What Defines a God?

[LordOmnit]

Just a point.
The word 'God' and 'god' have different meanings.
Capitalized it means the Judaeo-Christian god. Uncapitalized it means any god.
Hence, saying 'a God' is a completely meaningless phrase, as if you're talking about the Judaeo-Christian god, there can't be more than one of them, and if you're talking about gods in general it shouldn't be capitalized.

Actually, while 'God' might be thought to refer to the Judaeo-Christian supreme being it doesn't have to be used in that manner. Even as big as they are, claiming an entire proper noun version of a word because that's how they use it isn't entirely valid since if I was, say, a Shinto devotee and prayed to a deity enshrined locally I would be fully correct in referring to that deity as 'God' since I was using it as a name/title rather than a descriptor. But you are still correct in that the phrase 'a God' is meaningless for the same reasons I stated above.
---over with semi-ranting---
Simply put in my perspective a god is any supernatural being that is worshiped or otherwise held in respect for their portfolio of governance (sort of given that they rule over something).

 

[Siris]

The first step is that you have to not exist. Then, you have to somehow generate followers, while simultaniously not existing...

 

[JaguarWong]

Mathematics say that you can't go all the way to a place without first going half way.
But to go half way you have to go half of half way, and half of that, and half of that, and half of that...

God is everything Maths tells us is impossible - but isn't.

(FWIW I'm not religious in any way)

 

[Mr. Squirrel]

Nothing defines a god except followers, or atleast people who acknowledge it/him/her. Without them a god wouldn't be there and they in a sense define him by believing in him. Or atleast that's what I think best defines a god.
I could also just be talking crap, but I don't think so.

 

[Baby Tea]

The said paradox can also be resolved with the notion that an omnipotent being doesn´t have to work within the frame of logic. It can create an object too heavy to lift and it can still lift it.

I would disagree, actually. C.S Lewis said in his book 'Mere Christianity' that 'nonsense is still nonsense, even when dealing with God'. That might not be an exact quote, but the idea is there.

As an example, I couldn't say 'God can make a 4 story house only have 2 stories.' That's nonsense. That doesn't limit God in anyway, it's just silly. A 4 story house by definition and in name is, in fact, a 4 story house. It cannot only have two stories and still be a 4 story house.

The 'Can God make a rock so big even he couldn't move it?' question is in the same vein, but not exactly the same. God, as I see it anyways, has shown to be able to limit himself, as per Jesus being wholly God, yet wholly man. So God making a rock that he cannot move isn't a limitation of God, since God can freely limit himself if He so chooses (Thus not be able to move the rock).

Now this all could be up for debate a little, since that's a response from someone, me, who has a Christian worldview. Other religious or spiritual worldviews might have their own take, but that's how I see it anyways.

 

[Incredible Bullshitting Man]

The said paradox can also be resolved with the notion that an omnipotent being doesn´t have to work within the frame of logic. It can create an object too heavy to lift and it can still lift it.

I would disagree, actually. C.S Lewis said in his book 'Mere Christianity' that 'nonsense is still nonsense, even when dealing with God'. That might not be an exact quote, but the idea is there.

As an example, I couldn't say 'God can make a 4 story house only have 2 stories.' That's nonsense. That doesn't limit God in anyway, it's just silly. A 4 story house by definition and in name is, in fact, a 4 story house. It cannot only have two stories and still be a 4 story house.

The 'Can God make a rock so big even he couldn't move it?' question is in the same vein, but not exactly the same. God, as I see it anyways, has shown to be able to limit himself, as per Jesus being wholly God, yet wholly man. So God making a rock that he cannot move isn't a limitation of God, since God can freely limit himself if He so chooses (Thus not be able to move the rock).

Now this all could be up for debate a little, since that's a response from someone, me, who has a Christian worldview. Other religious or spiritual worldviews might have their own take, but that's how I see it anyways.

While I may not agree with your argument, I accept it. God is one thing I´m not eager to argue about, since basically it´s just a matter of view, and my own view of God is somewhat obscure. I tend to think of god as an abstract idea which has different manifestations and interpretation in different cultures. I have adopted chance as my god. I´m fine with that.

 

[Baby Tea]

While I may not agree with your argument, I accept it. God is one thing I´m not eager to argue about, since basically it´s just a matter of view, and my own view of God is somewhat obscure. I tend to think of god as an abstract idea which has different manifestations and interpretation in different cultures. I have adopted chance as my god. I´m fine with that.

