A practical definition for "God"

[timrees]

Agree completely, Rob. the word god is a word without definition and a word without definition has no meaning. A word without meaning is worthless, nay, dangerous, because it only serves to confuse. You can talk to ten different people and they will each have a different definition of the word god, therefore the word should be banned because if I'm talking to someone who defines god as universal consciousness and another who defines the word as an omnipotent being we will only ever makes fools out of each other because we are talking about very different things. The biggest problem with the word god is, were I talking about the perfect mathematical balance of the universe and the person I am talking to pops up with the word "god", the conversation is immediately dragged down to the mire of religious doctrine that is nothing more than ignorance and discussing ignorance is only ever going to result in... well, more ignorance...  

I've never truly been convinced by this argument.  I take a different look at it.  Let's say we are talking about me.  Now ask my wife, each of my kids, my parents, my co-workers, my friends, to describe me.  Do you think they will all come to the same description?  Perhaps in some areas (physique for example), but isn't it more plausible that their descriptions would be completely subjective to the level of experience and interaction with me?  But because of those numerous descriptors, do you then say you cannot have any meaningful discussion about me, because which one are we talking about?  Kingpin the father, Kingpin the coworker, Kingpin the son, Kingpin the friend?  Just my thoughts.

You are defined as a human being. We could break the definition down further and say you are male... But the point is, were we talking about you or human beings in general terms, everyone involved in the discussion will have a clear meaning of what we are all referring to... Simples. It isn't rocket science...

[Kingpin]

I've never truly been convinced by this argument.  I take a different look at it.  Let's say we are talking about me.  Now ask my wife, each of my kids, my parents, my co-workers, my friends, to describe me.  Do you think they will all come to the same description?  Perhaps in some areas (physique for example), but isn't it more plausible that their descriptions would be completely subjective to the level of experience and interaction with me?  But because of those numerous descriptors, do you then say you cannot have any meaningful discussion about me, because which one are we talking about?  Kingpin the father, Kingpin the coworker, Kingpin the son, Kingpin the friend?  Just my thoughts.

You are defined as a human being. We could break the definition down further and say you are male... But the point is, were we talking about you or human beings in general terms, everyone involved in the discussion will have a clear meaning of what we are all referring to... Simples. It isn't rocket science...

No I agree there but most discussions regarding God are not about physical attributes but about his "nature".  That is why I presented the ideas of how I am with different people.  If you ask my friends to describe my nature, you will get a different description than my wife or kids will give you.  Just the point is because there is not a unanimous objective definition for the term "God" does not mean conversations about him are meaningless.

[robvalue]

But some people say the universe is God, or nature is God. Such things don't even have a nature, although nature is nature

Sure, most people assume God is a sentient being, but it's not a given.

[timrees]

You are defined as a human being. We could break the definition down further and say you are male... But the point is, were we talking about you or human beings in general terms, everyone involved in the discussion will have a clear meaning of what we are all referring to... Simples. It isn't rocket science...

No I agree there but most discussions regarding God are not about physical attributes but about his "nature".  That is why I presented the ideas of how I am with different people.  If you ask my friends to describe my nature, you will get a different description than my wife or kids will give you.  Just the point is because there is not a unanimous objective definition for the term "God" does not mean conversations about him are meaningless.

There's really no need to obscure the definition with the word "nature", which suggests moods, seasons, which will all add up to "the changing face of..." Keep it simple. The word you used before "nature" was "his". Now the word his has a very literal definition and that is: male life form. Use of the word "his" tells me you define your god as a person? Is that correct? - You can probably see now why the word god is meaningless. If you define your god as a person why not use the word "person" or more clearly define meaning of your use of the word "his" by stating "the nature of this male human being" or "the nature of this male elephant"? Then I would have known what you meant from the start and we wouldn't need to chase our tails...

As a sub note: I was discussing this very subject with a Catholic priest and he ended up by saying, "But, of course you understand, Tim, the word "god" is a metaphor... At that point I told him he was wasting mine and his time... #sigh

[robvalue]

Wow, he said it was a metaphor? That is tapping out right there. Good job!

[timrees]

Wow, he said it was a metaphor? That is tapping out right there. Good job!

Better than that, I did challenge him on it by stating, "You told me the Bible was the word of god and now you're telling me god is a metaphor. Where does that leave the Bible?" And his answer was, "Yes, of course, much of our discussions within the church are to do with interpreting metaphors the Bible presents..."

He was Dutch and I was concerned that maybe he didn't have a firm grasp of the English...   Talk about blind faith...

[Nay_Sayer]

God: Noun

Definition: {Imaginary friend for adults}

[robvalue]

Wow, he said it was a metaphor? That is tapping out right there. Good job!

Better than that, I did challenge him on it by stating, "You told me the Bible was the word of god and now you're telling me god is a metaphor. Where does that leave the Bible?" And his answer was, "Yes, of course, much of our discussions within the church are to do with interpreting metaphors the Bible presents..."

He was Dutch and I was concerned that maybe he didn't have a firm grasp of the English...   Talk about blind faith...

God is a metaphor alright. Maybe he wasn't using the right word due to language difficulties, but I'm not sure what else he could have meant.

God is the king of hide and seek.

[ignoramus]

Wow, he said it was a metaphor? That is tapping out right there. Good job!

Better than that, I did challenge him on it by stating, "You told me the Bible was the word of god and now you're telling me god is a metaphor. Where does that leave the Bible?" And his answer was, "Yes, of course, much of our discussions within the church are to do with interpreting metaphors the Bible presents..."

He was Dutch and I was concerned that maybe he didn't have a firm grasp of the English...   Talk about blind faith...

Tim, you should have asked him why he prays to a metaphor!

(He'll probably use circular logic and tell you that god is a metaphor for some other type of an all powerful being to save face)