Can you tell me about God without making reference to a holy book?

Question

Everyone is so annoyingly fond of their quotations. I want to hear gut feelings instead. Who is God and what's He all about?

Thank you Batman: I am in agreement that the complexity and abundance of Life shouts out there must be a Creator. Life is Art and surely cannot have happened by accident.

Thanks Chuckler but I feel it is actually more helpful to talk to others about how they relate to God. I have read much of The Bible but I do not find it an inspiration in itself...as much as anything because these were stories told to me as a child. I have become so much more cynical since that time and The Bible does not always seem to me paticularly applicable to modern day life.

Hari: I couldn't get my head around all of that but I did get something out of all that stuff about potential and kinetic energy and so on - relates to my GCSE Physics lessons, way back.

Sean F: The reality is that I was taught Christianity as a child and so use of these assumptions are second nature. However, I keep an open mind when listening to what others have to say.

Secondly, I am a man who is more at ease with men than women for the most part: thus my willingless to believe that the Creator is male and human in appearance. It is essential that I can relate to my maker. If others prefer to regard the image of their creator as something other than male & human, that would not bother me.

aff: That is what I wish to believe. I have no wish for a violent and destructive Creator and, truth to tell, is it not a contradiction in terms?

az grande: How can that be so when so many blinker themselves to the possibility of a God in the first place. How would a person see if they refused to look?

Hey Dave C: I guess I am sceptical when it comes to accepting that The Bible is in fact the word of God. So much of the time it seems to be used to mean whatever people want it to mean. So I believe that God is found more within people and within Life and so I prefer to consult these sources.

Thank you for an injection of humour Kara. I was Vegan myself at one time - and not a very tolerant one if it comes to it! Still, I had to look up chai. Slang word for a cup of tea in Yorkshire is "Char" so I'm guessing that is where it comes from.

This is it: I have felt this way but surely to admire art is to take an interest in the artist, even if only indirectly.

Andiwa: That was my first instance of turning against people - because I was turned on for wearing my gym shoes in class at primary school. Such a very pedantic thing to fuss about and I kind of hope that my Creator is not overly pedantic...

N.B: Discovered good "End Of World" book the other day: "Life as we knew it" by Susan Pfeiffer...my current reading.

I had to look up the word "Numinous" Deidre H and this is what Wikipaedia had to say on the subject:
In order to clarify the term in layman's language it may be viewed as "the intense feeling of unknowingly knowing that there is something which cannot be seen." And this knowing can "befall" or overcome a person at any time and in any place - in a cathedral; next to a silent stream; on a lonely road; early in the morning or in the face of a beautiful sunset.
Thanks for the education.

Prairie Crow and Deidre H: I am curious to know what you made of the film, "The Wicca Man"...recently remade with Nicholas Cage in lead role.

Sirimore: I liked that, paticularly last paragraph. It is chiefly in the Old Testament that you do seem to find these references to an angry and vengeful God and frankly, they are disturbing.

Thank you for taking the time to put that in your own words Buttercup. I was taught this story too when I was young.

I have a degree of scepticism regarding any source of information on God, Black Door, and I keep The Bible at arms length because I want to hear other opinions and not just the one I was raised with. Thank You.

Also, if I believe correctly, Jesus did not reject anyone from any background, no matter how much learned religious persons might despise them.

Thank you Preston V: I'm kind of hoping my housemate has a similar experience as he's currently owing me money too!

Answer 1

Okay. I get it. You don't want a book. So here's my gut feelings. As many times before, my life was in a turmoil but now it was worse. I was looking to buy a mobile home with my daughter and God guided us to choose one that was way older and in need of repair over a much newer one. We even had to take out a loan rather than a cheaper mortgage. Why? because our weary souls felt relief and calmness from views all around us which God had made so long ago (the other home didn't have the same views because of its position in the trailer court). In other words, we bought therapy. And we are willing to make any sacrifice to keep it. The mountains and sky in any season thrill us. No matter what the weather, day or night, we find beauty in them. Even the manner in which we obtained the trailer was a miracle since we had no downpayment, and both of us only had part time jobs. The bank said yes. Even when we go through trials, He is always with us to uphold us and leads us through them. If we are sick, it's usually our own fault, but when we ask Him to heal us the natural way, He guides us. If we have to make important decisions, He guides us there too, by opening and closing doors. So now, let me ask you - if you had such a friend, wouldn't you want to know all you can about this Friend? That's what the Book is all about. And the Book will tell you that God made everything for us out of His love for us. Fortunately, it also tells us what He is not. And since we are made in His image, the do's and don't's of that Book help me to be like Him - if I trust Him. That's all !!!

