Can God be loved even as a fictional character?

[robvalue]

Sure, you can feel any way you want towards a fictional character. Most people have idealized versions of god, jesus or whatever that are far removed from any religious texts. If you come to realize these characters aren't actually real, there's no requirement to jettison all your feelings about them too.

I have very strong feelings about certain fictional characters, so much so that I can cry just thinking about the possibility of them being hurt. It's quite possible for things to be alive and real in your imagination while you ultimately know that they don't actually exist outside of your head. We're very emotional beings, and I'd say it's probably impossible to turn feelings instantly off this way anyhow. They may fade over time, they may not. It doesn't really matter as long as it doesn't mess with your judgement regarding reality.

You could look at god as your inner guide. He's like a different aspect of yourself which you turn to, but which you've come to see as somehow distinct from yourself. The fact that he doesn't actually correlate to an independent being in reality doesn't make this part of you any less real. I "turn to" myself in just the same way; I seek guidance from different aspects of myself.

The big difference is he's not ruling you anymore. In that sense, he can truly be a friend rather than an authority.

[paulpablo]

Been a while since I've posted but I had a thought the other day and I am curious what all of you would say about it...

 When I read novels I often get close to the characters. I always love when the character displays traits that I can relate to but also to their humanity. By that, I mean how I love when they'll do something seemingly stupid, cruel, flippantly, etc. but you understand why they made the decision. But I have been thinking a lot on how hard it is to give up my faith in god because of a relationship I feel I have developed with him. I believed that the relationship had to be real because of how real it felt. But as my faith in god has slipped I knew there would have to be some way to get over this conundrum. I think the solution is that I can love god even as a fictional character. I know that many atheist hate how the god of the bible is portrayed. But if he is just a fictional character and all of the stories are made up, I think that I can still draw close to him while learning from those "atrocities." I personally get annoyed when certain atheist can almost never ascribe any single good trait or quality to god or Jesus. What comes to mind is an essay Matt Dillahunty wrote about how horrible the sermon on the mount was. But there are many other examples. It has really helped me to come to peace with a non belief in god and my still lingering love for him. I have been reading the bible more than ever with a whole new perspective.

So what do you think? Putting aside your feelings on religion and god of the bible, is it possible or healthy to still feel affection for god and even Jesus even if you acknowledge them as mostly fictional? I say mostly because even if Jesus or some actual man that Jesus was based off of walked the earth, he was almost certainly not truly divine.

It depends on how you define love and if you think you can love a fictional character or not.
Love is a variety of different feelings, states, and attitudes that ranges from interpersonal affection ("I love my mother") to pleasure ("I loved that meal"). It can refer to an emotion of a strong attraction and personal attachment.
I'd say that you can.  I love the character magneto in the x men films and psycho mantis from the metal gear solid series.  But it couldn't be described as a mutual personal attachment since they aren't actual people.

[Minimalist]

'God' as portrayed in the bible is a jealous, vain, petty, arrogant, prick.

What's to love?

[abaris]

The god of the bible is a despot. There's nothing loveable about him. He's to be feared like many gods of his time.

[Won2blv]

I guess I just disagree with many of you. Cleary there isn't a single god in the bible because every man portrayed god how they wanted. I wonder if you're reading of the bible with a predisposition from cynicism and disgust is really all that much better from people that read the bible with a predisposition of infallibility and absolute adherence.

[Won2blv]

He kills and maims infants every day?

Sure...  Like the other day when he invented Leukaemia But it's not His fault.  He has such a good and fragile heart under His psychopathic madman facade

So can you reference the scripture where he invents Leukemia?

[Thumpalumpacus]

The god of the bible is at best amoral, and, more likely, evil. Can't say I find either sort loveable, in real life or in fiction.

[jenny1972]

yes of course and it doesnt hurt to "talk" to this " fictional character " either (in your mind)

[Anomalocaris]

U

I suppose I can love him in a the I love Darth Vader.
Since they are both fictitious, I must say that the Bible needs better script writers (judging by the amount of people here who were religious)

Surely the bible can't be much worse than episold I.

[Anomalocaris]

I guess I just disagree with many of you. Cleary there isn't a single god in the bible because every man portrayed god how they wanted. I wonder if you're reading of the bible with a predisposition from cynicism and disgust is really all that much better from people that read the bible with a predisposition of infallibility and absolute adherence.

I was actually predisposed to like him. Then I realized he was responsible for Christians.