Can you define your god?

[Willamena]

What attributes, physical or otherwise does your god/higher being/ whateves, possess? Is he a man/woman/thing? Is he subjective/objective? What is he?

"God" can be defined, but in terms of what it is not, not what it is (i.e. attribute).

 

[Madhuri]

That's not really the point. The question is, how would one be able to attribute such experiences to "spiritual" causes rather than to other causes - like the ones we know are capable of producing experiences that people interpret as spiritual.

Let's just assume they are spiritual, whatever that might be, how would you distinguish that from a non-spiritual experience that seems like one?

At what point do you trust that your experiences are a reality?

What if you wake up during the night and find a spaceship outside your home? What if you are taking into space and to another planet? What if you experience living in this other planet for years and then one day are returned home? Will you believe that this experience is real or an illusion?

What if you are actually confronted by some god? They do some magic and then go away? Do you believe it is real or not?

I mean, what would be the point, if you had no better explanation, to always just assume that you are delusional?

The Yoga systems have processes and methods. Depending on the techniques a person uses, they will have different experiences. But if a group of people use the same techniques, they will have the same experiences. These experiences have no 'other' explanation thus far. They are the awakening of the chakras and a spiritual awakening. And that is not a fleeting awakening. A temporary sense of 'something'. It stays with you. It shapes who you are and how you perceive your whole world. That sense of connection with your environment, that becomes permanent. When you experience Love in that intense capacity, it's difficult to not be permanently affected. So when you experience this, do you believe it is real or not?

I guess that's up to you.

 

[Onkara]

Why exactly would change imply a creator?

We see creation and we imply/assume that there is a source independent of the creation. Here I use "imply" to mean appearance or assumption, not as a known fact. It is a way of thinking which can be replaced by investigation of how creator and creation are not separate, but one in nature. A bit like the idea that energy never ends, but simply changes or dissipates.

 

[Commoner]

At what point do you trust that your experiences are a reality?

When they are independantly verifiable.

What if you wake up during the night and find a spaceship outside your home? What if you are taking into space and to another planet? What if you experience living in this other planet for years and then one day are returned home? Will you believe that this experience is real or an illusion?

But that's not really beyond what I can understand. I mean, it would be independantly verifiable. I would have evidence, I would physically be missing from Earth for years. I would supposedly have some new found knowledge that I could again go and verify. Etc...

What if you are actually confronted by some god? They do some magic and then go away? Do you believe it is real or not?

No, of course not. I don't even know how to explain a simple card trick, let alone a much better illusion. Have you heard of Derren Brown? Check him out.

I wouldn't just assume that it was actually a god who actually had magical powers.

I mean, what would be the point, if you had no better explanation, to always just assume that you are delusional?

It's not really "delusional". It's just having an experience you haven't had before and interpreting it to be caused by something supernatural (for lack of a better word) without any good reason to do so.

The Yoga systems have processes and methods. Depending on the techniques a person uses, they will have different experiences. But if a group of people use the same techniques, they will have the same experiences. These experiences have no 'other' explanation thus far. They are the awakening of the chakras and a spiritual awakening. And that is not a fleeting awakening. A temporary sense of 'something'. It stays with you. It shapes who you are and how you perceive your whole world. That sense of connection with your environment, that becomes permanent. When you experience Love in that intense capacity, it's difficult to not be permanently affected. So when you experience this, do you believe it is real or not?

I guess that's up to you.

I believe the "experience" is real, but what is there to suggest that it has anything to do with god? That the cause is some other force we haven't encountered/studied before? I'm not trying to minimize the effect of using those techniques - but how are they spiritual? Again, check out Derren Brown, he can make people experience things they never imagined possible, changing their lives forever. And he's just an illusionist.

I'm not saying that those kinds of experiences couldn't possibly also be caused by something supernatural, I'm simply saying there's no reason to assume that they are and we know that there are non-supernatural causes that "cause" experiences of a similar nature. That doesn't mean the techniques don't work.

 

[Madhuri]

I believe the "experience" is real, but what is there to suggest that it has anything to do with god? That the cause is some other force we haven't encountered/studied before? I'm not trying to minimize the effect of using those techniques - but how are they spiritual? Again, check out Derren Brown, he can make people experience things they never imagined possible, changing their lives forever. And he's just an illusionist.

I'm not saying that those kinds of experiences couldn't possibly also be caused by something supernatural, I'm simply saying there's no reason to assume that they are and we know that there are non-supernatural causes that "cause" experiences of a similar nature.

Well that's fine. Some people will attribute it to a God and others will not. There is no one factor that influences a person's belief. I can say a big factor is the fact that this philosophy that is so impactual also happens to explain these experiences in relation to a divine entity.

