Omnipotence is thus best understood as the claim that God can do anything that’s logically possible. Islam rejects any form of idol worship, even if its intention is to get "closer" to God, and rejects the Trinity or any attempt to make God human. The holy spirit is God’s power in action, his active force. [1] Tillich's claim is not self-evident. The best explanation or concept of GOD. CONCEPT OF GOD The Most Concise Definition of God Surah Ikhlas - the touchstone of theology What does Islam say about ‘god-men’? Grandma’s house. Later Joseph Smith, the founder of Mormonism, taught that God is an exalted man, who was once mortal like us before he became God. In other words, God could say ‘torturing babies is good’, or whatever He wanted, and it would be true. … It is the first principle of the Gospel to know for a certainty the Character of God, and to know that we may converse with him as one man converses with another, and that he was once a man like us; yea, that God himself, the Father of us all, dwelt on an earth, the same as Jesus Christ himself did” [2]. C.S. No one shares His divinity, nor His attributes. God is further held to have the properties of holiness, … As the Eighth Dynamic, the Scientology concept of God rests at the very apex of universal survival. I am less sure that the part, ".., Its Meaning for the Church" is as well done. Common Concept of God in Hinduism: Hinduism is commonly perceived as a polytheistic religion. View all posts by James Bishop. The Concept of God. Answer: The theological concept of “already but not yet” holds that believers are actively taking part in the kingdom of God, although the kingdom will not reach its full expression until sometime in the future. God. Our sin has separated us from God, and the consequence of sin is death (Romans 6:23). Applied to the moral judgement ‘torturing babies is wrong’, we can ask: If the second option is the case – in other words morality is independent of God – then it’s a challenge to God’s omnipotence. (Micah 3:8; Luke 1: 35) God sends out his spirit by projecting his energy to any place to accomplish his will. He was one of the longest reigning kings of Egyptian history, a famed military commander and prolific builder. The traditional concept of worship has been that worship is glorifying God. Humankind will always want to know more, I suppose. The Holy Ghost is the Spirit of the Lord who empowers miracles, prophecy, and spiritual enlightenment. CONCEPT OF GOD IN HINDUISM by Dr. Zakir Naik: 1. Nothing really belongs to us. "God" is not a concept at all because it subsumes no particulars. It's because of this concept; worship belongs to God … God is One : The following verse from the book of Deuteronomy contains an exhortation from Moses (pbuh): "Shama Israelu Adonai Ila Hayno Adna Ikhad". The concept of the “image of God” goes right back to Egyptian times. God still has a plan for planet Earth. Mormons thus believe that God was once a man who evolved into godhood. My concept of God stems from analyzing the scriptures in … In Scientology, the concept of God is expressed as the Eighth Dynamic—the urge toward existence as infinity. This is not the same for everyone. Someone like Ramses II was hailed as the very “image of god”. 2. My concept of God is like I have one personal Mind I have one Personal God. Fertility religions: This is also identified as the Supreme Being. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Forms of theism find mention in the Bhagavad Gita. He was one of the longest reigning kings of Egyptian history, a famed military commander and prolific builder. Human beings can also learn to be gods themselves. The Euthyphro dilemma looks at whether morality is created by, or independent of, God. WuDangChen Recommended for you. I began to listen to what God might want to say back. He was a big deal. Either way, there is something God cannot do – which means he’s not omnipotent. Typically, these religions agree that God has the following 4 divine attributes: However, there are a number of arguments which claim that these characteristics are incoherent or logically inconsistent. Bishop's Encyclopedia of Religion, Society and Philosophy, Follow Bishop's Encyclopedia of Religion, Society and Philosophy on WordPress.com. The Hebrew concept of a name is very similar to these ideas. (Mark 7:13) “Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.” Tradition Taught Us: Many churches instill in their members a non-biblical or “ created concept ” called “ incarnation ”. The Moral Life . If God is omnipotent (all powerful), can He create a stone so heavy He can’t lift it? The basic concept(s) of Judaism involve man’s relationship to God, and man’s relationship to each other. ( Log Out /  The Rev. With characteristic clarity and forthrightness, Dr. Nash judiciously evaluates competing conceptions of deity, and in the end recommends an understanding of God that is both theologically sound and philosophically acceptable." “And now, behold, my beloved brethren, this is the away; and there is none other way nor name given under heaven whereby man can be saved in the kingdom of God. Peace Pilgrim Speaking to a College Class #2 - Duration: 58:16. About God Part 2: How concepts of God have developed: Fertililty religions, monotheism, polytheism, etc. It grew into a real experience of relationship. Why, then, does He say some things are bad and not others? Judaism is fundamentally about drawing closer to God. Why can't it exist? Not who is God or what is God, but what is the concept of God. And now, behold, this is the doctrine of Christ, and the only and true doctrine of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, which is one God, without end. This is not as strange or unfamiliar a concept as it may seem at first glance. The "concept" of God is usually defined by a lack of a definition. CONCEPT OF GOD IN HINDUISM by Dr. Zakir Naik: 1. These characteristics can be described as the ‘divine attributes’. Evil-skeptics believe the concept of evil is particularly problematic and should be abandoned while other moral concepts, such as right, wrong, good, and bad, are worth keeping. Can the concept of God exist. Jesus equated being saved with entering the kingdom of God (Matthew 19:24-25). A possible reply to this is that free will makes it impossible to know the future. Islam is based on the concept of Tawhid, or Unity of God. When you ignore these temptations, you become more holy and closer to God- goodness. Mormons believe in three gods, as Joseph Smith taught: “I wish to declare I have always and in all congregations where I have preached on the subject of deity, it has [been on] the plurality of Gods.”. For one thing, it is doubtfulthat ultimate concern is e… 2020 let’s just start the healing process; 8 things to remember; Respecting yourself and living with dignity makes us independent. James Bishop is from South Africa. ( Log Out /  The kingdom of God is not going to appear immediately, and yet repeatedly, Jesus says, “The kingdom is at hand. And if I don’t have a choice to either drink or not drink the beer, then I don’t have free will. A difficult but fundamental concept within Christianity, the Trinity is the belief that God is three separate persons but is still a single God. Therefore, the likelihood of a shared perspective on God in both texts being the result of Egyptian influence is small. In the Christian doctrine of salvation, we are saved from “wrath,” that is, from God’s judgment of sin (Romans 5:9; 1 Thessalonians 5:9). It is a Hebrew quotation which means: "Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord" [The Bible, Deuteronomy 6:4] 2. I'm not saying that people shouldn't believe whatever they want, I'm saying that the people who hold those views are inherently wrong… When we speak of Brahman, we are referring neither to the "old man in the sky" concept nor to the idea of the Absolute as even capable of being vengeful, fearful or engaging in choosing a favorite people from among His creatures. However broad or imaginative our concept of God may be, it will always necessarily be circumscribed by the limitations of the human mind. Change ), You are commenting using your Google account. The principle of responsibility. Is it like the concept of patriotism, freedom, and rights? God is not powerful enough to make ‘torturing babies is good’ true. It’s best understood as the claim that God is perfectly good. I dont have to say. For instance, he moves you to repentance, and if you take the hint you can find yourself in the confessional, where the guilt for your sins is remitted (John 20:21–23). This could be interpreted in a few ways. The reason for this is that God’s power would be limited by morality. When you first have children! Simply put "governance" means: the process of decision-making and the process by which decisions are implemented (or not I call him " Parampita" the Ultimate Father. If God exists outside of time, then He is eternal. Sikhs believe that the Creator is the only truth, that all creation is illusory and the route to enlightenment is the realization that all creation is One. He knows everything – or, at least, everything it is possible to know. God is conceived of as eternal, omnipotent, omniscient and as the creator of the universe. As the Eighth Dynamic, the Scientology concept of God rests at the very apex of universal survival. Philosophers specialize in unpacking hidden complexities, and the concept of the good life is one of those that needs quite a bit of unpacking. Back then, it was directed against the many Gods of ancient Greece. n.d. James obtained his BTh with cum laude, and is currently pursuing his postgraduate in Religious Studies. Sponsored link. St. Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274) argued that this isn’t a real limitation on God’s power. The concept of God in Sikhism is symbolized by Ik Onkar(Which Means one Creator), in Sikh philosophy. He is a graduate in Creative Brand Communication and Marketing (CBC), and in Theology (majoring in psychology). “That which we imagine, is not the Reality of God; He, the Unknowable, the Unthinkable, is far beyond the highest conception of man.” 2 —Psalm 104:30; 139:7. But if the first option is true – and so God created morality – then it means that what is good and bad is arbitrary. If God exists within time, then He is everlasting. I think it really does cover "The Biblical Concept" part of the subject. According to the Christian religion God is divine and is Omnipresent, Omnipotent, Omniscience and that man was made in his image. Joseph Smith learned that the Son and the Father were separate beings when he had his First Revelation [1]. Some people will argue that God is infinite and can’t be grasped by the human mind, which is probably true, but nevertheless if you are going to be meditating or contemplating “ God ” you need to have some vision to channel your energies towards. For more information, see free will vs. omniscience. This presents a challenge to God’s omnibenevolence. The Son is identified as “the very Eternal Father of heaven and earth” (Alma 11:39). Repent, for the kingdom of God is at hand.” In fact, he is more explicit than that in Luke 11:20: “If it is by the finger of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.” For example, it is argued that God doesn’t know what we humans are going to do in the future – because we have free will. A level philosophy looks at 3 problems with this concept of God. Obtained BTh with cum laude, currently doing Masters (Religion Studies). This is to say God has perfect knowledge. He has the most magnificent names and sublime perfect attributes. A monistic concept of God will inevitably disregard sin and evil, affirming all natural desires, whereas the Christian understanding of God views God alone as good, desiring to manifest His character of goodness in His creation in place of the fallen, natural, evil tendencies of man’s desires. What are we saved from? Through Christ our Lord, Amen. So called "alternative" views of god, are pure stupidity. This might not seem like much of a challenge to the concept of God, but it undermines a key teaching of religion: that God is good. Change ), You are commenting using your Facebook account. For something to be logically impossible is for it to contain a contradiction. The concept of God in A level philosophy is the concept of God as understood by the three main monotheistic religions – Christianity, Islam, and Judaism. He was a big deal. So when we say someone is living well or that they have lived a good life… Smith taught that if we were to see God “today, you would see Him like a man in form—like yourselves in all the person, image, and very form as a man.” In other words, God was not a God from all eternity, but once a man just like any other. ( Log Out /  Omniscience 3. Reported experiences of God are remarkably varied and have produced equally varied concepts of the divine being. By what name do we call God? Whether God is eternal or everlasting depends on the nature of God. Sometimes the Son, Jesus, is understood to be or called the Father: the Son could be understood as the Father of creation because he made it; the Son is the Father of all those who accept his atoning sacrifice; or the Son is commissioned to speak and act for the Father. The Kingdom of God would seem to entail all of His creation, properly understood. Revelation can be link… It is alsoexperienced as overwhelmingly real and valuable—indeed, so realand so valuable that, in comparison, all other things appear empty andworthless. From my memories, there is a well defined definition / concept / name for the following: A scientist chose to believe in the Christian God because of the following logic: If God does exist, then you may have a chance to go to heaven; If God does not exist, then you just believed in something that do not exist. This means if one were to take all the prayers from the beginning of humanity to the end of time, it wouldn't increase or decrease God's dominion. He is the true God, and every other deity is false. In English, we often refer to a person's reputation as his "good name." 32:13. The … Aspirations to teach Religion Studies, World Religion, Philosophy of Religion. anything to Him, He knows each and everything about me, when I … Human problems. In many religions God is also conceived as perfect, all-powerful and all-knowing, and the source and ultimate ground of morality. #COVID19 Aged 19 year’s! Presents the first comprehensive view of Hegel’s contribution to the God-question. Eternal/everlasting However, there are a number of arguments which claim that these characteristics are logically inconsistent. Accordingto classical theism, God is always everywhere, always present to creatures. What is Your Concept of God? Aristotle’s Concept of God Stanley Sfekas, Ph.D. Aristotle conceived of God as outside of the world, as the final cause of all motion in Nature, as Prime Mover and Unmoved Mover of the universe. Sikhs believe that God: Cannot be described and isn't male or female Is eternal, and… The only ultimate good would be the good of the entire universe and all that is within it, not an abstract entity or concept apart from it. God can be approached in a number of ways and a devoted person can relate to God as a majestic king, as a parent figure, as a friend, as a child, as a … Take our hearts and set them on fire with love for Thee. And as Doctrine and Covenants teaches, although the Father and the Son has “a body of flesh and bones as tangible as man’s”, the Holy Ghost is immaterial for he “has not a body of flesh and