How is God different than an imaginary friend?

Question

I keep hearing about this "personal relationship with God" and "walking with Jesus" thing that everyone should have... how is that any different than an imaginary friend?

Hmmm... these answers don't seem to do it for me.

God is your friend? Check.
God is something you can't sense (can't see can't hear can't touch can't smell), therefore you IMAGINE that he's there? Check.

So how is God not your imaginary friend?

Answer 1

thanks for answering my question"Is God Really there?"
the website should help.
as for God... ur right he seems like a friend made up to help u when ur sad or alone but just like imaginary friends they should be given up.

Answer 2

There are solid reasons for any rational, intelligent person, to exercise his or her faith in God. An imaginary friend is self-defining. It is imaginary.

Don't fall into the trap of thinking that, only visible things real, and therefore all non-visible things are imaginary. That's not always the case. Besides, if that's why you wrote God off, because you can't see him, so he must be fake...you have demonstrated a logical fallacy called a "straw man argument" that goes something like this.

People believe in imaginary friend. People believe in God. Imaginary friends aren't real. Therefore God is not real.

This is a logical fallacy, and cannot be supported by rational thinkers.

Answer 3

Because billions of people all have, or have had, the same relationship with the same God.

A child's imaginary friend is only "known" by that one child, and it doesn't change his/her life to any measurable degree.

You wander around Europe for a while, visit the Louvre and look at hundreds of cathedrals -- listen to Beethoven, Bach, Brahms, Mozart, and Handel -- and tell me that the music, art, and architecture inspired by people's relationship and adoration for the Son of God could be matched by some little kid's imaginary playmate. Then get a ticket to Calcutta and visit Mother Teresa's mission, and see what people's love for the Lord has inspired them to do...

No child's imaginary friend has been worshipped by people around the world for more than 1900 years, altered the calendar for more than half the earth (everyone who calls this year 2007 AD, that is) and inspired the art, music, literature and architecture of much of the Western world.

That's how it's different.

BTW, not everyone has the "feeling" component of the "walking with Jesus" thing. I've been a Christian 28 years, and I've almost never had that particular experience. I think it's actually kind of a right-brain experience. Not all of us experience that, though I know some people who do. I love Jesus and have a personal relationship with him; I would die for my faith in Him, but I don't have the "feeling" of Him being always with me or anything like that. I guess I'm just too left-brained to have that experience, except on very rare occasions. In fact, there's a hymn called "In the Garden" (I think) that's all about that kind of feeling, and I really dislike the song because I can't relate to it at all. But it's OK -- subjective feelings aren't that big a deal... the fact that I can't subjectively "feel" His presence doesn't mean He isn't there.

EDIT/Addendum: I don't "imagine" that He's there... I KNOW He's there. Why? Because He has said that He is. Last I heard, nobody's imaginary friend inspired dozens of people to write books.

All kinds of things exist that we can't perceive with our physical senses. You can't see, hear, smell, touch, or taste love either, but we all know it exists. Same with hope, truth, time, and space. Non-physical (i.e., incorporeal) is not the same as non-existent.

Answer 4

well i would say that a relationship ie prayer and bible study with the creator of the universe, is quite different from an imaginary friend what you are trying to deduce is that God does not exsist if one truly believed that God did not exist and then carried on a "personal relationship " then there would be NO difference. . however i am of the persuasion that God does exist .. read this list of questions and tell me what you think please...Okay so whoever you are whether a believer in the creator of this world or a skeptic, hear me out, ask yourselves these simple questions and then be honest with yourself:
1.) Okay out of all the famous paintings out there which one is your favorite?
2.) were you there when the artist painted this masterpiece?
3.)If you weren't there do you believe that there was in fact someone who was the artist?
4.)the very building you are in, were you there during the building of it?
5.)if you weren't there do you believe in your heart that SOMEONE or many people built it?
6.) the car you drive with all of it's complexities, it's functions, it's luxuries, you can clearly see it has a purpose, do you think someone designed that car?
7)now, look around you at this planet called earth, look at the stars, look at the oceans tide, the animals, humans, can you see the clear purpose that they all have?
8)finally, ask yourself do you truly believe that this all just happened, that something exploded and made all this(last time i checked explosions are usually destructive)can you trully say in your heart of hearts, that there is no creator God?
9.)what are you running from?
10)are you absolutely sure that you are not just telling yourself there is no God so that you can live the way you want to without any guilt, or consequences?

Answer 5

Friends will fail you, but God will NEVER fail you! An imaginary friend can't show love to you. God's great desire is to pour His love out on you. An imaginary friend will remain in your head and never pursue a deeper relationship with you. God Never stops thinking about you! He continues to send people to you to tell you, " Oh, how He loves you. He paid a debt He did not owe so He could have a relationship with you." What is the difference? Agape love. Pure, unselfish, unconditional love. I, personally, would rather have Jesus than anything this world can afford.

Answer 6

Ive made a test, for any1 actually wondering if someone/something can be classified as an 'imaginary friend'

1.is there a 1000+ page Book that this person that u are wondering if they can be classified as an imaginary friend has written?
2.Is there world wide controversy over this person?
3.Do millions of people and events try to attack this person's existence?
4.do thousands of people believe in this same person?

Answer 7

1) God is actually real.
2) You don't need a belief in an imaginary friend to explain the existence of the universe, you do need God (which is why the invisible pink unicorn analogies are false analogies... in order to make them relevant, you'd have to provide something that could only be explained by the existence of invisible pink unicorns).
3) God can save you, an invisible friend cannot.

Answer 8

That is a great question. When you know God you have peace. He takes away your loniliness. You also can feel his presence. The holy spirit will fill your heart with love and hope where you physically feel it move through you. He speaks to you through signs, the word and other people. He performs miracles. He brings you revalation. He takes away your anxiety about life and death. He instills things in your heart that you know you have to do. He shows you what is right. He changes your heart to be more loving and compassionate. My 3rd grade imaginary friend Benyarna didn't ever do that.

Answer 9

God is real. I know that I didn't imagine Him because He is so much different than what I had previously thought He would be. Read your Bible, pray, worship, and go to a Bible-teaching and believing church to find out more. I would also think you would want a church where the people were friendly too. I know I would.

Answer 10

"For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind" 2 Timothy 1:7

An imaginary friend can't do this.And it certainly can't afford a sound mind.But rather a psychotic mind.