Answer 2

It is only reasonable that our loving Creator would provide a book of instruction and guidance for mankind.
And do you not agree that humans need guidance?
More than2,500 years ago, a prophet and historian wrote:"It does not belong to man who is walking even to direct his step." Today, the truthfulness of that statement is more evident than ever. Thus historian William H. McNeil notes"The human adventure on the face of this planet has been an almost uninterrupted series of crises and disruptions of society's established order."
The Bible fills our needs for wise direction. True, many are overwhelmed when they first look through the Bible. It is a big book, and some portions of it are not easy to understand. But if you were given a legal document outlining what you had to do in order to receive a valuable inheritance, would you not take the time to study it carefully? If you found certain parts of the document hard to understand, likely you would get the help of someone experienced in such matters. Why not approach the Bible with a similar attitude? More is at stake than a material inheritance, knowledge of God can lead to everlasting life in health and in happiness.After all it is a book from our Creator who put in it the necessary information about himself and his requirements in his book to guide us and help us to develop a lasting relationship with him, therefore, to get to know about God the best information will be the information from God himself will it not?

Answer 3

I always wonder the same thing. Is there a God? And if there is, what does he do? Did he create this world, and if he were to decide right now to destroy it, could he? Could God kill you just because you put on the wrong pair of shoes? Or is he the good guy, saving you from all the bad things the world throws at you. How could a man watch everyone, and still have the time to control people? Coming from me, an atheist trying to convert into something better, how can I even believe in God? How can a man I can not see be real? The truth is, nobody really knows who God is. Or maybe what he is. Or even what he isn't. And to tell you the truth, there is no way to find out. I'm not going to tell you to consult with a priest or a rabbi or anything like that. Whatever is in your heart is in your heart, and if you dont know what God is all about, then maybe hes about nothing at all.

Answer 4

I'd point at all the things happening in the world around you, then show you where it was in the bible. I know what it says, I know what signs are given, I know what I am seeing. Do you? The fact you are asking this question says that it is likely you do not. The question could be asked (and has been, just as the one you pose has been) "For any NON believer of ANY religion: How could you prove science is right on creation without using any scientific material, documents, or tools?" If they are not allowed to use the tools that helped them make the decision, how are you supposed to understand how they got it? The question is flawed from the start. If said proof was given to you, would you believe it or dismiss it? You would likely dismiss it because many who ask this question dont want to believe it in the first place. If you are honestly wanting an answer, you wouldn't try to exclude the source which they use. This takes us back to the flaw of the question. If you are not going to listen to the answers given to you, why pose the question in the first place? I would suggest you recheck your motives for asking it. If you would still like proof that God is real, I can give it to you if you would like, but you will be given bible verses to compare to real world events. You can have the proof, I offer it to you freely, the question is do you really want to see it and be shown it's true, or do you just want to continue on asking questions meant to antagonize and degrade someone who does not agree with you? If you really do want answers to your question, email me and I'll give you dozens.

Answer 5

God is the spirit being that created everything ever, who is not restricted by time or space, who is so awesome that he holds the universe in the palm of one hand, while at the same time, reaches into that universe, across all the galaxies he put into place, past all the planets in our tiny little solar system, down to this pee grain we call earth around all the nations we feel are so vast, to find YOU and come along side YOU and whisper in YOUR ear I LOVE YOU, even though he knows every thing, including the bad you have ever done or ever will do, all the while knowing exactly how many hairs are on your head AND how many grains of sand are on every sea shore on this earth! someone who loves you so much he would sacrifice everything so you could be with him!
AND how do I KNOW he loves YOU?
Because that`s what he brought me here for right now, to tell you!

Answer 6

To do that Catch, I have to take you back to when I was a toddler before I'd even heard of God or the Bible...

