Describing the Christian God

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Confused
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Describing the Christian God

Post #1

Post by Confused »

From another thread the following quote was made:
So long as we insist that God is a scientific matter, then I cannot. In that sense, I agree with you, there will be no direct scientific evidence for God - thus, I do not believe in God as you describe him. I would propose, however, that this is not the whole of the story.
I have heard my daughter make similar claims and find them just as meaningless.

I would ask someone to please describe the Christian God to me and what evidence they have to support their description of Him.

Late edit: as usual, my OP isn't clear enough. I am looking for attributes that you would use to describe God. Not what He wants us to do, not what proves his existence.
Last edited by Confused on Thu Nov 20, 2008 8:15 am, edited 1 time in total.
What we do for ourselves dies with us,
What we do for others and the world remains
and is immortal.

-Albert Pine
Never be bullied into silence.
Never allow yourself to be made a victim.
Accept no one persons definition of your life; define yourself.

-Harvey Fierstein

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InTheFlesh
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Post #41

Post by InTheFlesh »

Confused wrote:
Wellington wrote:
Confused wrote:
Emotions aren't a reliable source. I am not even sure how personal emotions can be used by someone to describe the Christian God. I am not asking for how He makes you feel. I am asking you to describe Him to me and what resources you use to lead you to that description.
Emotion is a big part of theism. Things are right and wrong because they "feel" it is right and wrong. God exists because they "feel" it or have "experienced" it. Really these are all just emotions, but they take it as personal evidence of his existence and his character.

Unfortunately, in doing so, they project alot of these positive emotions onto something outside themselves which really demeans the experience and emotions that they feel.
That may be true, but that is not what I am seeking in this thread.
Actually, it's FAR from true.
Emotions have NOTHING to do with my belief in God.

Confused,
What are you seeking?
Isn't it obvious that the bible claims that God is holy?
Why do you want us to post the many scriptures that say it?
Are you then going to counter that he is evil?
Saying God is evil can't be backed up by scripture,
only by the "emotions" of people who feel he is evil.

Pss.145
[17] The LORD is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works.

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Post #42

Post by Wellington »

Confused wrote:
That may be true, but that is not what I am seeking in this thread.
John 4:8 God is love

^is that the kind of thing you are looking for? biblical description?

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Post #43

Post by justifyothers »

Confused wrote:
Wellington wrote:
Confused wrote:
Emotions aren't a reliable source. I am not even sure how personal emotions can be used by someone to describe the Christian God. I am not asking for how He makes you feel. I am asking you to describe Him to me and what resources you use to lead you to that description.
Emotion is a big part of theism. Things are right and wrong because they "feel" it is right and wrong. God exists because they "feel" it or have "experienced" it. Really these are all just emotions, but they take it as personal evidence of his existence and his character.

Unfortunately, in doing so, they project alot of these positive emotions onto something outside themselves which really demeans the experience and emotions that they feel.
That may be true, but that is not what I am seeking in this thread.
So, Confused (my friend )

Are you looking for biblical scripture that supports one's description of the christian God? You have said that you don't want to discuss personal experience. Just clear me up on this and I would love to respond :-)
Thank you - K

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Post #44

Post by Wellington »

InTheFlesh wrote:

Actually, it's FAR from true.
Emotions have NOTHING to do with my belief in God.
well I am all ears.

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Post #45

Post by Cathar1950 »

Wellington wrote:
InTheFlesh wrote:

Actually, it's FAR from true.
Emotions have NOTHING to do with my belief in God.
well I am all ears.
I find that hard to believe. Not that you are all ears but that; "Emotions have NOTHING to do with my belief in God".
I am pretty sure that he didn't reason his way there but that his reasons and rationalization followed his beliefs that were largely emotional in origin.
Talk about denying the holy spirit.

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Post #46

Post by Confused »

Wellington wrote:
InTheFlesh wrote:

Actually, it's FAR from true.
Emotions have NOTHING to do with my belief in God.
well I am all ears.
Not in this thread if you don't mind. It isn't relevant to the OP.
What we do for ourselves dies with us,
What we do for others and the world remains
and is immortal.

-Albert Pine
Never be bullied into silence.
Never allow yourself to be made a victim.
Accept no one persons definition of your life; define yourself.

