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One God

blü 2

Veteran Member
Premium Member
Omnipotent?

And YHWH was with Judah; and he drave out the inhabitants of the mountain; but could not drive out the inhabitants of the valley, because they had chariots of iron.
Judges 1:19
It's generally assumed that once you're omnipotent, you're always omnipotent, but maybe you can have an off-day if you forget to use your omnipotence to make your omnipotence eternal.

Otherwise, the god of your quote doesn't satisfy the ad. description, and we'll have to wait for a more satisfactory applicant.
 

Ebionite

Well-Known Member
Otherwise, the god of your quote doesn't satisfy the ad, description, and we'll need a different candidate.
Omniscience doesn't fly, either.

And they built the high places of Baal, which are in the valley of the son of Hinnom, to cause their sons and their daughters to pass through the fire unto Molech; which I commanded them not, neither came it into my mind, that they should do this abomination, to cause Judah to sin.
Jeremiah 32:35
 

blü 2

Veteran Member
Premium Member
Omniscience doesn't fly, either.

And they built the high places of Baal, which are in the valley of the son of Hinnom, to cause their sons and their daughters to pass through the fire unto Molech; which I commanded them not, neither came it into my mind, that they should do this abomination, to cause Judah to sin.
Jeremiah 32:35
This is shaping up into a major theological hypothesis ─ I'll have to look up the old Greek for "off-day".
 

Etritonakin

Well-Known Member
One God. Period.

In Orthodox Christianity, God is a trinity, so he isn't exactly one.

BUT in a few religions, God is absolute One. How is that possible? What are the characteristics of only One God? Why only One God?
First -we are using man-made languages to describe something not made by man -so it can get a bit confusing trying to describe things.
Also... in biblical scripture, those capable of creating the universe are discussing things with people who have not even begun to study physics -or any science -in any depth.

In biblical scripture, the Word who became Christ is described as BOTH being WITH God and BEING God.

He was WITH GOD IN ONE RESPECT -AND WAS ALSO GOD IN ANOTHER RESPECT.

The fact that the Word also WAS God actually does not negate the fact that the Father is the ultimate authority -and is the God of the Word.
The Word obeys the Father. The Word is ALSO God in that God (the Father) and the Word are inseparable and unified in purpose.

Both of these are quotes from the Word who became Christ.... (bold mine)
Jon 10:28And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. 29My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. 30I and my Father are one.

Mark 10:18And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God.

It gets confusing because "one" does not always have the same intended meaning.
It can mean the number one -or it can mean being unified in some way.

To add to the possible considerations, the Word who became Christ is called "the firstborn of many brethren" -and of humans it is written "I said "ye are gods""

------------------------------------
(The following are some things I have been thinking about -based on biblical scripture and coupled with a basic scientific understanding of "reality".

There is ONE thing that exists -let's call it "everything". It has apparently "always" existed. The best answer science has come up with thus far as to why anything exists is "It just was".
It is also obviously dynamic -changing -developing. Every "thing" within "everything" is essentially a subdivision of that one "everything".

If that is what God (unified) meant by such things as "I AM THAT AM"... "“I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End,” says the Lord, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”" ....then everything would essentially be composed of "God". God would be that "everything" -having/having developed self-awareness, creativity, etc.

If, then, "everything" decided to self-replicate, that first self replication would be both with God -and would be God.

Some would see a developing God as not eternal, but that is not actually true. We, ourselves, refer to ourselves as ourselves even when describing a time before we were aware of anything.
[for example... when "I" was just a zygote.]

As "everything" "just was", it was eternal -but not always in the same state.

We, ourselves, would also be composed of "God" -but would be separated logically and given independent decision-making power, etc.

So... perhaps the following is literally true....
John 14:20 On that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you are in Me, and I am in you.
 

TransmutingSoul

Veteran Member
Premium Member
So... perhaps the following is literally true....
John 14:20 On that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you are in Me, and I am in you.

Well as we are in that day and the Father has brought us unto all Truth, you could read and find out if your meditations have foundation in Truth.

That of course is my opinion.

You could choose to read what Baha'u'llah (The Glory of God) offered. Or I am happy to share what I understand from those writings, if you have questions about our One God.

Regards Tony
 

Etritonakin

Well-Known Member
Having the capability of knowing every thought of man -or susperseding every will -is one thing. Acting on it is another.
Biblical scripture does indicate that God is capable -but does so when necessary (to accomplish his plan for us -which is to make us responsible enough to inherit the Earth and beyond without possibility of corruption or necessity of micromanagement).

Why create beings with independent thought and decision-making power and then not allow it?

It's actually the whole point.
 

TransmutingSoul

Veteran Member
Premium Member
Having the capability of knowing every thought of man -or susperseding every will -is one thing. Acting on it is another.
Biblical scripture does indicate that God is capable -but does so when necessary (to accomplish his plan for us -which is to make us responsible enough to inherit the Earth and beyond without possibility of corruption or necessity of micromanagement).

Why create beings with independent thought and decision-making power and then not allow it?

It's actually the whole point.

I like the United Nations clip as your profile picture, very applicable to One God and the Message given in this age for the Nation's to Unite.

