DISQUS

Andrea Devis · 1 year ago

I agree with Carrie about Nature. An infinite abundance of beauty and dead on accuracy in Earth's distance from the sun, gravity and water cycle, and light our greatest source of energy, as Richard Feynman said, "We have no knowledge of what 'energy' is", for me those things are a true reflection of God.
Physically, I equate God with spirit and energy which do not have a form. I like the description in the Bible in Daniel 7:9. I picture someone with infinite wisdom, pure and Holy, benevolent and worthy of devotion.

Brad Gough · 1 year ago

I am an Atheist. I do not believe in God. Is the Garden not beautiful enough without having to add fairies?

Connie · 1 year ago

I feel god in all things, all people, animals, events and w/n myself, as well. I like the old religions which we call pagan, like the Greeks, where the gods and goddesses were flawed and fantastic as are humans. If I were to choose a goddess for myself I would have been Hera/Aphrodite and now as a widow with grown kids and a grandson I'm more the goddess of the hearth, Hestia. I was brought up in the Judeo- Christian ethos and so I saw god as either one god in three persons or as one god only not to be imaged. Comparative religion is probably a subject we should all delve into at some point in our lives. Blessed be.

kristopher grunert · 1 year ago

In Light we trust.

Colette · 1 year ago

Well, there is a God who is our father, and of course if you have a father, you've got a mother - she is God too. And then there is our Higher Self, the Holy spirit and Jesus and it is all part of God. God for me was traditional explained as My Father who is in Heaven, and then there is the God Head ( father, son and holy spirit). But I appreciate my expahnded perspective that not only do I have a loving Father, but that I am that which I call God as well. I am a Christian who understands re-encarnation and that there is no Hell, it is only a state of mind, and that we get to come and experience the mortal life as much as we choose. Life is all about choice. God is about choice. God is forgiving, and loving. I find I am at my best when I feel my own Godness flowing inside of me. God is Source Energy.

Colette · 1 year ago

All I can say is that you are missing out on something absolutely wonderful, beautiful and empowering!

Debbie R · 1 year ago

I agree with Andrea's eloquent reply.

It's difficult to have an image of something which has no physical form, yet God is reflected magnificently in the perfect accuracy, symmetry & beauty of the natural system he created.

The Bible gives us descriptions such as the ones in Daniel & in Revelation (example 4:11) to help us to see the qualities that make up the invisible spirit - all of those that Andrea mentioned and powerful, just, the epitome of love - certainly worthy to receive glory, honor & devotion.

Julia · 1 year ago

I still see God as a kind, wise, elderly guy with white hair and a beard...a slimmer, more hippish kind of Santa Claus! Sometimes I still imagine God as George Burns. The image is always comforting and that of strength. A good parent.

Lisa · 1 year ago

God is the unifying energy of love, always and infinitely available, inside and outside of us. It can take the form of a "still, small voice" or what Quakers call "the Inner Light," when it is inside of us, and is best accessed by stillness, whether on the cushion or on a rock. Nature is one manifestation, kindness is another......

Marissa · 1 year ago

As a human embodiment, I always go back to Kevin Smith's movie Dogma, where Alanis Morissette played God with a childlike wonder at her own creation, an impish revelry in being a goofball (cartwheels through the church lawn, "buzzing" another character's nose in response to her question of "What's the meaning of life?"), and a complete openness that would, no doubt, be perceived as "naive" in an everyday mortal.

I like the saying that "The platypus proves God has a sense of humor." I think that's true. I think God's really funny, and I think (s)he gets a kick out of it when we laugh along with her.

I envision God being able to do a perfect arabesque at will, and yet happily wobbling through a power yoga session next to me.

As an entity without embodiment, God is The Universe is Light is Color is Vibrance is Vibration is That Feeling I Get Right Before a Roller Coaster Drops Over The First Hill of Utter Elation and Total Release is Music is Meditation is Random Acts of Silliness is The First Time My Baby Brothers Giggled.

God is also the immense joy I get in reading about how everyone else views God--or the inherent and infinite beauty of the Garden, as Brad pointed out.

Michael · 1 year ago

In these last days, God revealed himself to us in the person of Jesus who by his cross and resurrection has reminded us that we are loved beyond all our imaginings. Jesus has invited us to share in his life and to nurture each other and all of creation with compassion and tender mercy.

Chantal · 1 year ago

Ever changing form - Buddha, Isis, Allah, Shiva, Quan Yin. Sometimes Egyptian, Indian, Middle Eastern or Native American reflecting all of us.
I see God in everything - in you in me.
But mostly I feel God.

JoeM · 1 year ago

I see my next door neighbor, the person standing in line in front of me at the supermarket, and children as divine. Unfortunately, I find that I'm eternally frustrated by the very concept that humans might still be creating 'designer gods' and then go about killing one another over which one is the right version or whose god speaks the truth. I feel we've never explored what it means to be truly human; what our limits might actually be in healing others, creating a better world for our children, or insuring no other human being goes into the night hungry, cold, or afraid. It's time to act the age we are.

textimage · 1 year ago

"When you walk to the edge of all the light you have, and take that first step into the darkness of the unknown, you must believe one of two things will happen: there will be something solid for you to stand upon, or you will be taught how to fly." (Patrick Overton)
This is my "image" of God. Boundless trust, surrender, possibility, beauty...

