If God Were Here Among US

[_sock puppet]

Would he be a slob like one of us?

Trying to find his way home.

Great song, Dark Helmet. Really puts god in perspective doesn't it?

[_Nightlion]

Nightlion, the god you describe is not real.

We got you already in the last camp. (MormonDiscussions, just me, okay?)

[_Nightlion]

It's an interesting thought experiment. I especially like the idea of a God who carries around a few pet dinosaurs.

I think there might be more "camps" than you mention. For example, "Those who are in awe of what they've seen and want to learn more and want to talk to others about how they interpret this borderline-unimaginable Visitation." I think we might come up with a few more iterations as well, but, that's not a huge point.

I'm not sure why you say there would be enmity between all interpretive "camps."

I can speculate that a group who thinks "This is a horrible alien bent on our destruction and we must destroy it first," would not be inclined to listen to a group that thinks, "Holy cow! What was that? How can we make sense of this? How should we react? We should all get together and discuss this amazing Moment." But I can't see that it necessarily follows that ALL reactions would be in opposition to each other.

I was not thinking so much of what we would do after he was gone. I wanted to expand on what would happen while he remained among us. What would the NEWS make of it and who would comment and how would they steer public sentiment. And beside that exactly where folks see themselves lining up.

My big hope was that someone would get a clue that camp #1 is the only true camp. ;)

[_Nightlion]

I mean really here in power as the Supreme Being of the Universe for a while. It would prove the necessity of righteous segregation, why eternity is that way.

Say his eight mile cubed craft were to, harmlessly, nail itself into the world for a while and he steps out to exercise a few dinosaurs, cause he really likes running with those suckers. When too pressed by the crowd he would translate to another spot suddenly. Not really here to be adored. And only one of them, we think, with no guards of 144k. He thought maybe by stopping by all that God is dead blasphemy might stop for a while. Not on a mission to convert anyone. Okay he agrees to demonstrate how he creates a new critter or two. The showman in him gets the better of him. Fathers can be like that.

The world would be polarized into several camps.

Those who love God in meek deference fully realizing perpetual unworthiness.
Those who love the idea of God loving them and want everyone to know it.
Those who will do what they want regardless but are grateful none the less.
Those who want God to go away.

No military action is possible. Let's not go there.

Each group would be at enmity with the others. Can you see why?
What would you do? Please be nice.

To answer that, Nightlion, I need to know if the god you have in mind is the morally deficient one we read about in the Old Testament or in various Mormon incarnations. Or is it the idealized Jesus type of god upon which mankind has projected its ever evolving sense of morality? I am being nice, even though I know that believers will take offense at my descriptors.

Fairly certain that this would be The Unknown God. I mean, who knew he liked to run with the Raptors? Laughing while they're snapping at him. Those lugs are really vicious. That's why they are so much fun.

I denounce all the made up Gods of man's interpretations.
The only God I reverence is the one with power to forgive me, sanctify me, teach me, comfort me when faint, and fill me with love that's better than my own.

[_Nightlion]

I disagree. If there is a God, that God is already involved with us as much as it will ever be involved with us. There is no external God "out there" and there never has been, nor will there ever be...EVER.

You are looking in the wrong place for God Nightlion and assigning to an imaginary God, imaginary qualities and characteristics. Look within yourself and you will find the only place where answers (and God) reside. There is no place "outside" of your own experiences, cognition and awareness, thus, the 'within' is the only place that God can dwell.

I have not been a 'seeker of God' for more than forty years. God is within when you prepare to receive him with an honorable welcome worthy of the Great God and continue to make him feel wanted by devoted attention and not forgetting about him and remembering how unworthy you are of his presence and power.

[_Blixa]

Fairly certain that this would be The Unknown God. I mean, who knew he liked to run with the Raptors? Laughing while they're snapping at him. Those lugs are really vicious. That's why they are so much fun.

I denounce all the made up Gods of man's interpretations.
The only God I reverence is the one with power to forgive me, sanctify me, teach me, comfort me when faint, and fill me with love that's better than my own.

Gotta admit, I like this Unknown God, so far.

Where I differ from you is over that first (true) camp: "Those who love God in meek deference fully realizing perpetual unworthiness."

1) meek deference
Had such a being been revealed to me in such a way, my response would be far from "meek." I'd be delirious! Crying tears of joy, laughing, screaming, cheering, running, dancing, singing; filled with bliss that something I didn't even know I desired had been given to me.

2) perpetual unworthiness
I can't imagine that a being who would give me the utter bliss described above would also find me "perpetuually unworthy," nor want me to think of myself that way. I think he'd send a baby ankylosaurus over to give me a ride.

[_Lucretia MacEvil]

I mean really here in power as the Supreme Being of the Universe for a while. It would prove the necessity of righteous segregation, why eternity is that way.

