I am placing this topic here cause I think this could get a little touchy. Now I am a Christian and therefor believe in God. However, I do believe in the existance of other gods or beings too. So here's my question for all of you. What do you think the definition of God/god is? What do you think such Beings have that make them as all mighty?

For me, God is a being with the power of creation, but that's not the only thing. He's a spiritual being with no physical body on this plane. He has the ability to give people choice and creates laws. Now while I know my God was ultimately responsible for my creation (my soul), I believe He's not the only one with that ability nor did He create the whole Universe or it's laws. I believe He helped with it, but I believe there are Others who helped with it. That's just what I believe.

So what about the rest of ya'll?

I suppose a god would be a being who is not limited by the same universal laws we are. Not necessarily without limitations, as that would render many entities some believe to exist not gods, but certainly not fitting into any other category, either.

As for what the gods I worship did or did not do, I'm sort of iffy. I tend to go with Starhawk's creation story, that one birthed the rest and the entire Universe all at once, and things just took their course from there. However, I don't pretend to know for certain it's true, and really don't concern myself too much with it.

For me, I think God is a belief not an actual being. I think he was created to explain things science cannot explain nor sitill explain to this day. God is there for people who are in dire straights that need something to lean on. And God is there for successful people to thank their progress on.

Also, I think people want to believe that when they die, they will go to a place where God will love them because death scares everyone. Even me.

I don't believe in God. I don't need a God for a meaning or purpose. However, I do not deny a religious person their God or beliefs because that would be discriminating. I don't discriminate. I respect everyone's religion and the right to practice that religion.

God is the lifestream. The lifestream (for those of you who have not played Final Fantasy VII) is the Jungian universal unconsciousness. To me, anyway.

Originally Posted by whompus

God is the lifestream. The lifestream (for those of you who have not played Final Fantasy VII) is the Jungian universal unconsciousness. To me, anyway.

FAIL

This should be a serious discussion. Don't go quoting games. We can joke about that in another place.

But for fun, also another religious joke using FFVII is JENOVA's Witness XD

[[EDIT]]

I have talked to Whompus and cleared things up. I apologized for my statement above. It was critical and it should not have been. Especially because she was serious. She was not joking.

Originally Posted by Mirielle195

I am placing this topic here cause I think this could get a little touchy. Now I am a Christian and therefor believe in God. However, I do believe in the existance of other gods or beings too. So here's my question for all of you. What do you think the definition of God/god is? What do you think such Beings have that make them as all mighty?

For me, God is a being with the power of creation, but that's not the only thing. He's a spiritual being with no physical body on this plane. He has the ability to give people choice and creates laws. Now while I know my God was ultimately responsible for my creation (my soul), I believe He's not the only one with that ability nor did He create the whole Universe or it's laws. I believe He helped with it, but I believe there are Others who helped with it. That's just what I believe.

So what about the rest of ya'll?

I'm sorry, but your definition conflicts with some of my views of what makes a "christian". After all, isn't the whole point of having God create the entire world all by Himself that Christians fight so hard to protect? Especially when it comes to Bible related matters? o.O

Tsukipon: That was a little unnecessary. The idea behind the "lifestream" in FFVII is the same as what a lot of thinkers and even entire religions have espoused. Whompus likely used the term to more easily explain her opinions.

Soul Searcher: Not really. Mirielle's belief is called 'monolatry' (multiple gods exist, but only one is worthy of worship), and there are a fair few Christians who believe what she does. It was long ago condemned as a heresy by the Catholic Church, but I have yet to see any decent arguments as to why it's not entirely viable. Genesis even suggests this is the case, as YHVH refers to "us" and not "I" or "me", and a Hebrew scholar has recently suggested that the normally-accepted translation from Hebrew is incorrect and that the correct translation states that YHVH separates, but does not create, earth, sea, and heaven, which could possibly support Mirielle's belief.

Originally Posted by Philomel

Tsukipon: That was a little unnecessary. The idea behind the "lifestream" in FFVII is the same as what a lot of thinkers and even entire religions have espoused. Whompus likely used the term to more easily explain her opinions.

Or Whompus was just being silly quoting video games.
I'm silly too.
You can't be sure. Let her come in to defend herself.
I will admit I'm wrong only when she corrects me.

I think a god is something there that gives people a way to live civially (SP?) with other people. I don't believe in a certain religion because I'm strictly against organized religion. it created hate of others for no other reason than because they aren't of the same religion and cause a lot of problems between 'man'. ok, enough rant not what you asked.

a god is something higher than us that most see as punishing the evils of the world. even if there isn't a god to worship, people believe that wrong acts will be punished some how. for me, the higher powers are there for me to feel better after praying and helps me be ok with things that are out of my control like life and death. i believe that their was a feminine and a male eninty that created everything and looks out for certain things because looking after everything by ones self would be difficult.

God. For me, I was having trouble dictating what kind of person or thing God was, because no religion came close to answering it.

If God were real, I'm following what the Mayans believe, or what some branches of Mayan religion believes.

From what I've researched, the Mayans believed in a Prime Creator, that one creator. According to their beliefs, every single thing we see, touch, hear, smell, taste and so on, is a part of the Prime Creator.

So in actuality, we're ALL gods because we are several parts of that one God and after we die, we go back to that one Prime Creator, to relay our life experiences, and then we start the whole cycle again because that one God yearns to be more knowledgeable as it's just a "baby".

