If God is Omnipresent....

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SpearofDestiny
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.....then that must mean he also exists in Hell.




I think that's a contradiction. If God is omnipresent, and exists in all places and facets of actuality, then he must also exist in Hell. But if Hell is a place of pure evil, and no good can exist there, then how can God be there? And if God is Holy and Pure, and Hell is the absense of God, then how can God exist in Hell at all ?


And if God does not exist in Hell, then how is he omnipresent ?




confused

Shakyamunison
No.

SpearofDestiny
No...what ?

Shakyamunison
Originally posted by SpearofDestiny
No...what ?

God is not Omnipresent.

SpearofDestiny
I agree


The only way God can be omnipresent is if he/she is everything and everywhere. If God was good and evil, then God could occupy Hell as well as everything else.

Quark_666
God is not Omnipresent. Who said he was?

SpearofDestiny
Originally posted by Jesusisalive
Moreover, the universe is an impersonal entity whereas God--based on the Scriptures--is the all-intelligent/knowing, all-present, all-powerful Creator. There is no comparison between the two.

Quark_666
You started a thread based off of a statement from JIA?

Deja~vu
The Bible says that there is no where that god is not.....sooo yes. God is in hell.

Quark_666
Originally posted by Deja~vu
The Bible says that there is no where that god is not.....sooo yes. God is in hell. And why do you assume hell is a place?

SpearofDestiny
If God is omnipresent, then he is everywhere...Heaven and Hell...whether or not they are places or states of mind is semantics.

If God is everywhere, then he is also in Hell, but that would be a contradiction.

dadudemon
Originally posted by SpearofDestiny
If God is omnipresent, then he is everywhere...Heaven and Hell...whether or not they are places or states of mind is semantics.

If God is everywhere, then he is also in Hell, but that would be a contradiction.

However, if Gods consciousness transcends your conceptions of time and space, he doesn't have to physically be there to be there. I don't know how to explain that...but everything is "one eternal now"* with God.

*Joseph Smith

Quark_666
Originally posted by dadudemon
he doesn't have to physically be there to be there. He also doesn't have to be recognized. God's presense can be felt anywhere but can also be ignored anywhere, which is why evil exists despite God being there.

DigiMark007
So if Om is Godnipresent...

dadudemon
Originally posted by DigiMark007
So if Om is Godnipresent...


Spoonerism FTW?

Deja~vu
Originally posted by Quark_666
And why do you assume hell is a place? People misinterpret the word Hell as a place, but it is not. It's a state of being.

dadudemon
Originally posted by Deja~vu
People misinterpret the word Hell as a place, but it is not. It's a state of being.

yes

Zeal Ex Nihilo
And this is why many theologians interpret Hell to be a separation from God.

Quark_666
Originally posted by Zeal Ex Nihilo
And this is why many theologians interpret Hell to be a separation from God. Exactly. And the term "hellfire" has a bunch of connotations other that physical heat and burning as well.

leonheartmm
nothing is omnipresent. other than SEEING everything, one would have to FEAL everything from every possible perspective at the same time too. {and this is impossible as many things, to maintain thair uniqueness in perspective, need to be felt seperately from other perspectives. e.g. you can not feal true dispair in a certain situation if you are also looking at it from a hopeful perspective simultaneously}. this applies more easily to people's thoughts, even if you were able to sumhow SEE or FEAL sum1 else's thoughts, your experience of them wud be different than the expirience of the actual person, simply because, you are not in the same state he/she is and feal differently about the thought {based on your own state of being} than they do. this subjective facet of reality in my oppinion destroys the omnipresence paradigm. which also explaines why the god of scriptures doesnt have empathy for each and every individual soul's view. simply because those are things no1 can truly know all at the same time as they contradict each other and destroy unity of an entity.

willRules
Originally posted by leonheartmm
simply because those are things no1 can truly know all at the same time as they contradict each other and destroy unity of an entity.


Yeah to experience that, you'd have to be....I dunno....

Omnipotent

no expression

chithappens
Originally posted by Deja~vu
People misinterpret the word Hell as a place, but it is not. It's a state of being.

