What Stands Behind the Word "God"?

1. 61

   God shetposted 9 years ago

   "And those who were seen dancing were thought to be insane by those who could not hear the music."
   
   ~ Friedrich Nietzsche
   
   
   
   
   
   Suppose you have never seen a tiger cub.  You were born and brought up in a city, while spending most of your time in education and in preparation for your future career. Your only interest is in softwares and in technology.
   
   One of your close friends comes back from 'the Tiger Temple', which is in Thailand. He has fallen in love with tigers and tiger cubs. He shows you the pictures that he took there. His eyes brighten up whenever he speaks about them. You realize an unspeakable love that has grown within him for these creatures. Now here is the thing:  Whenever you hear him sounding the word "tiger cubs" ~ the only image that pops up in your mind is that of some vicious and moving 'multicolored balls of fur' (tiger cubs). You even start to consider your friend a bit mad because he seems to appreciate something which is completely 'invisible' to you ~ in the young members of a brutal species (tigers).
   
   
   
   You advise your friend that he should consult a psychiatrist. Hearing this, your friend advises you to visit the Tiger Temple of Thailand.
   
   You spend the first few days observing these little creatures. You ask: 'What is so special about these animals?'. But one day, one of these tiger cubs come to you and fall asleep in your lap. That day, a change takes place inside you. You discover something that you didn't know before. You too fall in love with tiger cubs.
   
   
   
   I'm trying to convey a point here. Most people who do not like "God" ~ or dislike the whose issue of the reality of "Its" existence when they hear the word "God" ~ do not perceive the reality that stands behind and connected to that word. "God" is merely a word. But there is a reality behind it, just as there is a reality behind the word "tiger cubs".
   
   It is true that we do not know about this entity ("God") in detail, yet. But it is equally true that human beings are capable of perceiving it up-to a certain extent.

   replyreport
   1. 93

      wildernessposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Unfortunately, there is no "temple tiger" and not even a "Thialand".  There is no cub to fall asleep in your lap.  The whole thing is an imaginative but photoshopped picture designed to elicit an emotional reaction in the viewer.
      
      I trust you see the point; there is nothing real about the whole god thing, at least nothing you can show anyone.  You can't even produce that photoshopped picture, but must rely on words and manipulation to convince anyone your god is real.  You cannot show any reality behind the notion, and no one can veritably perceive or experience it - just the emotions you have manipulated them to produce.  What you experience - up to a point - is nothing but your own emotions that ascribe to a god and endeavor to raise in others as well.

      replyreport
      1. 61

         God shetposted 9 years agoin reply to this

         There is nothing real about the love between a human being and a tiger. In the sense that you can't convince anyone about it when they do not want to be convinced about it.
         
         
         I hope that you see the point:  the existence of the 'Temple tiger', or the existence of 'Thailand', or the reality of 'a tiger cub falling asleep in your lap' ~ doesn't necessarily convince someone of the love and intimate relationship between a person and a tiger cub.

         replyreport
         1. 93

            wildernessposted 9 years agoin reply to this

            Oh, I don't know; both you and the tiger are quite visible, as are your reactions to each other.  Reactions which indicate love.
            
            But do note that I did not reference your love, just the existence of a make believe entity from another universe.  One person can love another, or an animal, or themselves, or the memory of one that has died, and even an imaginary being.  Love thus isn't in question; just the existence of a god and the claim that it can be experienced or perceived.

            replyreport
            1. 61

               God shetposted 9 years agoin reply to this

               "Oh, I don't know; both you and the tiger are quite visible, as are your reactions to each other.  Reactions which indicate love."
               
               ~ How do 'reactions' indicate love?

               replyreport
               1. 61

                  Link10103posted 9 years agoin reply to this

                  I would imagine a person of faith wouldnt have to ask that question.
                  
                  A new surprise every day...

                  replyreport
                  1. 61

                     God shetposted 9 years agoin reply to this

                     Sight Required To Believe?
                     
                     "I read a question earlier today that for some unknown reason compared "God" and "Wind". The poster of the question asked that if people do not believe in god because they cannot see him, why do they believe in wind if they cannot see it?
                     
                     First of all, I do not need to see wind in order to know it exists because I can feel it. As it turns out however, I CAN see wind, but only under certain conditions (such as a tornado). I can also see the effects of wind on trees, skyscrapers, grass, etc. Even better, I can create wind myself by flapping my hands or waving a small plate back and forth. So even if I were not able to sometimes see wind, I can still see its effects and can even make some myself, but technically I shouldn't think it exists because I cannot see it. That is akin to saying human beings do not exist to blind people because blind people cannot see anything, even though they can clearly feel and hear other people."
                     
                     
                     http://link10103.hubpages.com/hub/Seein … To-Believe

                     replyreport
                     1. 61

                        Link10103posted 9 years agoin reply to this

                        Wonder if HP would find it a legitimate cause for reporting someone on the grounds of advertising other people's hubs without permission, especially when it has nothing to do with what is being said.

                        replyreport
                        1. 61

                           God shetposted 9 years agoin reply to this

                           I feel they have enough discretion to figure that out precisely themselves.

                           replyreport