What is meant by God "Exists"

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thecone137

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We say God “exists”. The definition of exist from dictionary.com states the following defintions of exist:

ex·ist
   [ig-zist] Show IPA

verb (used without object)
  1. to have actual being; be: The world exists, whether you like it or not.
  2. to have life or animation; live.
  3. to continue to be or live: Belief in magic still exists.
  4. to have being in a specified place or under certain conditions; be found; occur: Hunger exists in many parts of the world.
  5. to achieve the basic needs of existence, as food and shelter: He’s not living, he’s merely existing.
The very word exist seems to imply physicality. Yet God is not made of matter, energy, etc. which implies God does not exist physically, right? If that is the case, what do we mean by God “exists”?
 
thecone137 said:
We say God “exists”. The definition of exist from dictionary.com states the following defintions of exist:

ex·ist
   [ig-zist] Show IPA

verb (used without object)
  1. to have actual being; be: The world exists, whether you like it or not.
  2. to have life or animation; live.
  3. to continue to be or live: Belief in magic still exists.
  4. to have being in a specified place or under certain conditions; be found; occur: Hunger exists in many parts of the world.
  5. to achieve the basic needs of existence, as food and shelter: He’s not living, he’s merely existing.
The very word exist seems to imply physicality. Yet God is not made of matter, energy, etc. which implies God does not exist physically, right? If that is the case, what do we mean by God “exists”?
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I think you need to read your Catechism. Section 2, chapter 1, Articles 1-5.

vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/_INDEX.HTM

We take our definition of God’s nature from the Church, not the dictionary which is a purely secular work.

God is a pure spirit, a real living Being, the creator of Heaven and Earth, Almighty in every power, knowledge, intellect, will, love, justice, mercy, in whom and through whom we live, and move and have our being. If he stopped thinking of us we would simply cease to exist. That gives you an idea of his nature and all encompassing power and presence.

👍👍
 
The human language is so so so lacking when we attempt to talk about Him. I would dare say all the wisdom of the human race from the very beginning of time put together would still not suffice. We just have to make do, and do our very best to understand. He will do the rest for us.
 
There is no “God” as you know it. All creation is an expression of the source.
 
thecone137 said:
The very word exist seems to imply physicality. Yet God is not made of matter, energy, etc. which implies God does not exist physically, right? If that is the case, what do we mean by God “exists”?
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This is the kind of question I’ve struggled with for a long time—particularly over the last two years. I’ve given up trying to answer them, and more importantly, I’ve given up asking them!
Linusthe2nd said:
God is a pure spirit, a real living Being, the creator of Heaven and Earth, Almighty in every power, knowledge, intellect, will, love, justice, mercy, in whom and through whom we live, and move and have our being. If he stopped thinking of us we would simply cease to exist. That gives you an idea of his nature and all encompassing power and presence.
Click to expand...
This sort of description (which may well be perfectly accurate for what it is) doesn’t so much answer the question, to me, as it elicits further questions. The notion of God being “alive” seems so strange to me, given that I have very personal experience with what that means—to be alive—and have seen plenty of pets that were once alive cease living.
gilbs72 said:
The human language is so so so lacking when we attempt to talk about Him. I would dare say all the wisdom of the human race from the very beginning of time put together would still not suffice. We just have to make do, and do our very best to understand. He will do the rest for us.
Click to expand...
Yeah. I like that.
I’m particularly fond of paragraphs 40, 42, and 43 in Part 1, Section 1, Chapter 1, No. IV of the Catechism. I think they’re consistent with gilbs’ point: vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/__PC.HTM

For me, I’ve simply resigned myself (quite happily) to the answer “I don’t know” for all these sorts of questions. Some of them even seem unnecessary, or that they miss the point. The question of whether God “exists” or not is really irrelevant to me. I think the answer could go both ways, depending on how we define certain parameters. Either way, I don’t find that I’m any better off for the intellectual exercise. It’s kind of like the question of Jesus’ DNA—was it all from Mary? So I’ve just given up, again, quite happily. It’s not what this is about to me. I feel like when I, personally, start to ask these sorts of questions (e.g., is that literal? How did that happen? Etc.), I lose sight of the question I think I should be asking, which is What does it mean?

Also, and I think this applies very well to the notion of “existence,” we have to remember, I think, that words are always mere symbols. And all the more so when speaking of God. They are just fingers pointing at the moon rather than the moon themselves.
 
Jocko_VT said:
This is the kind of question I’ve struggled with for a long time—particularly over the last two years. I’ve given up trying to answer them, and more importantly, I’ve given up asking them!

This sort of description (which may well be perfectly accurate for what it is) doesn’t so much answer the question, to me, as it elicits further questions. The notion of God being “alive” seems so strange to me, given that I have very personal experience with what that means—to be alive—and have seen plenty of pets that were once alive cease living.

