Can we discuss the concept of 'God' or GAOTU?

[Derek Barclay]

I'm trying to understand what one may mean when they use the word 'God.' The concept takes on as many forms as there are minds to think it. So if anyone feels like sharing their ideas, I'd welcome them.

It seems to me that all but one of the characteristics that are attributed to God, by those who have expressed it to me, aligns with my concept of existence in general. The one that doesn't is the anthropomorphic or conscious aspect that so many seem to attribute to God.

Any thoughts?

 

[Derek Barclay]

Ok, so if I said I believe that the process of living and the world in which one lives can be distinguished but they are not separable, could that be comparable to a deistic philosophy? Using certain terms like 'intelligence' and 'spiritual' are, to me, loaded with unintended meanings.

I cannot find a reason to believe that the experience of being conscious is a quality that the universe has, nor anything that may "oversee" said universe. Without a reason to believe something to be true, I cannot believe that it is.

Does this sound like deism to you? I've tried giving these questions more deliberate thought over the last few years, and can't seem to draw any lasting conclusions.

 

[Derek Barclay]

And yet synchronicity is widely experienced. "Jung's belief was that, just as events may be connected by causality, they may also be connected by meaning."
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I'm not sure I follow. If I understand the words, I take it you mean coincidences. If so, I'm not sure how that relates to discerning the true workings of existence and what is the best way to go about doing it, if any.

How does synchronicity occur without some intelligent recognition of circumstance and meaning?
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It would take consciousness to recognize it if it does happen, but not necessarily to create the scenario that would allow it to happen. The meaning could only exist inside the mind of the intelligent observer.

So is your mind your most profound faculty? If it is, is it so easily manipulated that it accepts reasons as sufficient for it to change?
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It appears to be my only faculty. Yes, that appears to be how it works.

What then is heart knowledge?
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I don't know. From my view, the heart does not think or feel. Feelings and emotions are results of the mind as well.

I must make it clear: I believe that it's possible that all of my beliefs regarding the existence of any metaphysicalities could be wholly wrong, but the only way I could see that being true is if there was an intentional misleading/fraud being put upon the observer.

 

[TheThumbPuppy]

The concept takes on as many forms as there are minds to think it

That sentence seems to assume that your thoughts create the concept of GAOTU, which may lead you to doubt whether the concept of GAOTU exists independently from your thoughts (see Platonism). I'm not saying that it's wrong, as I couldn't possibly know. However I like to shield the idea of GAOTU from relativist truism – just because someone claims, 'This is my truth', it doesn't make it true – and think of the existence of the GAOTU as separate from my capability (or lack thereof) of conceptualising it.

It seems to me that all but one of the characteristics that are attributed to God, by those who have expressed it to me, aligns with my concept of existence in general. The one that doesn't is the anthropomorphic or conscious aspect that so many seem to attribute to God.

Anthropomorphism is used in different ways by different religions, but it is not a necessary attribute of the GAOTU, as I understand it.

Similarly I find that the conscious aspect is often a derivation from anthropomorphism. We often like to define "conscious" in the same way as it applies to us. However "conscious" could be thought in a form that we cannot experience. In my limited understanding, "conscious" becomes a mere bookmark – a symbol if you like – for something our mind is ill-equipped to comprehend.

 

[Derek Barclay]

>A very interesting proposition. So before the development of intelligent beings there was no meaning? What then for the nature of Existence itself?

That appears to be the case. I dont understand the second question.

>I do hope not. For example taste and smell are used to detect poisonous food. The body then usually spits out the food without reference to the mind.

Those things rely on the mind in order to function. Even instinctual reflexes must go through the mind.


>Consider what you experience in the use of will and intention. Whence do they come?

I have no idea. My idea of free will is a lot more limited than I imagine most people's is.

>Do you believe that Life has meaning, or do you know that Life has meaning?

I do not believe it does. That does not mean 'I know it does not.'

 

[Derek Barclay]

The mind seems to me to just be a phenomenon of the brain.

 

[Derek Barclay]

I'm so exhausted from not knowing how to best live my life. How can I force myself to believe in free will. All I do is dream. I have no motivation to act. I've tried to cultivate motivation, but it seems to never work.

 

[TheThumbPuppy]

I wouldn't like to misspeak, but a few words that you have used have rung in a certain way.

I have no intention to offend, but you may want to consider that you may be suffering from a chemical unbalance and you may like to talk about it with your family doctor.

If I'm barking at the wrong tree, please accept my apologies and ignore my message.

 

[Derek Barclay]

No you're not wrong. I've struggled with mental illness most of my life. I can't afford therapy, and the only sources of discounted or free therapy seem to come from people pushing pills or religion.

 

[Derek Barclay]

What processes would you recommend? Meditation? Yoga? Parkour?

 

[Derek Barclay]

Ok well I'll either find the will, be shown the will, or be forced by fate. I can't say I much appreciate the experience, but atleast I get to experience.

 

[TheThumbPuppy]

the only sources of discounted or free therapy seem to come from people pushing pills or religion.

I'm not sure how that works over there.

If by "people pushing pills" you mean a psychiatrist (who is licensed to write a prescription and refer you to a psychologist for on-going therapy), I wouldn't dismiss that possibility without speaking with them first.

It obviously depends on the amount of discomfort that this causes you. That's something that only you can judge. However if it's getting excessively disruptive to your daily life, it may help getting in touch with them and see what they propose for you.

 

[Derek Barclay]

I've made so much progress on alleviating the negative aspects of my mental state that it's not fair to say I still struggle with it. But one thought I always had and one that has been strengthened through my progress of achieving a better mental health is that I didnt necessarily will it to be. I recognized things that I could consciously work towards and I did them. Sometimes I succeeded, sometimes I failed. But what spurred me to see them and encouraged me to act was not conscious volition. I have always felt lucky...to see things as they really are (or atleast as they appear) and lucky to know what to do with that information.

 

[Derek Barclay]

His full legal name: Adam "Tripple OG" "The Alpha" "Your Maker" "J." Yawweh