# Describe God
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/describe-god/570319
**Category:** Great Debates
**Created:** [February 5, 2011, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/describe-god/570319 "2011-02-05T22:44:11Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 2
### Author:  [@The\_Conqueror\_Worm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Conqueror_Worm)
#### Post date: [February 6, 2011, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/describe-god/570319/21 "2011-02-06T02:47:27Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#):
>
> You may want to clarify this definition, because in geometry, a line segment has infinity points in it, and a line has infinite line segments in it: is a line God?
I can not clarify it further because I am a finite being and so can not even begin to truly conceive, let alone understand infinity. Because of this I must forget trying to explain an infinity of infinities. At best I can only conceive that there might be the possibility of such, but should never try to explain it, because I will always fall short of an logical explanation.
For what it might be worth, it does not matter if you accept my realization of whatever one might call god, your realization is equally valid, even if you don’t believe in such.
Yeah I know, you can readily dismiss this as so much woo woo, but in my concept of “cosmology” (or more correctly in my thoughts universes) it does not matter. Your viewpoint is equally valid.
---
### Author:  [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)
#### Post date: [February 6, 2011, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/describe-god/570319/22 "2011-02-06T02:51:55Z")
> [@The\_Conqueror\_Worm](#):
>
> Yeah I know, you can readily dismiss this as so much woo woo, but in my concept of “cosmology” (or more correctly in my thoughts universes) it does not matter. Your viewpoint is equally valid.
Frankfurters purple quiescent platinum reverberating ragamuffin tweet.
Which is to say, I don’t dismiss it as woo: I furrow my brow at something that’s incoherent. If it works for you, awesome, but I don’t see a place for such a post in a debate, inasmuch as if it means anything, it’s an explicit rejection of logic.
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### Author:  [@The\_Conqueror\_Worm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Conqueror_Worm)
#### Post date: [February 6, 2011, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/describe-god/570319/23 "2011-02-06T02:56:03Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#):
>
> You may want to clarify this definition, because in geometry, a line segment has infinity points in it, and a line has infinite line segments in it: is a line God?
I want to add something. In my conception, yes, a line is God, because that line, or that concept of infinity exists within the infinite. And that infinity of infinities is what I conceive as god.
Once again, it’s unimportant whether or not you accept this. Your concept or non-concept is also part of that infinity of infinities.
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### Author:  [@The\_Conqueror\_Worm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Conqueror_Worm)
#### Post date: [February 6, 2011, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/describe-god/570319/24 "2011-02-06T02:58:04Z")
LHD, but the question posed was “Describe God.” I offered my thoughts. I now offer my apologies that it does not fit your definition of debate.
I wish you well.
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### Author:  [@Cyningablod](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cyningablod)
#### Post date: [February 6, 2011, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/describe-god/570319/25 "2011-02-06T04:18:15Z")
> [@xenophon41](#):
>
> As the koan goes, if you meet Buddha on the road, kill him. IOW, if you can hold it in your head, it aint God.
>
> You might try starting at the profane end of the question and work toward God by elimination. That’s the path I’ve been walking.
What…the fuck…?
😕
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### Author:  [@Cyningablod](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cyningablod)
#### Post date: [February 6, 2011, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/describe-god/570319/26 "2011-02-06T04:22:09Z")
Wow, 24 replies in, and already this thread is quite revealing. Good show, **Czar**.
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### Author:  [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)
#### Post date: [February 6, 2011, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/describe-god/570319/27 "2011-02-06T04:23:43Z")
> [@The\_Conqueror\_Worm](#):
>
> Once again, it’s unimportant whether or not you accept this. Your concept or non-concept is also part of that infinity of infinities.
This sort of patronizing, possibly marijuana-enhanced, “You’re right too, dude,” is like nails on a chalkboard (and yes, yes, those nails and the chalkboard are both, like, God, I get it, groovy). If it’s unimportant whether or not I accept it, why bother posting it? Are you trying to persuade? It’s totally unpersuasive. Are you sharing? Well, thanks–but to get so ridiculous as soon as someone asks for clarification is rather silly.
