The one thing that all major religions have in common is the fear of suffering.
Define god.
hi risky if l speak for myself some experiences and losses l have had led me to believe in god in abrahamic religions although l used to question the meaning of this life since my childhood (l was more like a deist ).l really dont fear god.l believe everybody believes in god in their own styles
maybe your concscience maybe any starter of what we perceive as reality
I define god as love. I believe in that because it's self evident.
Why muddy love by attaching a word with so much baggage like "god" to it? Just call it love, cuz that's what it is.
thx for voting and commenting l thank you for not trolling the thread :2razz:
Define god.
My point was not that everyone fears "God", but that all people who practice religion fear suffering.
I define god as love. I believe in that because it's self evident.
I believe love is metaphysical. 'God' is generally used to describe metaphysical entities. You can define god however you want, and I shall as well.
Did you not notice the thread topic?
I did. I'm wondering why you call this thing you believe in "god", since that doesn't describe what you're talking about very well and you already have a better word for it. Gods are human-like entities with greater power than humans but still a human mindset. They're born, breed, and die (sometimes), but succumb to human emotions like jealousy, ambition, and anger. They're not concepts, but individuals with names. The word "god" refers to Ares, Horus, Amaterasu, Ba'al, and Jehovah, all of whom are definite characters with specific attributes. Even when they're the god "of" something, they aren't that thing. Love exists even if you don't pray to Ishtar.
What about the metaphysical effects of love that you seem to believe in (wanna clarify what those are?) produces anything like a god? Why invoke this word that doesn't mean what you're using it to mean?
I did. I'm wondering why you call this thing you believe in "god", since that doesn't describe what you're talking about very well and you already have a better word for it.
Well, because I find interpreting various religions' god as love makes sense, is congruent with the text and avoids much of the misunderstanding and unfortunate interpretations.
But mainly because the OP asked, and my only conception of god is love.
we are not discussing spritualismdo I need an outside motivator to live an honorable life, or do good deeds? While I do not disbelieve, there are other Paths to enlightenment ( or salvation if god based)
In other words one can be "spiritual" without a god based belief
we are not discussing spritualism
I'm an apatheist. I don't believe or disbelieve, because the question of deity's existence makes no difference to me -- I'm going to be the same person and make the same choices either way.
I don't begrudge anybody else their beliefs. The world (much less the universe) is a big and mysterious place, full of all sorts of things we don't and may never understand (much less perceive).
I try to stick to judging others based on their conduct, and leave the contents of their heads out of the equation as much as possible. My things about consistency and fairness sometimes enter the fray, but I generally restrict that to openly stated beliefs.
I tend to agree. If there is a god, he/she is going to do whatever they want. There is no sense in stressing about it :crazy3:and building your life around it.