What does the word 'God' mean to you?,II

Subject: What does the word 'God' mean to you?,II
From: SeanM
Date: 20 Jan 01 - 06:21 PM

'Cause the first one hit over a hundred, and I inflicted post 106. Parte ye Firste is over at that link.

Let the games continue!

M

Subject: RE: What does the word 'God' mean to you?,II
From: Zebedee
Date: 20 Jan 01 - 06:33 PM

When I started the orignal thread, it was motivated by a genuine curiosity and interest as to the diversity of the beliefs and faiths people here have.

There was no intention to provoke arguement.

Starting a part two with 'let the games continue' possibly suggests a desire for conflict.

I, for one, wish to totally distance myself from that, if that was the intention.

Ed

Subject: RE: What does the word 'God' mean to you?,II
From: SeanM
Date: 20 Jan 01 - 06:44 PM

Sorry that you're reading that into the post. It was not my intention to do that, only to be silly.

'Games' do not have to be about conflict... only the different views jockeying for position around the great Ideological Scrabble Board in the Sky.

M

Subject: RE: What does the word 'God' mean to you?,II
From: wysiwyg
Date: 20 Jan 01 - 06:59 PM

In the USA, "Let the Games Begin" is often used to evoke the sense of fair, honorable competition... I think it's what is said to open the Olympics.

Sean, some people will find playfulness on this topic difficult. Please PM me if you want some info on a place where the topic of humor about the holy is more actively explored.

~Susan

Subject: RE: What does the word 'God' mean to you?,II
From: Zebedee
Date: 20 Jan 01 - 07:09 PM

Susan,

As much as I may have misunderstood 'let the games begin...' using the Olympics, where Americans only cheer if Americans are winning is, perhaps, not the best analogy of global understanding

Ed

Subject: RE: What does the word 'God' mean to you?,II
From: Matt_R
Date: 20 Jan 01 - 07:26 PM

S'truth. I always cheer for the Irish and the French--not the Americans.

Subject: RE: What does the word 'God' mean to you?,II
From: Sorcha
Date: 20 Jan 01 - 07:28 PM

This has nothing to do with God, but I cheer for a good performance and a good attitude, regardless of what country the athlete is from.

Subject: RE: What does the word 'God' mean to you?,II
From: wysiwyg
Date: 20 Jan 01 - 08:01 PM

Ed.... never mind. Having a rough day maybe?

~S~

Subject: RE: What does the word 'God' mean to you?,II
From: Lox
Date: 20 Jan 01 - 11:00 PM

Sometimes I see religion as being a vehicle of faith, where faith is not possible in other things.

Tonight for example I am finding it hard to have faith either in myself or humanity, in the lessons of the past or the possibilities of the future.

The flipside to faith is despair.

You can't move forward when you feel depair.

You need faith in something, whether it's your job, money, your family, the innate goodness of people or God.

I make mistakes, people make mistakes, and material things crumble away. It is difficult for me to have an enduring faith in such things.

When I am in such a state, I look to all possibilities to regain my feeling of faith.

When my despair has reached irreversible levels, I have been known to start praying in my own way to God.

I usually do this silently, but form articulate clear thoughts and sentences in my head.

I ask the room "Are you there, do you exist, please show yourself, because if there is a time that I need you it's now." Sometimes I cry.

Funnily, I usually feel better afterwards. Whether there is a logical psychiatric reason for this or not I don't know. Maybe it's just that in crying I heal myself.

Whatever it is, (and I am not religious - I can count the number of times I have done it on one hand) it gets me through the hardest times. The times when I feel alone and full of desperation.

I then return to my "up" life, and pretend it never happened, and my faith in myself is retored, my faith in the future is restored etc.

When Mahatma Ghandi talks about light, life and truth persisting, I think this is what he is talking about. Somehow, the candle is kept alight.

Somehow, it is allowed to develop back into a flame.

I still don't know if God exists, or what he/she/it is.

I do know though, and I cannot lie about it any more, that it is when I have thought about him/her/it that my faith has been restored in a way that nothing else has ever been able to match.

What keeps your candle lit? what reaffirms your faith when you FEEL like you have nowhere to turn.

I would like to know.

lox

Subject: RE: What does the word 'God' mean to you?,II
From: walkinman
Date: 21 Jan 01 - 09:35 AM

My religion is very simple and can be described in one word.....kindness.

