Is God "Merely" Psychological?

Discussion in 'Religion & Philosophy' started by Satura, Aug 19, 2011.

  1. Satura

    Satura New Member

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    I was presented with this idea when I was reading a library book a couple of months ago. Unfortunately, I can't copy down the original passage because libraries have these ridiculous things called due dates, but I will do my best to reiterate the gist of what the book suggested.

    What if God was a "speck" on the edge of our psyche? A sort of apparition that constantly floats on the edge of our consciousness, instead of a universal entity that is supposedly the same exact deity for every individual? What if the existence and nature of God are questions for psychologists and not physicists?

    And, I would add, what are the moral implications of this idea? Does it make God any less powerful, or any more personal? I've looked at this through the lens of Transcendentalism and my own Protestantism, and have come away with the realization that if God does exist solely in my mind it does not make him any less important, and it also does not mean that I have a degree of control over where I believe he is guiding me or what I believe he is telling me. It's also interesting to consider this in consideration of the evolutionary psychology field, though if you're not into evolution the argument would of course be fundamentally misaligned.

    In any case, what do you think? Does this idea make any sense whatsoever?
     
    Incorporeal and (deleted member) like this.
  2. Kranes56

    Kranes56 Banned

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    I think god exists, in whatever form we want it to be. It's something to believe in. We all believe in something. So, the name "god" doesn't desribe this belief we all have.
     
  3. Incorporeal

    Incorporeal Well-Known Member

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    Speaking favorably to what you have written, I would say that God (as that speck you have described) is a universal that exists within all of us at the "edge of our psyche"; further, I would say that you have done a little bit of introspection that has allowed you to become cognizant of something that very few others have taken the time to search out.

    I enjoy reading such things from people who are not afraid to look inward to find the answers that they are seeking.

     
  4. saintmichaeldefendthem

    saintmichaeldefendthem New Member Past Donor

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    You don't bring up any new arguments, just rehashing old ones. If a tree falls in the forest and nobody is around, does it make a noise? Do we create reality by the projection of our conscience? Do we make up gods for ourselves the same way? These questions have been debated since Plato and Socrates.

    Does it matter if we are putting our faith in an apparition?

    Mixing paganism with Christianity. You're on the slippery slope.

    So God is reduced to an invisible friend and you're ok with that? Why are you so threatened by a God you can't control?

    I find that if somebody wants to believe they decended from crap flinging apes, it's best not to stand in their way.

    In any case, what do you think? Does this idea make any sense whatsoever?[/QUOTE]

    Hebrews 11:6
    But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

    He who comes to God must believe that he is. You're fooling yourself if you think you believe in God as an abstract of your mind. Were you raised Protestant and are now straying into Eastern religions? Your quest for truth can only be satisfied by returning to the Lord, the source of all truth. You look to the knowledge of man for answers, but even the foolishness of God exceeds the most lofty thoughts of man. Even the simplest child who puts their faith in God is wiser than the greatest scholars you can consult.
     
  5. Blackrook

    Blackrook Banned

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    Jesus Christ is the Son of God, who entered the world as a man, was crucified for our sins, rose from the dead on the third day, and defeated death forever.

    Your "psychological" God has done none of these things.
     
  6. Incorporeal

    Incorporeal Well-Known Member

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    Don't be so hasty and ready to crucify someone. If you look back at the OP, he did state "What if God.....". Is it possible that you can paint a picture of God that would be irrefutable? Neither is it possible for me or any other man, woman or child. The OP, in my opinion is speaking in like manner as what Jesus spoke in a lot of circumstances,,, in metaphor format. So, regardless of how we envision God, that mental image that we hold is still representative of God. That mental image of God, is no different than the same God that you envision, if in fact you even attempt to envision God.
     
  7. smileyface

    smileyface Banned

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    Yes god is psychological. The belief in nonsense is perpetuated by years of indoctrination and mental manipulation. It is abuse at its height. It damages the persons ability to function without guidance and dependance on unanswered prayer. There is always an excuse as to why god does not provide and punishes mightily. It's brain damage.
     
  8. Blackrook

    Blackrook Banned

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    I disagree. The OP is suggesting that God is nothing more than a subjective phenomenon created by one's own mind. This is a first step toward unbelief and I am trying to address that.
     
  9. Bishadi

    Bishadi Banned

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    with what, lies and facts you have not witnessed?

    You are believing what you read. Godzilla is a lizard that walked from the sea, do you believe he is real?

    what about the son of god, hercules?


    But i dont have a problem with what people believe. It is the blackroots of a lie that have people continuing to decieve.

    Did you witness jesus?

    if not, shut the f' up, you have no right to lie or else, i can judge!

    welcome to the new religion!
     
  10. rstones199

    rstones199 Well-Known Member

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    I wouldn't suggested it, I would say it is 100% fact, that god exists only in ones mind.

    If you would like to prove me wrong, please present some empirical verifiable evidence of this 'god'.

    [​IMG]
     
  11. Incorporeal

    Incorporeal Well-Known Member

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    Your testimony of His existence found here http://www.politicalforum.com/4352937-post10.html . Your talk about God gives credibility to the existence of God in the same fashion as any speech you make about photons, electrons, quarks, bosons, etc., which things cannot be seen, touched, measured, examined, weighed, photographed....
     
