# God and Life **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [April 26, 2018, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-and-life/813192 "2018-04-26T22:27:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Biffster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biffster/32/339_2.png) [@Biffster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffster)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2018, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-and-life/813192/1 "2018-04-26T22:27:09Z")
I read a lot of debates around here between theists and non-theists, but there is one topic I really haven’t seen discussed much. I suppose it’s more of a pantheistic belief, but it is certainly one I lean toward. Here goes… A little spirituality for today, courtesy of Neale Donald Walsh. Do you believe in life? Are you alive whether you believe in life or not? Does it really matter whether or not you believe in life? An interesting read. > [@](#): > > My dear friends, > > What if the words “God” and “life” are interchangeable? Wouldn’t that make for an extraordinary spiritual cosmology? > > The implications are—if it’s possible to imagine this—more than enormous. They’re staggering, earth shaking, paradigm-shattering. This is because everyone knows what is true about life. Everyone may not know what is true about God, but everyone knows what is true about life. > > What is true about life is that nothing stands outside of life. Nothing exists without life, and life does not exist if nothing exists. > > […removed rest of copy/paste…] > **[Is there a difference between God and Life? \> Neale Donald Walsch](https://spiritlibrary.com/neale-donald-walsch/is-there-a-difference-between-god-and-life)** > > What if the words "God" and "life" are interchangeable? Wouldn't that make for an extraordinary spiritual cosmology?  ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2018, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-and-life/813192/2 "2018-04-26T23:00:00Z")
> [@Biffster](#): > > What if the words “God” and “life” are interchangeable? Then the word “God” becomes meaningless in any other sense than as a synonym for “life.” God Insurance. Lifedamn it! God without parole. Hitler! (Damn, Lifewin’d the thread.) Godsavers candy. Are You There, Life? It’s Me, Margaret. God of the party. ETA: I see that is a quote from a book, not your own thoughts, so I don’t have to worry about it being considered a personal attack to call it a gigantic steaming pile of worthless bullshit from an addlepated simpleton. ---
**Author:** ![Biffster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biffster/32/339_2.png) [@Biffster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffster)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2018, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-and-life/813192/3 "2018-04-26T23:07:34Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > Then the word “God” becomes meaningless in any other sense than as a synonym for “life.” > > God Insurance. > Lifedamn it! > God without parole. > Hitler! (Damn, Lifewin’d the thread.) > Godsavers candy. > Are You There, Life? It’s Me, Margaret. > God of the party. > > ETA: I see that is a quote from a book, not your own thoughts, so I don’t have to worry about it being considered a personal attack to call it a gigantic steaming pile of worthless bullshit from an addlepated simpleton. I wouldn’t go so far as “gigantic steaming pile” but yes, it is the opinion of the author of the books, Conversations With God. I quite like his approach to religious thought and it helps me make a lot of sense of the religious divisiveness I see in the world. Do you believe in Life? Does it matter whether or not you worship Life? Are you sill alive even if you don’t accept Life as your personal saviour? I think there is much more to this idea than you’re giving credit for. So far. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2018, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-and-life/813192/4 "2018-04-26T23:11:02Z")
> [@Biffster](#): > > I wouldn’t go so far as “gigantic steaming pile” but yes, it is the opinion of the author of the books, Conversations With God. I quite like his approach to religious thought and it helps me make a lot of sense of the religious divisiveness I see in the world. Do you believe in Life? Does it matter whether or not you worship Life? Are you sill alive even if you don’t accept Life as your personal saviour? I think there is much more to this idea than you’re giving credit for. So far. I think that both that excerpt and this comment are 100% pure [deepity](http://www.patheos.com/blogs/crossexamined/2011/11/word-of-the-day-deepity/). ---
**Author:** ![Biffster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biffster/32/339_2.png) [@Biffster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffster)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2018, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-and-life/813192/5 "2018-04-26T23:19:47Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > I think that both that excerpt and this comment are 100% pure [deepity](http://www.patheos.com/blogs/crossexamined/2011/11/word-of-the-day-deepity/). Well then, thank you for your contribution. I learned a new word today. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2018, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-and-life/813192/6 "2018-04-26T23:20:51Z")
I’m too busy wondering if the atoms in my hand are miniature galaxies filled with people staring at their hands and wondering… To settle this matter, the words “God” and “life” happen _not_ to be interchangeable according to any/every dictionary. edited to add: And another thank you for the “deepity” link. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2018, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-and-life/813192/7 "2018-04-26T23:23:42Z")
> [@Biffster](#): > > Does it matter whether or not you **worship Life**? Are you sill alive even if you don’t **accept** Life as your personal saviour\*\*\*\*? What do these things mean? ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2018, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-and-life/813192/8 "2018-04-26T23:27:11Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#): > > What do these things mean? That someone is _really_ bad at Mad-Libs? ---
