Do we really know who God is?

Quintessence · Dec 19, 2017

Moon195 said:
The God I based the discussion on, is the true and unique Creator of the whole universe.

Well, there's little doubt that the Abrahamic religions - mostly branches of Christianity and Islam - have been very successful in forcibly drilling their god-concept into the masses. And not in a good way. The rest of your post is pretty much a demonstration of that. I realize that what you said probably makes perfect sense to you, but to those of us with different theologies? Let's just say it doesn't come across in positive ways.

Moon195 · Dec 20, 2017

Quintessence said:
Well, there's little doubt that the Abrahamic religions - mostly branches of Christianity and Islam - have been very successful in forcibly drilling their god-concept into the masses. And not in a good way. The rest of your post is pretty much a demonstration of that. I realize that what you said probably makes perfect sense to you, but to those of us with different theologies? Let's just say it doesn't come across in positive ways.

who or what ever God is, it is independent from our thoughts, religion and opinions. God is unique and the creator of the universe. we are looking for that God.

Moon195 · Dec 20, 2017

74x12 said:
I believe we cannot know God unless He personally shows us.

That's right, but before that, our entire entity should change accordingly to withstand the infinite pressure. maybe would turn our entity into light in order for us be able to understand and know him.

Jedster · Dec 20, 2017

Nakosis said:
See, here's my problem. I followed someone who claimed to be the "Perfect Master". Basically claiming to be the current incarnation of God's messenger.
....

@Nakosis
I also followed a claimant to be THE perfect master of the age.
He offered proof by giving people 'Knowledge of God', a direct experience by means of meditation techniques. This knowledge was also shown to be in many scriptures, both Abrahamic and Dharmic as well as non-Theist writings.

For many(including myself) these techniques were so strong that no more proof was needed.
It took me 23 years to dissociate the beliefs pedalled with the proof, from my actual experience.
I still remain a meditator, but without the necessity to wrap any beliefs around what I experience.

Moon195 · Dec 20, 2017

Nakosis said:
See, here's my problem. I followed someone who claimed to be the "Perfect Master". Basically claiming to be the current incarnation of God's messenger.

He made all these claims to be the one to bring us to God. Lots of miracles were claimed by everyday folks. He implied his legacy was back to Christ.

He had over 1 million followers in 55 different countries. Many more followers than that of Christ in the 1st century.

It seemed reasonable at the time to accept I was led by divine forces to become a follower of this person. This second coming of Christ. His "authority" was justified through passages from the Bible.

So here was this person who had the knowledge I lacked. Since I had no knowledge of God, I was without a position to argue against the claims he made about God.

So unless you know God yourself, you have to blindly accept the authority of one who claims to speak for God.

Jesus and Mohammed are figures from the past. Folks I don't really know. While I met my messenger from God in the flesh and could touch them.

Folks who decided to follow Jesus or Mohammed, did they have the knowledge to critically know if these two spoke the truth about God?

Folks, for their own reasoning decided to blindly accept the authority of someone.

At the time I felt I had as much reason to accept my messenger of God as did the followers of any.

So religions get started from the ignorance of it's followers. Lacking any knowledge of God themselves and having to choose in that ignorance who is to led them to knowledge of God.

sorry to hear that, but you are not the only one who has fallen in to the traps of these evils. However, this can be a useful experience for you and others as well, so that they wouldn't step into those traps.
as stated in Koran, a messenger from God should always justify his stance by logical means or miracles. there is a lot to say in this regard but it would take days to write about it. there are some people who have some powers,but they are not in the right path and misguide and abuse their gullible followers.
even religion itself can be misguiding and there are lots of reasons to this claim.

all religions should be purified from the untrue things that has been added into them by evils throughout history. this is a tough thing to do and I think there is only one person on our planet who is doing this at the moment. because he has the great knowledge required to do so.
Anyway, to make a long story short, to my mind and experience, to gain the knowledge of God, there is no way buy to first:
1- know yourself which will lead to determinism.
2- know the truth about the world that you are living in. Ali Ibn Abitalib, the first successor to Muhammad, has a lot of saying about the world which are gathered in Nahjulbalaghe or 'Peak of Excellence'. but the original or let's say the Arabic words are much better than the translation.
3- Finding contradictions between what God has stated (in all the Holy Books) and what really exists in our world. for example God states that I will answer when you ask or pray for it. unfortunately many people are praying and seeking help from God but there is no answer. people are at war, many face hunger and death,many have fled from their homes, ... so where is God's help????
Definitely we don't know who the real God is yet.
regards

whirlingmerc · Dec 20, 2017

Moon195 said:
Have religions been successful in introducing who God is?

The real God is a very successful God and says 'My purposes will stand'
He uses fakegodz with fakegoodnews to illustrate what he is not all the time
And contrary to popular beliefs he is no mumbler who doesn't speak with clarity

Exodus Overview

Screen Shot 2017-12-20 at 6.48.04 AM.png

9-10ths_Penguin · Dec 20, 2017

Moon195 said:
Have religions been successful in introducing who God is?

Hollywood, not religions. God is either like George Burns, Alanis Morrissette, or Morgan Freeman depending on your age and personal inclination.