Kirsty · 1 year ago

Same as Carrie. Simply nature.

Joannie · 1 year ago

My image of God? Love.

Kerry L. · 1 year ago

God as a Being, definitely. God the Creator, and Prime Mover. Jesus Christ as Divine Redeemer, whole heartedly. God the HOly Spirit within me, within you. As an image that my brain can wrap around, I envision God as a white-haired wizard. I envision Jesus as a modern day 30-year-old carpenter in a blue workshirt. I see the Holy Spirit in the eyes of my husband, I feel the Spirit in nature, in friends, in my soul.

Kristin (The Goat) · 1 year ago

George Burns came to mind the second I read todays title. I'm glad someone else thinks that way, too.

Cindy · 1 year ago

God is all that is and all that is not. Everything in creation started as universal intelligence, it was merely a thought until we chose to add energy to it and bring it into form. God is absolutely everything and everyone, but most of all, God is unconditionally loving. I experience God as an energy that can take on any form necessary to communicate with the person that wishes to communicate with it. I don't subscribe to any religion because I feel that they place to many restrictions and limitations on the experience of God, but I do read text from various religions and incorporate the ideas/beliefs that make sense to me.

Joannie · 1 year ago

I do love your response, Colette. I am a Christian - though I've always had great difficulty even saying the word - Anglican now. I repeat the Creed, sing in the choir, will soon be a reader. I also believe in reincarnation and that we create our own hell on earth, there is no pie in the sky. I believe when I die I will return to the Source from whence I came, the Source of all things. I believe we are all One.

Joannie · 1 year ago

Another wonderful response, Lisa.

Joannie · 1 year ago

I love the line, 'If you want to hear God laugh, tell Him your plans.'

Kristin (The Goat) · 1 year ago

It is interesting that I have never actually thought of the image of god before...(well, except for the George Burns character in Oh God) I nod my head when I see the Michaelangelo painting and when I read "God the Father" - it just never occurred to me to create my own image or to think of one. I studied many different religions in college, religion was my minor, and that helped keep the feeling of God as abstract. I now think of God as the Universe.

Colette · 1 year ago

Exactly. It all comes down to symantics - what meaning is given to any word or group of words. Just like baptism of babies so they don't go to Hell never made sense, there are other things that never made sense, such as only having one small chance to get every thing right. I've got kids - they get as many Mulligans as they want to get it right. I still know that we are here to learn lessons and we either move closer to a level of knowledge where by we ourselves create universes or we move away from such, and we do so with our choices. What I love about my new insight is that no matter what, if I, or any one else desires something, - whether "good" or "evil" then that is what I or they will end up with. Jesus came here to show us our own power and capacity. He said "come follow me" he also was saying "do as I'm doing." - that would be walk on water, raise the dead, calm the sea, heal the lame - you get the picture. I wonder how many times he came into a mortal state before he was ready and capable of doing all the things he did?

Colette · 1 year ago

Ah! I remember "OH God!" as well. I love Morgan Freeman in Bruce Almighty and Evan Almighty. To me, he represented the epitomy of a loving God and Father with a sense of humor who is willing to let us be really "stupid" so we will learn from our mistake and misjusdgements.

Karen · 1 year ago

There is no greater answer. Perfectly and simply stated!!
God is love.....always and forever.
Hope you feel his Blessings today.
Karen.

Colette · 1 year ago

OOH, I like that. The music from Disney's Pocahantas - Colors of the Wind, came to mind.

Colette · 1 year ago

Yes, Yes, Yes! Naive, as in "the Kingdom of Heaven is like unto a child."

Hilma · 1 year ago

My image of God is very traditional and conservative - one of the few areas of my life that fits that description. I see the benevolent father - unconditional love, gentleness and understanding. I see patience, kindness and generosity. I see the perfect parent - never selfish, giving with no end. I feel cared for, loved, and childlike in my own innocence and perfection.

J York · 1 year ago

Are we going on the assumption that GOD does exist? What GOD really is to people comes down to the Native American philosophy- the Sun, the Moon, Rain, Lightning, Mountains, etc. GOD is Nature! Nature is not GOD. Time for all people to get out of their comfort zone. GOD is not a 100 ft. old man hanging out in the clouds, eH. GOD made sense 2000 years ago when man could not explain their environment. Now that we understand the world around us more accurately, GOD, Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny become imaginary- man made.

Traci · 1 year ago

Amen!

Debbi · 1 year ago

I couldn't resist. Many of you could be Unitarian Universalists, even atheists. We agree to not necessarily agree on what to believe, which is the beauty of UUism. God is what you make of it after much thought and experience...I was agnostic, but now I'm more atheist. You can still be spiritual without the belief in a higher power. If there is a God, then He/She created the world like a clock maker and let things run its course without deliberate intervention. We must make choices and make the best of this life that we have been given. We will make mistakes, of course but that's the only way we can learn. If we focus too much on the afterlife, we end up ignoring this one. We need more kindness in this world.

