Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search
4 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
The meaning of "god/dess" to you. (Original Post) Htom Sirveaux Feb 2016 OP
There is no definite answer TexasProgresive Feb 2016 #1
Those terms have a wide range of meanings. bananas Feb 2016 #2
To me, the God and Goddess are the two aspects of something else that I call God/dess. Still Blue in PDX Feb 2016 #3
I prefer Albert Einstein's definition. longship Feb 2016 #4

TexasProgresive

(12,287 posts)
1. There is no definite answer
Fri Feb 19, 2016, 05:56 AM
Feb 2016

If the word God in ones mind expresses masculine attributes of the supreme deity then it is appropriate to also use the word Goddess. The story of the creation of Humanity in the Bible says that we are made in the image and likeness of God- Male and Female.

But believing in God does not mean one has any kind of complete understanding what is believed. The best place to start with what is known is that God is ineffable. There is way more unknown than known. Our ideas about God are merely models that allow us to have some sense. Models generally focus on a part of the whole and if taken to be the whole give an incorrect picture.

So stressing the masculine over the feminine is harmful and vice versa. What I believe about God is perfect harmony. A complete balancing of Justice and Mercy leading to Peace, Masculine and Feminine coming together into a whole (Holy). Perhaps a good image of the divine is the yin/yang, but that is still just a model that gives us some understanding.

bananas

(27,509 posts)
2. Those terms have a wide range of meanings.
Fri Feb 19, 2016, 05:28 PM
Feb 2016

There is the gesture "namaste", "I bow to the divine in you".

There is the concept of "the Absolute", which cuts across many religious belief systems: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Absolute_%28philosophy%29

The Quaker concept of god leads directly to their social activism: http://www.democraticunderground.com/1264189

Still Blue in PDX

(1,999 posts)
3. To me, the God and Goddess are the two aspects of something else that I call God/dess.
Fri Feb 26, 2016, 01:22 AM
Feb 2016

I have a friend who calls It the Divine Whatchamacallit. It's not masculine or feminine; it's both.

longship

(40,416 posts)
4. I prefer Albert Einstein's definition.
Mon Feb 29, 2016, 09:18 PM
Feb 2016

He always said that he believed in Spinoza's god, a pantheistic god. Although he sometimes said things that leaned towards Deism.

I am neither a Deist nor a pantheist. I identify as an atheist. However, I could live with pantheism, personifying nature as god. That is a reasonable definition of god for me.

Although I have problems with religion, I have no problems with most believers who I find as genuinely nice and honorable people.

That is why I have no qualms about uniting with them as brothers and sisters.

Now fundamentalists are a different story. But I'll set that aside in this forum.

My best to you all.

Latest Discussions»Alliance Forums»Interfaith Group»The meaning of "god/dess"...