BS: What religion is god?

Subject: BS: What religion is god?
From: Mr Happy
Date: 24 Sep 13 - 09:33 AM

Anyone know?

Subject: RE: BS: What religion is god?
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 24 Sep 13 - 10:10 AM

god is dead.

Dave H

Subject: RE: BS: What religion is god?
From: GUEST,Musket being patriotic
Date: 24 Sep 13 - 10:12 AM

Sheffield Wednesday

Subject: RE: BS: What religion is god?
From: Don(Wyziwyg)T
Date: 24 Sep 13 - 10:48 AM

Which God??

Subject: RE: BS: What religion is god?
From: GUEST,Musket being patriotic
Date: 24 Sep 13 - 10:57 AM

Take your choice Don.

Trevor Francis
Des Walker
Chris Waddle
David Hirst
David Ford
Ron Springett

A God for any generation. Up the Owls!

Subject: RE: BS: What religion is god?
From: Jack the Sailor
Date: 24 Sep 13 - 11:19 AM

The blind men and the elephant

Subject: RE: BS: What religion is god?
From: GUEST,TasMan
Date: 24 Sep 13 - 11:25 AM

It's Whatsisname isn't it? Y'know, the all-seeing, all-knowing whatsit, existence sorta thing/being with the unpronouncable name like, innit/him/her/them/totality stuff.
Light, strings and things too small to see and too large to comprehend, and he/she/it is apparently dreaming us.
So if yer 'god' then is not an atheist (ha ha), the 'god's' religion is probably the 'creation', i.e. the dream, which is us.
Just a thought like...

Subject: RE: BS: What religion is god?
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 24 Sep 13 - 11:39 AM

Church of England, of course!

(What a bloody silly question...)

Subject: RE: BS: What religion is god?
From: bobad
Date: 24 Sep 13 - 11:45 AM

Pastafarian?

Subject: RE: BS: What religion is god?
From: Mr Happy
Date: 24 Sep 13 - 11:55 AM

'Which God?? '

The omnipotent, invisible, indivisible, all seeing, all knowing deity

Subject: RE: BS: What religion is god?
From: Bert
Date: 24 Sep 13 - 12:28 PM

Well, as he(or she) probably doesn't believe that there is an old man high above the clouds who created him and watches over him then I would guess that he must be an atheist.

Subject: RE: BS: What religion is god?
From: Mr Happy
Date: 24 Sep 13 - 12:41 PM

You think that the imaginary deity doesn't have faith in a higher power?

Subject: RE: BS: What religion is god?
From: GUEST
Date: 24 Sep 13 - 12:45 PM

God is actually an atheist.....

Subject: RE: BS: What religion is god?
From: selby
Date: 24 Sep 13 - 12:48 PM

There's one thing for sure whoever god may or may not be, sides must be aching with laughing at all the religious zealots in all the world claiming they are the ones that are right. The only ones on message etc
Keith

Subject: RE: BS: What religion is god?
From: Mr Happy
Date: 24 Sep 13 - 12:49 PM

Can you offer any evidence?

Subject: RE: BS: What religion is god?
From: GUEST,pete from seven stars link
Date: 24 Sep 13 - 12:53 PM

I am "happy" that you are looking for an answer to this important question.
not being the "wind up" sort, I am sure you will want to investigate this thoroughly, rather than rely on the vagaries of assorted mudcatters!
I wish you success propotionate to your seriousness!

Subject: RE: BS: What religion is god?
From: Artful Codger
Date: 24 Sep 13 - 01:00 PM

Isn't that like asking "Does a centaur eat meat?" or "Does a gryphon contemplate the nature of his or her non-existence?"

Subject: RE: BS: What religion is god?
From: Bill D
Date: 24 Sep 13 - 02:38 PM

Admirable restraint, Pete.... ☺

Subject: RE: BS: What religion is god?
From: GUEST
Date: 24 Sep 13 - 03:34 PM

What a silly "Bunt" you are Mr. Happy:)

Ur OP is kinda like asking, "what is left if you take the happy out of Mr. Happy", or "what do you have left if you kick the shit out of a Mudcat BS er".