Colette · 1 year ago

Or tell God how to arrange the Universe to answer your Prayers, meditations, etc. When I was told to experience the feelings of what I desire to exist in my life, but not put a picture with it, I was confused until I got that the purpose of the pictures of my vision board is to elicit the feelings so I can hold those feelings and really feel them as a meditation and / or a prayer. I now have pictures which represent joy, abundance, love, etc. and am willing to let god, Source Energy, the Universe bring to me those things, with out a prejudice.

Colette · 1 year ago

Thanks, this quote is perfect for me today!

Colette · 1 year ago

Until you die and get to hang out in Heaven for awhile and then come back, and then you know that there is a being such as God. The limitation the mortal mind has put on God is that God is soemthing greater than us, has power over us to manipulate mankind for his pleasure - that is what I would call imaginary. Try this one on for size - you are a child of God (like you are a child of your parents here) and there for you are of God and there fore you are Godly, which gives you the abilities of God. Once you really truly understand this, you will never be a victim of "God" again. Cynicism never was happiness - but that is just my take on eternity.

Sabrina · 1 year ago

Are you even just a little bit curious as to how it got to be so beautiful?

Soreal · 1 year ago

Sprinkles of sparkly conscious light that flow like a creek in and out of all living things, connecting everything to everything. Think dim, bright, lunar, solar, flashing, pulsating, an infinite range of colour . . .

Colette · 1 year ago

I absolutely agree with you that there has been way too much focus on the afterlife and not enough paying attention to the Being we are here now. I believe that those of us here now and those who are coming to this earth all chose to come at this time to be emissaries of our Divine Truth. Again, as I said to J York, because I died and have spent time in Heaven, I know there is a heavenly experience and that we all have Parents of a divine nature. It is the interpretation, or more like the gross misinterpretation of God and Heaven - or Hell for that matter, which is merely a state of mind, that is messed up and not that there is "God" or even gods. I used to worry about not doing everything right because if I didn't I would go to hell. I now know, due to a long journey of soul searching, that all I or you or any one needs to do is be the best person we all know how to be in each and every moment and to recognize that actually, this is what we are doing - even the serial killer. People who do messed up things have messed up belief systems. Suddenly, life became easy, wonderful, full of joy and I know that when I leave here, I get to go hang out in an incredibley wonderful place, and if I should so choose, I can have another mortal experience and learn new lessons, and I can do it as many times as I choose. Some how, I wish to convey to the world for each of us to let ourselves off the hook, but at the same time, understand that true joy and happiness come from the experience of being that which is Love - and that is God, just as Karen says.

RecollectedStephanie · 1 year ago

God is Light - People are His Image, like a loving portrait painted by a Master. The people are all the colors in the Light Spectrum. You might be purple, I might be orange ... colors act and interact with each other, look different next to one rather than another. But to make a true image of Light, we need all of us. Light is all of the colors.

Ellen · 1 year ago

Light. Pure, clear, radiant light.
In human form, god looks like me only better....maybe like Sela Ward!

Sharon · 1 year ago

hi brad, god does not have to be a diety or attached to a religious dogma. i understand where you are coming from however, to see god is to behold and appreciate and respect nature in all it's forms, from earth to the divine sky and ocean floors. for me, it's a universal energy and the idea that we are all connected.
by the way, i saw two faeries when i was 4 years old. say what you will; i know what i saw.

Ashley · 1 year ago

Heavenly Father who loves me and His creation beyond my own human understanding. Frustrating. Grace.

Lynda · 1 year ago

I too see God as a bright white light.....not really having a clear identity...just light.

Sharon · 1 year ago

that's a great quote.

Kristin · 1 year ago

Such a personal (and controversial!) Q&A. There are dozens of characteristics and other adjectives I associate with God, yet finding an image is difficult. I prefer to think of the spirit within all things - past, future, light, darkness, noise, scents, energy, emotions, ideas whirling together into this beautiful accident we're all experiencing. Most importantly, I believe in something that everyone experiences differently, and that none of us has the right to judge any other person for their personal image of God. I'm not sure we're supposed to know anything for sure; perhaps we're all just supposed to find our own path that makes sense in our own magical heads.

Karen · 1 year ago

What an amazing question........I think that it is important to realize that WE ARE ALL LOVED....no matter what. God wants us to enjoy life...to make mistakes...to take risks...to LIVE in the present. God will be a unique vision in everyone's minds...but at the end of the day our love for everyone and everything around us will make Him smile. How long has it been since you did a cartwheel??

anactoria · 1 year ago

There's an episode of Futurama, a space based cartoon from the creator of The Simpsons. In it, the robot Bender, a hard drinking, selfish misanthropist, gets thrown into space. While he spins through the universe he encounters a nebula that speaks to him in binary. He asks the nebula if it is God. The nebula replies 'Possibly.' Bender tells God/the nebula how horribly he did when he was God and asks if the galaxy has it any easier. The galaxy replies:

"God: "Bender, being God isn't easy. If you do too much, people get dependent on you. And if you do nothing, they lose hope. You have to use a light touch, like a safecracker or a pickpocket."
Bender: "Or a guy who burns down a bar for the insurance money!"
God: "Yes, if you make it look like an electrical thing. When you do things right, people won't be sure you've done anything at all.""

