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GOD is...

catefrancescatefrances Posts: 29,003
edited December 2007 in A Moving Train
do you think that the problem with the concept of God is that Man tries to anthropomorphise him, so what were left with, is the thought of a bearded old man sitting in the clouds? would it be wiser to think of God as a force without any sort of physical feature? or is this already what people think?
hear my name
take a good look
this could be the day
hold my hand
lie beside me
i just need to say
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Comments

  • farfromglorifiedfarfromglorified Posts: 5,696
    The problem with the "concept of God" is that it's not a concept at all. It's an anti-concept.
  • harmless_little_f***harmless_little_f*** Posts: 8,005
    I think you are largely correct, yes...
    'We're learning songs for baby Jesus' birthday. His mum and dad were Merry and Joseph. He had a bed made of clay and the three kings bought him Gold, Frankenstein and Merv as presents.'

    - the great Sir Leo Harrison
  • surferdudesurferdude Posts: 2,057
    catefrances wrote:
    do you think that the problem with the concept of God is ........
    I didn't know there was a problem with God or the concept of God. Please elaborate on this problem.
    “One good thing about music,
    when it hits you, you feel to pain.
    So brutalize me with music.”
    ~ Bob Marley
  • Strangest TribeStrangest Tribe Posts: 2,502
    a Construct

    also the ruler of another planet

    A vehicle for someone's agenda

    A reason for the season
    the Minions
  • Uncle LeoUncle Leo Posts: 1,059
    catefrances wrote:
    do you think that the problem with the concept of God is that Man tries to anthropomorphise him, so what were left with, is the thought of a bearded old man sitting in the clouds? would it be wiser to think of God as a force without any sort of physical feature? or is this already what people think?

    It seems that you may be questioning our labeling of god as "he", "him" etc. Sorry, but God's a male. Kidding...

    I could see it as a problem in that organized religion paints god as fairly vindictive and it is easier to conceptualize that if god is personified. As for the role of god as a "male"...I really don't know how much that has contributed historically to gender roles and the treatment / equality of women in various cultures and religions. It may be a chicken and egg thing where the gender roles, etc. led to the belief in god as a male, as opposed to the male god meaning women should shut up and stay home.
    I cannot come up with a new sig till I get this egg off my face.
  • know1know1 Posts: 6,794
    catefrances wrote:
    do you think that the problem with the concept of God is that Man tries to anthropomorphise him, so what were left with, is the thought of a bearded old man sitting in the clouds? would it be wiser to think of God as a force without any sort of physical feature? or is this already what people think?

    I already try to avoid calling God anything other than God. Sometimes I slip, but I'm kind of uncomfortable calling God "he".
    The only people we should try to get even with...
    ...are those who've helped us.

    Right 'round the corner could be bigger than ourselves.
  • SoonForgotten2SoonForgotten2 Posts: 2,245
    The thing I always wonder is, if there is a God, why do humans by and large think that this God is something we, as human beings are even capable of comprehending?

    Surely something so powerful would be beyond simple human comprehension, right?
    <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jmgphotos/sets/72157600802942672/">My Pearl Jam Photos</a>

    <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jmgphotos/4731512142/&quot; title="PJ Banner2 by Mister J Photography, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1135/4731512142_258f2d6ab4_b.jpg&quot; width="630" height="112" alt="PJ Banner2" /></a>
  • lalalalaaaaaaaalalalalaaaaaaaa Posts: 2,445
    catefrances wrote:
    do you think that the problem with the concept of God is that Man tries to anthropomorphise him, so what were left with, is the thought of a bearded old man sitting in the clouds? would it be wiser to think of God as a force without any sort of physical feature? or is this already what people think?
    Why do you think there's a problem w/ the concept of God?
  • geniegenie Posts: 2,222
    what i wonder about is why is there so much talk about god?