Yeah. I like that.
I’m particularly fond of paragraphs 40, 42, and 43 in Part 1, Section 1, Chapter 1, No. IV of the Catechism. I think they’re consistent with gilbs’ point: vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/__PC.HTM
For me, I’ve simply resigned myself (quite happily) to the answer “I don’t know” for all these sorts of questions. Some of them even seem unnecessary, or that they miss the point. The question of whether God “exists” or not is really irrelevant to me. I think the answer could go both ways, depending on how we define certain parameters. Either way, I don’t find that I’m any better off for the intellectual exercise. It’s kind of like the question of Jesus’ DNA—was it all from Mary? So I’ve just given up, again, quite happily. It’s not what this is about to me. I feel like when I, personally, start to ask these sorts of questions (e.g., is that literal? How did that happen? Etc.), I lose sight of the question I think I should be asking, which is What does it mean?
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
thecone137 said:
We say God “exists”. The definition of exist from dictionary.com states the following defintions of exist:

ex·ist
   [ig-zist] Show IPA

verb (used without object)
  1. to have actual being; be: The world exists, whether you like it or not.
  2. to have life or animation; live.
  3. to continue to be or live: Belief in magic still exists.
  4. to have being in a specified place or under certain conditions; be found; occur: Hunger exists in many parts of the world.
  5. to achieve the basic needs of existence, as food and shelter: He’s not living, he’s merely existing.
The very word exist seems to imply physicality. Yet God is not made of matter, energy, etc. which implies God does not exist physically, right? If that is the case, what do we mean by God “exists”?
Click to expand...
Boy, O boy, the wolves all came out on this one. One has to wonder why it upsets them so that most of the world believes in God. In fact 75% who have lived since the world began have believed in some sort of God. I guess those of us in that 75% are just a bunch of idiots. Well, I think we are in pretty good company myself. Most of the really intelligent people in the history of the world have been believers. Only since the Renaissance have men decided they can do without God. Pretty arrogant if you ask me. 👍👍
 
Linusthe2nd said:
Feeling pretty self sufficient hey. How do you account for your existence, the world’s, the universe’s? Can you, by your own will, make a single hair grow on your head? Perhaps you will feel different when you begin to be faced with situations, not very pleasant, which make you feel not so " powerful " and self-sufficient. Only in the 1st world countries do people have this idea. Most of the world do indeed believe in a God of some sort.
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:confused: I’m a bit confused by your response. Why have you responded this way? Where in my comment have I given the impression that I think I’m “powerful and self-sufficient” as opposed to actually being resigned and completely submissive to a God that is utter mystery??? :confused: And what in my post suggests that I don’t believe in God?? :confused:
Linusthe2nd said:
Personal opinion only. You will have a big surprise when you die. 🤷
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You’re so flippant with your two “you’ll have a big surprise when you die” comments in this thread. Do you feel you’re being as charitable as you, as a Catholic and as a Christian (not to mention a human), are called to be?
 
Linusthe2nd said:
Boy, O boy, the wolves all came out on this one. One has to wonder why it upsets them so that most of the world believes in God. In fact 75% who have lived since the world began have believed in some sort of God. I guess those of us in that 75% are just a bunch of idiots. Well, I think we are in pretty good company myself. Most of the really intelligent people in the history of the world have been believers. Only since the Renaissance have men decided they can do without God. Pretty arrogant if you ask me. 👍👍
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Wolves and accusations of an attitude? - sounds like ad hominem fallacy

75% of people believe something. Therefore, it must be true? - sounds like bandwagon fallacy

I’m not held to any particular definition of existence - that was simply a starting point.

Thanks for sharing the catechism link. I"m not sure that it answered my question, though. The fact that limited knowledge of God doesn’t say whether or not God’s “existence” is in within our scoping of defining to some degree.
 
OpenSource said:
indeed i will

actually this youtube video is more eloquent than i am:

youtube.com/watch?v=e76d1O-8hD0

but hey. gnostics are the devil! i have some advice for you: think for yourself.
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You’re not the devil, of course, no person is the devil, but one can still think for themselves and come up with the conclusion that Catholicism is the optimal belief. The argument that by thinking for one’s self, one would no longer believe what they do now, is problematic, I find.
 
Jocko_VT said:
You’re so flippant with your two “you’ll have a big surprise when you die” comments in this thread. Do you feel you’re being as charitable as you, as a Catholic and as a Christian (not to mention a human), are called to be?
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I agree that what was posted was uncharitable, yes, but one must also recall that all individuals, Catholics, atheists, Muslims, Buddhists, etc., are flawed individuals, and we speak rashly, and act rashly, all but Christ are imperfect.
 
presidentjlh said:
I agree that what was posted was uncharitable, yes, but one must also recall that all individuals, Catholics, atheists, Muslims, Buddhists, etc., are flawed individuals, and we speak rashly, and act rashly, all but Christ are imperfect.
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Indeed. But I suspect the poster feels justified.
 
Linusthe2nd said:
God is a pure spirit, a real living Being, the creator of Heaven and Earth, Almighty in every power, knowledge, intellect, will, love, justice, mercy, in whom and through whom we live, and move and have our being. If he stopped thinking of us we would simply cease to exist. That gives you an idea of his nature and all encompassing power and presence.

👍👍
Click to expand...
This gives a theological representation what it means for God to exist. He is asking for a philosophical definition.
 
Linusthe2nd said:
Boy, O boy, the wolves all came out on this one. One has to wonder why it upsets them so that most of the world believes in God. In fact 75% who have lived since the world began have believed in some sort of God. I guess those of us in that 75% are just a bunch of idiots. Well, I think we are in pretty good company myself. Most of the really intelligent people in the history of the world have been believers. Only since the Renaissance have men decided they can do without God. Pretty arrogant if you ask me. 👍👍
Click to expand...
What has this got to do with the original question?
 
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