I know it sounds ridiculous, but this episode really caught me off guard. I'm not much for organised religion; I know, standard statement of the cultural deviant, but gave it a try and it left me bereft. Einstein said God is in the details, Nietzsche wouldn't believe in a god who couldn't dance, Rumi saw God as a beloved.

I think it's perfectly valid to see God as a binary speaking nebula wise beyond his years. ^_~

anactoria · 1 year ago

Nice JoeM. We have a spark of divinity in us, perhaps, but we are utterly human in our arrogance, aren't we? I think you are absolutely correct here. Maybe once we figure out our humanity, what is divine/god will be clear to us.

anactoria · 1 year ago

I think God is (or can be) semantics. The garden can be god, that we are drawn to it can be god. Or maybe there is no god and it's just a garden, nothing divine about it. What we need, we see.

Anne-Marie · 1 year ago

The largest breath that fills my heart.

Brad Gough · 1 year ago

RIGHT ON! I can't believe these people and their "Hollywood" imagery.

Karen · 1 year ago

Wow, this is a big one....

As a Christian, I believe in the Bible. In Genesis it says God created us in his image. It makes sense to me that God would then look like us (since we look like him), with a body. I don't see him as some mystical, formless idea that is nothing like me.

I believe he exists when I think of the universe. The beauty and majesty of the mountains and canyons, the wonder of a tiny baby's hands, that earth is just the right distance from the sun, the stars I see at night - all of it passes all my understanding, but I can't believe for one second that any of it was accidental. I marvel that He knows my name - and yours and that He created all this for us.

lisaohhh · 1 year ago

everything. everywhere. everyone. (that last one is the hardest sometimes!)

Danielle LaPorte · 1 year ago

You're comparing the almost global concept of a supreme life force to the freakin' Easter Bunny? Agnostic, atheist, pagan, whatever floats your boat man, but really - give humans a little more credit for their longings and questionings. The "story" or construct of a God that people buy into does not come from the same motivation as our creation of Santa Claus. At least get your myths on par. Zeus and Dionysus...maybe.

Susie Hutchinson · 1 year ago

I have a very hard time with this question. It's loaded with all sorts of political, social and natural prejudice.

However, I'll go on record to say I believe in humanity (although that is sometimes unjustified).

Mary · 1 year ago

Great thought provoking question. I'm a Unitarian Universalist, and that is what we do - think about these things! Personally, I feel there is no right, or wrong perception of God for anyone else. To believe or not is a personal choice and one I respect immensely. What works for me is a belief in a higher power, a God of many names and mystery beyond all naming. My vision of the higher power does not really have a recognizable form, rather an all encompassing spirit, warmth and the security of unconditional love. This is what I feel from my vision of the God energy force. I have faith that everything will be OK, and believe that stems from my belief in God. I also believe I will be re-united with all the important spirits whom I have loved over the years, including my vision of God. I have always been fascinated by the stories of persons who have had near-death experiences and the warm light that embraced them on a journey they did not want to return from. And to touch on the nature aspect - I also think the redwood forests are God's garden. When I am among the redwoods I am absolutely awestruck. I feel closest to God when I am surrounded by that shade of red, smells of the earth, size of theose beautiful trees, and balance of the eco-system.

Danielle LaPorte · 1 year ago

Colette;s take pretty much sums up the cornerstone of my beliefs. "Victim" is a strong word, but I do feel there's a lot of empowerment we're missing out on when we perceive our selves separate from our origin.

marn · 1 year ago

Colette - I hear everything you are saying & am totally in agreement!

I too am a Christian (fairly open minded), and have a great sense of compassion towards anyone who believes in ANYTHING bigger than themselves. Who am I to say that Jesus Christ is the end all be all in religion for others? It works for me and I own that, yet totally respect others for believing in SOMETHING.
So in saying that, this is my interpretation of God.
I see God as love, accepting, a guider that has laid out a path for me to follow. And when I am straying from the path that has been laid out for me, and things aren't going the way I want (major challenges, worries etc..), it is God's way of saying 'excuse me you are moving in the wrong direction'. It gives me a second chance to re-chart my path, reset, & learn something... Thank God! I have lived a much more relaxed life since giving my worries, problems, and concerns to a higher being to help me handle. I live with a faith based position that 'everything happens for a reason'. And God is the reason. He IS the creator & would never give me more than I can handle. I AM in his best interest.

Stephanie · 1 year ago

i think this says it best:
"For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. so they have no excuse for not knowing God." - Romans 1:20 (NLT)

Jamie · 1 year ago

My image of God is the all-powerful, all-seeing, white-haired older white man represented in the Christianity I was familiar with when growing up. I don't really have a relationship with that guy, though we do have a history.

