What is a god?

[pocaracas]

How do you define "god"?

What are the minimum requirements for an entity to be called a god?
Immortality?
Omniscience?
Omni-something?

PS: this has probably been done to death in these forums, but I didn't notice it in the past year that I've been around... and the search function didn't yield anything... so let's reboot it!

[LastPoet]

A god is something alot of people use as an excuse for their arrogant descriminatory bigotry. It usually fits their own mindset.

[One Above All]

My definition of "god" is simple:
Omniscient
Omnipotent

[max-greece]

Mythical

[Dragonetti]

Truly Fake!

[Doubting Thomas]

A god is what ancient peoples used to explain why the world was the way it was, and to explain natural events like natural disasters. Unfortunately some of those people learned that if they spoke for this god they could have incredible power over their fellow man. Don't want people to have random, indiscriminate sex? Tell them that STD's are your god's divine punishment for enjoying their naughty bits. As time goes on, continue to make god in your image.

[pocaracas]

hmmm... what about greek, norse, egyptian, etc. gods?
What makes each of them a god?

[Atheist(KM)]

I believe a god would simply be a conscious and intelligent creator of the universe with characteristics usually being although not required such as, omniscient,omnipotent and, omnibenevolent. I believe in order for something to be a god it would have to be a creator of the universe or control a part of nature and required to possess consciousness and intellect to be a god.

[Mister Agenda]

Keeping 'small g' gods in mind, I would say a very long-lived being with superhuman powers that is or was worshiped or placated and that is identified with one or more aspects of nature, humanity, or society. This allows for gods that are depicted as growing old (like Marduk) or being killed (like Baldur) but distinguishes them from most supernatural creatures, although there is some overlap with lesser spirits like demons of disease that are placated with offerings.

[Bad Writer]

There are no gods. If there are "supernatural" beings out there, then they are only supernatural by own definitions because we don't understand how they operate. The fact is, though they may be powerful, they probably are still not "gods".

If the One God of Islam, Christianity and Judaism were to really exist, I still wouldn't worship him/her, and that's because I still wouldn't view that being as a God. I have reason to believe that particular deity is evil, and I would oppose it as such.

"Q" from Star Trek: The Next Generation is a good example of an Omnipotent being with a true God-like presence, as humans today understand it. However, the show made it very clear that such a being should not be worshiped as a god, nor should it be considered thus.