Putting God in a box?

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   mischeviousmeposted 12 years ago

   I don't believe in a God per say, but it seems that about 70%+ or - Does. I would tend to think that if such a being existed, it would encompass the enirety of creation. Many religions have tendancy to say that God is just a watcher from afar. How could they know? To me God is just the illusion of overactive brains, though God (to me) is everyone and everything. A unity of the oneness, part of the universal consciousness, not a fairytale being that punishes or destroys. God is in the eyes of all creatures, that part of my self I see in all things, even rocks.

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      MP50posted 12 years agoin reply to this

      God is who he is.

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      Insane Mundaneposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      You contradict yourself right there, no offense, when you say "To me God is just the illusion of overactive brains, though God (to me) is everyone and everything. A unity of the oneness, part of the universal consciousness, not a fairytale being that punishes or destroys. "
      If your God is everything, which isn't a bad belief, but you say that we are all God, which again, sounds wise, how can you say that God is not one that "punishes and destroys" as mankind demonstrates such things on a regular basis?  What?  Is their illusion false while yours is truth, although you DID SAY that IT is everything.  Com'on...  Don't tell me that the rose-colored glasses you sport, has also made your Buddha end up being a prejudice upon particular illusions of some sorts?  I see that you definitely steer clear from Dogma, which is a good thing, but you also seem to be at a stage where you really are not sure what to adhere to, even on simple issues like yourself.
      Do you sleep well?

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         mischeviousmeposted 12 years agoin reply to this

         I sleep very well, though I tend to meditate for number of hours before I actually fall asleep. When I say God, I mean the beauty of life. I think all things are part of said beauty. This universe is unique in it's self, for it is the only one we know and we sprang forth from it. The universe gave birth to all things that we are able to observe and we're made from the same materials all other things are composed of, that is God to me. The unifying connection between all things.

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   janesixposted 12 years ago

   I am curious as to why you dwell on these things so much? Almost obsessively?

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      mischeviousmeposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      I'm trying to break the cycle, by pointing out the obsurdity of chaining one's God to a book. I do obsess a little, but it is for the good of man. I'm not trying to make anyone angry, I'm just pointing out the fundamental flaw with most religions. One cannot say that God is bigger than the universe, if God is confined to a 6" x 8" inch book. Many religious groups believe that God can only be found in the pages of their holly books, yet they refuse to see God anywhere else. God has been put in a box and anyone that has a different idea of it is considered a heathen and is treated as heretic.

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         janesixposted 12 years agoin reply to this

         I'm starting to think the Bible shows the way to God, but now how most people think. And definitely not the God that most people think of either.

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            mischeviousmeposted 12 years agoin reply to this

            As soon as God was cut off from the world, the meaning of the word God was destroyed. If God is everywhere, then all life is God and should be treated as such.

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               janesixposted 12 years agoin reply to this

               I agree.
               
               Most people simply don't care though. They will continue to believe in a white haired old man in the sky, and not really try to understand how the universe is really put together, and what the whole point is. Self discovery is a hard road that the majority aren't willing to take.

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                  mischeviousmeposted 12 years agoin reply to this

                  Pride is a child of ego.

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               Brenda Durhamposted 12 years agoin reply to this

               I'm pretty sure the concept of God's "omnipresence" simply means that He can see everywhere, and/or that His Spirit can be present anywhere He wants it to be.   Doesn't mean He is "in" everything like inside the rocks and trees, etc.
               If you break open a rock, does a spirit come out of it?   I don't think so Tim.

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                  janesixposted 12 years agoin reply to this

                  Yes, we realize you think that. Most Christians do. Nothing wrong with thinking that way.
                  
                  You think that God is outside of everything. Some of us think that there is life force in everything,and some of us call that "God".
                  
                  Who's right? Who knows? Not me,and not you.

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                     Brenda Durhamposted 12 years agoin reply to this

                     No I don't think that God is outside of everything.  He's "in heaven" and He's wherever He wants to be, and He's in the hearts of believers.  But He's not confined to anywhere.

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         Brenda Durhamposted 12 years agoin reply to this

         Maybe some religions think God is only in the pages of a book, but Christians don't.  We cherish the Bible as God's word, yes, the only Holy book, but we don't confine Him to the written word.

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            mischeviousmeposted 12 years agoin reply to this

            Yet you say that the bible is the only holly book and you believe that Jesus is the only path to God. That kind secludes everyone else outside of  Christendom. Does it not? This would mean that you've put God in this sphere or box of protection and that the word can never mean anything else, to anyone else.

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               Brenda Durhamposted 12 years agoin reply to this

               No.  It means that God has put US into a box of protection, and that's a good thing!   Yet many people balk at that.  They want out of the box with total freedom to do whatever they want, but expect God to protect them when they get in trouble.   I've been there.  And the "box" is much safer and loving than it is outside the box.

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                  A Troubled Manposted 12 years agoin reply to this

                  Yet, many have total freedom and don't need your gods protection nor do they get in trouble. Do you look for trouble when you have freedom?