I'll check out that guy you mentioned when i get online next. I'm off to bed now though as its after 1am. Thanks for chatting

 

[Commoner]

Well that's fine. Some people will attribute it to a God and others will not. There is no one factor that influences a person's belief. I can say a big factor is the fact that this philosophy that is so impactual also happens to explain these experiences in relation to a divine entity.

Mis-attribute. Even if they happen to be right - they had no reason to believe so - unless you can think of one.

I'll check out that guy you mentioned when i get online next. I'm off to bed now though as its after 1am. Thanks for chatting

If nothing else, he's incredibly entertaining.

Good night!

 

[islam means peace]

What attributes, physical or otherwise does your god/higher being/ whateves, possess? Is he a man/woman/thing? Is he subjective/objective? What is he?

Brother, we all have only and only One GOD. It your GOD, Its mine and It everyone GOD.

The best definition of GOD is
Surah Ikhlas (Holy Qur'an 112:1-4) is:
Say: He is Allah, the One and Only! Allah, the Eternal, Absolute; He begetteth not nor is He begotten. And there is none like unto Him.


I think this four line definition will give you all the answers you needed.

 

[Madhuri]

Brother, we all have only and only One GOD. It your GOD, Its mine and It everyone GOD.

The best definition of GOD is
Surah Ikhlas (Holy Qur'an 112:1-4) is:
Say: He is Allah, the One and Only! Allah, the Eternal, Absolute; He begetteth not nor is He begotten. And there is none like unto Him.


I think this four line definition will give you all the answers you needed.

This doesn't actually say much to me. Ok, so eternal and 'absolute'. What else? I am sure your scripture talks about God's nature in more detail, yes?

 

[Madhuri]

Mis-attribute. Even if they happen to be right - they had no reason to believe so - unless you can think of one.

I can't speak for everyone, so I can't state that it is always a correct or mistaken attribute.
But anyways. I am really going this time

 

[doppelganger]

What is he?

Is that an inherently idolatrous undertaking?

 

[Commoner]

I can't speak for everyone, so I can't state that it is always a correct or mistaken attribute.
But anyways. I am really going this time

Yes, the problem is, if we have the luxury of not giving reasons, I'm as correct in attributing it to my neighbour's cat as they are in attributing it to god.

Now go away, you! Shoo!!

 

[astarath]

No, I can't. I think to try and define my God is to confine my God to my limited perception. My God is greater than something I can perceive.

 

[Kilgore Trout]

Apparently, there are as many definitions of god, as there are people.

Hmm, wonder why that is?

 

[Thief]

It terms of superlatives...

Bigger, faster, stronger, more intelligent, and greatly experienced.

Remove any one of these...at that person is not likely God.

The noun best used.....Almighty.

 

[Commoner]

It terms of superlatives...

Bigger, faster, stronger, more intelligent, and greatly experienced.

Remove any one of these...at that person is not likely God.

The noun best used.....Almighty.

At last, we agree!

 

[Erebus]

What attributes, physical or otherwise does your god/higher being/ whateves, possess? Is he a man/woman/thing? Is he subjective/objective? What is he?

Most likely subjective, experienced on an individual basis or not at all.

Multi-faceted. It's not good or evil, but has the capacity for both. It could be percieved as male, female or neither, but this is likely more due to the expectations of the individual than the god's actual appearance.

It makes your life more challenging rather than making it easier. This is rewarding in its own way.

It's not interested in acquiring masses of followers, it appears as a teacher to a handful of people.

It will help you out if you slip up, but not if you allow yourself to fall.

It may or may not be real.

 

[Ben Masada]

If I can define my God? That's not a secret. Jesus has done it for me and everyone else who wants to know. It is found in John 4:24. God is a Spirit, and Incorporeal at that. And the only way to relate to Him is in a spiritual manner. Since there is no human characteristics in incorporeality, it is a blasphemy to speak of God in anthropomorphic terms. (Deut. 4:15-18)

 

[The Sum of Awe]

I believe God is mortal, finite in power and love, and is not as religions claim to be.

God is very powerful indeed, although not full of power.

Possibly God is some kind of alien that visited us and started a ton of religions. Maybe this alien even planted us here.

But I'm pretty sure by now God is dead :thud:


God is also what we'd call a non-human animal such as a cat or a dog, nothing like a human.

 

[kylixguru]

What attributes, physical or otherwise does your god/higher being/ whateves, possess? Is he a man/woman/thing? Is he subjective/objective? What is he?

As man is, God once was.
As God is, man may become.
--Joseph Smith Jun.

 

[Madhuri]

Apparently, there are as many definitions of god, as there are people.

Hmm, wonder why that is?

Because no two people perceive reality in the same way.
What does that mean to you?