none of you probably have quite the same idea of what god is, are we speaking of the dao, the god of abraham, brahma, the void
what do you think god is? a being seperate from the material and spiritual world?
is God what makes up the material and spiritual world?
what is your definition of God ?
2007-03-29 15:19:34 · 13 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
does defining God or feeling you know what is cause expectations in how you feel God should " act " ?
2007-03-29 15:23:58 · update #1
some of you have gievn names, but i was looking for definitions, please add detail
2007-03-29 15:26:15 · update #2
We would have to stipulate a working definition, and that would involve a long and arduous discussion. However, I'll contribute my views, and anyone is welcome to comment.
I believe that there is a spiritual component to human life and that it reaches all of us. In that sense I agree with John Donne's idea that "no man is an island." I think that because we are limited to operating, each of us within his own mind, we cannot comprehend the spiritual link that extends to all of humanity. Shall we call it "One Mind" or the "Oversoul?"
In any case, because this spiritual component touches each of us, we are each aware of it. We have had, perhaps, an experience of it arising from mediation or prayer or even stress. We take that experience and try to define it, as a means of lessening the anxiety of dealing with the unknowable, and of comprehending the experience in such a way that we can communicate it to others. We use ritual and metaphor to describe the indescribable and dogma to limit the illimitable.
We end by surrounding the spiritual experience with an encrustration of catechism and orthodoxy, suffocating the spirit and leaving the husk behind.
We then elevate that husk to a position of reverence and call it our religion. We suspect deep in our hearts that we have not quite got a grasp of the spritual, but we do have our beliefs and we invest ourselves in them to the point that when we encounter other beliefs we become hostile and defensive because we are reminded that we may not be right.
I have reached the point at which I believe that which we call God cannot be contained by religion.
2007-03-29 15:31:36 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
We can never truly define God because to do so would be to put God in a box, and to make God in our own image. God is far more than we can ever imagine. We want to understand, but we can never understand. God is so far above us mentally that it is like a dog or cat trying to understand the mind of Einstein. The Orthodox tell us that we can never know the essence of God, we can only know something of God by observing the energies of God. St. Anselm said it best when he said that "God is that of which nothing greater can be conceived"/
2007-03-29 15:29:12 · answer #2 · answered by tonks_op 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you, my friend have asked a question that is almost beyond answer. As every person sees god in a different light depending on upbringing, culture, religion, socio-economic status, etc, it is almost impossible to find a good definition of god which all could agree upon.
My definition of God is simply "That which is, was and ever shall be. Beginning of everything, and end of everything."
2007-03-29 15:26:42 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
We have no place putting God in a box. I have never thought, for one second, to put a definition on God. HE is, period. I have no problem discussing His word regardless of another person's 'definition' of God, as long as they believe His word. If not, what is there to discuss?
2007-03-29 15:30:50 · answer #4 · answered by howdigethere 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There is no universal definition of God. It varies from one faith to another,and in the final analysis in probably more a matter of understanding than definition,and unique to the individual.
2007-03-29 15:24:11 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
The one and Only True God, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob whose Son is Jesus the Christ and Messiah who gave us the Holy Spirit. There is only One true God.
2007-03-29 15:25:03 · answer #6 · answered by Jeancommunicates 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
There's only one God. He is the very definition of love. He is the Creator. He is and has always been and always will be.
2007-03-29 15:25:02 · answer #7 · answered by holly_c3 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My God doesn't have a 'definition' - by defining would result in limiting. And my God has no limits.
2007-03-29 15:25:22 · answer #8 · answered by P. K. 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The great, the all willing, the graciful, the merciful.
He made everything, and he can do everything. no one is compared to his power, and the merciful because he has givin us everything and if he wanted he can do anything in a blink your life will turn misrable.or die when ever he feels like it, he gave us this chanse to live to our own privledge. so thank god even is the worse moments in your life.
2007-03-29 15:27:48 · answer #9 · answered by Nahad 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That's the only reason we CAN have serious discussion about gods.....if everybody had exactly the same belief, there would be nothing to discuss.
May the FSM touch you with his noodly appendage.
2007-03-29 15:31:02 · answer #10 · answered by catrionn 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