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Belinda
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Post: #76  Posted: Sat Nov 21, 2009 6:53 pm Post subject: |
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| So then what is the cause of consciousness (or does that not qualify as "something"?)? |
Natural selection I say. God* you say. It's a matter of faith for each of us not rational argument.
* I mean, the really philosophic God, not one of the the anthropomorphic ones.
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JPhillips
Joined: 22 Oct 2009
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| Post: #77 Posted: Sun Nov 22, 2009 2:34 am Post subject: Nothingness |
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Belinda
I believe that everything comes from consciousness. First there was consciousness, than the universe, than man.
I don't understand how people can think first there was matter, then consciousness came from matter.
The only real debate to me is in how we relate to this consciousness. Either God is an external entity outside the realm of the universe that created the universe and everything within; God is the universe and everything within and nothing exists outside of it; or God is both an external entity outside the realm of the universe and also is the universe and everything contained within.
So this would narrow it down to Creationism, Pantheism, or Panentheism, I believe. I would support the Panentheism theology over the others. This seems to me to support best the idea that the "mind" of God is that part of God outside the Universe and the "body" of God is the universe and all that is within.
Last edited by JPhillips on Sun Nov 22, 2009 7:12 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Belinda
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| Post: #78 Posted: Sun Nov 22, 2009 6:51 am Post subject: |
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JPhillips, In the case of those of us who agree about the primacy of consciousness, if we also agree that only humans of all the animals are conscious enough to know that we will die some day,
to know that we are subjects and also agents of change, and to know that we can reflect on our selves as if our selves are objects of contemplation,
then God is either a personification of consciousness with the addition of good will, or God is another but more powerful and more beneficent being than ourselves.
I prefer pantheism as long as pantheism recognises that 'God' is not only the total universe but is also the creating consciousness of the total universe.
I think that there is no need to posit a transcendent 'God'. The immanent 'God' is sufficient.So I like panentheism too, just as long as the all-encompassing God is not anthropomorphised as a being with intentions.
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| This seems to me to support best the idea that the "mind" of God is that part of God outside the Universe and the "body" of God is the universe and all that is within. |
To recap, JPhillips refers here to panentheism.I never heard this before and I find it very interesting. Since I am in the habit of comparing such new- to- me metaphysical ideas to Spinoza, I will reflect on what you say here by comparing it with Spinoza's 'the mind is the idea of the body'.
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