When a theist claims that a god exists, one of the first questions atheists should ask is "what do you mean by 'god'?" Without understanding what the theist means, the atheist simply cannot evaluate the claim. By the same token, unless the theist is very clear about what he means, he cannot adequately explain and defend his beliefs.
Christian Conceptions of God: Can God be Judged?
When responding to various skeptical objections to theism, like the Argument from Evil, it's common for theists to insist that we cannot 'judge' God. Because God is so much greater than we are, it's inappropriate for us to try to use our puny human reason to evaluate whether God's actions or plans are good. Do theists understand the implications of this position, though?
What is God? Defining and Understanding the Alleged Nature of God
It might seem odd to list 'existence' as an attribute of God, but that's not actually the point here. Of course believers think that their god exists - what is at issue is how God exists. According to philosophical theism, God exists in a very special and unique way: God's existence is necessary rather than contingent
Importance of Defining God
When debating the existence of god, perhaps the most important step is the one that gets overlooked the most often, and by both atheists and theists: defining what is meant by the concept 'god.' You can't debate the existence of something unless everyone is clear what it is they are talking about; otherwise, people might be talking about completely different things
God Exists: Necessary & Self-Existent
It might seem odd to list "existence" as an attribute of God, but that's not actually the point here. Of course believers think that their god exists - what is at issue is how God exists. According to philosophical theism, God exists in a very special and unique way: God's existence is necessary rather than contingent
God is the Creator & Sustainer of Existence
A very common attribute of gods in religious traditions around the world is that of creation — our universe, our world, and indeed our very selves often owe their existence to creative acts of the gods. In the Western traditions of philosophical theism, the existence of everything is owed to a single creative act by a single perfect God
God is Worthy of Worship: Divine Perfection
There several divine attributes which receive a lot of attention, but there is none quite so important for traditional believers as the general principle of absolute perfection and the narrower implication that, therefore, God is worthy of our worship. These are the reason why the existence of God is the subject of so much debate.
God is Omnipotent: What does it mean to be all-powerful?
Omnipotence, sometimes known as being all-powerful, refers to God's ability to do absolutely anything God wants. This characteristic is usually treated as implied from God's characteristic as absolute creator. Unfortunately, the most absolute sense of omnipotent has been found to be incoherent.
God is Omniscient: What does it mean to be all-knowing?
Omniscience, also sometimes known as being all-knowing, refers to God's ability to know absolutely everything. This characteristic is usually treated as a consequence of one of two ways in which God exists: either because God exists outside of time, or because God exists as part of time. Unfortunately, the most absolute sense of omniscience has been found to be incoherent.
God is Omnibenevolent: What does it mean to be all-loving?
The concept of omnibenevolence stems from two basic ideas of God: that God is perfect and that God is morally good. Therefore, God must possess perfect goodness. Being perfectly good must entail being good in all ways at all times and towards all other beings - but there remain questions. First, what is the content of that goodness and second what is the relationship between that goodness and God?
God is a Person: Personal Relationships with God
For many people in Western religious traditions, the idea that God is a “person” is a necessary and fundamental part of their beliefs. Indeed, the very idea that God might not be a person is almost inconceivable for that would render them unable to adequately explain their religious history and their own religious experiences
God is Free: Constraint vs. Freedom
One attribute which does not receive a lot of individual attention, but which is commonly assumed when discussing other attributes, is the idea that God is absolutely and perfectly free. What this means is that there is a total absence of any constraints or force or limitations on God whenever God acts - for God, freedom is absolute.
God is Eternal: Timeless vs. Everlasting
God is commonly portrayed as being eternal; however, there is more than one way to understand the concept of "eternal." On the one hand, God may be thought of as "everlasting," which means that God has existed through all of time. On the other hand, God may be thought of as "timeless," which means that God exists outside of time, unconstrained by the process of cause and effect.
God is Provident & Sovereign: God Acting in Human History
Although not usually given much attention, one critical attribute of God for many believers is the idea that God is ‘provident,‘ which means that God acts in some fashion that requires God to become involved with humanity and causes the course of human history to be aligned with God's ultimate desires and purposes.
God is Incorporeal: Mind without Body?
It is commonly taken for granted that, when talking about God, we are discussing a being who has no body and is not in any way constructed from matter or energy - both of which are features of the "created universe" rather than the "uncreated God." This attribute of incorporeality should not be taken for granted, however, because it has important implications for other divine characteristics.
