MyHeartTakesOver Posted August 18, 2012 Share Posted August 18, 2012 When I was a child I was taught to believe in God. I still do. It became apparent to me during my teens though that what I believed God to be and what people taught was God were actually two different things. Religion teaches God is a creator who is in charge and ultimately responsible for everything that exists. The ultimate power. The God which I experience intimately has nothing to do with the creation of the universe. It doesn't care about social conventions dressed with the word "morality". It doesn't care if others believe in it or not. Instead It is a being which wants me to grow, experience and become the wisest being I possibly can be. It approves of my awakening and sometimes, though not often, I know It works by sending things and people into my life as well as experiences which teach me what I need to. It allows me to exercise my freedom, I can do what I like, but I know that living a successful life depends upon living my life according to wise principles. My God embodies those principles. Thoughts on this? Link to post Share on other sites
OpenBook Posted August 18, 2012 Share Posted August 18, 2012 I don't even want to attempt to be an authority on the nature of God. I do know it's a very personal relationship with Him. So it's possible that each person has a different experience of God - and this difference is based on our own limited perceptions as opposed to His unchanging nature? I just don't know, nor do I feel qualified to make that call for anybody else other than myself. Link to post Share on other sites
M30USA Posted August 18, 2012 Share Posted August 18, 2012 This is why the truth about God (whatever it is) must necessarily originate from outside the mind of man. Start looking for sources which, at the very least, allege that they received information from God, himself, rather than speculating. Someone will say there are many religions which profess this. Well, good. At least you have a starting point. Link to post Share on other sites
TheFinalWord Posted August 18, 2012 Share Posted August 18, 2012 It doesn't care if others believe in it or not. Thoughts on this? Hi there Well, it definitely differs for me. My God cares so much He gave His only Son Peace 1 Link to post Share on other sites
M30USA Posted August 18, 2012 Share Posted August 18, 2012 I don't even want to attempt to be an authority on the nature of God. I do know it's a very personal relationship with Him. So it's possible that each person has a different experience of God - and this difference is based on our own limited perceptions as opposed to His unchanging nature? I just don't know, nor do I feel qualified to make that call for anybody else other than myself. Even in Heaven I don't think we will ever fully understand God. Even with eternity to learn about him. The fact that God's character is inifinite doesn't mean that we can't know him. As long as we're looking in the right direction and receiving information from the right source (Holy Spirit), we're good. Some people understand God faster or slower than others. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
TaraMaiden Posted August 18, 2012 Share Posted August 18, 2012 I think that if God exists, gazing on his face will only be you, looking at your own. 2 Link to post Share on other sites
SpiralOut Posted August 18, 2012 Share Posted August 18, 2012 I believe that god has many faces and not everyone sees the same face. 2 Link to post Share on other sites
quankanne Posted August 18, 2012 Share Posted August 18, 2012 I believe we come to know God best when we realize what describes him best in our minds. For me, it was through my mom, who loved unwaveringly even through trials. That opened up my mind to grasp that if *she* could give this to her family and those close to her, God surely is able to do this many, many times over to an infinite number of people whose faces are unknown to me. And it's a solid thought, a reassurance that God is Love ... :love: 3 Link to post Share on other sites
M30USA Posted August 19, 2012 Share Posted August 19, 2012 I think that if God exists, gazing on his face will only be you, looking at your own. But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” (Genesis 3:4-5 ESV) 1 Link to post Share on other sites
ThaWholigan Posted August 19, 2012 Share Posted August 19, 2012 I cannot define God - God define's itself (rather it than He, because I am unsure as to whether God's omnipresence is truly male or female). God's presence dwells within myself as it does in everything. From where I draw inspiration, ideas, creativity and the like. It is the blessings I have been born with that are unique to me. However, to an extent, God's presence in our life varies within each individual I believe. Which is why some people resonate with Islam, while others with Christianity, others with Buddhism etc. Me, I am not a Christian, but I consider myself to be highly spiritual. And I have received numerous blessings and visions in my life that could only have come about through a higher power guiding me. Not to say that none of it comes from me, because it does, but it was still given to me at birth, written in my DNA as potential. God is in everything, in the Sun, Earth, Trees, every little intricate piece of nature that works so clockwork-like in nature. Even sex, the technology behind how it all happens - I refuse to believe that there isn't something within another dimension, or within all dimensions that is the source of this all. 4 Link to post Share on other sites