Fair enough. It's good to have more religiously tolerant people on this site. There have been too many theophobics recently, so it's nice to have some normal discussion on this subject without the other party saying how I'm some crazy, uneducated moron because I believe in God.

You're most certainly welcome here.

 

[FlipC]

Easy-peasy A god is any person/object/force imaginary or otherwise that is believed to be such by any sentient being.

You want that big rock over there to be a god, fine it's a god. Sure it's a god that doesn't appear to take any interest in you in the form of rewards or punishments; nor does it appear to be omnipotent, omniscient, or omnipresent; and someone's just taken a dent out of it with a hammer. Then again what do you know, that's why it's a god and you're not.

 

[HSIAMetalKing]

Kinda like asking what defines a zombie, a vampire or a dragon... Sci-fi does.

Heheh. I like this.

 

[Peaterson Is Back]

anything yo can beleave i can be classified as "god"

 

[Incredible Bullshitting Man]

Fair enough. It's good to have more religiously tolerant people on this site. There have been too many theophobics recently, so it's nice to have some normal discussion on this subject without the other party saying how I'm some crazy, uneducated moron because I believe in God.

You're most certainly welcome here.

Thank you.
Even though I´m but a single man and as such may not make a difference in a forum as large as this, I´m always open to casual discussion, even about religion.

 

[Beetlejooce]

It's a popularity contest.

In ancient Egypt, it was the gods like Ra, Osiris and all those people who were undeniably the gods. Everyone knew it to be true. Now no one believes it any longer they cease to be gods.

Now 'God' is the most believed in. But in 600 years or so there will probably be someone else. A god is just the most popular entity of the time.

 

[AgentNein]

The said paradox can also be resolved with the notion that an omnipotent being doesn´t have to work within the frame of logic. It can create an object too heavy to lift and it can still lift it.

...so one thing God can't do is set up a rigid and unbreakable structure of physical laws for the world? Because said god could always break said rigid structure? Or he can't break the structure he created, either way he is not omnipotent. But now we're back at square one, aren't we?

This would only be an issue of course if you define god as an omnipotent being. If you believe that your god has 'great and near limitless power', that's another thing entirely.

 

[joystickjunki3]

See I can't pinpoint what exactly what any religion such as Christianity would define a god. I remember a teacher talking about if god could make a rock so big that he couldn't move it, would that make him powerless? Is it the unstoppable force or the immovable object? Or what defines a god?

Well, as far as I can tell from my upbringing in a Judeo-Christian environment, a god is a sentient being that possesses both knowledge and eternal life. Hence, when Adam and Eve partook in the forbidden fruit of knowledge God banished them from Eden so as not to allow them the chance to become immortal as He and the angels are.

Others might say that the ability to create life is god-like. But that's just a branch of knowledge in my opinion.

 

[bue519]

A god is a weapon of mass seduction.. A made up figure trying to unite people against a common "enemy" to serve the leaders of the cult best, often financially..

Ah yes, isn't religion the "opiate" of the masses?

 

[joystickjunki3]

See I can't pinpoint what exactly what any religion such as Christianity would define a god. I remember a teacher talking about if god could make a rock so big that he couldn't move it, would that make him powerless? Is it the unstoppable force or the immovable object? Or what defines a god?

Well, as far as I can tell from my upbringing in a Judeo-Christian environment, a god is a sentient being that possesses both knowledge and eternal life. Hence, when Adam and Eve partook in the forbidden fruit of knowledge God banished them from Eden so as not to allow them the chance to become immortal as He and the angels are.

Others might say that the ability to create life is god-like. But that's just a branch of knowledge in my opinion.

It's more like, creating life without life is god-like. When a man and a woman make a child (thus life) it isn't god-like, but if someone uses molecules and test-tubes to make life, then it's perceived as god-like.

I should've been more specific. That is what I was referring to.

 

[Hunde Des Krieg]

I don't really believe in any particular religion's god, but I would say the laws of physics and other natural and mathematical laws are god. If you get my meaning. To me god isn't a being but kind of like a force, like the force.

 

[AgentNein]

A god is a weapon of mass seduction.. A made up figure trying to unite people against a common "enemy" to serve the leaders of the cult best, often financially..

Ah yes, isn't religion the "opiate" of the masses?

People always interpret that as a bad thing. I don't think the quote was ever actually intended to be a knock on religion.

We live in a harsh world. Most of us forum goers don't really realize how harsh and cruel the world can actually be to some people. An opiate such as religion can help fend off the hopelessness for a lot of people.