A question for Theists

[ratikala]

Namaskaram ,

do those who would identify as Theists beleive in one supreme god or multiple gods ?

to you Is god omnipotent ?
is god omnipresent ?
is god omnicient ?

is god eternal ?
Blissfull ?
and full of Knowledge ?

is God a personification of love ?

please feel free to add other atributes that you feel it important to mention

 

[Riverwolf]

do those who would identify as Theists beleive in one supreme god or multiple gods ?

Either, depends on whether there's a "mono-" or "poly-" in there.

to you Is god omnipotent ?

is god omnipresent ?
is god omnicient ?

is god eternal ?
Blissfull ?
and full of Knowledge ?

is God a personification of love ?

None of the Gods embody all these traits in my beliefs.

 

[George-ananda]

I'm non-dualist (God and creation are not-two). 'God is All' as crazy as that sounds to those raised in western concepts.

 

[Windwalker]

Namaskaram ,

do those who would identify as Theists beleive in one supreme god or multiple gods ?

to you Is god omnipotent ?
is god omnipresent ?
is god omnicient ?

is god eternal ?
Blissfull ?
and full of Knowledge ?

is God a personification of love ?

please feel free to add other atributes that you feel it important to mention

Doesn't this depend on how one conceives of God? Maybe we could ask the questions the other way around. Do you believe omnipotence, omnipresence, omniscience, eternal, bliss, Knowledge, Love, etc, is God? You see this way, we're starting from the other end, which I think is actually more relevant. So the answer then is, yes. That is God. Start from within reaching out, not from outside oneself.

 

[Gambit]

do those who would identify as Theists beleive in one supreme god or multiple gods?

I believe there is only one God (based on the principle of parsimony).

I basically accept the traditional "definition" (if that is the right word) of God as "that being of whom no greater can be conceived." That's the guiding principle for determining all the divine attributes.

 

[Sees]

Hope you have been well ratikala

To me Gods are beings more than attributes, they are also mysteries which change and communicate like anything alive or existing, not on a level we can really comprehend.....I think of a type of Divine essence/source interpenetrating all that is absolutely eternal - the only absolute perhaps - but don't see it as God or Gods or as One or Two or any specific number.

So for me God or Gods are personal and distinctive, using One muddies up the Divine All - which is never static, different a second later, and is not an IT, but an IS. I don't think attaching the most exaggerated characteristics is meaningful outside of a mental exercise or poetic speech. I don't think the omni qualities are all together possible but are a way to pay homage and a form of worship at good times or "mine is best, greatest, supreme" at bad times.

 

[arthra]

God has more attributes than we are aware of in my view..but we are aware of some of them..

The Oneness of God is a good start...God is Omnipotent...Omnipresent.. I think the correct spelling is Omniscient..God is eternal without beginning or end...All-Knowing Omniscient ...God is Love...Bliss beyond our comprehension.


please feel free to add other atributes that you feel it important to mention

The Bab Who was the Forerunner of Baha'u'llah created a new calendar which Baha'is use.. called the Badi Calendar.. Badi means wondrous...It has nineteen months ..Each month is an attribute of God Each day is also named after attributes of God. But here are the months...

Splendour;
Glory;
Beauty;
Grandeur;
Light;
Mercy;
Words;
Perfection;
Names;
Might;
Will;
Knowledge;
Power;
Speech;
Questions;
Honour;
Sovereighnty;
Dominion;
Loftiness

 

[Rival]

One Supreme Lord.

Ahura Mazda (Lord of Wisdom), is the personification of Truth. "Truth" in Zoroastrian Religion has a different, Religious meaning though. "Truth means totality of the vision of ideal existence." In other words, Ahura Mazda exists in the Perfect Realm of Asha (Righteousness, Truth) and so we, when we do actions, have to do The Right (Good) action to actualise the Asha/Truth/Righteousness in this world. So Truth is the actualising, the making real, of an ideal. Making things as good as they can be made.

Ahuramazda is not omnipotent in that, since he did not create Angra Mainyu/Ahriman/Druj ('bad mind' bad thoughts, evil &.) he does not exercise control over that. We, as human beings. must manage control over ourselves and, through actualising Asha, purge bad thoughts, bad words and bad deeds. It is believed by some that, while Ahuramazda was creating the Good, Asha &c. evil was already around (but this and other aspects of 'evil' are debated). Ahuramaza is, however, more powerful than Ahriman. Not necessarily omnipotent.

