What is a god?

[Rahul]

[Minimalist]

Gods are figments of the imagination of people with limited imaginations.

[Silver]

Humans are imaginative gods, for we have created worlds of fiction in which all sorts of fantastical and supernatural things exist.

[Raven]

A god would be best described as:
1- the creator of the universe and all in it
2- such a creator being would be incalculably powerful and uber-intelligent
3-But such a being would not have to be in any way like us, just because said being created us.
4-Such attributes as morality, mercy, justice would probably be of little if any consequence to any being that is that powerful. Perhaps it would be good, merciful and just to our way of thinking, perhaps not. After all it could do anything it wants. Literally.
5-FWIW that is how the god of the bible seems to me - if he did exist he might be all-powerful but he is mean, capricious and just plain cruel. And anything but just.

[LeoVonFrost]

Ah how dare you mere mortals even THINK you can understand the capacity of a GOD!?

But seriously, I don't think creation is a prerequisite for a god, that's an Abrahamaic suggestion of what a god is. I believe a god must be strong and be there to help his people. A god must help us understand ourselves through careful guidance and he must perform miracles to prove his existence and omnipotence. I don't see anything doing that now or in the recent past.

The presumed god of the Abrahamaic religions has watched his religion become reasons for the death and torture of many members of the human species over thousands of years and yet there have been no wars ended in his name, no genital mutilation stopped by him, and no legitimate miracles to prove himself, his only supposed proof of existence is the bible of which there are thousands of contradictions. In this respect, I believe there is a very high probability for there being no god like that. But who is to know what god is? Great Topic! It certainly is a brain burner

[Bad Writer]

So I suppose a god comes about when we as humans assume that something is a god. In essence, we create gods. If we create gods, then we are gods. ...as an atheist, I feel it necessary to say I don't believe in any of you.

[LeoVonFrost]

we are gods. ...as an atheist, I feel it necessary to say I don't believe in any of you.

My brother feels this way but I call it a "god-complex" hah! If it makes you feel any better I don't believe in you

[Ryantology]

One of the voices a schizophrenic may hear talking to them.

[pineapplebunnybounce]

"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.

got a kudos from me for mentioning Q too . Very well done idea of a god in tng i thought. I didn't like that episode in TOS where kirk said humanity have grown out of gods, the one we have is enough . Awfully superstitious thing to say considering how advanced star trek was supposed to be. the TNG episodes that deal with the idea of gods were good though.

God is concept. God cannot logically exist. It's a concept of being omnipotent and omniscient. Because that's what humans strive to be, but that's all that it is. Might we one day find aliens that are so powerful they're godlike in nature? yea. does that make them gods? no.

[Rahul]

So I suppose a god comes about when we as humans assume that something is a god. In essence, we create gods. If we create gods, then we are gods. ...as an atheist, I feel it necessary to say I don't believe in any of you.

You just reminded me of the book Little Godsby Tim Pratt. Fun book.