Infinite God? (Earth, choice, hell, theist, sin)

[Rolling_Stone]

Originally Posted by Nanda

Hello religious friends, I hope you can spare some time for a confused non-theist. Do you believe God to be infinite and all-encompassing, and if so, wouldn't that makes us all a part of god? And if we're all peices of God ourselves, how is sin even possible? (I'm not here to debate this point, I just want to know what you think.)

One way to look at is the way A Course in Miracles and other sources do and say, "BINGO!" We are a part God and sin is not possible. Or, you can take a less radically monistic approach and say, "Yes, we are a part of God, but the manner by which his powers and beind are divested, sin is a thought, word or deed that has no basis in reality." The difference is subtle, but the latter is consistent with some of the mystical traditions within the Abrahamic religions and definitely more explanatory than the ACIM.

[ayani]

Originally Posted by Nanda

Hello religious friends, I hope you can spare some time for a confused non-theist. Do you believe God to be infinite and all-encompassing, and if so, wouldn't that makes us all a part of god? And if we're all peices of God ourselves, how is sin even possible? (I'm not here to debate this point, I just want to know what you think.)

i do believe that we are all a part of God, and that, also, He is beyond the created world, and more than the sum of His creation through which He is manifest.

i think that sin is, in part, failing to recognize that of God within the world and within one another, leading us to misuse and hurt others and ourselves. i believe that God is manifest (or not) through our relationships to one another- this is why friendship and inner calm feel so dang good, for one thing.

unhappiness tends to come from ingratitude, from others causing one to suffer, and from causing others to suffer as well. that is what i find, at least.

[Master Vigil]

God is all encompassing. God created good, evil, and all beyond and in between. God is also beyond our finite and imperfect understanding, so I cannot know that if my understanding of evil truly is god's understanding. Evil as I see may not even exist. So my best guess is that god tests me so that I grow from my mistakes, stand back up from being knocked down, and journey closer to god. I can expect nothing less but to learn spiritually the way I learn physically. From my mistakes.

[mcteethinator]

God is seperate from his creation. But he is infinite.

[~Amin~]

Originally Posted by Nanda

Hello religious friends, I hope you can spare some time for a confused non-theist..)

Your more then welcome.

Originally Posted by Nanda

Do you believe God to be infinite and all-encompassing,.)

What we mean by all-encompassing is he knows everything in a way inconcievable
by human finite mind, not that He is present within His Creation in His Essence

Originally Posted by Nanda

and if so, wouldn't that makes us all a part of god?.)

No because He is not a piece of His creation He is the Creator.

Originally Posted by Nanda

And if we're all peices of God ourselves, how is sin even possible? (I'm not here to debate this point, I just want to know what you think.)

Exactly it would'nt make sense.

[pert opinion]

Allah is the greatest