# What is a "god"? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [April 8, 2013, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-god/655153 "2013-04-08T14:16:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![Nzinga\_Seated](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5ac83/32.png) [@Nzinga\_Seated](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nzinga_Seated)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2013, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-god/655153/141 "2013-04-21T17:57:32Z")
I really do think that the problem of defining god is the same thing as the color problem…you know…how none of us know if what we see as red is what others see as red? This inability to define it or to accept or understand what anyone else means when they say ‘god’ is a main reason for why I just started calling everything god. I honestly felt the universe, the science, the beauty, the pain…all of it is amazing to me beyond description, and lacking any way to define a god that I feel I can explain to others, I will go all out and define it all as god. I will say though, if a being popped up and started breaking the laws of physic and shit, I would vote some kind of alien. I wouldn’t assume it was the god of the universe or anything, because I don’t even think I would assume the thing wasn’t just one of many that will materialize. ---
**Author:** ![pjnlsn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e8c25b/32.png) [@pjnlsn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pjnlsn)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2013, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-god/655153/142 "2013-04-21T19:01:43Z")
> [@lekatt](#): > > No I mean it was proven years ago, but some still don’t understand. > > A person goes into cardiac arrest and clinical dies. Later he returns to life. > He can then describe what happened while he was dead. Conclusion: > life continues after the clinical death of the body and brain. Many universities have > studied this and concur. Blind people can see while they are dead. Handicapped can move and do as they want, etc. > > I would not say this if it were not true, there is much research, and I experienced it myself and no it was not an hallucination it was real as they all are. It is OK with me > if you don’t believe. Truth is truth no matter what anyone believes. Ah, well. Perhaps ‘death’ is a grey word, perhaps it’s less black and white than people think, and there can be such a thing as being thoroughly incapacitated, but not quite fully gone, but this is still more likely than that there’s an afterlife, or that there are spirits or souls or the like. What exactly did you see? (And btw speaking of truth which is not dependent strictly on opinion, the above is basically true, and no it doesn’t mean you didn’t see what you saw. The interpretation would seem to be the issue here) ---
**Author:** ![lekatt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lekatt/32/7269_2.png) [@lekatt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lekatt)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2013, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-god/655153/143 "2013-04-21T20:36:43Z")
> [@Nzinga\_Seated](#): > > I really do think that the problem of defining god is the same thing as the color problem…you know…how none of us know if what we see as red is what others see as red? > > This inability to define it or to accept or understand what anyone else means when they say ‘god’ is a main reason for why I just started calling everything god. I honestly felt the universe, the science, the beauty, the pain…all of it is amazing to me beyond description, and lacking any way to define a god that I feel I can explain to others, I will go all out and define it all as god. > > I will say though, if a being popped up and started breaking the laws of physic and shit, I would vote some kind of alien. I wouldn’t assume it was the god of the universe or anything, because I don’t even think I would assume the thing wasn’t just one of many that will materialize. As humorous as it may be you are absolutely correct. God is everywhere you look. The whole universe is God even you are God. Wonderful. ---
**Author:** ![lekatt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lekatt/32/7269_2.png) [@lekatt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lekatt)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2013, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-god/655153/144 "2013-04-21T20:39:19Z")
> [@pjnlsn](#): > > Ah, well. Perhaps ‘death’ is a grey word, perhaps it’s less black and white than people think, and there can be such a thing as being thoroughly incapacitated, but not quite fully gone, but this is still more likely than that there’s an afterlife, or that there are spirits or souls or the like. > > What exactly did you see? (And btw speaking of truth which is not dependent strictly on opinion, the above is basically true, and no it doesn’t mean you didn’t see what you saw. The interpretation would seem to be the issue here) Every possible explanation you could come up with has been considered. I can’t tell you about the experience in a simple post. Good idea if you read about them from the ones who actually experienced them. It is enlightening. ---
