I do not know the nature of God. I have my personal beliefs. I also believe I may one day come to know the nature of God via his Grace, not via my intellect or my own limited nature and limited efforts. Since our world exists, and is made of elements that are finite, temporal, and material, I can conceive of the opposite of that, i.e. Infinite, Eternal, and Divine. Since I have limited life, I see it as reasonable to assume the ultimate source of all limited life is unlimited life, and unlimited life I define as God. So I conclude I ultimately come from God. So, for me, God is my real Father, my real Mother, my real Beloved, my real goal in life. See, from the perspective of a limited being, limitations are the ultimate reality. However, we know that the Universe exists as a whole, no matter how many limited parts it is comprised of. Even if there are unlimited parts, the sum of those unlimited parts is the whole. You could say God is the whole, and we are just parts of that whole. Just as a drop of water is part of the ocean, it is not the ocean itself. The whole is greater than the sum of the parts is a axiom, all parts exist as part of the whole without knowledge of the whole. I also conceive that man seeks happiness, and no matter how much material happiness man gets, the desire for more and more persists. No matter how much we get, we want more. So I conclude it is our nature to desire happiness of an unlimited type, whole and complete happiness, not just partial happiness.. I conceive God as unlimited happiness, unlimited love, perfect heath, absolute knowledge, etc. So, I seek out my God who can share with me what He is, His nature. I try to practice faith, and I approach that faith the same way a beggar approaches the richest man in the world who has everything...on my knees, begging, knowing there is nothing I can do to earn that Grace, but simply ask with full faith and confidence that He will Grace me because I need to be Graced, and because I belong to God. There are others who claim to have walked similar paths with success, saying that anyone can follow their path if they want to. It is a choice everyone makes, i.e. what to believe, and it all comes down to what someone wants from their life. Some use their very limited intellect and conclude that all they know is what they can absorb through their senses and limited minds, and others believe that there is more to life than meets the eye, ears, touch, taste, and nose. The conclude that if God exists, he must necessarily conform to their sense of proof. What folly, to conceive of a perfect being, then demand that the perfect being conform to their own sense of what a proof would be. It is like a child demanding that a parent set all the rules according to the understanding of the child. However, parents are smart enough to know that they know what is best and right for the child----not the child themselves, even when the child complains, pouts, is stubborn, and kicks and screams. So spiritual seekers want more out of life than a cycle of limited happiness, disappointment, newer and greater desires, more limited happiness, more and more disappointment, etc. They seek more. They seek help to do so, and why seek anything less than the highest help? Just simply ask God the Supreme for help, and I believe He will help you if you ask will full faith and confidence for Him to reveal Himself to you. Don't ask God for material happiness, but ask God for His happiness, Divine unlimited happiness. Those who are not interested in such a goal, that is of course their right, and they walk their path. Those who chastise and condemn people who do walk a spiritual path, who condemn these true spiritual seekers who do not tell others how to think, believe or behave, the critics of these people who smugly act as if they know the ultimate reality are left to their own devices.
surf, if there is a creator, who is the creator's creator? seriously answer this. you may find a better answer is that there may not be one at all. i don't say there is or is not, however, i lean towards there not being one.
Do you understand the concept of eternal? How about infinite? Can you form a concept of God who always existed? If you can do this, they you can see where God the Creator would not have a Creator who Created Him. Think about the concept of a first cause for a while, it might help.
i respect your beliefs and your question. my answer is who knows ? perhaps the creator is self replicating with no start or finish--like a circle or the universe ?? surfer
there is absolutely no caring "god." the universe is ruthless. there are the laws/physics of the universe, chaos all over the place, and survival of the fittest; that's it. whatever happens is what happen, nice or not. don't think so? just look at our world. reality reflects my position, NOT YOURS. if there is a caring "god," why is there so much suffering in the world? i'm right.
I've always thought that the chances on the big bang theory being true is less then the chance of creationism being true. As of who created God?- I think that even if God did explain it to us we would not/could not understand it. Just like how someone who knows nothing about the stock market could not understand gamma scalping of options. I think it's way over our heads. And since this is a market type website lets pretend this is a trade-I would place my whole account on there is a God. I think on a scientific level I have higher chance of being right than on the idea that- somehow something like us, this world etc. all came from chance. If you believe this then...... Have a happy new years everyone!
You are absolutely entitled to your beliefs, and all the rewards, benefits, and punishments that follow.
i will receive no punishment. my death is the same as yours. there is no "god" rewarding the good, punishing the bad. it does not matter what you believe, how many times you pray, or how many times you go to church. that is all happy face fantasy. i could murder every person on the planet and my death would be the same as the pope's.
Very awesome of you Rogue to share such a personal and inspirational view of your relationship with God. How can I respect someone as much as I do you, when I disagree so strongly with your political arguments.