-The Dalai Lama

Subject: RE: What does the word 'God' mean to you?,II
From: Seth
Date: 21 Jan 01 - 10:17 PM

I'm with the Dalai Lama on that. I'm a Mingusite. Every day I recite the Charles MIngus prayer: "Oh Lord, Don't Let Them Drop that Atomic Bomb on Me". Also a McDowellist: we follow the credo "when the Lord gets ready, you've got to move" I don't think I believe in God. I hope She believes in me.

Seth from China

Subject: RE: What does the word 'God' mean to you?,II
From: walkinman
Date: 21 Jan 01 - 10:33 PM


come on people now

smile on your brother

everybody get together

and try to love one another

right now

right now.........

Subject: RE: What does the word 'God' mean to you?,II
From: GUEST,yum yum
Date: 22 Jan 01 - 04:57 AM

all very well saying that - - - but over here we have formed two new religions... 'PROD-LICKS' and 'PRESBY-FENIANS' and still no one can agree which one to join.

ps. SeanM this is only a joke. YUM YUM

Subject: RE: What does the word 'God' mean to you?,II
From: GUEST,micca at work
Date: 22 Jan 01 - 06:35 AM

True story, a Pagan friend (Gardnerian Wiccan) who lives in Northern Ireland was asked (apparently in seriousness)at a party by a slightly drunk individual, whether he was a "Catholic Pagan" or a "Protestant Pagan" and the questioner couldnt understand why the (mainly Pagan) group laughed loud and a long, and the tale was frequently retold thru the evening.
BTW I've always wondered, what does an Atheist shout at the moment of orgasm???

Subject: RE: What does the word 'God' mean to you?,II
From: mousethief
Date: 22 Jan 01 - 12:19 PM

Ed,

Fart on you! Americans do NOT only cheer if Americans are winning. What a wretched generalization!

alex

Subject: RE: What does the word 'God' mean to you?,II
From: GUEST,John Hill
Date: 22 Jan 01 - 12:22 PM

A wise person once said "Faith is believing what you know ain't so"..... I'll drink to that.

Subject: RE: What does the word 'God' mean to you?,II
From: annamill
Date: 23 Jan 01 - 12:25 PM

"BTW I've always wondered, what does an Atheist shout at the moment of orgasm??? "

The name of your lover! He's or she's the one to be grateful to.

Love, annamill

Subject: RE: What does the word 'God' mean to you?,II
From: Allan C.
Date: 23 Jan 01 - 12:36 PM

Yeah, Anna. Just be certain it is the name of the one you're with!

Subject: RE: What does the word 'God' mean to you?,II
From: GUEST,Sam Pirt
Date: 23 Jan 01 - 01:12 PM

My inner strength, love and kindness ( I know its slushy but you asked!!) It also means music as well

Cheers, Sam

Subject: RE: What does the word 'God' mean to you?,II
From: annamill
Date: 23 Jan 01 - 01:12 PM

... or just say 'Honey'!! to be sure.

Love, annamill

Subject: RE: What does the word 'God' mean to you?,II
From: Little Hawk
Date: 23 Jan 01 - 05:08 PM

Things that atheists shout at the moment of orgasm:

Oh, MONEY!!!

Oh, STOCK OPTIONS!!!

Oh, MORTGAGE RATES GOING DOWN IN THE NEW YEAR!!!

Then, there are the ones who just make inarticulate noises, and frankly I prefer that on the whole, okay? It conveys much more universal meanings.

Not that I'm an atheist, but I have my preferences...

- LH

Subject: RE: What does the word 'God' mean to you?,II
From: SeanM
Date: 23 Jan 01 - 06:07 PM

Drifting, drifting, over the bounding thread...

Comedy website today had "things least likely to be said during orgasm"...

One of my favorites... "My name is xxxx and I'd like to talk to you about the great deals we can offer you on your long distance rates"

M

Subject: RE: What does the word 'God' mean to you?,II
From: mousethief
Date: 23 Jan 01 - 06:10 PM

Actually theists might very well enjoy money, lower interest rates, and stock options. But if that's what you're thinking about when you're making love, your lover has every right to be miffed.

alex

Subject: RE: What does the word 'God' mean to you?,II
From: CamiSu
Date: 25 Jan 01 - 09:33 AM

Serious thread creep! But having been up to my eyes in alligators these last few days, ...weeks...nevermind... I hadn't been able to read this all 'til today. There's been some wonderful stuff said here. I teach Sunday School to the HS and college class and do start with the God is Life, Truth, Love, Mind, Soul, Spirit, Principle, but it is so much fun to see how S/he is expressed by everyone, in so much variety.