And that "baby" known as the Prime Creator, is a part of an even greater Creator, and that Creator that gave birth to the Prime Creator, is also a part of another Creator and so on.

The hierarchy of creators continues to grow and grow until it stops -- maybe due to a omnipotent Creator above all, or maybe because it can't go any higher.

The Mayans also believed that life in general is there because of the insatiable need for experience and knowledge. Supposedly, creation energy itself is Knowledge and Life experience. Without constant knowledge, the "baby" Prime Creator, cannot have enough creation energy to make planets and such.

I don't know, I kind of believe it and I kind of don't. Then again, anything with paradoxes intrigues my interests greatly.

Originally Posted by Tsukipon

FAIL

This should be a serious discussion. Don't go quoting games. We can joke about that in another place.

But for fun, also another religious joke using FFVII is JENOVA's Witness XD

LMAO!

I would say my def. of God is love; but there are to many people around us who believe in God that will destroy you in a heartbeat. People use God as an excuse to do bad things then go back and "repent" to be saved. They kid themselves with believing that God is all forgiving, yet forget that you can only "sin" the same "sin" so many times before he stops believing you.

Originally Posted by Tsukipon

Or Whompus was just being silly quoting video games.
I'm silly too.
You can't be sure. Let her come in to defend herself.
I will admit I'm wrong only when she corrects me.

Very well. However, I suggest you read this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jung , which is about the man she mentioned and whose beliefs were definitely drawn upon for the idea of the Lifestream in FFVII.

my definition is very debatable::
rin's definition

God> 1. a higher immortal being of power created by mortals to answer all the questions they didn't have answered at the time. keeping with them a sign of hope for after death and for being alive.
2.i character created from the minds of humans (imaginary) to give them someone to look up to and give them hope for the future.

Originally Posted by Philomel

Very well. However, I suggest you read this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jung , which is about the man she mentioned and whose beliefs were definitely drawn upon for the idea of the Lifestream in FFVII.

Nah. Too boring. I dislike religion or having to read about it. Well, the only good ones were Greek mythology. At least the stories were cool and made sense. But that is a different matter entirely.
Especially on a lame site like wikipedia. Teachers and most people suggest not using it for real information anyway.

I'll look into it only when Whompus comes to correct me. You can't assume you knew what she was talking about - if she was being serious or joking.

Originally Posted by Tsukipon

Nah. Too boring. I dislike religion or having to read about it. Well, the only good ones were Greek mythology. At least the stories were cool and made sense. But that is a different matter entirely.

Philosophy, not religion.

Especially on a lame site like wikipedia. Teachers and most people suggest not using it for real information anyway.

Teachers also think PowerPoint is an excellent alternative to essays and should be used as such. Teachers can be stupid.

I'll look into it only when Whompus comes to correct me. You can't assume you knew what she was talking about - if she was being serious or joking.

...But that's exactly what you did when you ripped her to pieces and insulted her beliefs for bringing a "joke" into a serious thread. I merely explained why it was most likely not a joke and as such, your assumption that it was and hostile reaction was uncalled for.

Originally Posted by Philomel

Teachers also think PowerPoint is an excellent alternative to essays and should be used as such. Teachers can be stupid.

THIS! OMG THIS! :squee:

Originally Posted by Philomel

Philosophy, not religion..

Oh I see then. Thank you. Then I stand by my point on how boring religion is.

GO PHILOSOPHY!

Originally Posted by Philomel

Teachers also think PowerPoint is an excellent alternative to essays and should be used as such. Teachers can be stupid.


...But that's exactly what you did when you ripped her to pieces and insulted her beliefs for bringing a "joke" into a serious thread. I merely explained why it was most likely not a joke and as such, your assumption that it was and hostile reaction was uncalled for.

I don't see why powerpoint cannot be good alternatives for essays. Instead of writing a paragraph, you can list your sentences as bullet points. 5 slides and you have an essay. How is that bad? How are teachers stupid? They have masters degees in education. What do you have? And how does Powerpoint relate to Wikipedia? It doesn't provide information. Anyone can edit things on Wiki.

OMG I RIPPED HER INTO PIECES? Are you her. Don't act like a spokesperson. She can just as well swoop by and tell me she was serious and I will apologize and the day will end. Just to let you know, I think ALL religion is stupid but it is my opinion and I choose not to believe. But I will repsect anyone's religion because that is their beliefs. I have Christian, Catholic, Muslim and Jewish friends. No matter what I think, I will repsect your right to practice your religion by not talking about how stupid I think it is. In turn, don't push your religion on me. If you are religious, hold your head high and say that you believe what you believe no matter what us non-believers have to say. And Whompus might be just that person.

I might have misunderstood her post. Let her fix it. Not you.
In fact, I will go and ask her.

Originally Posted by Tsukipon

Nah. Too boring. I dislike religion or having to read about it. Well, the only good ones were Greek mythology. At least the stories were cool and made sense.

I love Greek Mythology...it is so romantic and beautiful...

Originally Posted by Lady_Megami

I love Greek Mythology...it is so romantic and beautiful...

Me too and it had the sense of magic too.
Also, I admired their moral teachings.

I'm only turned off with how Zeus is such a whore and had sex with his sister...

Let's please try to stay on topic in here... Thank you!