He is the source of all knowledge.

He is known through Spenta Mainyu (Good Mind/spirit), as opposed to darkness, bad being known through Angra Mainyu (Bad Mind/spirit)

Ahuramazda is the source of all Good. Nothing bad emanates from him.

He does not determine all our actions. We were created with Moral Sense and a recognition of Asha. We are therefore responsible for ourselves, our behaviour and so on.

The friend of the Just Man

 

[Kirran]

What a nice load of questions.

do those who would identify as Theists beleive in one supreme god or multiple gods ?

One. All is the Supreme. The Supreme Being, but with Being as a verb

to you Is god omnipotent ?

All that can be done, can be and is done by God. So, yes, I suppose. All action is God's. (Brahman's, Shiva's...)

is god omnipresent ?

Yes, absolutely. God is everything, so there is nothing which is not both a part of God, and at the same time all of God.

is god omnicient ?

Hmm. All things that are known, are known by God, but only insofar as those who are knowing are themselves God.

is god eternal ?

Time is an illusion. So yeah, basically.

Blissfull ?

I don't really think God feels things, any more than we feel things and are a part of God.

and full of Knowledge ?

Knowledge is something manifested within us, which is ultimately mayic, I think, because it relates to separations. So yes, all knowledge is within God, and is God, but that isn't to say that God is full of knowledge intrinsically.

is God a personification of love ?

I think any personification of God is our own way of portraying God to make it easier for ourselves. So no, not intrinsically.

please feel free to add other atributes that you feel it important to mention

God just is. Ultimate unity and non-action. Nothing changes, nothing happens, because there is only being.

EDIT: In reading through the other replies, I'm struck by the wonderful diversity we have here on RF

 

[ratikala]

namaskaram wind walker ji

Doesn't this depend on how one conceives of God?

I am sorry for any confusion , yes in some respects it does , but because we have both Monotheists and Polytheists here I wanted the question to remain open to all who identify as Theist , ...

Maybe we could ask the questions the other way around. Do you believe omnipotence, omnipresence, omniscience, eternal, bliss, Knowledge, Love, etc, is God? You see this way, we're starting from the other end, which I think is actually more relevant. So the answer then is, yes. That is God. Start from within reaching out, not from outside oneself.

here I hope any question is relevant , this question however tends towards the understanding of a Monotheistic God , ...I also want to understand the feelings of Polytheists , ....prehaps I had better explain that these questions came about in responce to the debate on Antitheism so I think I just wanted to see the difference in thought held by all who identify as theist's , ...and the last thing I want to do is start an argument between monotheists and polytheists .

 

[ratikala]

namaskaramKiran ji

What a nice load of questions.

and many nice answers Diversity in theism is certanly wonderfull , ...and gives much for reflection , ....

In reading through the other replies, I'm struck by the wonderful diversity we have here on RF

jai jai , ..

many good points I would ilke to return to this evening ....

but some more questions for you ...

Ahuramazda is not omnipotent in that, since he did not create Angra Mainyu/Ahriman/Druj ('bad mind' bad thoughts, evil &.) he does not exercise control over that. We, as human beings. must manage control over ourselves and, through actualising Asha, purge bad thoughts, bad words and bad deeds. It is believed by some that, while Ahuramazda was creating the Good, Asha &c. evil was already around (but this and other aspects of 'evil' are debated). Ahuramaza is, however, more powerful than Ahriman. Not necessarily omnipotent.

this I find particularly interesting , whilst I do conscider God to be omnipotent I also agree with some points raised here as to the existance of evil , ...

what is evil ?
Does God have power over evil ?
should God have to combat evil or is this our duty ?
if we are ultimatly all god then why are we also impure ?

 

[Breathe]

Namaskaram ,

Namaste, ratikala ji.

to you Is god omnipotent ?

I believe that God is omnipotent insofar as what is logically possible; I do not believe that God can make what is logically impossible, such as making a square circle, or 2+2=5, or what would go against his own attributes, so for example, I do not believe God "could make a rock so heavy that He cannot lift it" (as if God lifts rocks ...) because this would be to limit God's own omnipotence and would thus invalidate his character.

is god omnipresent ?

As a panentheist, of course.

is god omnicient ?