He says L, but not ol.

Subject: RE: BS: What religion is god?
From: Stringsinger
Date: 24 Sep 13 - 03:42 PM

The very notion of a god presupposes a religious point of view. It may not be institutionalized such as in a given church, synagogue or temple but the roots of the word "religious" should shed some light on this subject.

The question that was meant to be asked was "what denomination is god?" Here, we view the notion of god as a shattered one with many claiming their "one and only god".

Since god doesn't exist, the question will remain hypothetical.

Subject: RE: BS: What religion is god?
From: DMcG
Date: 24 Sep 13 - 05:14 PM

I disagree, artful (and others): the question is nothing like one about centaurs precisely because so many people believe in God but (almost?) no-one believes in centaurs. Just because you have decided there is no god does not alter the fact lots of people do. So to me the question is interesting irrespective of personal beliefs. In this case one thing in encourages is care with words. Religion and demonination were distinguished above, but I'm not sure either is quite right. There was the suggestion that someone/thing was atheist if they didn't believe in a higher being so god must be an athiest; but if god believes in him/herself they believe in god, so I would say they are thiest, not athiest, notice how slight changes in words alter meanings and conclusions.

So why would that matter if you don't personally believe in god? Becase it gives you more understanding of those who do, and I would say that is always a 'good'. Whereas the attitude 'everyone who believes in god is a fool' is, I submit, unhelpful

Subject: RE: BS: What religion is god?
From: GUEST,Ed T
Date: 24 Sep 13 - 06:27 PM

God is religion, not vice versa.

The various human takes (human perspectives) were man-made to meet the needs of the time, console fears and to suit (serve) the various cultural and governing purposes throughout time.

Subject: RE: BS: What religion is god?
From: Bee-dubya-ell
Date: 24 Sep 13 - 09:15 PM

I am God, and I'm a Taoist.

Subject: RE: BS: What religion is god?
From: GUEST
Date: 25 Sep 13 - 12:21 AM

It has been said: "God gave us all minds and intellects to enable us to make this crucial decision. It is the most important decision in the life of a human being. Upon it depends his future. Consequently, each and every one of us must examine dispassionately the evidence presented and choose what appears to be right until further evidence arises."
An atheist may argue the origin of mind and intellect but the reamainder still holds.

Subject: RE: BS: What religion is god?
From: GUEST,Musket curious
Date: 25 Sep 13 - 01:30 AM

No. Have read all the above and nobody, least of all the post above this one, has swayed me from the truth.

God exists in his halls of Sheffield S6 and his Creed is football.

You know it makes sense.   In fact just like any other god, he is testing the faith of his acolytes. This season more than most if I have to be honest. ....

Subject: RE: BS: What religion is god?
From: banjoman
Date: 25 Sep 13 - 06:44 AM

If (and I believe there is) there is a God, then the problem is that we attribute human characteristics to (Him?). God exists for everyone and everything so the question is not worth the asking.
The God that I believe in is the essence of all that exists in whatever form -essentially the spirit of the original act of will that brought about the act of creation. and is a continuing process of creation. Effectively, our God is too small or so we have fashioned him/it/
On the football theme which appears lots in this thread, you all forgot about King Kenny (Dalglish)

Subject: RE: BS: What religion is god?
From: GUEST,Blandiver
Date: 25 Sep 13 - 07:21 AM

Funny that people have such a high opinion of God; from the available evidence (Bible etc.) I'd say he's a complete twat & embodies the very worst failings you'd only find in a total psychopath. If he had a religion he'd be one of those mad right-wing fundamentalist Christian misanthropic bigots you see outside the Arndale Centre preaching a message of misery, hell-fire, damnation, racism and homophobia to all those unfortunate enough to find themselves within earshot.

God is not good, folks - he's your worst nightmare coming at you with an eternity of suffering because you had the temerity to think for yourself. Religion is his means of punishing yo sorry ass simply for being human.