Even in this case, God is a part of that.

Robtard
Originally posted by Deja~vu
The Bible says that there is no where that god is not.....sooo yes. God is in hell.

The bible also doesn't state that God isn't in your anus. God is in your anus.

Robtard
Originally posted by leonheartmm
nothing is omnipresent. other than SEEING everything, one would have to FEAL everything from every possible perspective at the same time too. {and this is impossible as many things, to maintain thair uniqueness in perspective, need to be felt seperately from other perspectives. e.g. you can not feal true dispair in a certain situation if you are also looking at it from a hopeful perspective simultaneously}. this applies more easily to people's thoughts, even if you were able to sumhow SEE or FEAL sum1 else's thoughts, your experience of them wud be different than the expirience of the actual person, simply because, you are not in the same state he/she is and feal differently about the thought {based on your own state of being} than they do. this subjective facet of reality in my oppinion destroys the omnipresence paradigm. which also explaines why the god of scriptures doesnt have empathy for each and every individual soul's view. simply because those are things no1 can truly know all at the same time as they contradict each other and destroy unity of an entity.

We're talking about God, an all powerful abstract entity that always was and always will be, so God is pretty much be limitless, no matter how illogical and silly it may be. For all technical purposes, God created time, TIME.

SpearofDestiny
Originally posted by Robtard
The bible also doesn't state that God isn't in your anus. God is in your anus.



OH TRUST ME...God's been in my anus before....literally droolio

SpearofDestiny
Originally posted by leonheartmm
nothing is omnipresent. other than SEEING everything, one would have to FEAL everything from every possible perspective at the same time too. {and this is impossible as many things, to maintain thair uniqueness in perspective, need to be felt seperately from other perspectives. e.g. you can not feal true dispair in a certain situation if you are also looking at it from a hopeful perspective simultaneously}. this applies more easily to people's thoughts, even if you were able to sumhow SEE or FEAL sum1 else's thoughts, your experience of them wud be different than the expirience of the actual person, simply because, you are not in the same state he/she is and feal differently about the thought {based on your own state of being} than they do. this subjective facet of reality in my oppinion destroys the omnipresence paradigm. which also explaines why the god of scriptures doesnt have empathy for each and every individual soul's view. simply because those are things no1 can truly know all at the same time as they contradict each other and destroy unity of an entity.




I appreciate your input, but I think you are over analyzing it, and that's not necessary in my opinion.


I think it's much simpler than that: If God is omnipresent, then that means he exists everywhere, not just physically, but in all facets of existence, including the mental and spiritual.

Hell, whether or not it's a place or whether or not it's a state of mind (the Bible pretty much describes it as a very real place btw...), it still is under the realm of creation/existance.

So...



If God is omnipresent then he exists in Hell as well.


If God does not exist in Hell, then he is not omnipresent.

svetlu
Who is the Creator?
Creator is a collective, special Force that monitors the whole system of creation. That Force is one and unique. In Kabbalah there is but one primary law - the law of creation, which is to delight the creatures in any way the creatures can be delighted. All other laws stem from that one law, and everything that happens does so in the carrying out of that law. Everything that happens at any given moment in creation, its sole purpose is to take people come to the pointof utter bliss - to be filled with the Light of the Creator.
The Creator acts much like gravity: in the center of creation is the Creator. The souls were distanced five worlds away from Him. We live in the last one, called "our world". From that point Creator pulls us toward Him.
We sense that pull as pain - beginning with disease and ending in painful death. But if we make an effort to approach the Creator by cooperating with that Force, we will nor feel the pain. Instead, we will feel that Force as good. If, however, we refuse to, we will feel any troubles to the same extent that we resist. The Creator created us through His wish to give, to bestow. He created our will to receive exactly in the amount that He wanted to give. That why we must attain everything that He wants to give us eternity, strength, perfection, total control. This means we must assume all the duties of the Creator.
The primery law of creation is the singularity of the Creator-the one and only power that controls everything."There is none beside Him".
The second law of creation is that the Creator is totally benevolent. We cannot settle the contradiction between these two laws as they appear in our conception of reality.
To Kabbalists, this is not an"idea", but a fact they discover within their sansation of the Creator. People cannot begin to understand how there could have been a holocaust if there is a Creator, because they do not feel Him!!! In fact, the benevolence of the Creator appears only in our corrected desires.
If we are not corrected, then to the extent of the corruption to the Light, we will feel the opposite of the goodness of the Creator, feelings torment instead of happiness.
__________________________________________________
_____________________

dadudemon
Originally posted by SpearofDestiny
OH TRUST ME...God's been in my anus before....literally droolio

