The universe is everything that exists anywhere so no, its wrong to say God is the universe. Adding to or supplanting the word universe with the word God is not right. "Father God and I is One".... very Trumpian. Jesus just doesn't rate as a historical person and Bible Jesus is depicted as a supernatural deity and as such not feasible as reality within the law of nature.
Thanks Stu. 1. Obviously everybody has her/his own perception/definition of a construct "God". Before (or even after) there is a universally agreed definition, everyone is entitled to define what her/his own God. And everyone can agree or disagree with others' definitions of God. I respect that. 2. I have tried to provide my understanding of defining God, according to Stoicism. (i.e. a/the Cosmic God, according to Stoic theology. Science is to understand God/Universe. Nothing superstition.) I would be happy to know/learn other people's definitions of God, if anything new. I think I am quite willing to update my perception, if anything coming up better, more logical and reasonable. Furthermore, I think it would be illogical for any atheist to say there is no God, while providing no definition of God. 3. Too much has been previously discussed with other threads. I have no intention to repeat the contents again and again, to save everyone's time. I would agree with whatever disagreements that can be found here. My personal experience has been, anytime one day in the future, I might totally change my previous mind by accepting a newly introduced definition (by someone else or from myself) that was once outright rejected by myself long time ago. Very unusual, but not impossible. Perhaps it's just me. LOL
Perhaps anyone who enjoys arguments might be interested in this book, containing 200+ pages of technical/logical arguments about God " Stoic Theology: Proof for the Existence of the Cosmic God and of the Traditional Gods by P. A. Meijer " http://bmcr.brynmawr.edu/2009/2009-03-29.html https://eburon.nl/en/product/stoic_theology/
1. The God concept of Stoic theory, imo, was not without its oriental mates/twins. One English author in philosophy has got several books on both Taoism and Stoicism, however nothing else. Accidentally. In Taoism, Nature and Man is One. A very similar concept like Stoicism. 2. Mathematically speaking, when the universe/nature is infinitely large unknown to Man, while a man is relatively tiny small equating to almost nothing, should we say Nature and Man are 2? It's just much much smaller than : 1.000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000......000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000001! That means a man simply lives in the universe, while as part of the universe/nature. Besides, the universe would exist almost forever, relatively. Man's life is very limited. Further proof that God and Man is just Not 2, even if not only one! That's why I mentioned different people could have different interpretations on Jesus sayings. Different IQ levels, perhaps! 3. Separately: How about if Trump is not wrong! - at least he Was not wrong? By saying bravely what are the problems the nation has been sailing! While other major candidates dare not even mention, perhaps no any potential solutions can be seen yet. People and journalists would ask, once open a can of worms. Trump bravely said that and even tried to offer solutions, rightly or wrongly! Whether Trump would not be the most qualified capable person in solving the foreseeable problems, at least he dare to mention the problems that really touched many voters to support him. imo A MAGA dream! 4. Jesus ... LOL
But of course, anyone can define anything in anyway they want , but it doesn't mean a thing. You can define a dog as a duck but it wont make it a duck same as defining God as the universe won't make it the universe. Why should an atheist even need define God when you say everyone is entitled to define it anyway they want. If everyone is entitled to define God anyway they want, an atheist is logically entitled to define God as nonexistent. You see that's what's wrong. It is reasonable to say 'Proof for the Existence of the Universe'. It is not reasonable to say 'Proof for the Existence of the Cosmic God and of the Traditional Gods' There is absolutely nothing in the shape of corresponding proof between Universe and God. The fundamental shortfall of overwhelming evidence for God and the abundance of it for the Universe makes them definitively unalike. You cannot define God into existence. It is the universe which exists.
Therefore, when many would think Jesus' saying "God and I are/is one." is far from humble. Out of mind! Now we might be rethink about it! One might be very much correct, by means of mathematical measures. When people would think Jesus should have said, "God and I are two.", which is in fact very very far from humble - equating a worldly man to God. Size-wise and else. Jesus' theory is also fun, Bigly! Ha!
Perhaps you're right - from an atheist's view! Perhaps someone else is also right - from a non-atheist view! LOL Perhaps both can be wrong - too! As mentioned from previous thread in detail, I look forward to seeing anytime soon someone to set up a research department/group of atheism studies! I can't/don't see any good reason not to proceed this idea!
The word God is not the only word Stoics use. Not using the word God at all is fine. As Stoics can still use other words, such as (God =) Nature = Reason = Logos (rational principle) = etc. covering a range of topics worth to understand for daily life. There is a whole book about Stoic God and Cosmos in Stoicism Physics.
does saying you "think" excuse such treachery? Piezoe pretends: "despite his not mentioning Jesus Christ directly" and "But I think their are no direct references to Jesus or Christ in Paul's writing which makes the origins of what we know as the Christian religion all the more of a mystery." but the truth takes one minute or shorter query: 1 Corinthians 15: 1-8... Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, he appeared to Cephas (Peter), then to the twelve. James, then to all the apostles. he appeared also to me.