is god...

[waitasec]

the god of the NT,
the god of the OT,
the god of the quran?

or would you consider these ancient books as a byproduct written by people with limited knowledge of the world at large, the cosmos and the micro world therefore ultimately subjecting the understanding of god to their limited capacity of knowledge?

if it is truly god's intention to be understood by human's with their limited capacity for understanding, why is it there are so many variations of the way god is understood? wouldn't this mean that 'god' doesn't intend to be understood in any particular way?

if these ancient books are taken as infallible, why then the myriad of interpretations, within each of these ancient books?
infallible means not capable of erring....
isn't the fact that there are many interpretations contradicting this notion?
didn't it's intention actually err when not being understood correctly?

so with that in mind,
how can anyone know what god is?

 

[PolyHedral]

if it is truly god's intention to be understood by human's with their limited capacity for understanding, why is it there are so many variations of the way god is understood?

My answer is that that's not God's intention. God's intention is our technological development, using whatever techniques he can find, both overt and underhanded.

 

[Twig pentagram]

I think mankind is the god of all the religious scriptures that I've had contact with. Which definetly includes the Bible and Qu'ran. As for a holy creator of reality, I don't know if that exist / existed or not.

 

[InvestigateTruth]

if it is truly god's intention to be understood by human's with their limited capacity for understanding, why is it there are so many variations of the way god is understood? wouldn't this mean that 'god' doesn't intend to be understood in any particular way?

God cannot be understood by human's mind. Just as trees cannot understand us. Whatever we think of God, is only our imagination.

God chooses to be know through His Manifestations which are raised in every age.

Just as the Sun which is ordained to rise every day, and has no choice but to rise, God also has ordained the Sun of Truth, who is His own Manifestation, to rise in every age and illumine the world. Therefore the best we can do to know God, is knowing His Manifestations. These Manifestations reflect the attributes and Will of God.
But the Manifestations, come with clouds of heaven. Meaning that, just as the cloud prevents people from seeing and recognizing the sun, those Manifestation also come with human limitations which prevents people from recognizing them. The clouds such as human limitations, eating, walking like everyone else, thus creating doubts, which becomes a veil like a cloud; "How this man who is like everyone else, can claim to have a revelation from God?"

if these ancient books are taken as infallible, why then the myriad of interpretations, within each of these ancient books?

About interpretations. The verses of these Books, are 2 types. 1.clear to understand, and 2. figurative.
Even these Books themselves say that, not everyone is capable of understanding the figurative verses.

infallible means not capable of erring....

isn't the fact that there are many interpretations contradicting this notion?

The fact that many people would misunderstand the interpretation of these Books, is due to their limited understandings, not that the Books have error.

didn't it's intention actually err when not being understood correctly?

It's intention was not to be understood by everyone. The standard is high, and everyone according to his capacity can take advantage and learn.

God has created people with many different level of understandings. Just as He created all creatures with differences. How is it that the desert is bereft from rain, bereft from beautiful flowers, but garden has many beautiful flowers or trees with fruits?
Not every sea hath pearls; not every branch will flower, nor will the nightingale sing thereon.
All stars have equal light? Are the Sun and the moon the same? Whatever God gives, is His bounty. No one can say, why He gave someone else more or less. I believe there is a wisdom in that.

so with that in mind,

how can anyone know what god is?

Only through the Manifestation of the age, the Sun of Truth , who for our age, we believe, is Baha'u'llah.

 

[Thief]

the god of the NT,
the god of the OT,
the god of the quran?

or would you consider these ancient books as a byproduct written by people with limited knowledge of the world at large, the cosmos and the micro world therefore ultimately subjecting the understanding of god to their limited capacity of knowledge?

if it is truly god's intention to be understood by human's with their limited capacity for understanding, why is it there are so many variations of the way god is understood? wouldn't this mean that 'god' doesn't intend to be understood in any particular way?

if these ancient books are taken as infallible, why then the myriad of interpretations, within each of these ancient books?
infallible means not capable of erring....
isn't the fact that there are many interpretations contradicting this notion?
didn't it's intention actually err when not being understood correctly?

so with that in mind,
how can anyone know what god is?

