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Author Topic:   What does God mean to you? Do not respond to any message except message #1
macaroniandcheese 
Suspended Member (Idle past 3927 days)
Posts: 4258
Joined: 05-24-2004


Message 31 of 42 (282609)
01-30-2006 1:49 PM
Reply to: Message 1 by Mr. Ex Nihilo
10-30-2005 1:15 AM


i love that song; i have a copy of it as done by bob dylan and paul simon. *winamps*
what does god mean.
well. since i haven't figured it out yet, i'll keep it simple.
god is the human description of understanding.
god is the embodiment of hope and forgiveness, two things this world could use a little more of, if only because the idea of god has been so twisted as to be the embodiment of hate and intolerance.
is there a god outside of human construction? i don't know and i don't care.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 1 by Mr. Ex Nihilo, posted 10-30-2005 1:15 AM Mr. Ex Nihilo has not replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 37 by hitchy, posted 02-13-2006 1:35 AM macaroniandcheese has not replied

  
sidelined
Member (Idle past 5908 days)
Posts: 3435
From: Edmonton Alberta Canada
Joined: 08-30-2003


Message 32 of 42 (282613)
01-30-2006 2:02 PM
Reply to: Message 1 by Mr. Ex Nihilo
10-30-2005 1:15 AM


Mr. Ex Nihilo
I thinks Yeats summed it up for me.
AN IRISH AIRMAN FORESEES HIS DEATH
I know that I shall meet my fate
Somewhere among the clouds above;
Those that I fight I do not hate,
Those that I guard I do not love;
My country is Kiltartan Cross,
My countrymen Kiltarten's poor,
No likely end could bring them loss
Or leave them happier than before.
No law, nor duty bade me fight,
No public men, nor cheering crowds,
A lonely impulse of delight
Drove to this tumult in the clouds;
I balanced all, brought all to mind,
The years to come seemed waste of breath,
A waste of breath the years behind
In balance with this life, this death.
W.B. Yeats
You may talk about obtuse but this will likely not make to the light of day inside your mind. We the humanity of the planet earth all live our little lives and search for answers and wonder why. We cling to hope, pick our fights and side with those whom we ,in our shallowness, think to hold answers to our nagging doubt.
We seldom stretch far enough to see that god is not an answer but just a question. We are still alone and mortal despite our need to be connected.And therein lies our folly, since we miss the fact that we are alone and mortal is also what unites us.
And that union my friends is God.
This message has been edited by sidelined, Mon, 2006-01-30 11:37 PM

This message is a reply to:
 Message 1 by Mr. Ex Nihilo, posted 10-30-2005 1:15 AM Mr. Ex Nihilo has not replied

  
Hal Jordan
Inactive Member


Message 33 of 42 (282910)
01-31-2006 2:09 PM
Reply to: Message 1 by Mr. Ex Nihilo
10-30-2005 1:15 AM


God is....
God is the name that we give to that which is unknowable (for now);
God is unfathomable;
God is impossible.
The God that I want to believe in loves me, forgives me, nutures me, wants to take away my pain and rage.
The God that I would like to know understands my skepticism and is probably agnostic, too.
The God that I hope exists, knows that I am trying...and failing. But this God wants me to grow the hell up and do whatever I am doing, myself.
God isn't your butler; whatever needs done, do it your damn self and trust in the kindness of your friends and family, and on occasion, strangers;
God isn't your mercenary; if justice is warranted, sometimes you have to take matters into your own hands or just let it slide;
God isn't knowable, so research that which interests you; go for a walk, think under a tree on a nice day, have a drink or two, listen to your signifigant other; live life.
That is what God means to me; the unknowable nothing.
ABE: spelling
This message has been edited by Hal Jordan, 01-31-2006 02:56 PM
This message has been edited by Hal Jordan, 02-01-2006 11:37 AM

This message is a reply to:
 Message 1 by Mr. Ex Nihilo, posted 10-30-2005 1:15 AM Mr. Ex Nihilo has not replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 34 by No crutch required, posted 02-01-2006 11:30 AM Hal Jordan has not replied

  
No crutch required
Inactive Member


Message 34 of 42 (283151)
02-01-2006 11:30 AM
Reply to: Message 33 by Hal Jordan
01-31-2006 2:09 PM


Re: God is....
God is a crutch for those that seek more than this wonderful life on Earth has to offer.
God gives shape and explanation to those who lack confidence to face reality.
I am lucky to have enough inner confidence and spirituality not to require this external crutch or to belong to a religious club.
To look at a tree or suck in sweet country air on a crisp morning is all the religion I require. Manmade constructs are nothing compared to the brilliance of nature.
Im not spolied or self absorbed so I need not of the supposed guide by my side.
Selfish people spend time in worship, yet proclaim they adhere to the tone of the good book. Shorly all that wasted time would be better spent looking after the only home we have - the Earth than in self - obsessed worship?
God is an excuse for inaction.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 33 by Hal Jordan, posted 01-31-2006 2:09 PM Hal Jordan has not replied

  
Phat
Member
Posts: 18262
From: Denver,Colorado USA
Joined: 12-30-2003
Member Rating: 1.1


Message 35 of 42 (284881)
02-08-2006 9:15 AM


God is
God is that reality that occurs time and time again when I pray because I want to---not having to ask for anything or repent for anything always...but just to cheerfully and willingly open myself up to a trusted friend. The confirmation is not always a felt emotion--yet I acknowledge the presence.
More often, it happens with other believers...where one ordinary guy will say something profound that you know he did not think of!
The confirmation, if it can be observed at all, comes through the actions of others---many of whom don't even go to church!