Subject: RE: BS: What religion is god?
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 25 Sep 13 - 07:49 AM

so many people believe in God but (almost?) no-one believes in centaurs.

That is only because the poor old centaurs had no-one to torture, maim and kill those who said they did not believe in them. Eventually the God myth will go the same way as the others but while people are not only willing to believe, but happy to kill off the opposition, we still have a long way to go.

I believe in us Gnomes.

:D tG

Subject: RE: BS: What religion is god?
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 25 Sep 13 - 07:51 AM

Blandiver is of course correct, if there is a supreme being [ God ]

Dave H

Subject: RE: BS: What religion is god?
From: Rapparee
Date: 25 Sep 13 - 07:53 AM

They worship birdies, eagles, and mulligans as they run around hitting their balls with clubs.

Subject: RE: BS: What religion is god?
From: GUEST,Blandiver
Date: 25 Sep 13 - 08:53 AM

if there is a supreme being [ God ]

Which of course there isn't, but that's what folks believe him to be. It's all there in the Ghastly Good Books believed in by Goodly Whitewashed Christian Folk who carry around in their rotten hearts the psychotic notion of salvation.

Subject: RE: BS: What religion is god?
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 25 Sep 13 - 08:59 AM

Unfortunately not just Christian either as many recent events show. :-(

DtG

Subject: RE: BS: What religion is god?
From: Bill D
Date: 25 Sep 13 - 11:50 AM

I am one of those agnostic, dyslexic insomniacs who sometimes lie awake all night wondering if there is a dog.


I am also a philosophy student who is constantly appalled by the number of folks who merely 'believe' or 'disbelieve' in something called a 'god' with very little comprehension of the implications of either the word or the myriad ideas it represents.

Subject: RE: BS: What religion is god?
From: GUEST,CS
Date: 25 Sep 13 - 12:12 PM

God is a Satanist. At least that tyrannical monster from the Old Testament surely is.

Subject: RE: BS: What religion is god?
From: GUEST,CS
Date: 25 Sep 13 - 12:18 PM

A friend of mine once described Yahweh/Yehovah, as the collective Jewish 'shadow' or in other words, a personification of all the repressed rage and related emotional/psychological toxins of an entire race who was historically shat on by the rest of the world. I found his theory pretty compelling.

Subject: RE: BS: What religion is god?
From: GUEST,Blandiver
Date: 25 Sep 13 - 12:24 PM

God is just an idea - a concept - or a myriad of concepts - explore the cultural ramifications & manifestations of that idea by all means but it doesn't change the fact that A) We made it up, and B) Its only existence is the collective imagination of humanity these past 10,000 years or whatever. Like Santa Clause, everyone knows its just make-believe - that much, thank goodness, is evident enough so as not to have to enter into any pointless discussions on its 'existence' otherwise.

As for Philosophy, a friend of mine once said it was going looking for trouble where there isn't any. Like Religion, I steer well clear.

A newborn babe surveys the sky -
And wonders how can it fit in my tiny eye?
Then turns its gaze out to the sea,
and thinks : if God there is, then I am he!

Subject: RE: BS: What religion is god?
From: GUEST,Musket evolving slowly
Date: 25 Sep 13 - 01:02 PM

Bill. People don't need to be steeped in philosophy to hold a general view and either embrace or dismiss a concept based on that view.

That is the thrust of many parallel threads at the moment.

As in... oh! You don't love the little baby Jesus? That means you are an atheist. Oh! You are an atheist? That means you have read everything Dawkins ever wrote and fit into the de Waal stereotype.

When all along you don't give a rats arse about bloody Jesus or the nocturnal antics of his priests and just wish god botherers would stop trying to dictate society and by association you.

Subject: RE: BS: What religion is god?
From: Donuel
Date: 25 Sep 13 - 01:57 PM

God is an evolution, a very real temporal and corporal evolution but not the ultimate evolution of everything for all time.