And I do think Jesus, Mohammed, Buddha, and so many others were/are teachers trying to get us to see we are all God's children and need to do all those wonderful things they did. And I see so many people doing just that, to whatever extent they can. "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father in Heaven is perfect." Tall order, but we can work at it! Some do it as parents (not limited to one's own children, for sure), some as teachers, some as doctors, some as lawyers (believe me some are there to do their best for others!), some as farmers, and some as street cleaners.

I really like Richard Bach's comment in "Illusions" Why are we here? To learn and to have fun. And what I heard from and introduction to the Goddess several years ago. "You want to see the face of the Goddess? Look at the person next to you."

Thank you all. Great IDEAS!

CamiSu

Subject: RE: What does the word 'God' mean to you?,II
From: Ebbie
Date: 21 Jan 07 - 10:29 PM

I ran across this thread while I was looking at a different 'traced' thread. This one is Part Two, which is kind of too bad because it is no longer necessary to separate them.

But it is an interesting subject and like most of us I have lots of ideas about it.

I especially like Wesley S's remark that we are told that man is made in the image of God, but that somehow we have made him into an image of us...

Subject: RE: What does the word 'God' mean to you?,II
From: bubblyrat
Date: 21 Jan 07 - 10:40 PM

Is "GOD" the one who was on vacation during The Holocaust and couldn"t be reached ???

Subject: RE: What does the word 'God' mean to you?,II
From: Joe Offer
Date: 21 Jan 07 - 10:58 PM

No, I think God was the one whose heart was broken when all those people died. Sometimes, we wish for a God who would write a nicer script for the story of our lives - but maybe we're better off writing our own script.
-Joe-

Subject: RE: What does the word 'God' mean to you?,II
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 21 Jan 07 - 11:28 PM

God is the easy explanation for what can't be easily explained.

Subject: RE: What does the word 'God' mean to you?,II
From: Bill D
Date: 21 Jan 07 - 11:38 PM

The word means (to me) a reference to a supposed supernatural, all-powerful being who controls and/or made us and all we see. It also brings up a swirl of hard to pin down concepts about how to approach THINKING about my own existence.

Not yer standard answer, but then I studied it formally for many years.

Subject: RE: What does the word 'God' mean to you?,II
From: dianavan
Date: 22 Jan 07 - 01:57 AM

The word God is a literary reference to a mythical and all-powerful force or source of energy. His attributes vary according to culture. He forsakes those who are naughty and rewards those who are good.

My God is a Goddess. She's way more interesting.

Subject: RE: What does the word 'God' mean to you?,II
From: Bert
Date: 22 Jan 07 - 02:10 AM

Now lessee! Bible folks claim that we were created in God's image.

And scientists are gradually accepting the mitochondrial Eve theory which claims that the first real human was a woman in Africa.

If they are both right then God is a black woman - which is going to piss off a load of rednecks when they get to heaven.

Subject: RE: What does the word 'God' mean to you?,II
From: Captain Ginger
Date: 22 Jan 07 - 03:36 AM

Oo-er - another thread with the potential for a lot of shouting, but one which seems to have been conducted in a remarkably civilised fashion.
For me the word 'God' is as much a human construct as 'Money' or 'Government'. God is a manifestation of religion, and we invented religion back in the mists of whenever as a security blanket to comfort us in the face of the unknown - darkness, death, disease and life as a whole.
As an atheist, I'm in accord with Bertrand Russell, who commented: "Religion is based, I think, primarily and mainly upon fear. It is partly the terror of the unknown and partly, as I have said, the wish to feel that you have a kind of elder brother who will stand by you in all your troubles and disputes....A good world needs knowledge, kindliness, and courage; it does not need a regretful hankering after the past or a fettering of the free intelligence by the words uttered long ago by ignorant men."

Subject: RE: What does the word 'God' mean to you?,II
From: John Hardly
Date: 22 Jan 07 - 06:52 AM

If I thought that understanding god was a pursuit of invention rather than a discovery, I would be agnostic.