  
Michael
Member (Idle past 4637 days)
Posts: 199
From: USA
Joined: 05-14-2005


Message 36 of 42 (285985)
02-12-2006 4:00 PM


God Isn't
God followed Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny many years ago.
I absolutely can not comprehend why anyone would want to view reality through God-tinted glasses, but I'll defend their right to do so.

  
hitchy
Member (Idle past 5118 days)
Posts: 215
From: Southern Maryland via Pittsburgh
Joined: 01-05-2004


Message 37 of 42 (286061)
02-13-2006 1:35 AM
Reply to: Message 31 by macaroniandcheese
01-30-2006 1:49 PM


Nice response!
So eloquently stated! Beautiful!

This message is a reply to:
 Message 31 by macaroniandcheese, posted 01-30-2006 1:49 PM macaroniandcheese has not replied

  
hitchy
Member (Idle past 5118 days)
Posts: 215
From: Southern Maryland via Pittsburgh
Joined: 01-05-2004


Message 38 of 42 (286063)
02-13-2006 1:52 AM
Reply to: Message 1 by Mr. Ex Nihilo
10-30-2005 1:15 AM


God is a human construct...
...that embodied the hopes and fears and wont of an absolute authority of primative humans. There are so many other ways to view this world. Any view that relies on a god is fuzzy b/c it requires god goggles. Why does evil exist? What will happen to me if I die--will I be rewarded or punished? Did god cause this horrible thing (insert any horrible thing here) in order to show me how powerful he/she/it is or to teach me a lesson or to teach me how to treat or not treat others or blah, blah, blah!
We still hold onto this primative construct b/c we do not have all the answers. Do we need all the answers? I contend that we don't. Science is so much fun b/c we continue (and will always continue) to search for reliable naturalistic answers in a natural world. Anything that answers so-called supernatural questions is so subjective that it immediately becomes useless outside that belief system. Besides, isn't it a more fulfilling life if we take total responsibility for ourselves and our absolute freedom to make our own decisions? If we knew everything, then how fun would our freedom be? If we did not have to take total responsibility for our actions, then life would definitely be easier. But, heh, life isn't easy! It is life. This is all that there is! Deal with it, if you can!

This message is a reply to:
 Message 1 by Mr. Ex Nihilo, posted 10-30-2005 1:15 AM Mr. Ex Nihilo has not replied

  
Chronos
Member (Idle past 6225 days)
Posts: 102
From: Macomb, Mi, USA
Joined: 10-23-2005


Message 39 of 42 (286066)
02-13-2006 2:31 AM
Reply to: Message 1 by Mr. Ex Nihilo
10-30-2005 1:15 AM


God is a concept that the majority of mankind is wrong about.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 1 by Mr. Ex Nihilo, posted 10-30-2005 1:15 AM Mr. Ex Nihilo has not replied

  
2ice_baked_taters
Member (Idle past 5851 days)
Posts: 566
From: Boulder Junction WI.
Joined: 02-16-2006


Message 40 of 42 (287511)
02-17-2006 3:31 AM


I was raised Catholic. As I have grown older, Catholocism has ceased to encompass that which I have come to understand about the world. I have done some reasonable research into religion in general to help me formulate an informed point of view. I have come to the conclusion that there are many pathes to the same truth. I have come to realise that all religions teach all or most of the same basic core values and life lessons. All religions acknowledge a higher power. I believe in a higher power. In this belief I am humbled. In my humbling I am reminded to see things for thier full value. Life's experiences mean more. I am reminded that the universe does not revolve around me. I am but a small part of a much larger meaning. We are on a journey, here to learn.

  
Mr. Ex Nihilo
Member (Idle past 1336 days)
Posts: 712
Joined: 04-12-2005


Message 41 of 42 (298511)
03-27-2006 1:38 AM


bump
Just checking to see if any more activity occured here.

  
Dubious Drewski
Member (Idle past 2530 days)
Posts: 73
From: Alberta
Joined: 02-04-2006


Message 42 of 42 (299590)
03-30-2006 1:14 PM


SideLined summed it up very nicely above.
I wish there was an entity watching over me and guiding me. I understand the attraction. I understand why nearly every culture comes up with some form of a God. It's a comforting "presence" in a cold, indifferent world.
Alas, what I want to believe, and what I see all around me are two different things.
I see God as a comfort blanket or crutch, who is called upon for comfort when we are confused or overwhelmed. When we don't want to face our reality.

  
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