Uncreated Creator. But, omnipotent [Having unlimited power ]and omniscient [Infinitely wise ] do not seem to be confining descriptions either.
Your Question
Couldn't god have been someone who has the ability to create and direct the world aound us without the ability to absolutely dictate present and the future?
There is one school that believes that certain immutable laws governing this planet were put into action and this god does not dictate present and the future but that we --- His creations are constanly affecting the out come of things on this planet. Directing-controlling the plan having been initiated does not require such interaction.
Your question
What would be the problem in accepting such a god?
The inhabitants of the planet seem to have difficulty accepting anything that is beyond their five senses - using the mind is a lost art.
2006-09-22 18:08:07 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
God is the not the creation of anyone's speculation or belief. If you don't know what God is, then why don't you find out? The material world is His energy and we are under the control of that energy. Therefore we are forced to take a material body that gives us so much misery and ultimately dies. Then we are forced to take birth again and suffer again in another life.
God is not subject to our speculation and philosophizing. He is the supreme master of all energy and we are His eternal servants. To be truly happy and have perfect knowledge we have to re-establish our forgotten relationship with the Lord in pure devotional service. Otherwise, without surrendering to the Lord, we can go on speculating and suffering in the material world for countless lives and never have the knowledge or happiness that we are always hankering for.
2006-09-21 10:34:07 · answer #3 · answered by Jagatkarta 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
That's such a good idea I can hardly believe it! Instead of believing or disbelieving in other people's God, we can each make up our own.
My God would actually be a totally nymphomaniacal Goddess. She would bestow her favors on those who made her up. Oh yes!
And holy wars would be on such a small scale if each person had their own religion. Not to mention that each of us would be tax exempt. Let us know how you do in setting all this up!
2006-09-21 08:18:53 · answer #4 · answered by beast 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
boy you think way too hard.
God feels like controlling us, so just let him do whatever the heck he wants, got it!
go and pull that stick out from up your butt!
2006-09-21 09:40:37 · answer #5 · answered by yourMOMcostsSEVENdollars 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