Say his eight mile cubed craft were to, harmlessly, nail itself into the world for a while and he steps out to exercise a few dinosaurs, cause he really likes running with those suckers. When too pressed by the crowd he would translate to another spot suddenly. Not really here to be adored. And only one of them, we think, with no guards of 144k. He thought maybe by stopping by all that God is dead blasphemy might stop for a while. Not on a mission to convert anyone. Okay he agrees to demonstrate how he creates a new critter or two. The showman in him gets the better of him. Fathers can be like that.

The world would be polarized into several camps.

Those who love God in meek deference fully realizing perpetual unworthiness.
Those who love the idea of God loving them and want everyone to know it.
Those who will do what they want regardless but are grateful none the less.
Those who want God to go away.

No military action is possible. Let's not go there.

Each group would be at enmity with the others. Can you see why?
What would you do? Please be nice.

When Jesus appeared in America, he inspired a 200-yr period of peace. So why would God's appearance here and now inspire division and enmity? If such an appearance doesn't inspire unity and love, then it's probably a dinasaur-whisperer-from-outer-space.

[_Nightlion]

Fairly certain that this would be The Unknown God. I mean, who knew he liked to run with the Raptors? Laughing while they're snapping at him. Those lugs are really vicious. That's why they are so much fun.

I denounce all the made up Gods of man's interpretations.
The only God I reverence is the one with power to forgive me, sanctify me, teach me, comfort me when faint, and fill me with love that's better than my own.

Gotta admit, I like this Unknown God, so far.

Where I differ from you is over that first (true) camp: "Those who love God in meek deference fully realizing perpetual unworthiness."

1) meek deference
Had such a being been revealed to me in such a way, my response would be far from "meek." I'd be delirious! Crying tears of joy, laughing, screaming, cheering, running, dancing, singing; filled with bliss that something I didn't even know I desired had been given to me.

2) perpetual unworthiness
I can't imagine that a being who would give me the utter bliss described above would also find me "perpetuually unworthy," nor want me to think of myself that way. I think he'd send a baby ankylosaurus over to give me a ride.

What's making you so joyous in the first place? The greatness of God.
What keeps us meek is not the judgment or condemnation of God but the fact that we appreciate the greatness of God and convict ourselves as unworthy. This act keeps a fulness of joy possible. Such are, ironically enough, WORTHY of all that the Father has. For this kind will never be overcome by all the knowledge, gifts, powers, privileges and glory to ever vaunt themselves up in pride. Perpetual meekness is what God himself practices. That IS the culture of heaven. Those who noticed this before they came to earth and practiced it best are those whom the Father will draw unto Christ and make of them his jewels. These are those whom I seek to teach and build up a real Zion.

[_Nightlion]

I mean really here in power as the Supreme Being of the Universe for a while. It would prove the necessity of righteous segregation, why eternity is that way.

Say his eight mile cubed craft were to, harmlessly, nail itself into the world for a while and he steps out to exercise a few dinosaurs, cause he really likes running with those suckers. When too pressed by the crowd he would translate to another spot suddenly. Not really here to be adored. And only one of them, we think, with no guards of 144k. He thought maybe by stopping by all that God is dead blasphemy might stop for a while. Not on a mission to convert anyone. Okay he agrees to demonstrate how he creates a new critter or two. The showman in him gets the better of him. Fathers can be like that.

The world would be polarized into several camps.

Those who love God in meek deference fully realizing perpetual unworthiness.
Those who love the idea of God loving them and want everyone to know it.
Those who will do what they want regardless but are grateful none the less.
Those who want God to go away.

No military action is possible. Let's not go there.

Each group would be at enmity with the others. Can you see why?
What would you do? Please be nice.

When Jesus appeared in America, he inspired a 200-yr period of peace. So why would God's appearance here and now inspire division and enmity? If such an appearance doesn't inspire unity and love, then it's probably a dinasaur-whisperer-from-outer-space.

Christ did not appear in America until after the destruction of the more wicked part of them. I postulate God visiting us as we are. The juxtaposition of the four variant reactions mandate that none can respect any of the others without compromising the value of their own. Right?

We have:

Positive
Almost positive
Almost negative
Negative.

I think everyone knows exactly where they are by taking the least amount of thought.

Anyone what to change their reaction? Wondering how?

[_Blixa]

What's making you so joyous in the first place? The greatness of God.
What keeps us meek is not the judgment or condemnation of God but the fact that we appreciate the greatness of God and convict ourselves as unworthy. This act keeps a fulness of joy possible. Such are, ironically enough, WORTHY of all that the Father has. For this kind will never be overcome by all the knowledge, gifts, powers, privileges and glory to ever vaunt themselves up in pride. Perpetual meekness is what God himself practices. That IS the culture of heaven. Those who noticed this before they came to earth and practiced it best are those whom the Father will draw unto Christ and make of them his jewels. These are those whom I seek to teach and build up a real Zion.

Ah, you are thinking of meekness differently than I. Thanks for explaining.