What do you think God is?

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

God is arbitrary. God is inhumane. God is unknowable.

If God is unknowable, how can you judge whether God is arbitrary?

[bedstuy]

What does whether or not we have a special place in the universe have to do with whether the Divine exists?  I'll admit that one's views on the subject would affect how one perceives the Divine.

Oh, that's the clear implication of what you said.

To be honest, the strongest reason I have for believing in God is my inability to take the leap of faith that we humans have divined enough of the universe to know that we are only a bunch of biochemicals trying to replicate our molecules.

My point is that there's a disconnect between the human perspective and reality.  The fact that humans are here is remarkable from a human perspective has no real bearing on anything.  What you find remarkable is defined by your limited perspective on the universe, which would likely be shared by any living, conscious being.

Exactly.  We have a limited perspective, and it is insufficient to explain life, the universe, and everything.  But that hardly implies that we have a special place in the universe.  Indeed, I would hold that if anything the argument for humanity having a special place in the universe would be stronger, not weaker, if we were self-aware beings in a universe explainable through the use of only immutable physical laws.  However in either case, the argument for having or not having a special place is inconclusive.

So, what don't you understand about what I said? 

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

What does whether or not we have a special place in the universe have to do with whether the Divine exists?  I'll admit that one's views on the subject would affect how one perceives the Divine.

Oh, that's the clear implication of what you said.

To be honest, the strongest reason I have for believing in God is my inability to take the leap of faith that we humans have divined enough of the universe to know that we are only a bunch of biochemicals trying to replicate our molecules.

My point is that there's a disconnect between the human perspective and reality.  The fact that humans are here is remarkable from a human perspective has no real bearing on anything.  What you find remarkable is defined by your limited perspective on the universe, which would likely be shared by any living, conscious being.

Exactly.  We have a limited perspective, and it is insufficient to explain life, the universe, and everything.  But that hardly implies that we have a special place in the universe.  Indeed, I would hold that if anything the argument for humanity having a special place in the universe would be stronger, not weaker, if we were self-aware beings in a universe explainable through the use of only immutable physical laws.  However in either case, the argument for having or not having a special place is inconclusive.

So, what don't you understand about what I said? 

I understood what you said, I just don't agree with your conclusion.

[Yelnoc]

God is arbitrary. God is inhumane. God is unknowable.

If God is unknowable, how can you judge whether God is arbitrary?

Unknowable in the personable sense that a lot of Christians in particular profess to know a god.

[user12345]

A personal loving God that cares about you and everyone else; omnipresent. I believe God created the world through evolution. God has no gender, not even a form we would consider human. (Raised Lutheran LCMS, probably converting to Episcopalian church when I'm a little older)

[J-Mann]

What do you think God is?

A joke! *euphoria intensifies*

If I'm being honest, though, I don't believe there is a sentient Supreme Being, and if there is, He/She/It/They have nothing to do with human affairs.

This is a fairly common view amongst non-religious folks, though I disagree with it. In my view of God, that omnipresence permeates absolutely everything, including every single bit of humanity and its interactions. I think God IS humanity. It IS everything and every possibility, therefore meaning that, in the grand scale of an omniverse, all prayers are answered. That's different, however, from divine intervention. It's simply probability masking itself as divine intervention.

[Anonymouse]

What do you think God is?

A joke! *euphoria intensifies*

If I'm being honest, though, I don't believe there is a sentient Supreme Being, and if there is, He/She/It/They have nothing to do with human affairs.

This is a fairly common view amongst non-religious folks, though I disagree with it. In my view of God, that omnipresence permeates absolutely everything, including every single bit of humanity and its interactions. I think God IS humanity. It IS everything and every possibility, therefore meaning that, in the grand scale of an omniverse, all prayers are answered. That's different, however, from divine intervention. It's simply probability masking itself as divine intervention.

Hey J-Mann. I'm glad to see one of our best (and underrated!) posters is still active.

That's an incredible way to view existence, and no I'm not "searching"... but out of curiosity, what would you call this philosophy/religion/what have you?

[J-Mann]

What do you think God is?

A joke! *euphoria intensifies*

If I'm being honest, though, I don't believe there is a sentient Supreme Being, and if there is, He/She/It/They have nothing to do with human affairs.

This is a fairly common view amongst non-religious folks, though I disagree with it. In my view of God, that omnipresence permeates absolutely everything, including every single bit of humanity and its interactions. I think God IS humanity. It IS everything and every possibility, therefore meaning that, in the grand scale of an omniverse, all prayers are answered. That's different, however, from divine intervention. It's simply probability masking itself as divine intervention.

Hey J-Mann. I'm glad to see one of our best (and underrated!) posters is still active.

That's an incredible way to view existence, and no I'm not "searching"... but out of curiosity, what would you call this philosophy/religion/what have you?

I don't really call it anything. It's just how my mind has carried physics -- known, quantum and theoretical -- forward to an ultimate conclusion. God would be every piece of existence in our universe and every other, and through those infinite existences, it is experiencing everything.

Are you a poster from the "old days" back to join us?

[Anonymouse]

Are you a poster from the "old days" back to join us?

I used to post as "Rob." Long story short, the moderators are aware of my situation and hopefully it will be resolved soon.

Thank you for the explanation.

[J-Mann]

Are you a poster from the "old days" back to join us?

I used to post as "Rob." Long story short, the moderators are aware of my situation and hopefully it will be resolved soon.

Thank you for the explanation.

I think I remember .. that's been nearly a decade, though!