My relationship with the spiritual is something entirely different. I do believe there's a spiritual energy that is expressed in each of us, in every molecule there is, in the flow of time, in the change of seasons. My name for this is The Universe. I think this energy is expressed in both masculine and feminine forms. When I reach out and connect, I mostly talk to her.

Audrey · 1 year ago

I see God in everything... I don't see God as a HE or a SHE... just a beautiful light of millions and billions of crystals in all colors making up a whole. I see that God exists in nature, people, prayers, meditation, the family pet, God is the essence of goodness and beautiful light, so divine is God; we really do not need to look far to find it, God (in my mind) is in you....

Karryn Ransom · 1 year ago

Oh Sharon - how beautifully put. I'm pretty sure I did too. My six-year-old makes me believe in fairies. That's God to me - the wonder, the joy, the beauty.

Karryn Ransom · 1 year ago

Alanis Morisette was an interesting image of God in the film, "Dogma". What did you think of that?

Karryn Ransom · 1 year ago

Nicely put! God is in the details, right? I think of the people on the street, in line, wherever as angels sometimes. They carry a message that you need at the exactly the right time. They don't look ethereal or flap around with wings. But they're there. I once heard someone say, "Only children and the blind can see angels."

Karryn Ransom · 1 year ago

So true. And like a child with its parents, we can't possibly expect the answer to our prayers to be 'yes' all the time. "No" is just as legitimate an answer.

Carolynn · 1 year ago

Sharon! How delightful that you were gifted with a faerie sighting. You're right to hold that experience sacred.

As Shakespeare so eloquently put it, "There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy."

CS · 1 year ago

Definite plagiarism happening here!

I love the empowering references to nature and the wonder around us and in us all. It creates a whole that is far greater than the sum of its parts and I agree whole heartedly that we all should, and do, take strength from this. But to allow credit for this to be usurped by tired religious dogma (now at least 139 years out of date) is to allow plagiarism.

I do applaud that casting of the religious metaphors over a number of faiths. That shows a willingness to get beyond a single dogma, but why not stretch even farther from that comfort zone?

Carolynn · 1 year ago

I've been reading through these responses, wondering how I might put into words my experience of God and then I read yours.

This is an excellent example of my image of God - He meets us wherever we are and will present himself in whatever form He needs to in order for us all, as individuals, to have a personal relationship with him.

That said, for me, He is a true friend who knows me intimately, loves me passionately, delights in surprising me, treats me as capable, and holds me in unconditional positive regard. He's a warm hug, a kind word, a gentle nudge, a sparkling laugh. For starters....

Ngonzi Truth Crushshon · 1 year ago

My image of God.....is seeing the beauty in people! Everything God created is an image of him....nature, people and anything and everything good is of GOD!!!

The good samaritan deeds that we do everyday is of GOD and express/show that God exists.

Heaven is not just a place that we go....heaven is and should be experienced here on earth.

We experience heaven when we witness goodness, love, kindness on earth through people, places and things.

When someone dies, is born, lives life to the fullest, helps the poor, pulls over to help someone on the side of the road, gives $2 to the homeless, cooks for a neighbor, cares for the sick.....these are images of God!

God works through people and told us to do this until he returns!

The real question is: ARE YOU AN IMAGE OF GOD TODAY?

Brad Gough · 1 year ago

Quite frankly it is you that is missing out. I dont need to add ghosts, angels. aliens, or Santa clause to help me see the world as a beautiful and amazing place.

jennb · 1 year ago

My vision of God is very simple. I belive it is the love in our hearts. Being the very best person we can be. WHen we stray from that karma takes over. And we all know karma ia a B****. LOL

Colette · 1 year ago

Okay - What am I missing out on? We both have "cake" but mine has frosting. Your reply to me was consistent with my experience of people who are athiest. I have yet to interact with one who it not defensive, bitter, cynical. cold. Maybe you are different and what you write merely comes across this way. Also, it appears that every athiest believes that believing in God binds them down some how, short changes or limits them. We do not know what we do not know, and that includes experiences of others. I admit I have a tough time imagining what there is to gain from a world where there is a void, the one where My God and the joy I experience with and through Him does not exist. To me it is like imagining a feast with only bread crumbs.

Colette · 1 year ago

I missed the experience of that movie. From what I read on some one elses blog it sounds like it was a fabulous way to break down preconcieved notions about what God HAS TO be.

Colette · 1 year ago

Exactly....

Colette · 1 year ago

Well said. God is in the details. Who am I quoting cause I can't remember at the moment?

Colette · 1 year ago

Dear Carrie and Danielle,
Thank you for the courage to pose the question concerning God. Once again, I am inspired to live a life with more conviction to my own truth.

Vanessa Rae · 1 year ago

"What we need We see" - How beautifully put. i grew up in a very religious household and now that I am married and have started a family I wish for my son to learn the importance of values and of faith, whether that faith be in a higher power or energy, or in himself. As long as he becomes a man of character, as someone who lives life with magic in his eyes, that's all I can truly hope for. My image of God, for a long time, was someone who I called out for, someone who was looking down on me keeping track of every action, every thought. I am now realizing that God is in me, God shines through me if I let Him/Her, and that we are here to have a relationship with Him/Her. Therefore, a relationship with ourselves (in my opinion, the most important one).