**Author:** ![Lobohan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobohan/32/79_2.png) [@Lobohan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobohan)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2013, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-god/655153/145 "2013-04-21T20:45:37Z")
> [@lekatt](#): > > As humorous as it may be you are absolutely correct. God is everywhere you look. The whole universe is God even you are God. Wonderful. Actually there is no God, and you’re simply wrong. Also wonderful. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2013, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-god/655153/146 "2013-04-21T20:48:26Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Edited to add: _Please take this hijack to another thread._ Hold not thine breath. ---
**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 21, 2013, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-god/655153/147 "2013-04-21T20:52:57Z")
> [@Nzinga\_Seated](#): > > I will say though, if a being popped up and started breaking the laws of physic and shit, I would vote some kind of alien. I wouldn’t assume it was the god of the universe or anything, because I don’t even think I would assume the thing wasn’t just one of many that will materialize. There is something to be said for taking the explanation that most closely fits the fact at hand, yes ---
**Author:** ![pjnlsn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e8c25b/32.png) [@pjnlsn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pjnlsn)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2013, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-god/655153/148 "2013-04-22T00:56:02Z")
> [@lekatt](#): > > As humorous as it may be you are absolutely correct. God is everywhere you look. The whole universe is God even you are God. Wonderful. On a seperate note, it is not likely in any of the relevant contexts, that there is a deity, as it’s commonly defined, and nor is there any proof of such a being. If you just mean that you define God as “everything” (as in, pantheism), well, certainly the universe exists, and therefore your ‘God’ exists, but if you were to try and personify it, it would no longer be definite. Or even likely. ---
**Author:** ![pjnlsn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e8c25b/32.png) [@pjnlsn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pjnlsn)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2013, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-god/655153/149 "2013-04-22T01:00:48Z")
> [@lekatt](#): > > Every possible explanation you could come up with has been considered. I can’t tell you about the experience in a simple post. Good idea if you read about them from the ones who actually experienced them. It is enlightening. Every possible explanation has been considered by who? Look, it’s just more likely that, if you’re talking about some kind of near-death experience, that ‘death’ is simply not an on-off switch; That it’s possible to be thoroughly incapacitated but not quite fully gone. The implication being that your experience is simply caused, in whole or in part, and directly or indirectly, by that state, and it’s effect on the brain. In any case, you haven’t said what it is you ‘saw,’ and there are more than enough concepts and definitions in the philosophical and other traditions of the world to be able to describe your experience. ---
**Author:** ![lekatt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lekatt/32/7269_2.png) [@lekatt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lekatt)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2013, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-god/655153/150 "2013-04-22T03:51:46Z")
> [@pjnlsn](#): > > Every possible explanation has been considered by who? > > Look, it’s just more likely that, if you’re talking about some kind of near-death experience, that ‘death’ is simply not an on-off switch; That it’s possible to be thoroughly incapacitated but not quite fully gone. The implication being that your experience is simply caused, in whole or in part, and directly or indirectly, by that state, and it’s effect on the brain. > > In any case, you haven’t said what it is you ‘saw,’ and there are more than enough concepts and definitions in the philosophical and other traditions of the world to be able to describe your experience. Since you are quite sure my experience will fit in with your knowledge it shows you are all knowing and as I said God. No need to explain anything at all. ---
**Author:** ![pjnlsn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e8c25b/32.png) [@pjnlsn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pjnlsn)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2013, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-god/655153/151 "2013-04-22T04:17:15Z")
> [@lekatt](#): > > Since you are quite sure my experience will fit in with your knowledge it shows you are all knowing and as I said God. No need to explain anything at all. It’s a likelihood, given the pattern of these kinds of experiences, as many people who have had them describe them. There’s no need, but i’m curious. ---