M30USA Posted August 19, 2012 Share Posted August 19, 2012 However, to an extent, God's presence in our life varies within each individual I believe. Which is why some people resonate with Islam, while others with Christianity, others with Buddhism etc. That's fair. The Bible is the same way. There are 66 books written by different people over a 1500 period, spanning many different cultures and world situations. It's the same God speaking through people with vastly different life experiences, all testifiying to a central, uniting truth. Actually, if the Bible were monochromatic and singular in its writing, I would find it less credible. Link to post Share on other sites
mercy Posted August 19, 2012 Share Posted August 19, 2012 I cannot define God - God define's itself (rather it than He, because I am unsure as to whether God's omnipresence is truly male or female). God's presence dwells within myself as it does in everything. From where I draw inspiration, ideas, creativity and the like. It is the blessings I have been born with that are unique to me. However, to an extent, God's presence in our life varies within each individual I believe. Which is why some people resonate with Islam, while others with Christianity, others with Buddhism etc. Me, I am not a Christian, but I consider myself to be highly spiritual. And I have received numerous blessings and visions in my life that could only have come about through a higher power guiding me. Not to say that none of it comes from me, because it does, but it was still given to me at birth, written in my DNA as potential.God is in everything, in the Sun, Earth, Trees, every little intricate piece of nature that works so clockwork-like in nature. Even sex, the technology behind how it all happens - I refuse to believe that there isn't something within another dimension, or within all dimensions that is the source of this all. This is just a beautiful post! Thank you! OP, I define God as my Father, Jesus as my Savior and brother. He dwells within me. Guiding me, loving me, filling me with His truths. And I relish in it all. Amazed at His love for me. And all He asks of me is to use the gifts He has given me. I seek Him, yearn for Him, and desire to learn more. Psalm 57:9-11 I will praise thee, O Lord, among the people: I will sing unto thee among the nations. For thy mercy is great unto the heavens, and thy truth unto the clouds. Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens: let thy glory be above all the earth. 2 Link to post Share on other sites
todreaminblue Posted August 19, 2012 Share Posted August 19, 2012 When I was a child I was taught to believe in God. I still do. It became apparent to me during my teens though that what I believed God to be and what people taught was God were actually two different things. Religion teaches God is a creator who is in charge and ultimately responsible for everything that exists. The ultimate power. The God which I experience intimately has nothing to do with the creation of the universe. It doesn't care about social conventions dressed with the word "morality". It doesn't care if others believe in it or not. Instead It is a being which wants me to grow, experience and become the wisest being I possibly can be. It approves of my awakening and sometimes, though not often, I know It works by sending things and people into my life as well as experiences which teach me what I need to. It allows me to exercise my freedom, I can do what I like, but I know that living a successful life depends upon living my life according to wise principles. My God embodies those principles. Thoughts on this? Your god doesn't sound like my god and I know there is only one god......and th god i know has strict guidelines about morality and a firm rules on justice and repentance nothing about being wise but about being a good person and all the rules are in the bible....any other god is a false idol...we are not expected to be perfect and all knowing....i am a constant ask why person....but i accept i will not know why everything in life is there or has happened i care more about helping someone find happiness than knowing all the answers i would ask for that if given the choice....let me be the one who know the answers to help the most not knows the most answers to help myself .......deb Link to post Share on other sites
Author MyHeartTakesOver Posted August 19, 2012 Author Share Posted August 19, 2012 To the OP, why do you feel the need to personify your own desires and turn them into a deity? What would be the ultimate difference if you removed the "god" component, and just focused on your own drive to "grow, experience and become the wisest being you can possibly be"? It looks like you've outgrown god, but for some reason aren't ready to drop the label. You aren't the first person to suggest this and you're quite right; There would be no real difference if I took the idea of "God" out of the equation. There is an aspect of psycho-spiritual experience though. I suppose you could say that I've experienced the collective totality of the values I hold. I have no idea if that totality exists objectivley or if it's just a subjective thing (I think this more likely) but I have found using it as a narrative has been effective in my own growth. To the religious posting here; what makes the definitions of someone else (be that the authors of the Bible or any other self-proclaimed leader) more valid for me than my own? Link to post Share on other sites
RickyLovesLucy Posted August 19, 2012 Share Posted August 19, 2012 Good grief. This one's narrow-mindedness is over 9000! Not the best choice of words, that's for sure; she could have made her point in a much less provocative manner. Failing to account for how others might view one's post is, I guess, a signal of narrow-mindedness. Link to post Share on other sites
TaraMaiden Posted August 19, 2012 Share Posted August 19, 2012 But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” (Genesis 3:4-5 ESV) and lo she ate - and blow me down, he was right. (I'm biased, I keep snakes. I like the critters, they have too much bad press, and it's unjustified....) Link to post Share on other sites
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