Ellen · 1 year ago

That's so beautiful.

Brad Gough · 1 year ago

Hi Colette,
If atheists seem bitter, cynical, cold, and defensive, perhaps it's because we've been beleaguered so long by preachy God promoters who profess to love but are responsible for the majority of wars, cruelty, and bigotry on this planet going back for millenia. In general, I'm a happy fun-loving person who only gets irate when people harm others or animals or the environment or push the God idea at me. I feel deeply connected to all things, I'm part of everything, and I don't need to comfort myself with an imaginary companion to appreciate others or my existence in this complex and marvelous mystery of a universe. I've encountered the most compassionate, grounded people with no God belief and I've encountered God believers who preach love but promote hatred and secretly live a life completely opposite to what they tell others to believe in. To top it off, most God belief systems say God is love but also believe "he" maintains an eternal torture chamber called Hell where there is no hope of escape for ever and ever. Give me a break. It makes no sense. There's just no credibility for promoting such a thing. Stop projecting all that you imagine to be good outside of yourself and accept that you are a complete person with a good moral compass who does not need to be promised a reward or threatened with punishment in order to be a loving, giving, appreciative, and happy person.

Erika · 1 year ago

Search for the the blog "Daylight Atheism" if you are truly interested in seeing that atheists can be just as warm, compassionate, joyful, and in awe and wonder of the world around them as theists.

Also, for most atheists, we do not lack a belief in God because we believe it would hold us down. We lack a belief in God because there is simply no vision of God more specific than "that which we do not know" or "everything" which holds up under scrutiny.

Erika · 1 year ago

That's what science tells us.

Erika · 1 year ago

I throughly agree. And I think it is a pity that your statement that all of the wonderful, fascinating features of world are enough by itself is interpreted as making you cold and heartless.

Erika · 1 year ago

I am an atheist, and I have no image of God. The universe, even our tiny speck of a planet, even another human being, even a flower, contains enough questions and answers that I feel no need to wrap it up in the concept of God.

Tara · 1 year ago

I don't have an image of him/or her. Hopefully I'm just making the powers that be happy by living the best life I can live.

Carrie McCarthy · 1 year ago

Joel Goldsmith, the author of Practicing the Presence says (not exactly) "God is like electricity, present even when the lights are out, you can choose to turn the power on"

Colette · 1 year ago

To Brad - What you are talking about is not my belief in God. I've commented much on this one today on many other's blogs, just in case you want to choose to read a completely different version that the one you describe. I agree with you that what you talk about as God makes no sense what so ever. And as far as credibility goes, you will never find something you think does not exist. You do not sound either happy or at peace. What you are unaware of is your hostilty. Happy peaceful people do not get irate, angry people do. Every one who stands up for what they believe in that is not main stream gets persecuted, not just atheists - so no blaming other for the perpective you are choosing. Atheists are not the only group beleagured by other's opinions.

Colette · 1 year ago

That is a misinterpretation of my comment. Go back and read all of what I have said today.

Brad Gough · 1 year ago

Wow. Colette, there's no need to be so judgmental. Who are you to tell me I'm not happy or peaceful? I guess that's your opinion of atheists though, just as mine is that many Christians are judgmental. Happy people sometimes get angry, sad, anxious, and every other feeling in the emotional repertoire. People who believe it's wrong to ever be angry are likely to have that anger come out in indirect but often very damaging ways. I'm very aware of my hostility on various issues. Are you? By the way, Christians and other theists are pretty mainstream, and have a lot of power, not to mention moral righteousness. Expressing my opinion here is pretty safe, but it wouldn't be if I wanted to run for office. It's good that there are forums like this to air our various points of view. I appreciate the opportunity and am enjoying our repartee, Colette, in spite of our opposing stances on this issue.

Marie Leona · 1 year ago

My image of God is Pure Light and Infinite Love. But when I need to speak or be close to God, I simply stop and smell the roses... i.e. I really take a look of all that surrounds me: nature, my children, my family, my grandchildren, art, music, laughter, friendship, and yes although I have a continuous love hate relationship with my body, I still marvel at it, I almost forgot, I can even find God in the sacredness of lovemaking with my soul mate...

Barbara · 1 year ago

My image of God is the goodness I see in others.

Jane · 1 year ago

I don't believe in God per se, but I do believe in the divine. As hokey as it sounds, my image of the divine is one of a web that interconnects everything.

Beth C. · 1 year ago

God is community. Growing up, I struggled with the concept of God being an old man who lives in the clouds. After years of thought on the topic, I reached the conclusion that God is a force that we as human beings are incapable of understanding or perceiving. As a result, whatever God is has given us the ability to create, imagine and construct denominations to allow us to create regional variations on the theme. I also reached the conclusion that the each of us is in fact a son or daughter of God and that we experience the divine when we come together as a community to worship, care for and support one another. Sometimes I think I would like to go to seminary, but I'm afraid I would be kicked out before I even got started.