Subject: RE: What does the word 'God' mean to you?,II
From: Riginslinger
Date: 22 Jan 07 - 08:17 AM

Hard to discover something that isn't there.

Subject: RE: What does the word 'God' mean to you?,II
From: Rasener
Date: 22 Jan 07 - 08:40 AM

God is an excuse for having wars

Subject: RE: What does the word 'God' mean to you?,II
From: Georgiansilver
Date: 22 Jan 07 - 08:43 AM

God is used as an excuse for many things but generally by NON-Christians.

Subject: RE: What does the word 'God' mean to you?,II
From: Rasener
Date: 22 Jan 07 - 09:20 AM

Not so GS. When I was a confirmed C of E I felt just the same about war and religion, and I have no reason what so ever to change my viewpoint.

oh dear what ave I said. I hope we don't have a war at Faldingworth Live GS :-)

Subject: RE: What does the word 'God' mean to you?,II
From: *daylia*
Date: 22 Jan 07 - 09:36 AM

God is used as an excuse for many things but generally by NON-Christians.   

I remember when Bush Sr invaded Kuwait a couple decades ago, watching both him and Saddam on the telly, propogandizing. Both used the same tactic -- Bush pontificating about how God supposedly endorsed his plans to blast Saddam off the planet and take the oil for himself, Saddam saying this "Holy War" was the will of Allah. So apparently, both were just obeying the Will of God.

Maybe someday God will learn how to pick sides, and spare us the confusion.

Subject: RE: What does the word 'God' mean to you?,II
From: Bee-dubya-ell
Date: 22 Jan 07 - 09:50 AM

The word "God" is so baggage-laden that, while I'm definitely of a spiritual bent, I only use it if I stub my toe. I refer to my perception of the Ultimate as the "Ground of All Being". It is absolutely connotation-free.

Subject: RE: What does the word 'God' mean to you?,II
From: Bee
Date: 22 Jan 07 - 10:38 AM

The word God to me is a concept so bandied about by the good, the bad, and the indifferent that either no or all meaning can be ascribed to it.

I've yet to see any confirmation that such a being exists, or created the world, let alone influences the world. God/Goddess/Gods worshippers tell us often how their lives have been affected by direct supernatural intervention, yet all over the planet I see believers and unbelievers alike living lives of pain and misery, children sick, maimed and killed, animals tortured, landscapes destroyed.

Lucky Westerners like ourselves are likely to ascribe the most meaningless bits of chance to direct intervention of God: a preacher says God sent someone to help load her groceries into her car (true story); she believes that, but does not see the disconnect between this and the people massacred and maimed in their church while praying in Rwanda a few years ago. (This incident was burned into my consciousness by a story a year or more later about a fourteen year old girl who, horribly maimed, survived under the corpses of others, but who lost every single member of her family, down to aunts, uncles and cousins, and must continue to live amongst their murderers.)

I understand that belief systems comfort most humans, and I don't mind this; I am willing to respect the beliefs of others, especially if some good comes of their belief, and I admit that is often true. I am the only member of my family who does not believe; I have no problem with that, and will even on occasion volunteer to help with church activities for their sake.

And a side note: what exactly does 'spirituality' mean to you? People, even agnostics, will often say they or someone else is 'spiritual', but it seems to usually mean 'good', or 'unconcerned with material wealth', or 'likes to commune with nature', or 'is very romantic'.

Subject: RE: What does the word 'God' mean to you?,II
From: John Hardly
Date: 22 Jan 07 - 10:51 AM

Now where did I leave that Ground of All Being-damn hammer?!

Subject: RE: What does the word 'God' mean to you?,II
From: tarheel
Date: 22 Jan 07 - 10:59 AM

so,it seems,the majority here does not believe in God nor that the Bible is the True Word of God!
so please explain to me,what do you think happens to your soul at the time of death?
I also think that the majority of you know where i stand on this issue,but i'm just curious about the rest of you....just curious,that's all!
Tar...

Subject: RE: What does the word 'God' mean to you?,II
From: Bee
Date: 22 Jan 07 - 11:11 AM

Tarheel, if we don't believe in God, whyever would you expect us to believe we have a soul?