    come'on people let's talk about tits and ass :D
  • CosmoCosmo Posts: 12,225
    catefrances wrote:
    do you think that the problem with the concept of God is that Man tries to anthropomorphise him, so what were left with, is the thought of a bearded old man sitting in the clouds? would it be wiser to think of God as a force without any sort of physical feature? or is this already what people think?
    ...
    Man created God in his own image. That way, Man can place all of his (Man's) shortcomings on God's shoulders.
    Allen Fieldhouse, home of the 2008 NCAA men's Basketball Champions! Go Jayhawks!
    Hail, Hail!!!
  • macgyver06macgyver06 Posts: 2,500
    how come everyone thinks everything is for them...when in actuality..everything is for me
  • DanimalDanimal Posts: 2,000
    SoonForgotten2 wrote:
    The thing I always wonder is, if there is a God, why do humans by and large think that this God is something we, as human beings are even capable of comprehending?

    Surely something so powerful would be beyond simple human comprehension, right?

    You don't know? Because some people think they are the fucking smartest thing in the universe.
    "I don't believe in PJ fans but I believe there is something, not too sure what." - Thoughts_Arrive


  • CosmoCosmo Posts: 12,225
    macgyver06 wrote:
    how come everyone thinks everything is for them...when in actuality..everything is for me
    ...
    That is the basis of religion. That God belongs to them... those who believe.
    The God concept was create by Neolithic Man to explain unknowns in the Natural world. The movement of the Sun, moon, weather...
    Man invents religion and God is the main character.
    ...
    I believe in God.. but nothing like the sometimes petty asshole that our Holy Scriptures portray Him as. The way i see it... life is the image of God we possess. The same life that is in the dogs and cats and ants and bees and flowers and grass. God belongs to all life... not just man's... and definiately not man's religions.
    Allen Fieldhouse, home of the 2008 NCAA men's Basketball Champions! Go Jayhawks!
    Hail, Hail!!!
  • ClimberInOzClimberInOz Posts: 216
    catefrances wrote:
    do you think that the problem with the concept of God is that Man tries to anthropomorphise him, so what were left with, is the thought of a bearded old man sitting in the clouds? would it be wiser to think of God as a force without any sort of physical feature? or is this already what people think?

    The anthropomorphising of, and consequent 'supernatural' status of god is part of why I am an atheist. That being said, there are many other reasons as well.

    But if you take away these things, and call god 'a force', is that any different from saying that there are causes of existence within the laws of nature that we just don't understand yet? In other words, without the anthropomorpic characteristics and supernatural status, does god cease being god and become simply an undiscovered natural cause.

    This type of non-supernatural god was what Einstein believed in. God became just another word for the mystery of nature.
  • WhizbangWhizbang Posts: 1,314
    Cosmo wrote:
    ...
    That is the basis of religion. That God belongs to them... those who believe.
    The God concept was create by Neolithic Man to explain unknowns in the Natural world. The movement of the Sun, moon, weather...
    Man invents religion and God is the main character.
    ...
    I believe in God.. but nothing like the sometimes petty asshole that our Holy Scriptures portray Him as. The way i see it... life is the image of God we possess. The same life that is in the dogs and cats and ants and bees and flowers and grass. God belongs to all life... not just man's... and definiately not man's religions.

    damn, I've never really been able to articulate my thoughts on God. who knows why? perhaps I'm sometimes surrounded by the petty and close-minded that I prefer to keep my views to myself. Ultimately, my views matter to me. I make the best of the life I possess - treat myself well, be good to family, friends & less fortunate, take care of the Earth and it's creatures - which is all I believe He'd want me to do.
    believe it or not, we don't "need" anything. that is only the spoiled brat in us trying to fill some temporary solution to an emptyness that does not exist.