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                     Brenda Durhamposted 12 years agoin reply to this

                     We all do eventually.  It's part of human nature.  4 Runner describes it eloquently in this video.
                     
                     http://youtu.be/F3fIWE9KxFY

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                     Disappearingheadposted 12 years agoin reply to this

                     This is a good argument. I live my life, in the box or out of it, but I don't believe my life is under any kind of threat except from other drivers on my commute to work.

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                        Insane Mundaneposted 12 years agoin reply to this

                        Bad traffic and smog sucks!  Online jobs seem to at least be cleaner, but only when it comes to the air pollution part; ha!

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   jonnycomelatelyposted 12 years ago

   Brenda, great respect to your views and the way you see things.  I just wonder if you are able to expand the possibilities, even just slightly?
   
   Are you able to allow the possibility that this "god" you speak of is not a "He?" Or is that the only way in which you can perceive god?
   
   Are you able to see the possibility of this world NOT holding the human creature in superiority over every other living thing?  Or do you take the metaphors of the bible in their literal entirety?
   
   Are you able to envisage the Rock and Living things as being totally integrated in the Creation?  That the god you worship, being everywhere, as you have admitted, is inherent in the rock as well?
   
   Do we humans HAVE to be superior?  Does the Christian person HAVE to lord it over the Muslims, and the Buddhists, and the Pagans, and every other "inferior" religion?
   
   What if you are wrong?

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      Brenda Durhamposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Why would I want to envision things that make no sense?
      
      
      And as to what if I'm wrong.....
      I started to write a big reply to that, but resist that temptation because I know where it comes from.  I do not entertain confusion.
      So my answer is----I'm not wrong.  God is who He is and has been and will be; unchangeable and knowable, having given us all concrete evidence of His existence and attributes both via written word and Spirit AND physical evidence via creation and in the form of Jesus the Christ.  What more could anyone want?

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         jonnycomelatelyposted 12 years agoin reply to this

         "Why would I want to envision things that make no sense"
         
         Oh dear!  How pathetically blinkered can you get?  Ok, baste yourself in the delusions.  Your choice.  I have tried to draw you out to a discussion of possible other ways of thinking. 
         
         What is preventing you from having a broader view of the subject?  Is it because you want to avoid that confusion?  In doing so, you want some black-and-white "facts" that can relieve you of thinking and exploring a bit more.  Yet, in avoiding that confusion, you skate over other possibilities.  This would be totally ok and acceptable if it was only for your own satisfaction.  It becomes very serious when you try to evangelize others into your blinkered way of thinking.
         
         It appears that you god is your escape into absolute knowledge and conviction.
         Again, your choice, but certainly not for me, thank you.  Such a god for me would be too small and constrained.  If I were to worship any god at all, that god would have to be infinitely wonderful and mysterious.  So awesome that it could be the foundation of everything that I experience in my life.  Certainly not constrained so much that I would have to worry about the nothingness after my death.
         
         In reality, this has got nothing to do with the existence or non-existence of god, or heaven.  It has everything to do with your own mind.  Rigid and obstinate.  Maybe frightened and confused.

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   Emile Rposted 12 years ago

   Some type of consciousness must exist. Imo. Different cultures have evolved to need to perceive the force in different manners. In order to understand their interpretation we need to  first understand the history of the culture the particular religion developed in.
   
   But,  the question of God is no different than any other thing that we have seen anecdotal evidence of. Without tangible proof we are left to speculation. We cherry pick evidence in order to support our theories.
   
   We've seen wild speculation and theories of what caused diseases in our history. Once we were able to view our world on a microscopic level, we began to hone in on the true causes. God left the equation.
   
   Now that we have computers we can visualize the world on the atomic level and we think we understand more. And we are using this information to develop theories on the subatomic level.
   
   Does God factor into any of that? If not, where does that leave the theory of God? In the hands of the 'believers'. The peoples of the various books.
   
   Once we have developed a theory of everything that science agrees on, across the board,.....if religion still persists, it will drive the search forward. Imo. That, to me, will justify its existence. Anything that causes us to forever search beyond our understanding of reality can't be all bad.

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      jonnycomelatelyposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Nicely put Emily, thank you.
      
      Whilst reading your posting, it occurred to me that there have been many beautiful persons who have brought great gifts to humanity, via their faith.  I wonder if they would have been beautiful persons regardless of their faith, or was the faith instrumental in their deeds?
      
      Not being a believer myself, now, this is a purely inquiring question, not slanted in any way.

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         Emile Rposted 12 years agoin reply to this

         I've always believed that the greatest asset that is gained by faith in God is the assumption that a loved one is watching. It makes people strive to be better. It gives them incentive to act and think in ways that a loved one would be proud of. So, I would think faith plays a major role in the actions of many people who have impressed us with their commitment to help their fellow man.

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   A Troubled Manposted 12 years ago

   My question is, will Fedex or UPS ship the box?

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      mischeviousmeposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      

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         A Troubled Manposted 12 years agoin reply to this

         Seriously, if they can, I have an address to send it.

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            mischeviousmeposted 12 years agoin reply to this

            

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   WD Curry 111posted 12 years ago

   The bible says that God has a name that only he knows. That is the name that I want to call him by.

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