16 Nov '12 19:39>
This post for discussion follows from a statement, ""Not if your infinite, it's not" made by robbie when discussing the number of stars etc, in the thread on extra-terrestial life.
"God is infinite" presents some theological conundrums. I wonder if you can see them, particularly with the "God" assumptions and religious stories around.
Infinity is a definable word in the dictionary, but in conceptual practice it poses conundrums, especially "theological" ones. I have no real belief problems with infinity but trying to relate to it and attach it to "entities" can lead to a morass of thought from which one struggles to get out of.
Infinite has no form, no 'edge', no start, no end.
This has the sound of a very Zenny type of "entity" when applied to a "God" concept. For Zen this is a contradiction of terms, however - Zen Buddhism baulks at final self existent entities or 'selves', seeing all as interdependent throughout. Nothing stands alone, not even a "God". This is one reason why Siddartha Gautama, "Buddha", and those after him shared the view that we are unable to finally say we are theist OR atheist.
What is an infinite 'entity'? I am not saying robbie is wrong, but what does it MEAN to our other ways in which we speak of "God" to state "God" (or any concept) is infinite? It appears obvious that a "God" must be infinite, i.e. not finite. But we are then lead into our conception of what that "God" is form-wise. Infinity has no "edges".
Mmmm?
"God is infinite" presents some theological conundrums. I wonder if you can see them, particularly with the "God" assumptions and religious stories around.
Infinity is a definable word in the dictionary, but in conceptual practice it poses conundrums, especially "theological" ones. I have no real belief problems with infinity but trying to relate to it and attach it to "entities" can lead to a morass of thought from which one struggles to get out of.
Infinite has no form, no 'edge', no start, no end.
This has the sound of a very Zenny type of "entity" when applied to a "God" concept. For Zen this is a contradiction of terms, however - Zen Buddhism baulks at final self existent entities or 'selves', seeing all as interdependent throughout. Nothing stands alone, not even a "God". This is one reason why Siddartha Gautama, "Buddha", and those after him shared the view that we are unable to finally say we are theist OR atheist.
What is an infinite 'entity'? I am not saying robbie is wrong, but what does it MEAN to our other ways in which we speak of "God" to state "God" (or any concept) is infinite? It appears obvious that a "God" must be infinite, i.e. not finite. But we are then lead into our conception of what that "God" is form-wise. Infinity has no "edges".
Mmmm?