Posted by Jurassosaurus [63.191.9.46 - sdn-ap-014caburbP0300.dialsprint.net] on 14 July 2002 at 19.30.11 ZuluTime:

In Reply to: a summary of what I've said? posted by Andy on 14 July 2002 at 18.23.28 ZuluTime:

Deities are a specific type of god. A god is what is eternal...what is unchangeable about the universe.

Yet all we know that fits that best fits that definition, are the same, repeated observations of physics and chemistry;aka: the laws of nature.

I thought you were trying to separate gods from physics?
     

you're right, and if you look up the word god in a dictionary it does have the definition - the supreme or ultimate reality. I am only using a term which does exist.

Didn't we already go through the dictionary bit?
     

Basically what I am saying is there is something in the universe which is unchanging.

Known physical and chemical laws appear to do this. I don't think we have evidence that anything else does, do you?
     

That something is god. Our responsibility lies in determining if this god is the god who has attempted to reveal himself to us, or if this god is unrevealed to us...if he is unrevealed to us he may as well be physics.
     
     

Er, so now god can equal natural laws?

I'm honestly not sure how you have determined that there is a god, vs just the repeated observations of the natural world? The definition above doesn't help much either. According to it, god is nothing more than the makeup of reality. So then, is physics the study of deital anatomy and physiology?
     

If this god has indeed revealed himself to us we have the duty of worshiping him. This is my basic summary.

     
     Okay, its this last bit that really doesn't make sense. Exactly where is the logic in:

     
• If deity exists...
       
  
       
  • We therefore must worship it.
         
  
       

What if the god doesn't want to be worshipped?

     Does this thought stem from the: "If I were a god" mentality?

     Parents create their children, yet only the really warped narcissistic types, would have their kids worshipping them.

If you would prefer a more apt example, take the game: The Sims. Here you create people and neighborhoods, and our solely responsible for your creation's lives. Minus the fact that Sims tend to be extremely whiney, there is no worship choice in there. I suppose Will Wright could have had that choice programmed into the game, but I would question how often it would be used. That it isn't in there at all, contradicts the assumption that one must worship one's creators.

I suppose I could have used the game: Black & White, instead. That game actually lets you create gods and does have the ability to have followers worship them (though there is no option to have your god worship you). Of course, the only reason appears to be because they are gods, and you want to stay on their good side.

In the end, I suppose that is the only reason to worship a god. This, then, places gods in the same realm as dictators/bullies.