Everything is born/spewed into existence step by step, force by force and relationship by relationship.

A simple example is that in the early universe there was no gold or platinum until the first Super Novas grew to sufficient size to forge these heavy metals.

All the parts of all the universes large and small are created nearly one at a time. For example when all eight of the Higgs Bosons ( 2 in 3D and 4 in the dark matter realm and 2 in the luminal or technicolor dark matter realm) are created from the twisted chaos from the infinite mass and torsions of a new universe fertile exploding black hole, only then does time exist in a classical sense and then and only then does size matter. Other people invented an excuse for the sudden impossible expansion of our universe and called it expansion theory but the expansion is only a result or symptom of time being born out of a creation black hole birthing its infinity soup from somewhere in a universe separate and apart from the new space time being created.



The evolution of the cosmos/god is defined by its growing of new parts new relationships and new complexities built upon older parts that came before. Sometimes the old and new collide in mutual destruction, but winners emerge and evolve. The coming large evolution of a lower energy state of the universe will even challenge the existence of certain old atomic particles that were thought to be immortal. (in no time soon)

The old god is not the same as the current god. History does not repeat itself in the long run but only in the infinite long run.

*****
The old goldless god is gone. The current god has gold. The future god is without gold.
*******
Yes were are living in the golden age with a god that will be superseded by a more complex god but less energetic god as we pass from middle to old age.

The quantum world of god is akin to our thoughts. The large scale cosmic god is akin to our bodies. Our thoughts go against the current of time, our bodies are swept away by the currents of time.
Our gods are evolving just as our thoughts and bodies evolve in the short run and change profoundly in the long run.

Eventually even the oldest god will die but our child universes born from our early and middle aged universe will have evolving gods of their own.

So name god's religion?

The wholly cosmic communion of evolving evolution is as good as any.

How bout WEEE!!! ,
Wholly Everlasting Entropic Evolution for short.

As you can see just saying god is dead is over simplistic and incorrect, and all this is coming from me, an atheist, cosmologist and hypnotist.......   and sometimes banjo, bass and cello player.

I hope this treatise makes Mr. happy happy but he did ask. He shoulda known better.

Subject: RE: BS: What religion is god?
From: GUEST,Blandiver
Date: 25 Sep 13 - 02:00 PM

That sounds about right, CS - on both counts though I see little difference between the Old Testament & The New & the ineffable crap spouted by the myriad of Christian denominations today.

Subject: RE: BS: What religion is god?
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 25 Sep 13 - 02:36 PM

I OTOH fail to take your (or your friend's) point at all, CS. The religion, including its deity

‎יהוה

somewhat (ie by about 3000 years!) predated the misfortunes its adherents suffered [of being "an entire race who was historically shat on by the rest of the world"] after its diaspora at the time of the Romans; so how that deity should be take as having originated as some sort of symbol of, or prophylactic against, such sufferings & persecutions, I do not quite see.

~M~

Subject: RE: BS: What religion is god?
From: GUEST,CS
Date: 25 Sep 13 - 02:43 PM

My knowledge of the NT is pretty much restricted to popularly reproduced memes about JC's teachings, like: love thy neighbour etc. So I can't contradict you. But the old bastard from the OT certainly *appears* hugely different from the supposedly incarnated version.

Interestingly, some bloke called "Marcellus" (need to check on that), reckoned that JC wasn't talking about Yahweh at all when referring to his/the "Father", but some entirely other supernal or divine being/entity/principle. It makes sense to me, at least it's the only way I could reconcile JC's apparent humanitarian teachings with his devotion to a 'higher' spiritual agency that he names as 'Father'.

Subject: RE: BS: What religion is god?
From: GUEST,CS
Date: 25 Sep 13 - 02:49 PM

Fair enough M, I don't know the history of the Jews too well so was only repeating the thoughts of another. Though I believe Yehovah was initially some kind of minor desert god who gradually rose to prominence over time?