    I have eaten so much gold I crapped excellence - drtyfrnk29

    Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all!
  • CosmoCosmo Posts: 12,225
    Whizbang wrote:
    damn, I've never really been able to articulate my thoughts on God. who knows why? perhaps I'm sometimes surrounded by the petty and close-minded that I prefer to keep my views to myself. Ultimately, my views matter to me. I make the best of the life I possess - treat myself well, be good to family, friends & less fortunate, take care of the Earth and it's creatures - which is all I believe He'd want me to do.
    ...
    Same here. Just because I believe this... doesn't mean i expect antone else to. It is personal to me.. and I will have to sort it out with God when the time comes.
    I don't expect to shake anyone from their religion, either. It's theirs and none of my business. I just happen to choose the path towards God that isn't confined by religion's dogma.
    While i'm here... I'm like you. I'm doing my best... even thought I often fail. I don't credit nor blame God for either. I am good towards others... for the most part... and care about the planet her inhabatants. also like you... I'm hoping that living this life is good enough... I would be extremely disappointed in God if He does indeed, turn out to be the petty, narcisstic, judgemental and angry vengeful asshole He is made out to be in our texts.
    Allen Fieldhouse, home of the 2008 NCAA men's Basketball Champions! Go Jayhawks!
    Hail, Hail!!!
  • catefrancescatefrances Posts: 29,003
    surferdude wrote:
    I didn't know there was a problem with God or the concept of God. Please elaborate on this problem.

    oh i didnt mean a problem that needs to be solved. i was just musing, as i do, and wondering whether if mankind thought of God as just a force rather than something requiring a anthropomorphic form.
    as many of you now i am an atheist, but i can grasp the 'concept' of God as a force. that Nature may well be that force. could it be mankind's own arrogance that leads us to think of God as human?
    hear my name
    take a good look
    this could be the day
    hold my hand
    lie beside me
    i just need to say
  • pjfan1223pjfan1223 Posts: 19
    God is a supernatural, all knowing, all creative energy force, in which it can manifest itself in many different ways...mostly by altering it's vibratory rate...hell is real...it exists on earth...God has to be vengeful for those who choose the path of no accountability...
    Give me Pearl Jam or give me death!
  • pjfan1223pjfan1223 Posts: 19
    Some people think the whole concept of God has to be a dumb loving God, here to serve their inflated egos...it is actually, quite the contrary...if you were the creatED, & not the creatOR, shouldn't you not be asking "What can God do for Me?", yet "What can I do for God?"...
    Give me Pearl Jam or give me death!
  • CosmoCosmo Posts: 12,225
    pjfan1223 wrote:
    God is a supernatural, all knowing, all creative energy force, in which it can manifest itself in many different ways...mostly by altering it's vibratory rate...hell is real...it exists on earth...God has to be vengeful for those who choose the path of no accountability...
    ...
    Why does God have to be vengeful?
    Sure, If a person chooses to do horrible things here on Earth, shouldn't be made to pay by the laws we make down here?
    Why do we need to be judged after we die? We should pay for our wrong doings here... where we commit them.
    Allen Fieldhouse, home of the 2008 NCAA men's Basketball Champions! Go Jayhawks!
    Hail, Hail!!!
  • keeponrockinkeeponrockin Posts: 7,446
    Of course God's a male, no woman would've fucked up this badly

    -George Carlin
    Believe me, when I was growin up, I thought the worst thing you could turn out to be was normal, So I say freaks in the most complementary way. Here's a song by a fellow freak - E.V
  • LikeAnOpeningBandForTheSunLikeAnOpeningBandForTheSun Posts: 6,097
    completely omnipotent, infallible, invulnerable, and beyond our comprehension.
  • FinsburyParkCarrotsFinsburyParkCarrots Seattle, WA Posts: 12,223
    God is every living, breathing, indescribable, inexplicable convergence of question marks on the hidden page in the secret book of the gallimaufry of shifting, pluralistic, wordless consciousness.

    See, the acid never wore off after all. :D
  • FinsburyParkCarrotsFinsburyParkCarrots Seattle, WA Posts: 12,223
    I should have said, "Currently whupping Ahnimus's arse."