I believe God is omniscient, at least in the way of knowing everything that can logically be known. That is, I do not believe in predestination, but God knows intention and action.

So if I intend to, say, write this post and then go and play some videogames or study, God knows because I know. If I move my leg, God knows.

But if I'm going to be out in public and nearly get hit by a bus in ten years time? I don't think so as those haven't happened yet.

is god eternal ?

Of course.

Blissfull ?

Yes.

and full of Knowledge ?

Yep; everything known and knowable, I believe God knows.

is God a personification of love ?

I think so, yes. If we are defining love as agape love. Though I do not view God as a sugar daddy like some do and I see God and 'Satan' as two sides of the same coin - but I do not believe these acts are in any way malicious, but work through naturalistic means -- e.g., if my hand is put in fire, it will get burnt.

Y'know?

 

[chinu]

do those who would identify as Theists beleive in one supreme god or multiple gods ?

Firstly I want to affirm that I don't think am 100% theist. I just try to be the one.
According to me "Supreme-God" and "Multiple-God's" both exists. The difference is.. "Supreme-God" is the only one who can provide us Moksha/Salvation, whereas "Multiple-God's" cannot do this.

to you Is god omnipotent ?

is god omnipresent ?
is god omnicient ?
is god eternal ?
Blissfull ?
and full of Knowledge ?
God is a personification of love ?

YES to all.

 

[illykitty]

Namaskaram ,

do those who would identify as Theists beleive in one supreme god or multiple gods ?

to you Is god omnipotent ?
is god omnipresent ?
is god omnicient ?

is god eternal ?
Blissfull ?
and full of Knowledge ?

is God a personification of love ?

please feel free to add other atributes that you feel it important to mention

My position is a little complex, I'm an agnostic pantheist. I view the universe/nature, as my target of reverence. It's hard to say if I'm really theistic. So I hope it's ok that I answer this.

As for the questions, to most of them, my answer is I don't know and adding for most of those, leaning towards no. Reason is I don't see evidence to it, but I could be wrong. Only the omnipresent one that I say yes to, since as a pantheist it would make no sense to say no.

I have to add that this is a strange position, because I don't think I believe in a being, so things like knowledge are slightly weird questions to put towards the universe/nature. I don't think love or bliss is applicable either, it just is what it is...

To me the most important attributes are that our universe, nature, is tangible reality, we depend on it, it is a source of great power and I feel such awe at it. To me, that's enough to revere/worship. I don't mind if there's no god(s), in the sense that if there's being(s) that control or influence the universe. Pantheism is sufficient for me, I don't need to speculate or worry.

 

[Kirran]

Ahhh, more questions.

what is evil ?

Evil is a subjective idea - I don't think it exists outside of what we think of as evil.

Does God have power over evil ?

Hmm. Hmm. Hmm. Power - I guess so, only insofar as God is equivalent to those things which work against what we think of as evil. God also is those things we call evil.

should God have to combat evil or is this our duty ?

There is no should, there is only is. But if we are combating what we think of as evil, then God is doing that, because we're God.

if we are ultimatly all god then why are we also impure ?

I don't think we are. To be honest, I think that's a bit of a Christian doctrine.

 

[Quintessence]

do those who would identify as Theists beleive in one supreme god or multiple gods ?

I'm a polytheist.

to you Is god omnipotent ?
is god omnipresent ?
is god omnicient ?

Collectively, the gods are omnipotent, omnipresent, and omniscient. Individually, they have these qualities with respect to their domain or essence (i.e., Ocean Spirit is omni- with respect to the oceans). So no, they are not these things by the conventional standard of what these things mean.

is god eternal ?

What is meant by that? If by eternal you mean unchanging, there is no such thing. If by eternal you mean existence (aka, the gods) simply always was and has been and will be, then yes.

Blissfull ?
and full of Knowledge ?

A few of them, perhaps.

is God a personification of love ?

Only the Spirit of Love. Well, and various traditional Pagan gods that also were essentially personifications of such things, like Eros.

please feel free to add other atributes that you feel it important to mention

I could not possibly begin to make a list. There is no attribute that the gods do not possess: Spirit of Bloodlust, Spirit of Evolution, Spirit of Storm, Spirit of Soil, Spirit of Creativity, it goes on and on...

 

[srahman1.618]

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.