Subject: RE: BS: What religion is god?
From: GUEST,Blandiver
Date: 25 Sep 13 - 03:19 PM

Have a read of The Apocalypse, CS - and dip into a few of the letters of Paul. Laugh a minute. JC's stuff is jumbled up with the usual bollox under a pretty ghastly mythical framework.

Subject: RE: BS: What religion is god?
From: GUEST,pete from seven stars links
Date: 25 Sep 13 - 04:45 PM

for all the talk I,ve seen on these threads saying that a negative cant be proved, and thus at least allowing some possibility of the divine, there are some dogmatic assertions by anti theists here.

Subject: RE: BS: What religion is god?
From: GUEST,Ed T
Date: 25 Sep 13 - 05:14 PM

I am God!

In many ways, I suspect this is close to the truth - regardless of your skewed viewpoints (upbringings/hang-ups) on the matter, or your cultural or worldly-based opinions.
:)

Subject: RE: BS: What religion is god?
From: GUEST
Date: 25 Sep 13 - 05:37 PM

God is an atheist.

Subject: RE: BS: What religion is god?
From: GUEST,Blandiver
Date: 25 Sep 13 - 06:21 PM

there are some dogmatic assertions by anti theists here.

The assertions aren't dogmatic, Pete - pragmatic I grant, and evidence based, empirical likewise - but there's no dogma or orthodoxy to any of it. This is fundamental reality, which is right there for all of us to enjoy, bar none, each of us in our own sweet way. The good thing with anti-theism is its warm soft-hearted inclusivity.

Subject: RE: BS: What religion is god?
From: Uncle Phil
Date: 25 Sep 13 - 06:36 PM

I haven't any idea, however, as Ray Wylie Hubbard observed, Jesus would have made a pretty good Buddhist.

Subject: RE: BS: What religion is god?
From: Bill D
Date: 25 Sep 13 - 07:24 PM

Musket.. People don't need to be steeped in philosophy to hold a general view and either embrace or dismiss a concept based on that view.

Of course... and I'm sorry if that's what my remark sounded like. All I mean is that MY having been steeped in it shows me the kinds of careless, shallow thinking involved in many of those views...in both directions. There are some who believe or disbelieve having carefully studied the options and such 'evidence' as there is for either side... I can talk to some of them, but not easily to the ones who categorically state that they are 'right' on either side.

Blandiver said: "As for Philosophy, a friend of mine once said it was going looking for trouble where there isn't any. Like Religion, I steer well clear.
Ha! Your friend was better equipped to toss out little aphorisms and cute remarks than to evaluate complex systems of logic, history and conceptual relationships... but that is the usual response to something one has only a passing acquaintence with.
(*I* "steer clear" of organized religion myself, having been raised in it, thought about it, tried several versions, studied it as a subject, watched its overall worldly activity, and finally moved to being a confirmed skeptic about its claims.)

Subject: RE: BS: What religion is god?
From: GUEST,Tug the Cox.
Date: 25 Sep 13 - 07:32 PM

So Mthe GM, being driven out of Chaldea, being enslaved in Egypt and Babylon, and wandering in the desert because of their infidelity don't count, then?

Subject: RE: BS: What religion is god?
From: GUEST
Date: 25 Sep 13 - 07:41 PM

"Jesus would have made a pretty good Buddhist"

I suspect he was that, also.

Subject: RE: BS: What religion is god?
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 25 Sep 13 - 07:57 PM

It has been said: "God gave us all minds and intellects to enable us to make this crucial decision. It is the most important decision in the life of a human being. Upon it depends his future. Consequently, each and every one of us must examine dispassionately the evidence presented and choose what appears to be right until further evidence arises."
An atheist may argue the origin of mind and intellect but the reamainder still holds.

No, it doesn't, because most of the readers of this thread are smart enough to not let you define the terms that are used here. Your fiction isn't the basis of this conversation.

Guest, Tug, said So Mthe GM, being driven out of Chaldea, being enslaved in Egypt and Babylon, and wandering in the desert because of their infidelity don't count, then?