  12. Satura

    Satura New Member

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    I fail to see how the oldness of an argument or a philosophy automatically discredits standing by it or continuing to discuss it. Plato and Socrates were pretty smart.

    Or not putting our faith in it? Yes, it does matter. Except the line grows blurrier and blurrier between faith in God and faith in yourself, which I don't think is such a bad thing. I don't see how anybody with low self-esteem (note: different than humbleness) could have faith in a God that claims everybody to be worth something.

    Sorry for not wanting to see my spiritual life and the entire world through one dimension? In any case, Transcendentalism is not paganism. It isn't even a religion, which is part of the whole point of the philosophy. Transcendentalists believe that God exists as an infallible source of love, light, and truth, and that He can be seen through the beauty of nature.

    Even if God exists the way you claim he does, he's still invisible, and he's still a friend. I'm not threatened by a God I can't control. I even stated in my original post that I didn't think I had any more control over "apparition God" if he only exists in my mind. Nevertheless, we can all control the way we look at God, otherwise this section of the forum would not exist.

    Good idea. I really hate it when all the evolutionists run through the streets throwing poop at creationists, don't you? Please don't blame us. We can only hear "LALALALALALAAACAN'THEARYOU" when we mention carbon dating so many times before it seriously messes with our sanity.


    I was raised by a pastor and a graduate of Emory University, and I am now exploring my own spirituality and personal theology, as I will continue to do for the rest of my life. I'm not "straying" into any other religion except United Methodism; I am merely seeking new ways of understanding the concepts that so many people are content to be spoon fed.
     
  13. Incorporeal

    Incorporeal Well-Known Member

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    Socrates is a myth.
     
  14. saintmichaeldefendthem

    saintmichaeldefendthem New Member Past Donor

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    Neither have you to contend against the notion that God exists.

    Godzilla is intended to be fiction, but scriptures have been believed as truth for thousands of years. There's no parallel here.

    Hercules was the son of a god and in fact much of Greek mythology borrowed heavily from Jewish and Christian sources, not the other way around. Pandora's box? That didn't originate with the greeks, nor did the "golden age of man". That was borrowed from the fall of man as recorded in Genesis.

    Actually, you do have a problem with what people believe, otherwise the discussion and notion of God would nonpluss you. But like the other God haters here, you can't be neutral.

    I thought you didn't have a problem with what people believe. So much for that!

    Old lies of Satan, different blender speed. You offer nothing new. The lie started when the serpent asked Eve "Did God really say...?" And has perpetuated since.
     
  15. Panzerkampfwagen

    Panzerkampfwagen New Member

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    Scientists can induce the feeling of god in people.

    Funnily enough, the areas of the brain that light up in an MRI when deeply religious people think about their god are the same regions that light up in insane people.
     
  16. rstones199

    rstones199 Well-Known Member

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    Now why doesn't this surprise me?
     
  17. smileyface

    smileyface Banned

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    Belief in god is mental disorder. It would be termed Delusional Disorder.
     
  18. rstones199

    rstones199 Well-Known Member

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    Are All Christians Schizophrenic? Religious People Fit Classic Symptoms of Mental Disease

     
  19. Incorporeal

    Incorporeal Well-Known Member

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    Is that supposed to be verifiable scientific proof of a claim?
    "The world's largest source of community-created content"

    According to that subtitle, your article is revealed to be nothing more than private opinions of various people,,,, within all probability ,,, a bunch of atheists... Can you provide documented scientific verification to support such a claim? Specifically naming Christians as schizophrenic? No?
     
  20. saintmichaeldefendthem

    saintmichaeldefendthem New Member Past Donor

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    This is so relaxing. After my last post, the 4 following posts were invisible to me because I have them all on ignore. If more of us do this, we can take back the religion forum from the God haters and use it for its intended purpose, to discuss religion.
     
  21. Distraff

    Distraff Well-Known Member

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    God is a simulation. People simulate religious experiences in their own minds.
     
  22. rstones199

    rstones199 Well-Known Member

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    The only reason to put someone on ignore is because all they offer is a way to play games. They have no real input in a discussion. Their only goal is try and derail threads.

    This isn’t the case with you. You simply cannot have your ideas and beliefs questioned.
     
  23. smileyface

    smileyface Banned

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    Religious fits into the classic symptoms of Delusional disorder. It also fits schizophrenia. That is fact. If someone exhibited the behavior that religious people do as far as accepting visions, hearing voices and being lead by something other than themselves they would find a quick entrance into a mental facility.
     
  24. Incorporeal

    Incorporeal Well-Known Member

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    I suppose all of those non-Theists believe in their hearts that SCIENCE is a religion and therefore demand equal time and space within the 'religion' section of this forum. But hey... they are the wanna-be scientists, so who would know better? If they want to declare, via their contribution of scientific material into a religion forum, that science is a religion, then I can live with that. They are doing a good job of proving that point. Otherwise, I agree with you,,,,,,, BUT,,, it is fun to see them trying to apply their religious (scientific) dogma to that of another set of religions. That would be like Buddhists trying to enforce their philosophies on the Christians.
     
  25. Incorporeal

    Incorporeal Well-Known Member

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    At the emphasized text above: you finally managed to speak a truth. Because all you have given is a reason to play games, StMichael has placed you on his ignore list (at least I believe he has). There is that nasty word "believe" again.
     

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