Questions for an atheist and a theist.

Are athieists and theists really talking about the same thing when they refer to "God"?

Is it possible that an athiest's idea of what "God" would be, if "God" existed, is fundamentally different than a theist's idea of what "God" is, if "God" exists?

What is the nature of this non-existent god of the atheists? or rather,
What exactly is it that an athiest does not believe in?

What if the "God" that an atheist does not believe in, does not actually exist?

When you deny your own consciousness, do you ever wonder what you forgot?

 

Omnipotence, omniscience, omnibenevolence

 

Unknowable
Undefinable
Indescribable
Incomprehensible
Unfathomable
Immeasurable
Inconceivable
Infinite
Eternal
Beyond beyond

 

buddha never said anything about a god.

 

did too......

When asked by his students to explain the nature of God, he replied that God is unknowable, beyond our minds ability to comprehend, therefore it is a waste of time trying to understand God. Instead, he advised that we should focus on serving our fellow people.

 

Atheists think in machiavellian ways.

Exactly. Atheists don't know God and have not searched enough to see God. They have a machiavellian view of the spread of the word of God. Read "The Prince" if you would like to understand their view of God.

 

I imagine it differs from person to person, and of course everyone's interpretations of the same thing could vary wildly...

 

What sect of buddhism have you been taught/reading? Cause I've read many mahayana/zen buddhism books and theyve all taught me that buddha never mentioned god... and that belief in a god wasnt necessary to follow buddha.

 

God being unknowable isn't necessarily an affirmative to His existence, per se. In any case, I see no extraordinary reason why Buddha would be able to say either way.

 

Jus seein what a lil' role-change does to an argument.

 

Hmmm ... well ... I never heard that ... and since Buddha did stress analysis I must say ... show me where Buddha said this !

Darrell

 

There are lots of definitions of God. Here's how I (an atheist) could define God. I don't believe in any of the gods I mention below, or any combination of the traits listed below. I've listed the definitions of God roughly in order of importance.

1. The creator of the Universe
2. An omnipotent being
3. An omniscient being
4. An all-good being concerned with human affairs
5. An omnipresent being

Usually when I argue against the existence of God, I use the above definitions or a combination of them, because that is generally what people mean by "God." Of course, if I wanted to argue against the existence of God with a person who defined God as "my pet cat," then I'd have a much tougher time disproving its existence.

 

Hasty generalization on my part. My girlfriends an atheist, or maybe an agnostic. She is pretty sweet and optimistic.