bones, but is a personage of Spirit. When a company is sold, one thing that may be sold is the company's "good will," that is, the right to use the company's name. C. The Trinity teaches us that God is beyond all human comprehension. Unity of God in the Book of Isaiah In other words, I don’t have a choice. The divine attributes are as follows: Omnipotence literally translates as all powerful. wrong for me,He wont be happy to see me sad or worried . Asking what it means to be human may be as old as humankind itself.1 Many conflicting views of human nature are on offer. After all, if we could explain God, he wouldn't be God. Over time, as I’ve continue to walk the path of my spiritual journey, I’ve learned that my concept of God continues to evolve as I grow in my knowledge of who God really is. This is a very densely written treatise on the title's subject. He was the crowning objective of all dynamic development in the cosmos … Introduction Every age has its own special characteristics and our age is no different. God, who is This is also identified as the Supreme Being. Emotional or loving devotion to a primary god such as avatars of Vishnu, Shiva and Devi emerged in the early medieval period, and is now known … God, take our minds and think through them. CONCEPT OF GOD IN OLD TESTAMENT: 1. See also an earlier essay about concepts of God, involving human origins a nd problems and Animism. Muslims are strictly monotheistic and fiercely reject any attempt to make God visible or human. Ken and John begin this episode by establishing the motivation for a show dedicated to the “Concept of God”. Sources of western concepts of the divine have been threefold: experience, revelation, and reason. The classical concept of God does not refer to a being alongside other beings in the universe. As such, it demands total surrender and promises totalfulfillment. Hinduism spans a wide range of beliefs such as henotheism, monotheism, polytheism, panentheism, pantheism, pandeism, monism, atheism and nontheism. The Holy Ghost is given to those who repent and convert. When we pray and seek the Kingdom of God, we are also praying for the rule and reign of the kingdom of God in our lives. Must read. James is currently researching alternative and emergent religions in South Africa. Amen” (2 Nephi 31:21). "The Concept of God is an excellent treatment of an increasingly critical issue in philosophical theology. My concept of God stems from analyzing the scriptures in … I am an anti-theist but a respectful one in that and I know that people follow religion due to a multitude of factors. Common Concept of God in Hinduism: Hinduism is commonly perceived as a polytheistic religion. Typically, these religions agree that God has the following 4 divine attributes: 1. The Holy Bible indicates that God has always existed in a spirit realm, namely Heaven, and had no beginning, and will see no end (Job 36:26), (Isaiah 57:15). The concept of the “image of God” goes right back to Egyptian times. God keeps giving you these divine pushes, and all you have to do is go along. Various religions believe that "God" created the universe, and created all living things, and that God is the almighty ruler, and once you pass on you are transferred to Heaven or Hell. God is imagined to be perfectly powerful – it’s not possible for there to exist a being with more power than God. Someone like Ramses II was hailed as the very “image of god”. God is usually said to be unlimited in power, knowledge, and goodness and unknowable to us mere mortals; but these are all traits that are defined by a lack of something. Omnipotence 2. They argue that before a debate about the existence of God can begin, one needs to understand what properties such a God would have to possess. These are: 1. He will rule and reign here, and as believers, we will rule and reign with Him. Sponsored link. People who believe that god is something intangible, e.g universal love, do not have the right to term what they believe in as "god". Through the sacrament of penance, through your reconciliation to God, you receive sanctifying grace. Most definitely. The concept of “the common good” is one which is spoken of so often and defined so rarely that one wonders if most who use it have any conception of what they are referring to. One important concept that we need to establish early on is what our idea of “God” is. Question: "How should I understand the concept of the Father God?" If what is good is whatever God says is good, then ‘God is good’ is a tautology. The concept of God in A level philosophy is the concept of God as understood by the three main monotheistic religions – Christianity, Islam, and Judaism. We are “already” in the kingdom, but we do “not yet” see it in its glory. Concept of God First let’s look the idea of God. Most definitely. A level philosophy looks at 3 problems with this concept of God. The whole concept of 'God' is something I could not care any less about and neither would God existing affect my life in any way so I remain staunchly neutral. Governance The concept of "governance" is not new. One basic way we use the word “good” is to express moral approval. But this doesn’t mean God can do literally anything.