for those who don't believe in "God"?

Question

i totally respect your POV, but i really want to know-

isn't it really the specific religious definition(s) of god that offends your intelligence?

what do you think about this definition?

"God" is the Process of Life being Life...the Energy that cannot be destroyed but can only change form, the Intelligence behind the Process of Evolution itself, the State of Being

perspective is everything

words are powerful, but also can carry so many different meanings to then render them meaningless

all interesting answers so far- what i see from them is that there is something to the idea that a greater intelligence is seperate from you (us)- and that the ego can't stand this thought. to consider the possibility that there is a heirarchy of consciousness, or something above and beyond our comprehension, something that doesn't fit into the limited mind, your ego simply won't allow

to deify something- to some it would mean to put yourself down as a lowly human under a higher beings rule

to others it would mean to lift yourself up, to see the divinity within, and within all other beings...to ascend

Answer 1

When you said: "all interesting answers so far- what i see from them is that there is something to the idea that a greater intelligence is seperate from you (us)- and that the ego can't stand this thought. to consider the possibility that there is a heirarchy of consciousness, or something above and beyond our comprehension, something that doesn't fit into the limited mind, your ego simply won't allow" - I think you hit the nail on the head.

When confronted with the dilemma of creation or evolution, many who defend evolution tend to say "well, it sure beats the alternative". - The idea of not being in control of our own destiny sure scares the hell out of the separated ego, with its own life and kingdom to protect.



Did you every read "The Lazy Man's Guide to Enlightenment"...?

Answer 2

No sorry..!
Your "god" is a concept that has evolved over many thousands of years, and in the absence of knowledge about the natural world. There are also many other creation myths, some far more ancient than any christian based doctrine..

Today, the concept of god is used as a centralising poitical power base in places where there is no separation between the church and the state, for eg: the USA, and Iran, among others, where the ill informed and easily led are more easy for the state to control..

On a more local scale the concept of god embodies the fear of death, and is believed to offer eternal life when the doctrine is accepted as truth. This requires a huge amount of denial and ignorance in the modern and informed western world..!

You know it makes sense..!!

Answer 3

The thing is there is no intelligence behind the process of life or evolution. The evolutionary record show many, many more dead ends, failed lines of development, animal and plant types than exist today. Life is the consequence of carbon based chemistry. Given enough planets in the universe, that just happen through random chance to be the right distance from their star, enough raw material and sufficent water, life happens. Pure accidental random chance. We are here just because we happen to be on a planet that has many things going for it. No intelligent power made it so. Life on Earth will not last forever, either we will destroy it ourselves or one day in the distant future our star, the Sun, will grow too hot for life to survive and Earth will become a lifeless, hot dry rocky wasteland that will eventually be vaporised. When that happens, no one will even know we were ever here, neither will they care.

Answer 4

I think this definition is vague. If there is no life to comprehend this energy, would it still be a god? Is there intelligence in this process or is it just blind chance? Intelligence behind evolution? Evolution is about blind chance and not intelligence. This definition is a person's definition of God. What is God's definition of who He is? That is what we need to find out. We can't afford to make it up as we go, because if we are wrong, there could be a terrible price to pay.

Answer 5

It sounds nice, but it's not really helpful. There doesn't need to be an intelligence behind evolution, unless it is the sum of the laws of chemical reactions and other natural processes that shape evolutionary processes. As for God being "energy," of life or just in general, it's a definition that doesn't really go anywhere. If we accept the definition, then God exists, but what kind of God? It's not a God that really means anything.

And, actually, I do believe. In several gods, in fact. Actually, I believe in ALL of them, including the god of the Hebrews. I just don't think he's all that his PR makes him out to be. ;)

Answer 6

I feel many men and women effortlessly do not do sufficient studying (of some thing except the bible), or unbiased THINKING. Satanists and satan worshippers are Christians, in essence. Satan does not exist external of Christianity -- the satan is the Church's possess invention. Satanists simply flip Christianity the wrong way up -- they are nonetheless reacting to it. Wiccans and Pagans are honoring gods and energies which can be a long way older than the Christian god. They revere Nature. Nature is the nearest factor to Reality we will be able to ever recognise.

Answer 7

What offends my intelligence is the idea of god as an intelligence. An infinite intelligence with goals and a presence in time just like our own. What you described are patterns and processes, to call that god is just anthropromorphization. To see patterns and faces in the noise is our way. Don't confuse awe of scale with religious awe.

Answer 8

It's called energy not God by your definition. It could be the source for state of being. However , it's not a God by definition.

You should read more about Buddha's Abidhama where he explained Universe, Matter, and Mind,

Answer 9

I agree with you in that many people who are not church goers, or who call themselves agnostics/attests, are not necessarily rejecting God but rather the narrow-minded definitions applied to Him.

Gandhi said simply "God is Truth." Could any atheist find that idea offensive? That perhaps the "God" we are surrendering to is the Truth that all of us contain within, the Truth that guides all things?

"I worship God as Truth only. I have not yet found Him, but I am seeking after Him. I am prepared to sacrifice the things dearest to me in pursuit of this quest. Even if the sacrifice demanded my very life, I hope I may be prepared to give it."

Mohandas Gandhi

Answer 10

no, it's not the specific definition that gets me. i don't like your definition either simple because a) energy is energy, that's enough for me, i don't need to define it as a god to understand it, b) i dn't believe there is any intelligence behind evolution--it was a natural process that followed the laws of nature, and c) i don't see the "state" of being as anything supernatural or soemthing that needs defining. i just am, and that's good enough for me.

also, none of these things need an outside definition. they already are. even if they were "god," why bother labeling them as such?