God is Immutable: Why can't God change?
Philosophical theism commonly ascribes to God the attribute of "immutable" - the idea that God cannot and does not change. Whatever God is like now is the way that God was for all of the past and the way God will be for all of the future. It doesn't matter what happens elsewhere, God always and inevitably remains the same. Why do people believe this? Does it make sense to say God cannot change?
God is Transcendent & Immanent
On the face of it, the characteristics of transcendence and immanence appear to be in conflict. A transcendent God is one who is beyond perception, independent of the universe, and wholly "other" when compared to us. An immanent God is one which exists within - within us, within the universe, etc. - and, hence, very much a part of our existence. How can these qualities exist simultaneously
2007-05-27 02:12:09
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answer #1
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answered by nidhin 3
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God is energy, both a mother and a father. I don't know. God is what ever you want, what gives you the energy to push forward in this life, god is the idea of hope that there is something better when we die. God is the word we use to explain the unexplained.
What do you think god is? What does that word mean to you? What do you call god?
2007-05-26 15:06:48
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answer #2
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answered by maggie77 3
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The Infinite Consciousness.
Namaste
2007-05-26 05:13:41
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answer #3
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answered by cudala 2
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Which god do you mean? YHWH the deity of Moses is a Hebrew patriarch. Shiva the Hindu god of destruction has 8 arms. Odin the god of the ikings is a white-haired man with one eye. All gods are imaginary, so each person has his own idea about them.
2007-05-26 03:44:52
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answer #4
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answered by miyuki & kyojin 7
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GOD is the father or mother of the world. he is the only one whom u can trust easily. he is bigger than ur parents also.u can demand any thing from him just have faith on him. he is the only one who feel cry when u cry and he count ur all the tears also.he is the only person who wait with u when u feel bored and ur friends r too busy even for a phone call. he is the only one who is ur side when u confused and tried everything u dont know where too turn.
2007-05-26 04:44:22
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answer #5
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answered by ANKS(aakansha) 1
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he is the fictional person made up by the romans to give hope to poor and tough lived people. There is no REAL fact that there ever was an almighty god, but there is evidence of a real jesus, who was not mighty but led the people to believe he was.
2007-05-29 12:25:19
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answer #6
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answered by kittykat887332 1
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i don't understand how lots of the stotras & the sahasrnaams in Hindu prayers you're familiar with. i began out with the recitation of Vishnu Sahasranaam (one thousand names of Vishnu), & then I examine the Lalita Sahsranaam, & as I examine the Lakshmi sahasranaam, & the Sahasra naams & Ashtottar shat naam (108 names), etc. of the countless deities like Ganesh, Raam, Krshn, hanuman, Shiv, Kaali Maa, Durga, & so on & so forth, from the countless areas of India, like Bengal, Maharashtra, Tamilnadu, & each and every of the variuos places, one element grew to grow to be sparkling. each and every call is unquestionably the define of one characteristic. And each and every of the names in each and every of the sahsranaams, I advise the characteristic, meant a similar element. just to declare that the language would not have the words to describe or define what's spoke of as "god." It would not be counted what deity we take, the names advise a similar, so it appears that evidently that it is a similar potential it fairly is being defined by countless human beings as in line with their concept & information of it.we don't see this in the different faith. as some distance because of the fact the renowned historians are worried, they don't look to be approximately historic past. they're employing whiteout to falsify the learning with the particular objective of discrediting the Sanatan Dharm with the intention to make themselves look extra helpful, variety of like attempting to let us know that we don't need the sunlight, as that motives cancer whilst their bulbs are extra helpful, & that cocacola is extra helpful than water for water motives disease. they're extra approximately making extra money for themselves. & occupying extra land for themselves. How else can the burial of the ineffective be justified on a planet that has one among those small section for a great variety of human beings, the place the "actual materials" is at a top rate?
2016-10-08 03:51:48
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answer #7
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answered by ? 4
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God is... God.
He is what u think He is. another person's image of god is hardly imortant, it just helps people to focus on something when dey meditate. or if they'r afraid.
don be influencd. if u think ur mother is closest to god, u can think of god AS her.get what i mean?
sorry dats a question.
2007-05-28 02:20:17
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answer #8
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answered by Aniruddh B 1
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a fictional creature made up by humans to give them hope
2007-05-26 07:55:42
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answer #9
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answered by Morganna 5
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Everything
2007-05-27 20:45:59
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answer #10
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answered by Anonymous
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