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### Author:  [@Mister\_Owl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Owl)
#### Post date: [February 6, 2011, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/describe-god/570319/28 "2011-02-06T04:24:45Z")
> [@Cyningablod](#):
>
> Wow, 24 replies in, and already this thread is quite revealing. Good show, **Czar**.
You don’t know how right you are.
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### Author:  [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)
#### Post date: [February 6, 2011, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/describe-god/570319/29 "2011-02-06T04:26:40Z")
Sorry about the delay-I got caught up in a Mexican baby shower, and those things last forever.
1. I put the thread in this forum because it involves religious witnessing.
2. Stuff like this:
> [@pinkyvee](#):
>
> Beyond our understanding of facts.
> God must be viewed with a childlike inward eye.
> Ennio Morricone’s music.
> Gustav Klimt’s paintings.
> A mother’s love.
> A father’s strength.
> The fragrance of Plumeria.
> A soft summer’s night wind.
> Rain on my face.
> Tears of joy.
> God, as experienced by Michelangelo, is depicted on the Sistine Chapel fresco.
> If I were to describe God, all the above must be considered part of that description.
>
> I have best experienced God when I am able to quiet my mind and be still and listen.
>
> God is that peaceful contentment of quiet being.
> Internal letting go.
Isn’t really helpful. I’m not looking for inspirational poetry or greeting card glurge-I can find stuff like this on forums that have a pink background and pictures of angels in the upper corners.
3. If the deity you believe in is all-knowing, have the guts(and the decency) to say so. The same goes for all-seeing, eternal, or any other aspect you can think of.
4. _This is not a “gotcha”. This is an honest attempt to find out what you believe._ Either believe me, or pit me.
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### Author:  [@PandaBear77](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PandaBear77)
#### Post date: [February 6, 2011, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/describe-god/570319/30 "2011-02-06T04:38:20Z")
**How powerful is she/he/it**
All-powerful, can do anything (one exception, see below). That said, He gave us free will and doesn’t override it.
\*\*what is she/he/it made of
\*\*
He’s a spirit so … whatever spirits are made of. I have no idea what spirits are made of, though.
**what can/can’t she/he/it do**
He cannot lie.
**where does she/he/it reside**
This one’s pretty tricky. In heaven – but He’s also omnipresent.
\*\*
and any other specifics you can throw in, please.\*\*
He has no beginning and no end. (I can deal with the “no end” part but I can’t wrap my head around no beginning.)
I’m certain He’s a male and has a sense of humor.
He exists outside of time and space and while I think He did set the laws of physics into motion I think He can, and does, override them at times.
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### Author:  [@The\_Conqueror\_Worm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Conqueror_Worm)
#### Post date: [February 6, 2011, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/describe-god/570319/31 "2011-02-06T04:41:05Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#):
>
> This sort of patronizing, possibly marijuana-enhanced, “You’re right too, dude,” is like nails on a chalkboard (and yes, yes, those nails and the chalkboard are both, like, God, I get it, groovy). If it’s unimportant whether or not I accept it, why bother posting it? Are you trying to persuade? It’s totally unpersuasive. Are you sharing? Well, thanks–but to get so ridiculous as soon as someone asks for clarification is rather silly.
I expressed my thoughts as best I could in response to the original post and to your inquires (I thought.) What more do you ask of me?
---
### Author:  [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)
#### Post date: [February 6, 2011, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/describe-god/570319/32 "2011-02-06T04:45:08Z")
> [@PandaBear77](#):
>
> **How powerful is she/he/it**
>
> All-powerful, can do anything (one exception, see below). That said, He gave us free will and doesn’t override it.
>
> \*\*what is she/he/it made of
> \*\*
>
> He’s a spirit so … whatever spirits are made of. I have no idea what spirits are made of, though.
>
> **what can/can’t she/he/it do**
>
> He cannot lie.
> **where does she/he/it reside**
>
> This one’s pretty tricky. In heaven – but He’s also omnipresent.
>
> \*\*
> and any other specifics you can throw in, please.\*\*
>
> He has no beginning and no end. (I can deal with the “no end” part but I can’t wrap my head around no beginning.)
>
> I’m certain He’s a male and has a sense of humor.
>
> He exists outside of time and space and while I think He did set the laws of physics into motion I think He can, and does, override them at times.
Thank you.
