What Makes A God?

[Storm2008]

Frequently, when explaining non-theistic God-concepts, I have encountered the opinion that "that's not really a God."

So, what are your standards for Godhood?

[Lightkeeper]

In my opinion God is beyond human understanding. God would be formless, nameless, etc. God transcends thought.

[wwwdlhow27]

There is but ONE Creator and All of Creation is ONE with it's Creator.

[Storm2008]

Originally Posted by wwwdlhow27

There is but ONE Creator and All of Creation is ONE with it's Creator.

That's nice. Would you care to address the OP, now?

[arthra]

People do make "gods" for themselves..sometimes these are concepts they have or theories.. I met a therapist whose religion was Transanctional Analysis.. He said it (Transactional Analysis) with an emphatic French accent!

- Art

[Storm2008]

But what standards must be met before you would consider a concept worthy of the label "God"?

[Astreja]

For something to fit into my concept of gods, it wouldn't have to be omnipotent or omniscient. I'd expect to see a few specific traits, however:

• Some form of sentience
• Able to create localized disturbances in the regular flow of cause and effect
• Some form of telepathic communication
• Primary tools are energy-based rather than matter-based (for example, telekinesis) and capable of performing remote operations

So, as I currently see deity, an extraterrestrial with the above traits would fill the bill nicely.

[Storm2008]

Interesting!

Does it trouble you that an alien might qualify?

[metis]

If there were to be one god, I'd have to drift towards the pantheistic concept whereas God is creation as both Spinoza and Einstein hypothecized (Einstein theorized that God was actually the energy of creation and contained all of the laws of physics). IOW, God is not outside of creation but actually is creation.

[Storm2008]

The OP was not intended to favor monotheism. I apologize if it seemed to. IIRC, you're a polytheist, yes? So, what traits must a being have for you to consider it a God?