What do you say to people that say this about the manifestations of god?

Question

I often tell people that everybody has a different list of characteristics and even personality traits for god.
The only way that a group of people can agree is putting them all in the same room and someone talking about it from a pulpit of authority.
Saying that god manifests himself in people's minds in different ways is pretty much the same as saying that he's a creation of the mind of individuals.

And they come back with "Manifesting itself in different ways is exactly what I would expect of god. It just shows how great he is."

It annoys mee to no end.
It's grabbing what I say and turning it around in a such a way that they end up 'winning'.
And I can tell that their objective is to 'win' when I talk with them.

What do you say to these people?

I Am an atheist.
I actually see myself as a pretty strong atheist.
It just doesn't make sense to me that a god does it when the most likely is that teh answer will be a process, or that the answer, we'll never have it.

But it isn't god.
God is nothing compared to what really is out there. teh explanations will be so much more intriguing and interesting than saying "......god....."
I just hate the innocent arrogance of these people.

Answer 1

Bye bye!

Answer 2

Heh that is a great way to avoid the issue.

The next question I would ask, is who gets to determine what is a manifestation and what is a delusion?

For instance, there are thousands of people around the world who believe that God has told them directly to kill others. Some of them may have mental issues, others are led to this belief by religious leaders, and still others are just finding texts in their holy books to justify the action.

Are these people experiencing manifestations of God's will?

The answer will be NO. That takes us back to the question. Who then, determines if a manifestation really is from God?

The answer will be, the Bible.

Next Question: Reading and diligent study of the bible has resulted in thousands of differing Christian denominations, who all disagree on Christian practice and doctrine. How can a normal person rely on the bible, when theologians disagree on what its meaning is?

Answer: God will reveal the truth in your heart.

That takes us right back to the first question, how do you determine it's God?

This usually helps them at least admit it is a circular argument.

Answer 3

Christ makes the wise to become fools.

1 John 4:2-4
Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God.
And every spirit that confesses not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof you have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. You are of God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world. They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world hears them. We are of God, he that is not of God hears not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.

We fight against these evil spirits inside people and not the people themselves.

As the hedge of protection is being lifted from the USA because we are forgetting God, then evil does increase and more and more fallen angels come down with their evil demonic spirits. In 1948, the Jews who had returned to Israel became a nation once again. This is a sign to the devil that his time is short and he is spreading his evil and doing all that he can to shatter the power of the holy people of God.

Oh, my friend, they don't win. They lose so horribly that all we can do is cry for them. Jesus said, "What does it profit a man to gain the whole world and lose his soul?" That man is lost for eternity.

Answer 4

God does have a character list. However it is only what the Bible tells us. Not what people make up.

God does remind us of His ways through the Holy Spirit who guides us. All of the ways that the Holy Spirit speaks to us must come from God's nature. That is He won't tell us to do something that is against God's teachings.

Example: When we pray for something, He wont answer that prayer if we are asking for Him to give us or do for us that is something that He has told us is wrong.

I would try to listen and understand what they mean.

Answer 5

Personal manifestation of any deity may be a profound experience for that individual but it is useless as proof. The reason for this is that all or most religions will have believers that have experienced manifestations of their deity, or spirit guide. Similarly, many people experience manifestations of various sorts: ghosts at night, high excitement at a concert or festival, etc.. None of these are any indication that something supernatural actually exists.

Answer 6

Couldn't it be that people have a hunger for meaning which is the commonality, but the things that they feel meet that need are all different, as people's personalities are different?

I don't think anyone can PROVE (or disprove) anything about this stuff to another person. It all boils down to what feels true to you. Why get upset about what people you don't care about believe?

Answer 7

Putting them in a room with an 'authority' won't get them to agree, but it may well get them to conform. There is a world of difference, and it is very important in analysing those who practice religion.

They argue from circular logic which is unassailable, even though it is wrong. Maybe the wikipedia article on circular logic will help you.

I could say that my answer being thumbed down PROVES that I am right, since people are responding out of hurt feelings, not disagreement. My premise cannot be disproved, since there is no evidence of why I am being thumbed down. This is an example of circular logic.

Answer 8

There's nothing you can say---people who believe will continue to believe, regardless of any argument you may offer, and they will always have a counter-argument. If they're going to lose their belief, it's an internal process the result of their own cognition.

Answer 9

God is so vast in his characteristics what would you expect?

The only thing they are trying to win is your soul for Jesus.

I would say to these people, I suppose you are right. Is that what annoys you? That they are right and you don't want to accept that so you make it into some kind of contest with a winning party and a losing party, it's not a contest nor a game.

Answer 10

I tell people that any attempts to define the personality of God are wrong-headed even before they start. Personality is a human trait - it is a mistake to think that something that isn't human has human characteristics.

Answer 11

If such a comeback leaves you speechless, then perhaps you are not ready to fully embrace the truth that is atheism. An atheist knows in his mind and his heart that God is a construct of man.

In my opinion you are merely agnostic. I do no recommend involving yourself in debates with religious zealots until you are firmer in your own personal belief structure.