I would love to believe that 'I' would survive death, but where's the evidence that what the Godly call the soul is anything other than the mind, which appears to be a product of the physical brain and body? The body dies, the mind dies with it: very unfortunate, in my opinion, but sadly uncontested by available facts.

Subject: RE: What does the word 'God' mean to you?,II
From: Georgiansilver
Date: 22 Jan 07 - 11:18 AM

Bee...not sure if you have ever seen anyone die but I have seen a few and the life goes out of the body...visually....before the last breaths are taken. Last year, my Mum died of cancer and the breathing carried on for some time after her 'life' had gone from her. I truly believe that our soul...our lifes understanding/learning....goes somewhere. As a Christian I believe in what Jesus promises in John 3 v's 16-17. My Mum believed it too.

Subject: RE: What does the word 'God' mean to you?,II
From: Captain Ginger
Date: 22 Jan 07 - 11:36 AM

A part of me does envy those who have a strong faith - at least they can face life's vicissitudes with the thought that they have something to look forward to!
For me, however, this is as good as it gets. Which, as a reasonably affluent Westerner, is a darned sight better than it's been for most of humanity for most of its existence.
But, rich or poor, enlightened or superstitious, when you're dead, you're dead - just as dead as your cat is when it's run over or the pig is which gave you your breakfast bacon. We don't have a soul - but what we have is something amazing, which is consciousness. Unfortunately, with it came an awareness of our mortality, so we invented god as a security blanket.

Subject: RE: What does the word 'God' mean to you?,II
From: Bee
Date: 22 Jan 07 - 11:51 AM

Georgiansilver, I have indeed been present at several deaths, and can't say that I have interpreted what I have seen as you have. How can you 'see' the life go out of someone before breathing stops? I would say I have seen someone lose consciousness before they stopped breathing, or before they were 'allowed' to stop breathing by the removal of intervening medical control, but I have also seen someone lose consciousness while still quite alive and destined to recover, and to me it looked exactly the same (except, of course, the breathing continued).

My own mum is a sincere believer, and I would never try to convince her - or you - otherwise, but I remain entirely unconvinced. And yes, Jesus of the Bible expresses many fine sentiments, and also makes many confusing statements. The entire Bible is full of contradiction and confusion, IMO, as would be expected of any ancient collection of mixed history, patriotism, and mythology. But, outside of venues such as this, where there is a direct invitation to express one's contentions, I rarely even express my own views on the subject, as I have no desire to offend or upset my family or friends.

Subject: RE: What does the word 'God' mean to you?,II
From: Bill D
Date: 22 Jan 07 - 12:42 PM

God(s) and souls and spirits and 'hereafters'...etc...It's not something we are going to settle, are we? We all have our reasons and, at least partial explanations, for why we 'believe' or not.

The best we can do is to be true to ourselves and try to respect others trying to do the same.

I can relate jokes about God; I can debate theology when it's relevant; I can study the history and comparison of different religions; I can even explain the details of my own path from believing as a child to wondering as a student to doubting as an adult....but all I can do finally is to shrug and say I'm doing the best I can and hoping I leave this world having done my best to understand & make sense.

Subject: RE: What does the word 'God' mean to you?,II
From: Georgiansilver
Date: 22 Jan 07 - 12:45 PM

You say "Jesus of the Bible expresses many fine sentiments, and also makes many confusing statements. The entire Bible is full of contradiction and confusion".
I cannot see it in that way. If the old Testament is read in the context of the history of Gods world and the New Testament as exactly that...a New Testament and a new way of living through Jesus Christ there is for me no confusion or contradiction. I have also read Jesus words many times and can find no confusing statements made by Him.
Hopefully though this thread will not degenerate into attempts to prove or disprove as it often gets personal.
Best wishes, Mike.

Subject: RE: What does the word 'God' mean to you?,II
From: Georgiansilver
Date: 22 Jan 07 - 12:50 PM

OOps sorry Villan..meant to reply to you...War at Faldingworth is out of the question. Too much good music to listen to.

Subject: RE: What does the word 'God' mean to you?,II
From: GUEST,Crazyhorse
Date: 22 Jan 07 - 12:55 PM

There are a number of very intelligent designers working for companies throughout the world busy working on all sorts of wonderful things. There is another group of people who believe the first group to be gods, or have i misunderstood something.

As for what i cry out during orgasm, that's between me and the goddess.