Why not consider Man as a creation of interest because of the diversity.
If each one of us held exactly the same perspective.....
then a conversation with you would be identical to a discussion with me.

If we were all the same...even the forum would never come to existence.

Total duplication would be like a science fiction story....
wherein the plot moves each character to conformity...absolutely.
And each time I see such plot, some hero character undoes the scheme of things...and everyone is suddenly free to think and feel...individually.
Happy again.

Of course the 'collective' has been destroyed.

 

[The Sum of Awe]

God is not described and never will be known, not even 1%.

 

[Vendetta]

God is not described and never will be known, not even 1%.

Thought you had a lack of faith in God bro?

 

[The Sum of Awe]

Thought you had a lack of faith in God bro?

I do, but I'm saying if there was a God.

 

[Thief]

God is not described and never will be known, not even 1%.

He is bigger, faster, stronger, more intelligent, and greatly experienced.

Does that seem to you more than one percent?

 

[PolyHedral]

God is not described and never will be known, not even 1%.

That's either a description of god in itself, or logically incoherent.

 

[Reptillian]

That's either a description of god in itself, or logically incoherent.

Its only logically incoherent if its more than one percent of God's description.

 

[BruceDLimber]

They are all the same One God (God has MANY names, all legitimate), but over time the portrait of God has been clarified until in the newest scriptures, He is clearly portrayed as the All-loving, All-beneficent Father interested only in our well-being and spiritual progress!

Best!

Bruce

 

[averageJOE]

the god of the NT,
the god of the OT,
the god of the quran?

None of the above.

if it is truly god's intention to be understood by human's with their limited capacity for understanding, why is it there are so many variations of the way god is understood? wouldn't this mean that 'god' doesn't intend to be understood in any particular way?

Intentions are a human trait that god (assuming god exists) isn't limited to.

so with that in mind,
how can anyone know what god is?

I believe that we can't and never will.

 

[waitasec]

Intentions are a human trait that god (assuming god exists) isn't limited to.

i find this really interesting...

can you expand on this...
please?

 

[sojourner]

the god of the NT,
the god of the OT,
the god of the quran?

or would you consider these ancient books as a byproduct written by people with limited knowledge of the world at large, the cosmos and the micro world therefore ultimately subjecting the understanding of god to their limited capacity of knowledge?

if it is truly god's intention to be understood by human's with their limited capacity for understanding, why is it there are so many variations of the way god is understood? wouldn't this mean that 'god' doesn't intend to be understood in any particular way?

if these ancient books are taken as infallible, why then the myriad of interpretations, within each of these ancient books?
infallible means not capable of erring....
isn't the fact that there are many interpretations contradicting this notion?
didn't it's intention actually err when not being understood correctly?

so with that in mind,
how can anyone know what god is?

We can't fully know. Many of us do not even know who we are...

 

[averageJOE]

i find this really interesting...

can you expand on this...
please?

When people say god has love, or anger, or desires, orintentions or any kind of human emotion or trait all they are doing is anthropomorhisizing their deity.

 

[waitasec]

When people say god has love, or anger, or desires, orintentions or any kind of human emotion or trait all they are doing is anthropomorhisizing their deity.

but i wonder how else would we be able to understand what god is...
for instance, god could never be indifferent....

 

[waitasec]

We can't fully know. Many of us do not even know who we are...

what!!!
:thud:

good point...:yes:

 

[The Sum of Awe]

He is bigger, faster, stronger, more intelligent, and greatly experienced.

Does that seem to you more than one percent?

How do you know it is not smaller, slower, weaker, ignorant, and inexperienced?

 

[bain-druie]

God cannot be understood by human's mind. Just as trees cannot understand us.

*Ahem* - on behalf of the many wise trees out there, I'd like to object. They understand us just fine; it is we who do not understand them. :rainbow1: