The question begets a good point that it is inclusive of Atheists in that if all gods were created equal and real on a plain who would be the best to rule our reality?
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Life is a beautiful engineer, yet a brutal scientist.
As an atheist who is somewhat culturally Jewish, there's a lot I like about Judaism as a philosophy. That said, in terms of a godly being, there's Lovecraftian gods, Zelda deities (Din, Farore and Nayru), or, more religiously-focused, the idea of Tiān (Confucianism) could be good (though Confucianism itself has its issues).
I guess I mostly just don't feel that I need faith in a divine being in my life to feel validated.
The so-called "Philosopher's God", the entity philosophers are normally assumed to be talking about when they ask questions like "Does God exist?" This being has three defining properties: (a) omniscience; (b) omnipotence; and (c) omnibenevolence. So it's pretty clear that this deity is best by definition: it always wishes to do maximal good, knows how to do maximal good, and is capable of --
Yea, I'm with highroller - those sound odd. Volcanos just make stuff spread hotly all over the place.
Now if it was beer factories and stripper volcanoes...
But BS is correct - the various constructions of (typically) the christian god who are actual perfect and loving would be great. Just remove the 'pretending not to exist' fetish and we're golden.
These seem sweet. A lot of them don't actually care what you do since it's entirely irrelevant. It really removes a weight from your shoulders if you think about it.
I mean I already have the Elder Sign on the back of my car so I guess I'm already halfway there.
These seem sweet. A lot of them don't actually care what you do since it's entirely irrelevant. It really removes a weight from your shoulders if you think about it.
I mean I already have the Elder Sign on the back of my car so I guess I'm already halfway there.
Well, the problem with Lovecraftian gods is that we will be destroyed anytime by Cthulhu or be eaten/killed by the multitude of beasts/aliens that inhabit Earth. Not to mention necromancy is a thing with Lovecraftian gods in charge (Herbert West), which will be a pretty bad for humanity as a whole.
However, Yog Sothoth is a cool god and I like him (it?) a lot.
As an atheist who is somewhat culturally Jewish, there's a lot I like about Judaism as a philosophy.
Agreed. The most worthwhile and heavy philosophical conversations I've ever had were with learned Jews and, in one case, a Rabbi (very learned indeed). Peel away the whole god thing and it is very much in line with humanism. The concept of the mitzvah being the prime example.
Back on topic, i'm going with Shiva. Pretty much covers all the bases as godheads go.
But BS is correct - the various constructions of (typically) the christian god who are actual perfect and loving would be great. Just remove the 'pretending not to exist' fetish and we're golden.
Nothing in the definition says the Philosophers' God incarnated in Roman Judea or died on a cross. He/she/it could have done so, but only if it would have been the most maximally good thing to do. Which seems unlikely.
But BS is correct - the various constructions of (typically) the christian god who are actual perfect and loving would be great. Just remove the 'pretending not to exist' fetish and we're golden.
Nothing in the definition says the Philosophers' God incarnated in Roman Judea or died on a cross. He/she/it could have done so, but only if it would have been the most maximally good thing to do. Which seems unlikely.
Don't disagree - was merely commenting that the christian god is often ascribed those various qualities. But yes, any god with those qualities will do.
Also, the idea of a God that is omnibenevolent and omnipotent but knows nothing seems like it would have potential for some amusing results.
Unfortunately for our amusement, omnipotence implies omniscience.
Does it?
Omnipotent just means you have the ability/power to do anything. (probably best to assume the 'anything non-contradictory' // anything you want' version and ignore boring arguments about unliftable rocks).
Just because I don't *know* X doesn't mean I could <ability> X, does it?
For example, let's imagine venus//aphrodite. She is, by assumption, omni-seductive (which is a thing I have obviously just come up with meaning 'that fraction of omnipotence that relates to being able to seduce literally anyone').
Now, if she doesn't know Australia exists, she can't seduce me or any other australians in australia - but only because she has no want to do so due to not knowing I exist*. But if she then finds out Australia exists, she can come down here on a major seduce-athon should she so choose.
I should probably have chosen a better metaphor when I started this thought process, but we're committed now**!
Indeed, I would posit you could plausibly have an omnipotent god who was...apparently their is a word the opposite of omniscience - nihiliscient?...and they'd still be omnipotent, just only in potentia not in practicality
* possible also not while knowing, but, whatever
** or at least - probably should be committed
Omnipotent just means you have the ability/power to do anything.
And knowing a fact is a thing I can do.
But can is different from does. This "god" has the omnipotent potential to be omniscient (man, that's a fun phrase ), but isn't necessarily omniscient.
If God does not know the capital of Australia, then there is something he cannot do: answer the question "What is the capital of Australia?" Ergo, he is not omnipotent.
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Vive, vale. Siquid novisti rectius istis,
candidus inperti; si nil, his utere mecum.
What if there is a god that *can* know everything, but *does* not know anything.
For example, the God could look up stuff on a Divine Search Engine that can provide any information he wants, but he is oblivious to the information beforehand. Is he omnipotent and not omniscient?
These seem sweet. A lot of them don't actually care what you do since it's entirely irrelevant. It really removes a weight from your shoulders if you think about it.
I mean I already have the Elder Sign on the back of my car so I guess I'm already halfway there.
Well, the problem with Lovecraftian gods is that we will be destroyed anytime by Cthulhu or be eaten/killed by the multitude of beasts/aliens that inhabit Earth. Not to mention necromancy is a thing with Lovecraftian gods in charge (Herbert West), which will be a pretty bad for humanity as a whole.
However, Yog Sothoth is a cool god and I like him (it?) a lot.
If we're gonna get really nihilistic here, we'll all be destroyed eventually, whether we wipe ourselves out or whether the Sun expands and engulfs the earth (though I imagine we'd be pretty dead before the outer layer reaches us).
So in that case, does it really matter how we go out? Nuclear annihilation, an expanding sun or being destroyed by an eldritch monstrosity all seem about the same on the "horrible" scale.
Plus, I doubt they plan on raising and enslaving us. Dr. Armitage was of the opinion that they'd just eradicate us and everything else on the earth so they could draw it out into the outer spheres.
Dr. Armitage slept, but was partly delirious the next day. He made no explanations to Hartwell, but in his calmer moments spoke of the imperative need of a long conference with Rice and Morgan. His wilder wanderings were very startling indeed, including frantic appeals that something in a boarded-up farmhouse be destroyed, and fantastic references to some plan for the extirpation of the entire human race and all animal and vegetable life from the earth by some terrible elder race of beings from another dimension. He would shout that the world was in danger, since the Elder Things wished to strip it and drag it away from the solar system and cosmos of matter into some other plane or phase of entity from which it had once fallen, vigintillions of aeons ago. At other times he would call for the dreaded Necronomicon and the Daemonolatreia of Remigius, in which he seemed hopeful of finding some formula to check the peril he conjured up.
I don't give a damn what it is. There's nothing godly about warm beer. Flying Spaghetti Monster has clearly been disqualified from the running.
Considering the Pastafarian Hell-equivalent is being stuck in the area of the afterlife that has the stale beer volcanoes in it, I assume the beer volcanoes can be chilled, as well.
Well, this is kind of why polytheism is fun, no need to choose. Having to pick one individual one to rule everything just seems kind of like a bad idea anyways, the world is too diverse for one "ruler" in that sense.
Well, this is kind of why polytheism is fun, no need to choose. Having to pick one individual one to rule everything just seems kind of like a bad idea anyways, the world is too diverse for one "ruler" in that sense.
It's a god. You can just define it as being capable of handling that much diversity.
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The question begets a good point that it is inclusive of Atheists in that if all gods were created equal and real on a plain who would be the best to rule our reality?
Modern
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<a href="http://www.mtgsalvation.com/forums/the-game/the-cube-forum/cube-lists/588020-unpowered-themed-enchantment-an-enchanted-evening">An Enchanted Evening Cube </a>
Wields a ******* badass hammer.
Died nailed to a cross.
Not sure how other religions rank but in my tier list, i'd put Thor over Jesus
I guess I mostly just don't feel that I need faith in a divine being in my life to feel validated.
oh who am I kidding
candidus inperti; si nil, his utere mecum.
Two Score, Minus Two or: A Stargate Tail
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To say nothing of stripper factories. I don't think I want to know what sort of stripper is being produced from those.
It's satirical Highroller. It's supposed to be a cultural thing as well as to push the point about religious freedom.
