Which gods don't you believe in, and why don't you?

Discuss philosophical questions regarding theism (and atheism), and discuss religion as it relates to philosophy. This includes any philosophical discussions that happen to be about god, gods, or a 'higher power' or the belief of them. This also generally includes philosophical topics about organized or ritualistic mysticism or about organized, common or ritualistic beliefs in the existence of supernatural phenomenon.
TimLear
Posts: 98
Joined: December 14th, 2015, 9:15 pm

Re: Which gods don't you believe in, and why don't you?

Post by TimLear »

Belinda wrote:
LuckyR wrote:This strikes me as a thread that would benefit from parsing the difference between God and religion.
I wish that TimLear had taken this to heart before adding his list of several gods which presumably he takes to be an exhaustive list of gods. He doesn't even define 'gods' or differentiate them from spirits of place, revered ancestors, Roman Catholic saints, angels, or idols.
They are all spirits. It is a question of what I believe to exists and not what or how I define the existence of each one.
Belinda
Premium Member
Posts: 13782
Joined: July 10th, 2008, 7:02 pm
Location: UK

Re: Which gods don't you believe in, and why don't you?

Post by Belinda »

TimLear wrote:
Belinda wrote: (Nested quote removed.)

I wish that TimLear had taken this to heart before adding his list of several gods which presumably he takes to be an exhaustive list of gods. He doesn't even define 'gods' or differentiate them from spirits of place, revered ancestors, Roman Catholic saints, angels, or idols.
They are all spirits. It is a question of what I believe to exists and not what or how I define the existence of each one.

But revered ancestors are not spirits like God is a spirit. Revered ancestors live after they die, they didn't create the world.

Roman Catholic saints live after they die but they didn't create the world, and they indicate God but are not God.

Spirits of place are for the so-called animists who believe in those spirits' existence and their powers to animate trees, rivers etc. but the spirits of place did not create the holy places, and the spirits of place have no ethical systems attached to them.

All of those spirity things are interesting as pointers to how people view the world. The ways in which they may or may not be held to exist is what ontology deals with. As far as I know the notion of ontic substances is the best model for sorting theories of existence.
Socialist
User avatar
The Beast
Posts: 1402
Joined: July 7th, 2013, 10:32 pm

Re: Which gods don't you believe in, and why don't you?

Post by The Beast »

The inheritance of the Homo series is meanness. It is a high probability that our current strain got rid of the competition by eating it. We eat good spirits and bad spirits alike. There is a tendency in the good spirit to get rid of the meanness by repenting the mean ways. It allows for the kindness to take form (God) and be of guidance against the unrepentant meanness of the bad spirits. IMO the animist has a wish in the paintings left on the ancient canvas of the caves. It must be the clan of the wolf the first to elect the Mother as the guide Spirit into the dark… then for some reason she became a Goddess.
TimLear
Posts: 98
Joined: December 14th, 2015, 9:15 pm

Re: Which gods don't you believe in, and why don't you?

Post by TimLear »

Belinda wrote:
TimLear wrote: (Nested quote removed.)

They are all spirits. It is a question of what I believe to exists and not what or how I define the existence of each one.

But revered ancestors are not spirits like God is a spirit. Revered ancestors live after they die, they didn't create the world.

Roman Catholic saints live after they die but they didn't create the world, and they indicate God but are not God.

Spirits of place are for the so-called animists who believe in those spirits' existence and their powers to animate trees, rivers etc. but the spirits of place did not create the holy places, and the spirits of place have no ethical systems attached to them.

All of those spirity things are interesting as pointers to how people view the world. The ways in which they may or may not be held to exist is what ontology deals with. As far as I know the notion of ontic substances is the best model for sorting theories of existence.
OP asked if I believed in deities. The question should be "do I believe spirits exist?"

Yes, I do. I said why. Defining what each spirit is I do not think is the goal of thread.
I made a fantastic claim which cannot be proven. Only way for it to those skeptical is do similar things I did and see for themselves or experience similar things.
Belinda
Premium Member
Posts: 13782
Joined: July 10th, 2008, 7:02 pm
Location: UK

Re: Which gods don't you believe in, and why don't you?

Post by Belinda »

You did indeed say why you believe in what you call spirits, Tim. I am sure that you did actually have paranormal experiences.
So-called paranormal experiences are very normal among large groups of people who participate in the same culture of belief and practice which includes spirits.

The question I put to you about the spirits which you eventually controlled is about what those spirits were made of. Did those spirits have lives of their own apart from you , or were those spirits products of your perceptions at the time when you were vulnerable?
Socialist
TimLear
Posts: 98
Joined: December 14th, 2015, 9:15 pm

Re: Which gods don't you believe in, and why don't you?

Post by TimLear »

Belinda wrote:You did indeed say why you believe in what you call spirits, Tim. I am sure that you did actually have paranormal experiences.
So-called paranormal experiences are very normal among large groups of people who participate in the same culture of belief and practice which includes spirits.

The question I put to you about the spirits which you eventually controlled is about what those spirits were made of. Did those spirits have lives of their own apart from you , or were those spirits products of your perceptions at the time when you were vulnerable?
These things cannot be defined.

The thing I ve noticed is the conditions which determine what comes and goes. Unclean spirits, (or parasites)
As soon I changed my behavior, addressed the issues (childhood emotional baggage due to dysfunctional home) the dark spirits went away.

So I assume that spirits are nothing more than a phantasm, a manifestation of a pattern, condition present within the observer or around the observer.