**Author:** ![DavidwithanR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3bc359/32.png) [@DavidwithanR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidwithanR)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2018, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-and-life/813192/9 "2018-04-26T23:33:33Z")
If life is God, then a lot of religious people claim that God created God, and that God offers eternal God to those who reach the aftergod. God, God is confusing. FMG anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2018, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-and-life/813192/10 "2018-04-26T23:39:23Z")
Merrily, merrily, merrily, God is but dream. ---
**Author:** ![Bone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bone/32/407_2.png) [@Bone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bone)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2018, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-and-life/813192/11 "2018-04-26T23:40:11Z")
> [@Biffster](#): > > I read a lot of debates around here between theists and non-theists, but there is one topic I really haven’t seen discussed much. I suppose it’s more of a pantheistic belief, but it is certainly one I lean toward. Here goes… > > A little spirituality for today, courtesy of Neale Donald Walsh. Do you believe in life? Are you alive whether you believe in life or not? Does it really matter whether or not you believe in life? An interesting read. > > [https://spiritlibrary.com/neale-donald-walsch/is-there-a-difference-between-god-and-life](https://spiritlibrary.com/neale-donald-walsch/is-there-a-difference-between-god-and-life) Please observe fair use and do not copy entire large articles. [/moderating] ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2018, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-and-life/813192/12 "2018-04-26T23:42:10Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > Merrily, merrily, merrily, God is but dream. God finds a way. ---
**Author:** ![DavidwithanR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3bc359/32.png) [@DavidwithanR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidwithanR)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2018, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-and-life/813192/13 "2018-04-26T23:59:30Z")
Walsh’s questions and thoughts, when read much more carefully than he seems to have intended, actually form a pretty nice takedown of all religions in general. ---
**Author:** ![Biffster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biffster/32/339_2.png) [@Biffster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffster)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2018, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-and-life/813192/14 "2018-04-27T00:14:59Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#): > > What do these things mean? I take it to mean if we regard God as a life force instead of a human being we created in our own image (with all the personal baggage that entails), then our need to do the things religions typically require, like worship, disappear. Just keep on living life and enjoying it. Makes a lot of sense to me. ---
**Author:** ![Biffster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biffster/32/339_2.png) [@Biffster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffster)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2018, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-and-life/813192/15 "2018-04-27T00:16:00Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > Merrily, merrily, merrily, God is but dream. Truer than you might realize. ---
**Author:** ![Biffster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biffster/32/339_2.png) [@Biffster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffster)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2018, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-and-life/813192/16 "2018-04-27T00:17:01Z")
> [@Bone](#): > > Please observe fair use and do not copy entire large articles. > > [/moderating] It’s an excerpt from a much longer book, but thanks for your input. ---
**Author:** ![Biffster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biffster/32/339_2.png) [@Biffster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffster)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2018, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-and-life/813192/17 "2018-04-27T00:19:19Z")
> [@DavidwithanR](#): > > Walsh’s questions and thoughts, when read much more carefully than he seems to have intended, actually form a pretty nice takedown of all religions in general. I agree. It may seem simplistic on the surface, but it explains a lot without all of the semantic shoving matches that often ensue in religious discussions. ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2018, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-and-life/813192/18 "2018-04-27T00:22:14Z")
For profound sounding phrases I prefer “God is a verb”. I didn’t like it well enough to buy the book, though. And I think the phrase is older than the book. ---
**Author:** ![DavidwithanR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3bc359/32.png) [@DavidwithanR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidwithanR)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2018, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-and-life/813192/19 "2018-04-27T00:23:22Z")
> [@Biffster](#): > > I agree. It may seem simplistic on the surface, but it explains a lot without all of the semantic shoving matches that often ensue in religious discussions. You mean, he IS actually an atheist who’s posing as a religious writer to get his point across? I’m not familiar with him but it’s the impression I got from what you posted. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2018, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-and-life/813192/20 "2018-04-27T00:49:37Z")
> [@Biffster](#): > > What if the words “God” and “life” are interchangeable? Wouldn’t that make for an extraordinary spiritual cosmology? Counterpoint: what if the words “God” and “Wankel Rotary Engine” are interchangeable? Wouldn’t that make working on a late '60s Mazda a religious service? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-and-life/813192.md?page=2)