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As theologian Paul Tillich coined it, God is the Ground for all beings.
From Wikipedia regarding Paul Tillich:
God is called the “ground of being” because God is the answer to the ontological threat of non-being, and this characterization of the theological answer in philosophical terms means that the answer has been conditioned (insofar as its form is considered) by the question.
Throughout most of his works Paul Tillich provides an apologetic and alternative ontological view of God. Traditional medieval philosophical theology in the work of figures such as St. Anselm, Duns Scotus, and William of Ockham tended to understand God as the highest existing Being[citation needed], to which predicates such as omnipotence, omniscience, omnipresence, goodness, righteousness, holiness, etc. may be ascribed. Arguments for and against the existence of God presuppose such an understanding of God. Tillich is critical of this mode of discourse which he refers to as "theological theism," and argues that if God is Being [das Seiende], even if the highest Being, God cannot be properly called the source of all being, and the question can of course then be posed as to why God exists, who created God, when God's beginning is, and so on. To put the issue in traditional language: if God is 'being' [das Seiende], then God is a creature, even if the highest one, and thus cannot be the Creator. Rather, God must be understood as the "ground of Being-Itself".
Tillich argues that the God of theological theism is at the root of much revolt against theism and religious faith in the modern period. Tillich states, sympathetically, that the God of theological theism:
"deprives me of my subjectivity because he is all-powerful and all-knowing. I revolt and make him into an object, but the revolt fails and becomes desperate. God appears as the invincible tyrant, the being in contrast with whom all other beings are without freedom and subjectivity. He is equated with the recent tyrants who with the help of terror try to transform everything into a mere object, a thing among things, a cog in a machine they control. He becomes the model of everything against which Existentialism revolted. This is the God Nietzsche said had to be killed because nobody can tolerate being made into a mere object of absolute knowledge and absolute control. This is the deepest root of atheism. It is an atheism which is justified as the reaction against theological theism and its disturbing implications."
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And isn't it so? People who make God to be the Greatest of all Beings turn Him into a tyrant claiming He can do no wrong regardless of how immoral the average person would see some of His actions in the "Word." They turn Him from being Creator into a bully with all the anthropomorphisms existing in themselves.
Theological theism has been the Ground for all Atheism in Tillich's thinking.
Dude! I'm not not convinced of atheism, but it is damned impressive that someone here actually read Tillich.
Dude! I'm not not convinced of atheism, but it is damned impressive that someone here actually read Tillich.
Warden is too often underestimated. He is my unofficial Pastor despite our differences. There are many here who are widely read, bulmabriefs. Tillich's ground of being was part of the inspiration for my realization that a Cosmic Consciousness (God) is the basis of our entire reality. It is NOT by God's Will that anything exists. It is by God's BEING.
Warden is too often underestimated. He is my unofficial Pastor despite our differences. There are many here who are widely read, bulmabriefs. Tillich's ground of being was part of the inspiration for my realization that a Cosmic Consciousness (God) is the basis of our entire reality. It is NOT by God's Will that anything exists. It is by God's BEING.
what is the difference (your words, no articles) between G-d's will and G-d's being?
are you saying there is no such thing as G-d's will?
"god" as humanized understanding of what intelligent Self conscious organizational principle of everything is, existed always. It is outside of physical universe of change.
Human being, as physical bridge of that principle into the physical universe of change existed always. In forms various, but form does not change the principle of human.
And who created the more powerful God? And who created the God who create the more power God? It's a never ending loop.
That’s the whole point that nonbelievers are making: God is held up as the Ultimate Explanation for everything in the universe. But what is the explanation for God? And so we have an infinite regression. God isn’t really an explanation at all, but merely the beginning of an infinite regress.
Quote:
Originally Posted by GoCardinals
Everything else in the world is a creation, except God. And that what makes it God.
That’s a satisfactory answer for existing believers, but not very convincing for people on the outside. Why aren’t we allowed to ask who (or what) created God?
That’s the whole point that nonbelievers are making: God is held up as the Ultimate Explanation for everything in the universe. But what is the explanation for God? And so we have an infinite regression. God isn’t really an explanation at all, but merely the beginning of an infinite regress.
That’s a satisfactory answer for existing believers, but not very convincing for people on the outside. Why aren’t we allowed to ask who (or what) created God?
you can ask all you want.
the quality and depth of the answer you receive, is determined by your own motivation in asking, and your own desire for understanding.
shallow is as shallow does. same for depth. same for wisdom.
your intention determines the answer you receive. Your willingness to learn and grow is entirely up to you. No one can or will convince you of anything. You and you alone are responsible for the quality of your understanding, exploration, and development.
Last edited by Tzaphkiel; 11-26-2017 at 06:46 PM..
you can ask all you want.
the quality and depth of the answer you receive, is determined by your own motivation in asking, and your own desire for understanding.
shallow is as shallow does. same for depth. same for wisdom.
your intention determines the answer you receive. Your willingness to learn and grow is entirely up to you. No one can or will convince you of anything. You and you alone are responsible for the quality of your understanding, exploration, and development.
In other words, I should believe whatever you’re selling, and stop asking questions.
what is the difference (your words, no articles) between G-d's will and G-d's being?
are you saying there is no such thing as G-d's will?
Since God IS consciousness, He certainly has a Will. But everything that exists is NOT willful. Everything is part of God. To use the analogy to our own existence compared to the cells that comprise it, none of the cells and biota that comprise us are part of our Will. They are just part of our Being. It is no different with God. Everything exists because God exists and is part and parcel of Him. However, I believe our consciousness is a special part of God's Will because we reproduce His consciousness (or at least that is what we are supposed to do). That is why it is so important to produce love in our consciousness because God IS love. YMMV.
That’s a satisfactory answer for existing believers, but not very convincing for people on the outside. Why aren’t we allowed to ask who (or what) created God?
Those who believe what God is, have agreed that God is uncreated.
Those who do NOT believe in God, miserably fail to understand that their question is wrong when they question the origin of God.
I already gave the example that you didn't read, perhaps?
Please tell me how much of a milk does a bull produce after giving birth to a calf?
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