**Author:** ![lekatt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lekatt/32/7269_2.png) [@lekatt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lekatt)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2013, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-god/655153/152 "2013-04-22T14:24:30Z")
> [@pjnlsn](#): > > It’s a likelihood, given the pattern of these kinds of experiences, as many people who have had them describe them. There’s no need, but i’m curious. If you are curious you can read books about them. There are hundreds of them in print including mine. My pen name is Ken Katin. There are also a ton of them on UTube and the Internet. ---
**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 22, 2013, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-god/655153/153 "2013-04-22T14:34:55Z")
When it comes to gods being all powerful/omnipotent/omniscient/eternal etc., was the Judeo-Christian god the first? Is he the only one with these attributes assigned to him? ---
**Author:** ![lekatt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lekatt/32/7269_2.png) [@lekatt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lekatt)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2013, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-god/655153/154 "2013-04-22T19:12:33Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > When it comes to gods being all powerful/omnipotent/omniscient/eternal etc., was the Judeo-Christian god the first? Is he the only one with these attributes assigned to him? He is not a God I know. So no. ---
**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 22, 2013, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-god/655153/155 "2013-04-22T19:19:16Z")
> [@lekatt](#): > > He is not a God I know. So no. The question wasn’t addressed to just you, so if you don’t know, just say so. This thread isn’t about your religion-it is a thread about the gods of different religions and the minimum requirements people have before considering an entity a “god”. ---
**Author:** ![pjnlsn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e8c25b/32.png) [@pjnlsn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pjnlsn)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2013, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-god/655153/156 "2013-04-22T20:50:21Z")
> [@lekatt](#): > > If you are curious you can read books about them. There are hundreds of them in print including mine. My pen name is Ken Katin. There are also a ton of them on UTube and the Internet. No, I mean given the majority of accounts and our knowledge of biology, that’s the likelihood. I’m curious about you cuz you won’t tell me 🙂 ---
**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 22, 2013, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-god/655153/157 "2013-04-22T20:58:36Z")
> [@pjnlsn](#): > > No, I mean given the majority of accounts and our knowledge of biology, that’s the likelihood. I’m curious about you cuz you won’t tell me 🙂 Please don’t assist **lekatt** in the hijacking of this thread. Maybe you could start another about his supposed NDE escapades? ---
**Author:** ![lekatt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lekatt/32/7269_2.png) [@lekatt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lekatt)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2013, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-god/655153/158 "2013-04-22T23:45:37Z")
> [@pjnlsn](#): > > No, I mean given the majority of accounts and our knowledge of biology, that’s the likelihood. I’m curious about you cuz you won’t tell me 🙂 I tell everything in my book. I think you are upsetting Czarcasm by talking to me. They won’t let me tell here. ---
**Author:** ![pjnlsn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e8c25b/32.png) [@pjnlsn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pjnlsn)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2013, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-god/655153/159 "2013-04-24T01:55:31Z")
> [@lekatt](#): > > I tell everything in my book. I think you are upsetting Czarcasm by talking to me. They won’t let me tell here. Well, whatever. It’s still not likely. ---
**Author:** ![Measure\_for\_Measure](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/measure_for_measure/32/557_2.png) [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2013, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-god/655153/160 "2013-04-24T04:59:25Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > When it comes to gods being all powerful/omnipotent/omniscient/eternal etc., was the Judeo-Christian god the first? Is he the only one with these attributes assigned to him? As I understand it, no. See Zoroastrianism. The Perfect Master: [Who Invented Paradise?](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/2338/who-invented-paradise) [http://www.religioustolerance.org/zoroastr2.htm](http://www.religioustolerance.org/zoroastr2.htm) And of course > **[Ahura Mazda](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ahura_Mazda)** > > Ahura Mazda (/əˌhʊərə ˈmæzdə/; Avestan: 𐬀𐬵𐬎𐬭𐬀 𐬨𐬀𐬰𐬛𐬁, romanized: Ahura Mazdā; Persian: اهورا مزدا, romanized: Ahurâ Mazdâ\[n 1\] or ارمزد, Ormazd),\[n 2\] also known as Horomazes (Persian: هرمز),\[n 3\] is the only creator deity and god of the sky in the ancient Iranian religion Zoroastrianism. He is the first and most frequently invoked spirit in the Yasna. The literal meaning of the word Ahura is "lord", and that of Mazda is "wisdom". > The first notable invocation of Ahura Mazda occurred during th... [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-god/655153.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-god/655153.md?page=9)