Nope. It's a story. Suffering isn't the long suit of old testament players, it doesn't verify the belief system represented in the story that has been modified by so many others that it has (I suspect) little resemblance to the original.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: What religion is god?
From: DMcG
Date: 26 Sep 13 - 04:19 AM

"As for Philosophy, a friend of mine once said it was going looking for trouble where there isn't any. Like Religion, I steer well clear.

I would add to Bill D's remarks that it is not that long ago that all science was called 'Natural Philosophy' and there is a reason why the highest degrees in science are called 'Doctor of Philosophy'...

Subject: RE: BS: What religion is god?
From: GUEST,Musket curious
Date: 26 Sep 13 - 06:13 AM

Too true. I would never call myself a philosopher. Bar room barrister at times but never philosopher.

Yet I too hold that high degree.

Bow before me...

Natural philosophy was a wonderful term and in my opinion helped people as the supposed truisms of Scripture came tumbling down.

Even Newton, very pious and wasted years looking for the ark of the covenant, used the term natural philosophy. I reckon he differentiated between fantasy in the church and reality in his looking glass.

Subject: RE: BS: What religion is god?
From: Bill D
Date: 26 Sep 13 - 12:12 PM

'Natural Philosophy' was a useful term before we began to develop ways to actually study the physical world and catalog the results of experiments. But demonstrably different concerns need different nomenclature for reference. As 'religion' was gradually reduced to a specific concern, science & philosophy sort of automatically became distinct concerns also... with philosophy settling into a study of "how to think" and how to think about the other realms.
I was a philosophy major for 2 years before I worked out an answer to folks who asked me 'why' & 'what' it was all about. I finally hit on: "It's an excuse to meddle in everyone's business." Just put "Philosophy of *****" in front, and you can expound on almost anything.

Subject: RE: BS: What religion is god?
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 26 Sep 13 - 12:22 PM

For there was never yet philosopher
That could endure the toothache patiently

Shakespeare Much Ado About Nothing V i

Subject: RE: BS: What religion is god?
From: Bill D
Date: 26 Sep 13 - 04:51 PM

I thought Sartre wrote "Much Ado About Nothing" :>)

Subject: RE: BS: What religion is god?
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 26 Sep 13 - 05:16 PM

All I know is that he played guitar in John Mayall's Bluesbreakers and then Cream!!!!!!!!!

Subject: RE: BS: What religion is god?
From: Gurney
Date: 26 Sep 13 - 05:22 PM

I don't have God on quickdial, unlike a lot of blokes in frocks. Or maybe in dhotis.

Can't help you.

If I WAS God, I'd have nothing to do with religion.

Subject: RE: BS: What religion is god?
From: Ebbie
Date: 26 Sep 13 - 09:07 PM

A more interesting, productive discussion would be on 'Is God a Christian?'

I have my own ideas about that.

Subject: RE: BS: What religion is god?
From: GUEST,Musket curious
Date: 27 Sep 13 - 01:14 AM

He'd have to be well hammered on absinthe before he admitted it

Subject: RE: BS: What religion is god?
From: GUEST, Eb
Date: 27 Sep 13 - 12:45 PM

:)

Subject: RE: BS: What religion is god?
From: Mr Happy
Date: 27 Sep 13 - 12:57 PM

'Is God a Christian?'


A convert perhaps?

Subject: RE: BS: What religion is god?
From: Mrrzy
Date: 27 Sep 13 - 11:45 PM

From the question, some kind of monotheist.

Subject: RE: BS: What religion is god?
From: Don(Wyziwyg)T
Date: 28 Sep 13 - 05:40 AM

""(*I* "steer clear" of organized religion myself, having been raised in it, thought about it, tried several versions, studied it as a subject, watched its overall worldly activity, and finally moved to being a confirmed skeptic about its claims.)"" Bill D.

You saved me some typing time Bill. Exactly my position!!
______________________________________________________________________

""If I WAS God, I'd have nothing to do with religion."" Gurney.

I suspect that God, if he does exist, would heartily agree with that.

Don T