Beth C. · 1 year ago

Ngonzi -- What an awesome question to ask oneself each and every day! I am going to start reminding myself to the an image of God in the morning and then asking myself in the evening if I was successful in that endeavor.

Beth C. · 1 year ago

I really had a lightbulb moment when I read "The Power of Myth" while in college. The universal human ability to create the construct of God or any other diety is evidence of the existence of a God. What's more, the fact that many religions share common myths or have stories to explain common elements of the human condition is also evidence that something more that exists. Maybe different religions and denominations are localized/regionalized interpretations of whatever the ultimate truth really is.

Caz · 1 year ago

you... and you... that... this... me....
Do you ever have days (moments, breaths) where you see god in everything? I vote for more of those days :)

Colette · 1 year ago

Finding who wrote back and said what has been an adventure. I did not say happy people do not get angry. I said happy, peaceful people do not get irate. Every one gets angry or at least upset, and my temperment is such that when I do get mad "boom!" But it is flash in the pan and as quick as I got mad I am not mad. But irate takes on an entirely different meaning. It includes being angry, but the word wrath is part of the definition of irate. Wrath is vengeful, violent, rage, retribution. Irate is an extreme. Are you certain irate is the word you meant?

Colette · 1 year ago

Daylight Atheism - I have studied the beliefs of Atheist groups. Every thing I have read sounds wonderful. How ever, I can't help but wonder what point there would be to anything if this life is a one shot deal, here today and then gone forever. How does that make any sense? As for proof, what are you looking for? The world was flat once upon a time because there was no proof other wise. - or was there? And again, you misinterpretted what I wrote. I did not say all Atheist are cold and noncompassionate, etc. I said "I have yet to interact with one who is not defensive, bitter, cynical. cold."

Erika · 1 year ago

Re you post beginning "Daylight Atheism" where you say "I can't help but wonder what point there would be to anything if this life is a one shot deal."

I have two responses to that. First, you make your own meaning. Whether or not there is a God, there do exist other people and my relationships with those people give me plenty of meaning. Second, saying "God exists because without God there is no meaning to life" is backwards reasoning. Just because we want there to be meaning does not imply that there is a god.

With regard to proof. Well first, of all, I am not looking for proof of a God, just as you are not, I would guess, looking for proof of invisible pink unicorns. Positing the existence of God raises more questions than it does answers so, by Occam's razor, I do not posit the existence of a God.

If, as was once the case with the earth being flat, there were to be observations that were best explained by the existence of God, then I might consider holding such an opinion.

Finally, you say, "And again, you misinterpretted what I wrote. I did not say all Atheist are cold and noncompassionate, etc. I said “I have yet to interact with one who is not defensive, bitter, cynical. cold.”"

What's the difference? If I were to say, "I have yet to meet a Christian who is not hypocritical and self righteous" (an opinion I do not actually hold), it seems to follow that I think all Christian's are hypocritical and self righteous.

Ngonzi Truth Crushshon · 1 year ago

Thanks Beth for your reply.

Ngonzi Truth Crushshon · 1 year ago

Don't be afraid to go to seminary...if you are called....God can use you!!!

Ngonzi Truth Crushshon · 1 year ago

Don’t be afraid to go to seminary…if you are called….God can use you!!!

Colette · 1 year ago

Where did I write that God exists because with out God there is no meaning to life? Or is that just your coninued putting words in my sentences that I did not write nor did I mean?
You are so defensive that you are completely blind to the fact that I am asking a sincere question in an attempt to comprehend an atheistic point of view. And if I thought that all Atheist were cold, bitter, cynical etc., that is what I would have said. What I said is that I have not met one yet. I did not say that I was not open to meeting one noe that I believe that one does not exist. You keep reading into what I have written, as if there is some hiddem message between the lines. I am a straight forward person and say what I think and believe with no other intended meaning that what I have written. That is the difference.

Now, how about trying to answer my question instead of getting all bent because I asked it. The question being What is the point of a life experience that stops as soon as you are dead? The question is not about finding meaning in life. I am not talking short term, I am talking long term. You've completely ignore the fact that I said that I died (pronounced dead, toe tag, trip to the morgue) and went to "heaven" but returned to earth. I am not coming from an experinece of guess work. I know that there is an experience beyond this life. I do not expect you to believe me. It is just fine that you do not believe me. What I believe is not the point of my questions. I am asking you about what you believe. You also ignore that I said that everything I have read sounds wonderful. I'd tell you to do some soul searching, but if I remember correctly, you do not believe in souls.

Stacy J · 1 year ago

WOW, I'm catching up on a most interestig dialogue! In reading everyone's responses, I think I like the way Ngonzi Truth Crushshon explained it the best....God is a reflection of all of us (or should I say we are of HIM). I pray every day that He allows me to be a blessing in someone's life. Let me do good. Jesus lives when we help the poor, tell someone we love them, comfort our child or a neighbor. Jesus and God are love. Jesus died for us on the cross...It's due to his sacrifice that I can look forward to spending eternity with my loved ones. It'll be like an energy...not in our physical forms. After conceiving and witnessing the miracle of childbirth...I know there is a God! And he lives in me, my hubby, my boys and everyone who is good!

lynn · 1 year ago

I believe in a loving god who is the Lord Jesus Christ, the one god of heaven and earth. He predestines each of us for eternal life in heaven and our path is determined by the life we live on earth. A life of useful service to others is what will make us truly happy. Loving our neighbors as ourselves is what God wants us to do. He is merciful and leaves us in freedom to choose our path, always there to forgive us if we turn to Him. I believe in a spiritual life as described in the writings of Emmanuel Swedenborg.

