Is God an Atheist? (sin, believe, genesis, divine)

[cncracer]

Apparently, God is an atheist
http://www.strongatheism.net/library...ivine_atheism/

In a debate on a non R&P forum we have been discussing the issue of god being an atheist. It is based on the attached link. I thought it might be fun to get input from this forum.

The question which started the debate is, “if we are to answer that God believes in no higher authority, only in himself; then we may say that all self-aware beings must of necessity believe in themselves”.

The other effect of this answer is interesting. “If we accept then that God doesn’t have a belief in a being higher than himself, we must conclude that God is without belief in a supreme being and is therefore an atheist.”

Questions which have come from the debate are
1- If god is an atheist should theist strive to become atheist also?
2- If god is an atheist why would he need humanity to believe in him?
3- If we are all supposed to try to be like God, and all God believes in is himself and everything less powerful than himself, then why shouldn't we strive to believe in the same thing?

[Tricky D]

Originally Posted by cncracer

The other effect of this answer is interesting. “If we accept then that God doesn’t have a belief in a being higher than himself, we must conclude that God is without belief in a supreme being and is therefore an atheist.”

Being supreme is an illusion, I don't think God would fall for that.

Besides how can you not believe in yourself?
I mean right now I'm alive whether I believe this or not so what I believe doesn't really matter.
The truth is whether you believe the truth or not is irrelevant which means that God is whether you believe in Him or not.

Besidez just because you are an atheist doesn’t mean that everyone else should be an atheist too, which btw is nothing different from what most theists believe.

[Terryj]

Cncracer, just by the wording of your arguments one has to ask the question is God even a being, thereby assuming shape and form. If one sees this God in those aspect then your argument is very valid. There are those who view this thing we call God as nothing more than Spirit or a creative force behind all things. There is nothing outside this creative force, all things are part of it, it is as it is. This spirit has nothing to believe in for all things are in it. It doesn't matter if we believe in it or not, it changes nothing, for there is nothing to change, except for our own perception, which really doesn't matter.

[Mozart271]

Originally Posted by cncracer

The question which started the debate is, “if we are to answer that God believes in no higher authority, only in himself; then we may say that all self-aware beings must of necessity believe in themselves”.

The other effect of this answer is interesting. “If we accept then that God doesn’t have a belief in a being higher than himself, we must conclude that God is without belief in a supreme being and is therefore an atheist.”

Hmm...despite my own nonbelief and my amusement at this article, I think I spy errors in reasoning here. (And if somebody's gonna use Bertrand Russell as an icon they better darn well use impeccable logic!)

The first statement in your quote says If God believes in nothing higher than himself, then then all self-aware beings believe in themselves. So...if God believes in himself, then we must believe in ourselves? Why?

Let's assume the first statement is true; the second statement says we must conclude God does not believe in a supreme being. But if HE IS THE SUPREME BEING and believes in himself, then he believes in a Supreme Being (himself) thus is not atheist.

As to your last question, I would guess there is no imperative to be like God in the sense that we would believe in nothing higher than ourselves, because the key difference between us and God is, we are not Supreme Beings. (And in the immortal words of Salvador Dali, "The only difference between me and a madman is that I am not mad." )

[MarkotheAussie]

Atheism is the belief that no God exists. Atheism is also the lack of belief of God.

God cannot be an atheist. It is impossible. When Moses asked who he was in Genesis (burning bush bit) He said "I AM". That in truth proves that God is not an atheist.

[Fullback32]

And Popeye said, "I am what I am and that's all that I am." Popeye must be god then. It must have been burning spinach in that bush.

[MarkotheAussie]

How do you come to that conclusion?

"I AM" means he is all. What is not him is sin and a consequence of sin is the lack of life and the lack of existance. (Well it means much much much much more)

[Fullback32]

Originally Posted by MarkotheAussie

How do you come to that conclusion?

"I AM" means he is all. What is not him is sin and a consequence of sin is the lack of life and the lack of existance. (Well it means much much much much more)

That was a joke son..humor that is. Witty repartee...a funny. A flag waver. You’re built too low. Fast ones go over your head. You got a hole in your glove. I keep pitching them and you keep missing them. You gotta keep your eye on the ball. Eye. Ball. Eye ball. Almost had a gag son. Joke that is.

[Terryj]

Originally Posted by MarkotheAussie

How do you come to that conclusion?

"I AM" means he is all. What is not him is sin and a consequence of sin is the lack of life and the lack of existance. (Well it means much much much much more)

This does not make any sense, how can I AM mean "he is all" and then exclude what you choose to. Either "he" is ALL or "he" is not.

[Fullback32]

Originally Posted by MarkotheAussie

When Moses asked who he was in Genesis (burning bush bit) He said "I AM".

Oh and by the way, the burning bush story is in Exodus...NOT Genesis....just thought you should know.