9-10ths_Penguin · Dec 20, 2017

Moon195 said:
No one can say "what" God is. How can we say what God is when no one has ever seen it !!!, but we can talk or discuss "who" God is by thinking on his creation. For example we realize that God must be by billions of miles, more knowledgeable than what we imagine. studying the universe and galaxies will result in realizing how powerful God is! we are seeking this type of knowledge about God , not "what" God is!

Species where the young eat their own mothers are plentiful enough that there's actually a word for the strategy:

Matriphagy - Wikipedia

When we think on this aspect of God's creation, what does it tell us about who God is?

Quintessence · Dec 20, 2017

Moon195 said:
who or what ever God is, it is independent from our thoughts, religion and opinions. God is unique and the creator of the universe. we are looking for that God.

We? No, there's no "we" in this. I'm not looking for your god; I've already found my own gods.

Nakosis · Dec 20, 2017

Jedster said:
@Nakosis
I also followed a claimant to be THE perfect master of the age.
He offered proof by giving people 'Knowledge of God', a direct experience by means of meditation techniques. This knowledge was also shown to be in many scriptures, both Abrahamic and Dharmic as well as non-Theist writings.

For many(including myself) these techniques were so strong that no more proof was needed.
It took me 23 years to dissociate the beliefs pedalled with the proof, from my actual experience.
I still remain a meditator, but without the necessity to wrap any beliefs around what I experience.

This is also similar to my experience. The mind/brain is really quite amazing. What we are capable of seems only limited by our creativity. Sages, mystics, prophets kind of touch on this limitless self. When we seek the truth of their claims, I think this is also what we find.

Moon195 · Dec 20, 2017

Quintessence said:
We? No, there's no "we" in this. I'm not looking for your god; I've already found my own gods.

Good luck

Moon195 · Dec 20, 2017

9-10ths_Penguin said:
Species where the young eat their own mothers are plentiful enough that there's actually a word for the strategy:

Matriphagy - Wikipedia

When we think on this aspect of God's creation, what does it tell us about who God is?

Doesn't it tell you that he can be extremely cruel???

Jedster · Dec 20, 2017

Nakosis said:
This is also similar to my experience. The mind/brain is really quite amazing. What we are capable of seems only limited by our creativity. Sages, mystics, prophets kind of touch on this limitless self. When we seek the truth of their claims, I think this is also what we find.

IMO, these sages/mystics/prophets etc were just people who expressed their own experiences because they saw the potential of human beings to experience something wonderful or as you say a touch on this limitless self. I doubt any of them wanted to be deified or their writings to be elevated in any way. I see it as somewhat sad, that for many, the words of their scripture is the beginning and the end.

Nakosis · Dec 20, 2017

Jedster said:
IMO, these sages/mystics/prophets etc were just people who expressed their own experiences because they saw the potential of human beings to experience something wonderful or as you say a touch on this limitless self. I doubt any of them wanted to be deified or their writings to be elevated in any way. I see it as somewhat sad, that for many, the words of their scripture is the beginning and the end.

Maybe why Jesus didn't write anything down.

Baroodi · Dec 21, 2017

syo said:
yes. i believe in polytheism, and i recognise all religious gods as true. take christianity and islam, for example. each religion teaches god in their own perspective. why saying that only one is correct? it's like negating perspectives, and that's false. if i want to have the whole picture, i take into account all gods from all religions.

Two captains will sink the boat

True God is Omnipotent all alone
nothing in earth or heavens would incapacitate Him

David T · Dec 22, 2017

Moon195 said:
Have religions been successful in introducing who God is?

Religion is fantastic at camaflauging the topic pretending its understanding. Then others not in religion looking at the camaflauge and say nonsense the topic doesn't exist. Apparently some agree the camaflauge determines. I disagree the camaflauge does not determine.

Akivah · Dec 22, 2017

Moon195 said:
Have religions been successful in introducing who God is?

How is the success measured?

JoeEcho · Dec 22, 2017

“At first it’s difficult for the mind to accept that there’s something beyond itself, that there’s something of greater value and of greater capacity for discerning truth than itself.” -Dr. David Hawkins M.D., Ph.D.

Success would be in the introduction followed by failure when determining the rest by the introduction alone. Similar to judging a book by it's cover.

The devil is in the details.

Dantedeven · Dec 22, 2017

We know that God is extremely intelligent and loves us.
But we are small overall and have problems in this world.
Should we rely on God to solve it all, or does God's Word contain enough information
for us to solve them ourselves.

Everytime that God's Manifestation visited earth, it was during war.
We always welcome the Lord with our problems and our wars.
But the Lord knows that after all these years, we still remain beasts.
For we like to say humans and animals, but our behaviour is far from it.

Read Genesis 8:20 and 8:21 and 8:22, it is where the Lord accepts us for who we are.
And He gives us advice on what to do, like always.
The Lord loves us extremely and He has a goal for us all.
But, is that goal impossible for now?

InChrist · Dec 22, 2017

Moon195 said:
Did Jesus Christ create the universe?

Yes, Jesus Christ created the universe.

For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. Colossians 1:16-17

Do we really know who God is?

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