What/who Is God To You?

[jonesnelson23]

Can you explain your understanding of what/who God is in approx 100-200 words?

[Mozz71]

I can do it in one word: Imaginary.

[MallyJ]

God is a human invention created to keep the lower order working for the wealthy in the hope that they will get to a form of paradise. This is what I believe despite a catholic upbringing and to the huge disappointment of my French RC grandmother.

[Kathyan]

Non-existent.

[Theland]

To try to understand the meaning of God, first of all try to understand or present some theories that without Him, explain the existence of the universe, and how life began.
Or suck your thumb and attack anybody who does believe.
Forget about religion, that is just bells and smells.
Even disregard the Bible.
Just use reason and logic and consider the questions.

[nailit]

//Even disregard the Bible.
Just use reason and logic and consider the questions. //

But you keep coming back with the bible?? So how are we to disregard the Bibe?

[Theland]

No. Before you consider the Bible, just use human curiosity and science and follow where it leads.

[naomi24]

//Just use reason and logic and consider the questions. //

Reason and logic dictates that if a creator exists, the inhabitants of a minute speck of dust within an unimaginably vast universe can have no conception of who or what that creator might be.

[Theland]

Ok Naomi. So you agree there was a Creator?

[naomi24]

Read my post.

[Theland]

O.K. Naomi. You are putting your reason and logic away then?

[naomi24]

Read my post.

[jourdain2]

I must be a great disappointment to all you logicians - but I simply cannot imagine life without the knowledge that God is there (and accessible) in the background. Logic has nothing to do with it, which is where the problem lies. I can't argue a case. I KNOW that there is a power, I've felt it. It was transient but I can never forget and I live my life accordingly. It is called faith - nearest I can get without sounding like a religious nutcase. At least I try to do no harm and manage to do a bit of good to people when I can. :)

[NellieMay]

I don't need 100-200 words. I have no belief in any god/gods.

[vulcan42]

\\ At least I try to do no harm and manage to do a bit of good to people when I can. :)//
I don't doubt that but atheists can and do the same, so a God isn't necessary for good people to do good work.

[naomi24]

Jourdain, //I KNOW that there is a power, I've felt it.//

Okay - but how do you KNOW what it is? What if you're attributing it to the wrong cause? Easily done when you're raised in a society that encourages you to believe in a very specific entity. Other people raised diffently believe differently. No?

[Khandro]

St Thomas Aquinas upheld that there was not only one, but at least 5 proofs;
http://web.mnstate.edu/gracyk/courses/web%20publishing/aquinasfiveways_argumentanalysis.htm

[naomi24]

St Thomas Aquinas was a superstitious nincompoop.

[vulcan42]

He also said,
The person who accepts the church as an infallible guide will believe whatever the church teaches.

[Theland]

Forget the church.
Just use your brain.
Look around.
Did it all come about by itself?
Reason says no.
So just admit to a cause, even without trying to identify the cause.
That's the start.
Any takers?

[Mamyalynne]

Stop the sales pitch and read the OP - Jones wants 'your' understanding that's all.