    :D
  • oil alternativeoil alternative Posts: 192
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erich_von_D%C3%A4niken

    just one possibility. seriously recomend Vurt and pollen by Jeff Noon as well, especially for Fin!
    www.myspace.com/rockmastergeneral

    To break down borders and realise that we are one species and then the true patriotism comes from pride and love of the human race, not from the tribes of which we currently are divided, open your eyes your mind will see! - ME
  • ForestBrainForestBrain Posts: 460
    Whenever I think of God I only see bright light. I don't have any concept of him, really.
    When life gives you lemons, throw them at somebody.
  • PaperPlatesPaperPlates Posts: 1,745
    SoonForgotten2 wrote:
    The thing I always wonder is, if there is a God, why do humans by and large think that this God is something we, as human beings are even capable of comprehending?

    Surely something so powerful would be beyond simple human comprehension, right?


    Exactly right. Any person who starts a sentence with "God is............." is fooling themselves. I think by definition "God" is something we can't possibly fathom or understand. But there's nothing wrong with trying.
    Why go home

    www.myspace.com/jensvad
  • hrd2imgnhrd2imgn Southwest Burbs of Chicago Posts: 4,899
    if there is a God, he/she/it has been hijacked by the greed and hypocracy of religions, finatics, and people over the past 5000 years. If there was an original message to be conveyed we humans have distorted it so greatly to fit our own needs it seems to be impossible to ever determine what is true and what is not.

    I am not an atheist, don't hate religions, or religious people, just not brought up religiously, and as I age and try to "find God" or determine the truth in it, it seems no one has the answers I seek, and the only thing certain is whenever there is a good question there is some religious escape clause to basically cover that religions ass. I always hear free will and faith as cop outs for the bull shit that life seems to be, and all the crap that being human seems to reign upon us. It gets old seeing innocent people die day after day with no reason to it. Why does a 12 year old girl have to die of Cancer while some piece of shit murderer doesn't have to pay the price for drowning her kids in a bathtub? Oh wait she'll pay when it is time to judge....have faith karma, blah blah blah.

    Whenever I seem to need god the most, it seems that he is farthest away from me.....oh wait God is all around me I just have to see him....he's in the trees, the air in life...he is everywhere.
    It is really bullshit when I get told I am gonig to hell from my best friend because I don't accept Jesus as my savior depspite leading a more sinless life than he did, but because Jesus requires us to accept him or go to hell I'm gonna burn burn burn. Sounds real forgiving to me, I'll forgive everything you do except this. So some dude in Africa who has had no exposure to Jesus will go to hell because he doesn't accept him as his savior?

    what the fuck am I even saying, I don't even know. I just know I watched some girl die of cancer on TV this morning who had all the faith and belief in god in the world, where did it get her other than dead? Oh wait she's in heaven, it is a better place and her time here ws nothing comapred to her time she wil spend forever there. All the pain, suffering she did and all that she misses on Earth having died so young is all okay, she's in a better place.

    That just doesn't cut it for me, and to be honest I don't know what would

    God is hope, is that really what it comes down to? We are all gonna die, we won't know it when it happens we'll be dead, but to make us feel less scared we have God....is this what it is all about?


    lets avoid the fucking Ed Vedder God quotes too please, I am being serious here and don't need fucking I am Mine quoted.
  • Rhinocerous SurpriseRhinocerous Surprise Posts: 4,423
    It's probably been said in this thread already... But isn't "god" without the anthropomorphis just "nature"?
    Smokey Robinson constantly looks like he's trying to act natural after being accused of farting.
  • DissidentfeelingDissidentfeeling Posts: 78
    catefrances wrote:
    do you think that the problem with the concept of God is that Man tries to anthropomorphise him, so what were left with, is the thought of a bearded old man sitting in the clouds? would it be wiser to think of God as a force without any sort of physical feature? or is this already what people think?

    I think of God as a force without any sort of physical feature. I just can't picture a breaded man sitting in the clouds as God...I think that idea is a little silly. But I suppose it is wise in a way because if God took human form that's very possible as to what he would look like.
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