What Do We Mean by "God"?

Authority

"And when he entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came up to him as he was teaching, and said, 'By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?'"

Before addressing the existence of God, we must define terms. What do we mean by the word "God"?
I asked ChatGPT "What do theists mean by the word 'God'?" Here is the response I received:

The term "God" as used by theists can have a broad range of meanings, and the interpretation can significantly differ depending on the religious tradition, philosophical viewpoint, and individual beliefs of the theist in question. Here are a few common understandings:

Monotheistic Traditions (e.g., Christianity, Islam, Judaism): In these traditions, God is often understood as the one, supreme being who is omnipotent (all-powerful), omniscient (all-knowing), omnipresent (present everywhere), omnibenevolent (all-good), and the creator of the universe. This God is often considered personal, meaning individuals can have a relationship with Him.

Polytheistic Traditions (e.g., Hinduism, Ancient Greek Religion): In these traditions, there are multiple gods, each with their own specific powers, responsibilities, and domains. The gods might be responsible for various aspects of nature or human affairs.

Pantheistic or Panentheistic Views (certain forms of Hinduism, Buddhism, or other Eastern religions): Here, God is seen as equivalent to the universe (pantheism) or as including the universe within Himself but also transcending it (panentheism). In these views, God is not a personal being separate from the universe but the ultimate reality or ground of being.

Deistic Views: Deists believe in a creator God who does not interfere with creation after setting it in motion. This God is often seen as impersonal and detached from human affairs.

Theistic Personalism or Neo-Theism: This view holds that God is a personal being with consciousness, will, and feelings, but is not necessarily omnipotent, omnipresent, or omniscient.

Remember, these are very general descriptions, and beliefs about God can vary widely within these categories. For example, Christians may have different interpretations of God based on their particular denominational beliefs, as can Muslims, Hindus, or followers of any other religious tradition.

To fully understand what a specific theist means by "God", it's often necessary to ask them about their personal beliefs or to study the doctrines of their specific religious tradition.

I then asked ChatGPT "What specifically do Christians mean by the word 'God'?" And here is the response I received:

Christians, like theists in general, can have varied interpretations of the concept of God depending on their denomination, theological tradition, and individual beliefs. However, there are some commonalities that are widely accepted within Christianity.

In Christianity, God is typically understood as:

1. **Trinitarian**: This is one of the central tenets of Christian theology. God is seen as one God in three persons: God the Father, God the Son (Jesus Christ), and God the Holy Spirit. These are not seen as three separate gods, but as one God in three co-equal, co-eternal persons.

2. **Creator**: God is seen as the creator of the universe and everything in it. The opening verse of the Bible, Genesis 1:1, establishes God as the creator: "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth."

3. **Omnipotent, Omniscient, and Omnipresent**: God is seen as all-powerful, all-knowing, and present everywhere. God's power, knowledge, and presence are not limited in the ways that human beings are.

4. **Omnibenevolent**: God is believed to be infinitely good and loving. The concept of God's love for humanity is central to Christian belief, and is often emphasized in Christian theology and worship.

5. **Incarnate in Jesus Christ**: Christians believe that God became incarnate, or took on human form, in the person of Jesus Christ. This is a central element of Christian belief, distinguishing it from other monotheistic religions.

6. **Personal**: Christians often speak of having a personal relationship with God. This means they believe God is interested in and involved with each individual's life.

7. **Redemptive/Salvific**: Christianity teaches that through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus (who is God the Son), God has provided a way for humanity's sins to be forgiven and for humans to be reconciled to God.

It's important to note that while these attributes generally hold true across the Christian tradition, there is significant diversity within Christianity, and different denominations and theological traditions may interpret these concepts in somewhat different ways.

I invite your engagement with me on these questions. You may leave comments below, but please be sure to read our policy on commenting before doing so.
Thank you!

Explanation

Okay. So much for ChatGPT's definition of God and specifically the Christian God. For our purposes here, I am going to offer my definition of the God that I worship as a Catholic. Here goes ...

Misconceptions

Atheists (particularly militant 'anti-theists') at times mock the concept of God by comparing Him to Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, the Tooth Fairy, the "Flying Spaghetti Monster", etc. All such mischaracterizations share two logical fallacies: 1) the category fallacy and 2) the straw man fallacy.

explain ...

Summary

There are many classical arguments for the existence of God, and I will mention some of them in passing in this website. But I do not believe that arguments for God's existence will move one to exercise faith in God. (For what we mean by "faith in God", please see the page What Do We Mean by 'Faith'?) Rather, I believe one comes to faith in God by experiencing Him. My own first encounter with God was at age six, and my first experience of God at age eight. These are recounted in the 'about me' section of this website.