---
### Author:  [@automagic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/automagic)
#### Post date: [February 6, 2011, 6:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/describe-god/570319/33 "2011-02-06T06:19:29Z")
He can microwave a burrito so hot that he could not eat it and then he could eat it.
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### Author:  [@scamartistry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scamartistry)
#### Post date: [February 6, 2011, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/describe-god/570319/34 "2011-02-06T14:02:06Z")
Well… my GOD (my sweet lord) does NOT believe in evolution, That is a fact
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### Author:  [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)
#### Post date: [February 6, 2011, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/describe-god/570319/35 "2011-02-06T14:29:13Z")
> [@scamartistry](#):
>
> Well… my GOD (my sweet lord) does NOT believe in evolution, That is a fact
What your god believes or doesn’t believe is another subject.
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### Author:  [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)
#### Post date: [February 6, 2011, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/describe-god/570319/36 "2011-02-06T14:33:50Z")
> [@automagic](#):
>
> He can microwave a burrito so hot that he could not eat it and then he could eat it.
We already received the “cute” nonsense answer in post #7.
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### Author:  [@adhay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adhay)
#### Post date: [February 6, 2011, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/describe-god/570319/37 "2011-02-06T16:03:43Z")
“God” is a three letter word which describes the Creator of All and the All in All. It could as well be “X”.
X is love and creates by extension (as opposed to projection). Thus, all creation resides in X, X resides in all creation and nothing exists outside of X.
We are eternal.
---
### Author:  [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)
#### Post date: [February 6, 2011, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/describe-god/570319/38 "2011-02-06T16:15:35Z")
So far we haven’t really seen a single genuine answer. Interesting.
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### Author:  [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)
#### Post date: [February 6, 2011, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/describe-god/570319/39 "2011-02-06T16:22:25Z")
> [@PandaBear77](#):
>
> He’s a spirit so … whatever spirits are made of. I have no idea what spirits are made of, though.
Isn’t “spirit” just a nonsense word, in that case? If the word has no definition, how does it convey any information?
> [@](#):
>
> He cannot lie.
What stops him?
For what it’s worth, the Bible says that God has lied at least once, and maybe twice if you believe that Jesus was God.
> [@](#):
>
> I’m certain He’s a male and has a sense of humor.
Does he have a penis? “Male” is a biological characteristic. If God is not a biological entity, what makes him “male?”
---
### Author:  [@xenophon41](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xenophon41)
#### Post date: [February 6, 2011, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/describe-god/570319/40 "2011-02-06T16:32:25Z")
> [@Cyningablod](#):
>
> > [@xenophon41](#):
> >
> > As the koan goes, if you meet Buddha on the road, kill him. IOW, if you can hold it in your head, it aint God.
> >
> > You might try starting at the profane end of the question and work toward God by elimination. That’s the path I’ve been walking.
>
> What…the fuck…?
>
> 😕
First paragraph: There’s a teaching tradition in Zen Buddhism using very short situations or stories to prompt contemplation of specific ideas in the student. These exercises are similar to parables, but with a bit of a difference. While parables isolate a definite lesson to the exclusion of other considerations in order to highlight it, koans aren’t intended to impart a particular wisdom from teacher to student. A koan is meant to shock the student into personal realization by presenting an unexpected avenue of consideration. So they may appear as puzzles or conundra, but there is no definite lesson to be drawn or response required for any koan.
The koan I referenced is typically interpreted as one which speaks to the nature of enlightenment; one is encouraged to seek one’s own “inner Buddha”, and to destroy any preconceptions one has of what such an enlightened condition entails.
Second paragraph: Specifically, the OP may find it at least as productive to ask of believers what God _isn’t_ if he wishes to define the limits of others’ beliefs. More generally, and in my own very humble opinion, by not seeking God, but following a path unconcerned with reverence, one stumbles across the sacred just as well, and without the pretense of self importance.
I hope that clarified what I wanted to say. I hadn’t intended to be cryptic or mystical or anything, and I don’t intend to imply anything about anyone else’s ways of dealing with these sorts of questions.
I do believe that the myths and dogma of any religion are eminently questionable, and should be criticized with full vigor where they’re inconsistent or in conflict with facts or social sensibilities. But that seems to me to be quite separate from the question of God.
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