It has been written, that Our next goal as Humanity, is to find our unity under One God.

children-and-world-clipart-6.jpg


Regards Tony
 

metis

aged ecumenical anthropologist
In Orthodox Christianity, God is a trinity, so he isn't exactly one.
The Trinitarian concept says that there is but One God, thus it is not polytheistic.

Again, understanding the concept of "essence", which was put forth by Aristotle and Plato to signify that something is more than just a sum of its parts, helps one understand the Trinity, so one might check it out even in Wikipedia.
 

TransmutingSoul

Veteran Member
Premium Member
I actually did not know where that came from.

The great thing these days is that Google searches for you :)

I see that is also the quandary of Faith in this world. I see the Truth comes to our heart in many ways and a lot of the time we are now aware of the source, until we become aware of the source.

One God is such a Quandary. I see One God is the source of all Good and it is that fact that is slowly permeating the mind of man. One day humanity will wake up and look back, al the while living in peace and security, united under One God and looking back at our times in utter amazement. Most likely wondering why it was so hard to fathom.

Regards Tony
 

TransmutingSoul

Veteran Member
Premium Member
Truth does not come out of our hearts. It comes from scientific experiments.

That is the quandary, you see what you have posted and I see that Truth and knowledge springs from the heart and no where else. It is the heart that guides our mind, and true knowledge is empty without the infusion of heart.

This quote from Baha'u'llah and contains a couple of quotes from the Quran;

"..Therefore, hath it been said: "Knowledge is a light which God casteth into the heart of whomsoever He willeth.” It is this kind of knowledge which is and hath ever been praiseworthy, and not the limited knowledge that hath sprung forth from veiled and obscured minds. This limited knowledge they even stealthily borrow one from the other, and vainly pride themselves therein.....!”

"..The schools should be free from all religious and racial prejudices, for these often prevent good results from being obtained. All schools and colleges should have these three foundations: First: They should be sincere in the service of training the souls. They should discover the mysteries of nature and extend the circle of art, commerce, etc., so that ignorance and the lack of knowledge will pass away and the lights of science and knowledge shine forth from the horizon of the soul and heart. In all schools and universities, a general rule for training should be made..."

Regards Tony
 

Aupmanyav

Be your own guru
"Knowledge is a light which God casteth into the heart of whomsoever He willeth.”
Who translated what Bahaollah wrote in English? Could he not have it in simple modern English language. Why the "casteth" and "willeth"? Why did they use English of Caedmon, Bede, Beowulf, Waldheim? Does this give more weight to what Bahaollah said? Why the pretense, affectation, charade?
Knowledge comes to those who keep up with time, not to those who cling to 7th Century beliefs.
It has been written, that Our next goal as Humanity, is to find our unity under One God.
If that is your goal, we are on opposite sides. You would only find conflict rather than unity. If that is your goal (Bahaollah and his Allah) than you are against the followers of all religions except your own. This 19th Century Iranian cleric who claims to be the mirror image/avatara (manifestation) of Allah and who claims to fulfill all prophecies and bring better teaching than that of Zoroaster, Moses, Jesus, Mohammad, Krishna and Buddha!
 
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TransmutingSoul

Veteran Member
Premium Member
Who translated what Bahaollah wrote in English? Could he not have it in simple modern English language. Why the "casteth" and "willeth"? Why did they use English of Caedmon, Bede, Beowulf, Waldheim? Does this give more weight to what Bahaollah said? Why the pretense, affectation, charade?
Knowledge comes to those who keep up with time, not to those who cling to 7th Century beliefs.If that is your goal, we are on opposite sides. You would only find conflict rather than unity. If that is your goal (Bahaollah and his Allah) than you are against the followers of all religions except your own. This 19th Century Iranian cleric who claims to be the mirror image/avatara (manifestation) of Allah and who claims to fulfill all prophecies and bring better teaching than that of Zoroaster, Moses, Jesus, Mohammad, Krishna and Buddha!

King James English was chosen by Shoghi Effendi as the best English to use for translation.

I would offer my submission to One God allows inclusion for you to express those thoughts, you will have no opposition from my belief in God.

Regards Tony
 

Aupmanyav

Be your own guru
I have opposition with you on many counts - I do not believe in existence of one God or many, I do not believe that this Gopd sends any prophets / messengers / sons / manifestations / mahdis, I believe that all such people are ego-bloated individuals, they have nothing new to say and are only fooling people. Secondly, the wisdom of Hinduism and Buddhism can in no way be compared with the superstitions of Abrahamic religions.
 

Terry Sampson

Well-Known Member
BUT in a few religions, God is absolute One. How is that possible? What are the characteristics of only One God? Why only One God?
  • You get a choice.
    • Either the Universe has boundaries and a beginning, as well as a possible end;
    • Or the Universe is boundless, i.e. infinite, and eternal, i.e. without beginning or end;
    • Or there are more than one bounded Universes, and each is either eternal or not.
  • IMO, there is only one Universe and it is boundless and eternal.
  • I do not know of any monotheistic religion which says that God is bounded and has a beginning, as well as a possible end. In other words, the monotheistic religions that I am familiar with say that God is infinite and eternal.
  • An infinite and eternal God in an infinite and eternal Universe is conceivable and possible. More than one infinite and eternal God in an infinite and eternal Universe would, IMO, appear to be nonsense.
 
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