 

[ratikala]

namaskaram Bhai ji

Namaste, ratikala ji.

welcome back

I believe that God is omnipotent insofar as what is logically possible;........I do not believe God "could make a rock so heavy that He cannot lift it" (as if God lifts rocks ...)

of course you know about Varaha , ...but then to God this earth planet probably looks like a ball being tossed in the air , ...that one such as God could just catch opon his tusks

As a panentheist, of course.

as a panentheist what do you feel about human ignorance and what we term as evil ?
Rival wrote an interesting post , .....please if you have any thoughts on this they would be most welcome , ...

Ahuramazda is the source of all Good. Nothing bad emanates from him.

He does not determine all our actions. We were created with Moral Sense and a recognition of Asha. We are therefore responsible for ourselves, our behaviour and so on.

The friend of the Just Man

Breathe said; ......Yep; everything known and knowable, I believe God knows.

jai jai

I think so, yes. If we are defining love as agape love.

yes that was my intention , ...

Though I do not view God as a sugar daddy like some do and I see God and 'Satan' as two sides of the same coin - but I do not believe these acts are in any way malicious, but work through naturalistic means -- e.g., if my hand is put in fire, it will get burnt.

Y'know?

yes me know's , ....but this returns us to the subject of evil , or is it mere ignorance ?

if as Krsna in the Gita says , ......''By Me in My unmanifested form , this entire universe is pervaded ,
All beings are in Me but I am not in them .'' .....''And yet everything that tis created does not rest in me .'' B.G. ch 9 ...v 4-5

where does this ignorance , this evil arise from ?

 

[ratikala]

namaskaram Kiran ji

Evil is a subjective idea - I don't think it exists outside of what we think of as evil.

not goodness ?

is it acidental or deliberate ?

Hmm. Hmm. Hmm. Power - I guess so, only insofar as God is equivalent to those things which work against what we think of as evil. God also is those things we call evil.

so what if his ultimate power were knowledge ?

There is no should, there is only is. But if we are combating what we think of as evil, then God is doing that, because we're God.

if we are God how come we lack Gods Knowledge ?

I don't think we are. To be honest, I think that's a bit of a Christian doctrine.

why does a Hindu chant ? have you not heard a Hindu say that chanting purifies the mind , the heart ?

 

[ratikala]

namaskaram Rival ji

One Supreme Lord.

as in the personification of the one truth .

Ahura Mazda (Lord of Wisdom), is the personification of Truth. "Truth" in Zoroastrian Religion has a different, Religious meaning though. "Truth means totality of the vision of ideal existence." In other words, Ahura Mazda exists in the Perfect Realm of Asha (Righteousness, Truth) and so we, when we do actions, have to do The Right (Good) action to actualise the Asha/Truth/Righteousness in this world. So Truth is the actualising, the making real, of an ideal. Making things as good as they can be made.

I often feel that your Asha is the Rig Vedic Rta , ...

Ahuramazda is not omnipotent in that, since he did not create Angra Mainyu/Ahriman/Druj ('bad mind' bad thoughts, evil &.) he does not exercise control over that. We, as human beings. must manage control over ourselves and, through actualising Asha, purge bad thoughts, bad words and bad deeds. It is believed by some that, while Ahuramazda was creating the Good, Asha &c. evil was already around (but this and other aspects of 'evil' are debated). Ahuramaza is, however, more powerful than Ahriman. Not necessarily omnipotent.

and your Druj is our Maya ; illusion as in the sanskrit 'druh' refers to a harmfull affliction which we consider ignorance to be ?

He is the source of all knowledge.

with this I would also confer , ...

He is known through Spenta Mainyu (Good Mind/spirit), as opposed to darkness, bad being known through Angra Mainyu (Bad Mind/spirit)

this bad mind , bad spirit if you feel him to be seperate from the good mind , good spirit, .or could this just be absence or resistance to Knowledge ?

I am inclined to feel that Ignorance and darkness have in some sence their own power , but that that power is not an active force in itself but is the absence of the light of knowledge , of wisdom

Ahuramazda is the source of all Good. Nothing bad emanates from him.

then to me I would see Ahuramazda also as omnipotent in that light of wisdom has the capacity to destroy the darkness of ignorance , ....therefore also to destroy bad mind , bad spirit , ...?

He does not determine all our actions. We were created with Moral Sense and a recognition of Asha. We are therefore responsible for ourselves, our behaviour and so on.

The friend of the Just Man

with this I could not agree more , ......