RUNIN: Norse mythology set (awaiting further playtesting)
FATE of ALARA: Multicolour factions (currently on hiatus)
Contibutor to the Pyrulea community set
I'm here to tell you that all your set mechanics are bad
#Defundthepolice
Now if it was beer factories and stripper volcanoes...
But BS is correct - the various constructions of (typically) the christian god who are actual perfect and loving would be great. Just remove the 'pretending not to exist' fetish and we're golden.
What about if it was cider instead?
Also, the idea of a God that is omnibenevolent and omnipotent but knows nothing seems like it would have potential for some amusing results.
Well, know one said you had to drink the beer straight out of the volcano.
RUNIN: Norse mythology set (awaiting further playtesting)
FATE of ALARA: Multicolour factions (currently on hiatus)
Contibutor to the Pyrulea community set
I'm here to tell you that all your set mechanics are bad
#Defundthepolice
I mean, you at least have the basis for a good idea there, but you're still dealing with the volcano issue. Really, nothing about that's a good idea.
These seem sweet. A lot of them don't actually care what you do since it's entirely irrelevant. It really removes a weight from your shoulders if you think about it.
I mean I already have the Elder Sign on the back of my car so I guess I'm already halfway there.
URW Control
WBG Abzan
GRW Burn
EDH
GR Rosheen Meanderer
Well, the problem with Lovecraftian gods is that we will be destroyed anytime by Cthulhu or be eaten/killed by the multitude of beasts/aliens that inhabit Earth. Not to mention necromancy is a thing with Lovecraftian gods in charge (Herbert West), which will be a pretty bad for humanity as a whole.
However, Yog Sothoth is a cool god and I like him (it?) a lot.
Agreed. The most worthwhile and heavy philosophical conversations I've ever had were with learned Jews and, in one case, a Rabbi (very learned indeed). Peel away the whole god thing and it is very much in line with humanism. The concept of the mitzvah being the prime example.
Back on topic, i'm going with Shiva. Pretty much covers all the bases as godheads go.
Unfortunately for our amusement, omnipotence implies omniscience.
candidus inperti; si nil, his utere mecum.
Don't disagree - was merely commenting that the christian god is often ascribed those various qualities. But yes, any god with those qualities will do.
Does it?
Omnipotent just means you have the ability/power to do anything. (probably best to assume the 'anything non-contradictory' // anything you want' version and ignore boring arguments about unliftable rocks).
Just because I don't *know* X doesn't mean I could <ability> X, does it?
For example, let's imagine venus//aphrodite. She is, by assumption, omni-seductive (which is a thing I have obviously just come up with meaning 'that fraction of omnipotence that relates to being able to seduce literally anyone').
Now, if she doesn't know Australia exists, she can't seduce me or any other australians in australia - but only because she has no want to do so due to not knowing I exist*. But if she then finds out Australia exists, she can come down here on a major seduce-athon should she so choose.
I should probably have chosen a better metaphor when I started this thought process, but we're committed now**!
Indeed, I would posit you could plausibly have an omnipotent god who was...apparently their is a word the opposite of omniscience - nihiliscient?...and they'd still be omnipotent, just only in potentia not in practicality
* possible also not while knowing, but, whatever
** or at least - probably should be committed
candidus inperti; si nil, his utere mecum.
But can is different from does. This "god" has the omnipotent potential to be omniscient (man, that's a fun phrase
candidus inperti; si nil, his utere mecum.
For example, the God could look up stuff on a Divine Search Engine that can provide any information he wants, but he is oblivious to the information beforehand. Is he omnipotent and not omniscient?
If we're gonna get really nihilistic here, we'll all be destroyed eventually, whether we wipe ourselves out or whether the Sun expands and engulfs the earth (though I imagine we'd be pretty dead before the outer layer reaches us).
So in that case, does it really matter how we go out? Nuclear annihilation, an expanding sun or being destroyed by an eldritch monstrosity all seem about the same on the "horrible" scale.
Plus, I doubt they plan on raising and enslaving us. Dr. Armitage was of the opinion that they'd just eradicate us and everything else on the earth so they could draw it out into the outer spheres.
URW Control
WBG Abzan
GRW Burn
EDH
GR Rosheen Meanderer
Two Score, Minus Two or: A Stargate Tail
(Image by totallynotabrony)
candidus inperti; si nil, his utere mecum.