(April 5, 2012 at 11:31 am)Phil Wrote:

(April 5, 2012 at 11:22 am)Adjusted Sanity Wrote: Does god have to interact with humans to be god? If not what else do I call a powerful being that created all we know?

Again I ask, why call it god? What you did was avoided the question and asked me an entirely different one.

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Maybe I should rephrase what I said. I have nothing else to call it. God is the best word for what it is.

And... what is it?

(April 5, 2012 at 2:12 pm)Norfolk And Chance Wrote:

(April 5, 2012 at 11:15 am)Phil Wrote:

(April 5, 2012 at 11:14 am)Adjusted Sanity Wrote:

(April 5, 2012 at 11:08 am)Phil Wrote:

(April 5, 2012 at 10:55 am)Adjusted Sanity Wrote: Yes.

Does this sentient god of yours interact with humanity in any way or does it have any effect on the universe?

I have a lot of ideas on the nature of god. I don't think god ever interacted with humans though.

Then why call it god?

Why not just call it "nothing" if it doesn't interact with humans and he made it up? And this is why I just don't get deists.

Because that's the exact opposite of the being I believe in. The idea would be better described as Everything.

As long as you understand I have the freedom to believe that's fine with me. And I'm not really a deist. Deists use the words reason and logic to describe their belief. I have no such delusions.

The problem that we're having is that in order to have belief that something exists, one should be able to explain why that belief is held. "Because I want it to be true" is not a valid reason to believe that it is. For some reason, you believe that there is a god of some sort. Why do you believe that? "Because I want to" is not an honest answer.

(April 5, 2012 at 2:38 pm)Paul the Human Wrote: And... what is it?

What is the god I believe in? I believe in a god beyond understanding. Beyond description. I don't know what god is. I just believe in the concept. The idea is fascinating.

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(April 5, 2012 at 2:45 pm)Paul the Human Wrote: The problem that we're having is that in order to have belief that something exists, one should be able to explain why that belief is held. "Because I want it to be true" is not a valid reason to believe that it is. For some reason, you believe that there is a god of some sort. Why do you believe that? "Because I want to" is not an honest answer.

It's in my nature to believe in a god. I cannot let go, so I embrace it and treat it as a concept to be pondered upon. I cannot comprehend an afterlife, but god is something that has some merit in my eyes. There is your reason.

(April 5, 2012 at 2:46 pm)Adjusted Sanity Wrote: It's in my nature to believe in a god. I cannot let go, so I embrace it and treat it as a concept to be pondered upon. I cannot comprehend an afterlife, but god is something that has some merit in my eyes.

Yet you cannot answer the question of why that is. Until you can answer that question, you are not being honest with yourself, nor are you actually "pondering", to use your word.

As you said, you have the right to believe anything you want to believe, but no belief can be taken seriously unless you can explain why that belief is held. *shrugs*

(April 5, 2012 at 2:51 pm)Paul the Human Wrote:

(April 5, 2012 at 2:46 pm)Adjusted Sanity Wrote: It's in my nature to believe in a god. I cannot let go, so I embrace it and treat it as a concept to be pondered upon. I cannot comprehend an afterlife, but god is something that has some merit in my eyes.

Yet you cannot answer the question of why that is. Until you can answer that question, you are not being honest with yourself, nor are you actually "pondering", to use your word.

As you said, you have the right to believe anything you want to believe, but no belief can be taken seriously unless you can explain why that belief is held. *shrugs*

I don't think any belief should be taken seriously. I could tell you that It's a feeling I have. But that's not a valid answer. There's no proof behind a feeling. The best I've got is that a god is my favorite theory of first cause. But even that's a pretty weak position. I'm not sure I have anything I can tell you to take my position seriously.

Don't worry. No believer has ever given me a reason to believe that satisfied me and, even if you had a reason for your beliefs, I doubt that I would accept it as reason enough to believe. Heheh.

I'm just trying to get you to think. Do that. Ask yourself why you believe that there is a god of some sort out there somewhere. Then just shrug your shoulders and live your life when you can't find an answer. *tips his hat*

(April 5, 2012 at 3:05 pm)Paul the Human Wrote: Don't worry. No believer has ever given me a reason to believe that satisfied me and, even if you had a reason for your beliefs, I doubt that I would not accept it as reason enough to believe. Heheh.

I'm just trying to get you to think. Do that. Ask yourself why you believe that there is a god of some sort out there somewhere. Then just shrug your shoulders and live your life when you can't find an answer. *tips his hat*

Don't worry, god is barely a factor in my life. I already have enough reasons to believe. Just none that are going to satisfy you. I never expected it in the first place. I'm a thinker first, a believer 7th.

Why do we need a first cause?