My mother was not at all religious, she did her duty to God she felt when she had me Christened. So all I can say to you is that I "felt" Him. I grew up talking to Him and singing songs for him...it wasn't until I got older that I fully understood the concept of God and even longer until I understood fully. But I knew I loved this "presence" and I could feel love back...It was a joy to me to discover the Bible...because then I could read and discover and learn all about not just one but Three in One and the significance of each. When I was old enough my mother let me choose my own faith and I went and tried many on. Listening to others views...which we can do all day every day and never learn one true thing. The fact is, we only have the Bible, purported to be His own true word as written by inspired men of God who wrote from historical happenings as well as visions and visitations by God Himself...and this is the only book that tell of God, Yahweh, and Jesus, Yashua, and the Holy Spirit and what He wants for our lives...how then can we KNOW God if we do not study His word? Anything else would be based on heresay and "feelings" which we should all know by now we just can't trust. I didn't ever need proof that God existed, I just always KNEW. To further help explain my extreme belief is that I have also been blessed with the manifestation of supernatural miracles in my life that did what no human could. Fixed my injured back. Kept me from taking my own life. Got me home (almost 50 miles!) on a busted radiator, blown gasket and with cold dirty ditch water that some men had put in the radiator on the interstate while it was still hot. The mechanic I took it too said that it shouldn't have moved 10 feet much less all those miles! I prayed that car home and I could feel I wasn't alone. Many more have been granted when most needed and prayed for that there is no other explanation for. I do know this for sure....belief is not something that can just be attained...it must be felt deep within.

I hope my sharing of my own knowledge of God has helped. I knew Him before I knew of Him, and then I learned about Him.

Hugs and God bless in your search!

Pami

Edit: Dear John, I just read in a statement that you don't much care about Heaven...can this be really true when you are seeking answers about God? To know God is to know perfection, love, joy, peace and purity. To know that we have access to Him and to Heaven through His Son Jesus is what gives us all the hope and strength (well, all believers) to get through the pain, heartache, tragedies and trauma's of life...to know that one day I will ascend to a place where I'm given a new body, where no pain or sin will exist or even memory of it and where I can bask in the holiness and glory of my Divine Creator Father...I can't imagine living my life without the hope of Heaven and my Lord to go to when I die. It is my prayer that you will in your search for truth someday find it in He who is Truth.

Love, Pami

Answer 7

Either you think someone has made all this or not - your choice.
Perhaps He is an anthropomorphizing of the initial life energy of the Big Bang. Maybe He is all that ever was in the universe so he is in every fiber of your being and your keyboard and your car bumper, so we all just end up re-assimilated in the end. Perhaps He is a comforting concept. Again, your choice or millions of others if you believe it at all.
Question is - do you think we are alone out here?

Answer 8

When I was 22, I had a horrible day at work. When I got home my wife hugged me and saw that I was depressed. One of my friends who lived at my home at the time was angry with me about a money issue. And when I said hello to him as I looked over my wife's shoulder. He called me "embezzler". I was so angry I wanted to curse. My wife suggested that I should go upstairs and pray. So I rushed up stairs in my anger. It was about 5pm. The bedroom was to bright so, I closed the shades. It was still to bright, so I went into my tiny master bath and sealed the door so that not the smallest piece of light could get in. I waved my hand over my face and saw no shadow. I was still upset and I remember going pass a bible but I did not know the book well enough to find an answer for my grief. I got undressed and got into the shower. I began to talk to God. I wanted to throw my friend out of my home. I did not know what to do. I was only 22 he was 30. I began to sink down to the floor of the shower and cry. I cried like a child. And in the darkness I heard the sound of something opening. I looked to my left and in the darkness I heard a voice speaking to me. The voice said "Give it back.." To my complete surprise I found that God is alive and well and cares about His people. I love God and no man can take away from us what God has given.

Answer 9

Personal gut feelings? That's not hard. God is the creator of all things. The universe(supposedly), man, woman, children, animals, plants, etc. He can create harmony but since he also created Lucifer, who rebelled with his fellow Fallen Angels, also had a slight hand in perhaps creating his own worst enemy. I know there are people who don't like that theory but it's a personal one so others can believe what they will about that.

As for what He is all about. I'm not sure if anyone has that answer. Some will say He is about peace and honesty. I say He is about people finding their own way in the world that He made and while we always make mistakes He will usually forgive. Unless it's the ultimate one and there could be many choices of those. It depends on one's personal views.

Answer 10

yes. i believed in science and empirical methods, but for 3 years some invisible presence would come into my room, hold me down paralysed and strangle me. the effects were witnessed by my family and friends. as the attacks became more powerful i began to be lifted above my bed, could see the marks of many hands squeezing my flesh, and could not sleep day or night, nor flee to another place for safety. i consulted doctors, counsellors, spiritualists, mediums and priests. in the end what saved me was accepting jesus into my heart. and he came like a whirlwind and ripped this horrible thing off me. this was a most surprising experience for someone who believed in the scientific method, and had no use for god or demons. but now i know that jesus has already saved me from evil.
it was not until then i turned and read the bible. people quote the bible so as not to transmit their own personal imperfect opinion but to let god speak his words through their mouth.