-- Updated January 13th, 2016, 8:47 pm to add the following --

What I am saying I suspect spirits are patterns trying to assert themselves and nothing more. Take St Raphael.
He represents good health. Well if you do what it takes to be more healthy, the easier it is to see him, The worse your health is, the more likely parasites occurs.

I was not raised in a culture where the belief in spirits is common.
User avatar
Chosen-one
New Trial Member
Posts: 10
Joined: October 29th, 2016, 8:18 am

Re: Which gods don't you believe in, and why don't you?

Post by Chosen-one »

All these are just form of brahma. Even atheist is.
Post Reply

Return to “Philosophy of Religion, Theism and Mythology”

2023/2024 Philosophy Books of the Month

Entanglement - Quantum and Otherwise

Entanglement - Quantum and Otherwise
by John K Danenbarger
January 2023

Mark Victor Hansen, Relentless: Wisdom Behind the Incomparable Chicken Soup for the Soul

Mark Victor Hansen, Relentless: Wisdom Behind the Incomparable Chicken Soup for the Soul
by Mitzi Perdue
February 2023

Rediscovering the Wisdom of Human Nature: How Civilization Destroys Happiness

Rediscovering the Wisdom of Human Nature: How Civilization Destroys Happiness
by Chet Shupe
March 2023

The Unfakeable Code®

The Unfakeable Code®
by Tony Jeton Selimi
April 2023

The Book: On the Taboo Against Knowing Who You Are

The Book: On the Taboo Against Knowing Who You Are
by Alan Watts
May 2023

Killing Abel

Killing Abel
by Michael Tieman
June 2023

Reconfigurement: Reconfiguring Your Life at Any Stage and Planning Ahead

Reconfigurement: Reconfiguring Your Life at Any Stage and Planning Ahead
by E. Alan Fleischauer
July 2023

First Survivor: The Impossible Childhood Cancer Breakthrough

First Survivor: The Impossible Childhood Cancer Breakthrough
by Mark Unger
August 2023

Predictably Irrational

Predictably Irrational
by Dan Ariely
September 2023

Artwords

Artwords
by Beatriz M. Robles
November 2023

Fireproof Happiness: Extinguishing Anxiety & Igniting Hope

Fireproof Happiness: Extinguishing Anxiety & Igniting Hope
by Dr. Randy Ross
December 2023

Beyond the Golden Door: Seeing the American Dream Through an Immigrant's Eyes

Beyond the Golden Door: Seeing the American Dream Through an Immigrant's Eyes
by Ali Master
February 2024

2022 Philosophy Books of the Month

Emotional Intelligence At Work

Emotional Intelligence At Work
by Richard M Contino & Penelope J Holt
January 2022

Free Will, Do You Have It?

Free Will, Do You Have It?
by Albertus Kral
February 2022

My Enemy in Vietnam

My Enemy in Vietnam
by Billy Springer
March 2022

2X2 on the Ark

2X2 on the Ark
by Mary J Giuffra, PhD
April 2022

The Maestro Monologue

The Maestro Monologue
by Rob White
May 2022

What Makes America Great

What Makes America Great
by Bob Dowell
June 2022

The Truth Is Beyond Belief!

The Truth Is Beyond Belief!
by Jerry Durr
July 2022

Living in Color

Living in Color
by Mike Murphy
August 2022 (tentative)

The Not So Great American Novel

The Not So Great American Novel
by James E Doucette
September 2022

Mary Jane Whiteley Coggeshall, Hicksite Quaker, Iowa/National Suffragette And Her Speeches

Mary Jane Whiteley Coggeshall, Hicksite Quaker, Iowa/National Suffragette And Her Speeches
by John N. (Jake) Ferris
October 2022

In It Together: The Beautiful Struggle Uniting Us All

In It Together: The Beautiful Struggle Uniting Us All
by Eckhart Aurelius Hughes
November 2022

The Smartest Person in the Room: The Root Cause and New Solution for Cybersecurity

The Smartest Person in the Room
by Christian Espinosa
December 2022

2021 Philosophy Books of the Month

The Biblical Clock: The Untold Secrets Linking the Universe and Humanity with God's Plan

The Biblical Clock
by Daniel Friedmann
March 2021

Wilderness Cry: A Scientific and Philosophical Approach to Understanding God and the Universe

Wilderness Cry
by Dr. Hilary L Hunt M.D.
April 2021

Fear Not, Dream Big, & Execute: Tools To Spark Your Dream And Ignite Your Follow-Through

Fear Not, Dream Big, & Execute
by Jeff Meyer
May 2021

Surviving the Business of Healthcare: Knowledge is Power

Surviving the Business of Healthcare
by Barbara Galutia Regis M.S. PA-C
June 2021

Winning the War on Cancer: The Epic Journey Towards a Natural Cure

Winning the War on Cancer
by Sylvie Beljanski
July 2021

Defining Moments of a Free Man from a Black Stream

Defining Moments of a Free Man from a Black Stream
by Dr Frank L Douglas
August 2021

If Life Stinks, Get Your Head Outta Your Buts

If Life Stinks, Get Your Head Outta Your Buts
by Mark L. Wdowiak
September 2021

The Preppers Medical Handbook

The Preppers Medical Handbook
by Dr. William W Forgey M.D.
October 2021

Natural Relief for Anxiety and Stress: A Practical Guide

Natural Relief for Anxiety and Stress
by Dr. Gustavo Kinrys, MD
November 2021

Dream For Peace: An Ambassador Memoir

Dream For Peace
by Dr. Ghoulem Berrah
December 2021