-Harvey Fierstein

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Post #47

Post by Confused »

justifyothers wrote:
Confused wrote:
Wellington wrote:
Confused wrote:
Emotions aren't a reliable source. I am not even sure how personal emotions can be used by someone to describe the Christian God. I am not asking for how He makes you feel. I am asking you to describe Him to me and what resources you use to lead you to that description.
Emotion is a big part of theism. Things are right and wrong because they "feel" it is right and wrong. God exists because they "feel" it or have "experienced" it. Really these are all just emotions, but they take it as personal evidence of his existence and his character.

Unfortunately, in doing so, they project alot of these positive emotions onto something outside themselves which really demeans the experience and emotions that they feel.
That may be true, but that is not what I am seeking in this thread.
So, Confused (my friend )

Are you looking for biblical scripture that supports one's description of the christian God? You have said that you don't want to discuss personal experience. Just clear me up on this and I would love to respond :-)
Thank you - K
I do suck at writing OP's don't I? Yes, this is what I am looking for. Though it need not be solely scripture. Just something verifiable.
What we do for ourselves dies with us,
What we do for others and the world remains
and is immortal.

-Albert Pine
Never be bullied into silence.
Never allow yourself to be made a victim.
Accept no one persons definition of your life; define yourself.

-Harvey Fierstein

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Wellington
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Post #48

Post by Wellington »

Confused wrote:
Not in this thread if you don't mind. It isn't relevant to the OP.
What? what on earth is the OP then?

He said that his description of God is derived on something other than emotions (which includes faith). I said I was willing to hear it but you don't want to hear that in this thread? I thought descriptions and support for those descriptions (excluding emotions and faith) were precisely what you are looking for. I am confused again.

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Post #49

Post by justifyothers »

Confused wrote:
justifyothers wrote:
Confused wrote:
Wellington wrote:
Confused wrote:
Emotions aren't a reliable source. I am not even sure how personal emotions can be used by someone to describe the Christian God. I am not asking for how He makes you feel. I am asking you to describe Him to me and what resources you use to lead you to that description.
Emotion is a big part of theism. Things are right and wrong because they "feel" it is right and wrong. God exists because they "feel" it or have "experienced" it. Really these are all just emotions, but they take it as personal evidence of his existence and his character.

Unfortunately, in doing so, they project alot of these positive emotions onto something outside themselves which really demeans the experience and emotions that they feel.
That may be true, but that is not what I am seeking in this thread.
So, Confused (my friend )

Are you looking for biblical scripture that supports one's description of the christian God? You have said that you don't want to discuss personal experience. Just clear me up on this and I would love to respond :-)
Thank you - K
I do suck at writing OP's don't I? Yes, this is what I am looking for. Though it need not be solely scripture. Just something verifiable.
Nope! Statistics and opinions say you write some of the best ones here!! :-)

My question is this, then :
What are you going to consider 'verifiable' ? Scripture is "iffy' with you at best, and personal experience is always disputable.....so, where does that leave someone like me?

You must've known someone would ruin this perfectly simple question for you!!! It's been a while since it's been me :-)

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Post #50

Post by Confused »

Wellington wrote:
Confused wrote:
That may be true, but that is not what I am seeking in this thread.
John 4:8 God is love

^is that the kind of thing you are looking for? biblical description?
Not specifically biblical. But your description and what you use to validate your description.

You describe God as love. You cite John 4:8.

John 2:17For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son.[g] 19This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.

Now, if we were made in Gods image, then why do we love darkness rather than the light.
John 5:19Jesus gave them this answer: "I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does.
If the Son is merely doing as He sees His Father, then why are we penalized for acting as we saw our Father acting? God, in a fit of anger threw Adam and Eve out of the Garden and forsake them. Are we wrong for copying our Fathers (Gods) actions? Is it love to forsake your creation in a fit of anger?

Does His actions show the truth of the words? Did He ever love His creation?
What we do for ourselves dies with us,
What we do for others and the world remains
and is immortal.

-Albert Pine
Never be bullied into silence.
Never allow yourself to be made a victim.
Accept no one persons definition of your life; define yourself.

-Harvey Fierstein

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