Interesting Quote

[Vibecrewangel]

Saw this one today and well......

"Does God believe in himself? Presumably, he or she must. But then, to be divine is to be infinite. Imagine an eternity of total self-confidence. How tedious would that be? You would want to invent someone who doubted you, if only to make existence more interesting." [/quote]

[Sethomas]

There is no time in eternity, according to classic metaphysics. :(

[Big Papa Goat]

Perhaps I misunderstood that quote, but to believe that you exist doesn't neccesarily denote total self-confidence. Nor do I think it would be very tedious to be able to know with confidence for all eternity that you exist.

[kahljorn]

Most people question their existance, in some form or another, everyday. Why would "God" be any different, given IF he were some kind of wo/man in the sky.

[The_Rorschach]

"We do not see things for what they are, but for what we are."

I think in a nutshell, the above sums up my compaints with your quote. In most matters, context is everything -But never the context from which we see things, but rather the context within which the thing itself exists.

[Bennett]

I think it's an interesting quote as Vibe said, regardless of the issues that people may have with it. It's not supposed to be taken as someone's arguement for the existence of a higher being.
For me, it's something where you read it and think, "I never thought about it that way," and even though you can see flaws in it, it may act to ground you in that you don't know how everything in the universe works.

If you try to show everyone the sound of one hand clapping (a la bart simpson) or explain how a tree that falls in the woods really makes a sound whether or not anybody is around, you've missed the point of the koan.

[kellychaos]

Just for the sake of argument, imagine that we humans (and animals if you want to take it one step further), as a "collective conscious" ARE God. Wouldn't we, in looking at ourselves both subjectively and objectively, represent that doubt and a check of that infinite self-confidence?

[VinceZeb]

The whole question is stupid if you believe in God becuase you are trying to put an human constraint and thought on something that is beyond that.

[The_Rorschach]

What about people like me who don't believe in God?

[AChimp]

Well you're just going to Hell anyways so it doesn't matter. :rolleyes

[soundtest]

Just for the sake of argument, imagine that we humans (and animals if you want to take it one step further), as a "collective conscious" ARE God. Wouldn't we, in looking at ourselves both subjectively and objectively, represent that doubt and a check of that infinite self-confidence?

omg I agree with kellychaos :eek

[mburbank]

Vinth, for someone who thinks God is beyond Human 'constraint' (how ever you mean that word to be used ) and thought, you sure spend a whole lot of time telling other poeple you know exactly what He wants and Means. It's little late in the game to say God's mysterious.

[Perndog]

Yeah, that post was way out of character for Vince. No personal attacks, and it didn't seem like a reaction to something that really irritated him.

Oh, and Rorshach: if you don't believe in God, the quote is utterly irrelevant and you can ignore it because it has no philosophical value to you. I hope that freed your mind a little. :)

[Immortal Goat]

And also, Vinth, if God is beyond human terms, then why do you insist on calling It a "He"?

[The_Rorschach]

"if you don't believe in God, the quote is utterly irrelevant and you can ignore it because it has no philosophical value to you. I hope that freed your mind a little"

Its not that I don't believe in God boy-o, its just that I believe in something greater.

[Perndog]

Excuse me, sir, but if you don't want to be misunderstood you need to be a little clearer to begin with.

What about people like me who don't believe in God?

[The_Rorschach]

And not typo when I attempt to clarify things either!

Actually though, I was attempting to illustrate a point. Vinth is accusing Vibe of limiting God by attempting to "humanize" him, but in doing so, he is also setting constraints on God as well by rebuffing her.

In this case objectivity is impossible. It is like trying to measure a tree with neither a yardstick, nor anything of a known dimension around it by which to guage even the approximate scope of its dimensions. Neither one of them are wrong, per se, but neither is playing with a full hand either. Simply too many variables involved, but that is a moot point. The question is simply an exercise in thinking, because there is no right or wrong answer which can be readily substantiated without belief -Humanistic or Deity-based.

[Anonymous]

You can measure a tree with a yardstick.:(

[Cosmo Electrolux]

You can also spank a naughty non-believer with a yard stick. :(

[Perndog]

You can also ram a yardstick down an annoying believer's throat.

[Anonymous]

Yes, yardsticks have many uses in contemporary society.

[The_Rorschach]

For instance, having read all this, I'm going to attempt Seppuku now, using a blunt wooden yardstick.

[kellychaos]

To be in a world where Vinth is the measure of all things. :eek

[Anonymous]

I enjoy derailing philosophical discussions far more than participating in them.

[Sethomas]

And I enjoy eating peanut butter straight from the jar.

Its not that I don't believe in God boy-o, its just that I believe in something greater.

Aquinas defined God as an entity greater than which nothing else may exist. :/

[Brandon]

And I enjoy eating peanut butter straight from the jar.

Its not that I don't believe in God boy-o, its just that I believe in something greater.

Aquinas defined God as an entity greater than which nothing else may exist. :/
Wasn't that Anselm?

[The_Rorschach]

I'll see your more powerful than anything and raise you one.

Its the old infinity plus one argument ;)

[Big Papa Goat]

Why can't you call what you believe in God then?

[The_Rorschach]

Because you're quite clearly an idiot who obviously doesn't see the point of what I was trying to convey.

Go away peasant, I fear the stink of your ignorance won't wash out easily, and I don't want it wafting around me.