Erika · 1 year ago

My dear, you are misinterpreting my words if you think I sound defensive. I did try to sincerely answer your question, although I may have misunderstood it. It seems that you are not someone who can have a discussion of this depth in this forum; I understand that it is difficult with the mixed up threads. Feel free to email me if you are really interested in exploring this in more depth (username kitty_tape on yahoo).

Colette · 1 year ago

I went through all the blogs this morning and I noticed that you did not make any kind of statement, only remarks. Brad Gough did state "I am an Atheist. I do not believe in God." Are you willing to make such a statement? To clarify, that is rhetorical and just something to think about - I am not asking you to respond to that question. Again, I am asking you to tell me what you do believe in. What is the purpose of life? - not how do you find meaning. Purpose and meaning are two different words. Meaning is something one derives from ones own interpretation of the world and one's own experiences. How does it makes sense to have a "system" where in one is born, lives from a few minutes to 100 or more years and then it is over? How does it makes sense to you that there is no source that lies with in you - which I call spirit or soul or higher self or divine self, that is connected to infinite intelligence from which one drawns upon through prayer and / or meditation in order to gain inspiration and enlightenment? I have been to several Athesit websites and I have read those forums. I am not asking you to tell me what is written there, I am asking you, Erika - what do YOU believe? - besides "there is no God."

Colette · 1 year ago

There is nothing hokey about your belief. If you get down to it, faith is totally "hokey" because faith is a belief in things that are not seen, which are true. It is through this faith and believing that we then empower ourselves/ With this empowerment, we create the capacity to know, with out doubt of any kind, that those unseen things are true because you keep reaching for new meaning and things are revealed to you. Keep up your Divinity!

Colette · 1 year ago

Amen! This has been quite the adventure interacting with Erika and Brad. My interpretation of everything Brad has said has me hearing "I'm not gonna believe in God and you can't make me!"

Colette · 1 year ago

It does not sound like you believe that there is no Deity, but that what you once interpreted God or Deity to be has changed. The spiritual is the "higher power" a divnity with in everything / everyone, and isn't that Deity?

Erika · 1 year ago

I gave a brief statement of my belief below, in a separate thread, and I have already told you that I think we are speaking past each other in this forum and how you can contact me in a medium more conducive to in depth discussions of belief. To briefly answer your question, I think life itself has no purpose. Any individual life (including my own) has the purpose that the liver of that life makes for it.

Also, the beginning and end of your comment conflict with each other. You first ask if I am willing to make a statement like Brad Gough's where he says "I am an Atheist. I do not believe in God." However, at the end of your comment, you insist that I say what I believe besides, "there is no God". No wonder I cannot answer questions to your satisfaction when you cannot even ask your questions consistently.

Colette · 1 year ago

I asked what you beleive besides that there is no God to learn what else you belive. You said that you believe that life has no purpose -but you do believe life has purpose and it is what ever the "liver of that life makes for it." How I would word that phrase is "our life has what ever purpose we choose it to have." I've tried reading the book The Purpose Driven Life by Rick warren several times. But I find it to be a bunch of nonsense and garbage where he has the reader on a wild goose chase trying to figure out what purpose "God" has for the reader.
I looked for a separate thread where you wrote out what you believe and I could not find it. I started at the top of this forum and read every blog this morning to see who wrote what. That is the reason for asking if you made one. There is nothing inconsistent about asking what else do you believe besides what you already have eluded to - that you believe there is no God. I specifically say that I am NOT asking you to respond to my rhetorical question. I have asked four questions - you have managed to answer one of them. I too believe that a person's life has what ever purpose that person chooses. I believe in free will and free choice. I also believe there are no accidents or coincidences. I believe that "hell" is merely a state of mind based on beliefs. How about tackling the other three questions?

Erika · 1 year ago

This thread, which specifically asks about God, is not an appropriate place to discuss beliefs in general. We have already hijacked this thread enough. I have given you the information to communicate with me in a more appropriate forum and this will be my last reply on this subject in this forum.

Cecile · 1 year ago

Being a Roman Catholic from birth and an Episcopalian by choice, my image of God is one of an ethereal being. It has never occurred to me that it may be a female... nor will it ever. It just isin't there.. ;-) But whe I yhink of God this overwhelming peace innundates my being and my spul, and I feel like I am in heaven...

Cécile

Xai Vicente Charles · 1 year ago

me.

diane · 1 year ago

hi

To me God is my savior,protector and he give me his spirit and he will always be in my heart and he is awsome and i thank him everyday for all the blessing he give us!