Don't you mean "oh thrust me"? hmm

SpearofDestiny
Hmm...i dont get it

inimalist
yet another paradox of the 3 Os

I like it smile

Ushgarak
SoD, you are open to charges of hypocrisy if you say that syaing hell is not a physical place is semantcis, and then indulge in semantics yourself in your definition of 'omnipresent'. That 'omnipresent' extends to non-physical places is an opnion, not a fact, and is simply adopting a meaning of the word that suits your argument.

Mindship
Originally posted by inimalist
yet another paradox of the 3 Os

I like it smile
How's this for a paradox...

http://secure.tommydocks.com/images/home/pontoon_docks_big.jpg

dadudemon
Originally posted by Mindship
How's this for a paradox...

http://secure.tommydocks.com/images/home/pontoon_docks_big.jpg

hmm

..........


I didn't think you had this much "smartass" in you. That certainly is a "darn tootin'" paradox. smile

Bentley
An omnipresent God could be in Hell while nothing of its grace is felt in such place.

Gannon
Hell is the presence of God in His wrath. It is His eternal punishment for the wicked.

Psalm 139:8 "If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there."

SpearofDestiny
Originally posted by Ushgarak
SoD, you are open to charges of hypocrisy if you say that syaing hell is not a physical place is semantcis, and then indulge in semantics yourself in your definition of 'omnipresent'. That 'omnipresent' extends to non-physical places is an opnion, not a fact, and is simply adopting a meaning of the word that suits your argument.


First of all, In the Bible you will see that Hell is described as a place, not just a state of mind. Hell has fire according to the Bible, meaning it occupies Space. It is also said to be under the earth...


Secondly, even if Hell were simply a state of mind, the mind is still a place where God would exist. If God does not exist in the mind, then he is not really omnipresent.


So either way, whether Hell be a real place, or an event, or whatever you want to call it, if God does not exist there, then he is not truly omnipresent.



If God were truly omnipresent, there could be no separation from him. Do you understand ? It's quite simple Ush.

The only way you could be separated from God, if God is truly omnipresent, is if you end up no where, meaning you no longer exist. If you suffer in Hell, then you still exist, and thus, there is an existance where God is not. Then he cannot be omnipresent.

Okay ?

SpearofDestiny
Originally posted by Bentley
An omnipresent God could be in Hell while nothing of its grace is felt in such place.


Then Hell is not a place where only the evil dwell and thus would be a contradiction.


And if God is truly Holy and Sacred, and Hell is separation from God, then how could the two be together ? It really doesn't make sense.

Symmetric Chaos
Originally posted by SpearofDestiny
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.....then that must mean he also exists in Hell.




I think that's a contradiction. If God is omnipresent, and exists in all places and facets of actuality, then he must also exist in Hell. But if Hell is a place of pure evil, and no good can exist there, then how can God be there? And if God is Holy and Pure, and Hell is the absense of God, then how can God exist in Hell at all ?


And if God does not exist in Hell, then how is he omnipresent ?




confused

An omnipotent creature is not necessarily limited by simple conceptions of logic.

dadudemon
Originally posted by SpearofDestiny
First of all, In the Bible you will see that Hell is described as a place, not just a state of mind. Hell has fire according to the Bible, meaning it occupies Space. It is also said to be under the earth...


Secondly, even if Hell were simply a state of mind, the mind is still a place where God would exist. If God does not exist in the mind, then he is not really omnipresent.


So either way, whether Hell be a real place, or an event, or whatever you want to call it, if God does not exist there, then he is not truly omnipresent.



If God were truly omnipresent, there could be no separation from him. Do you understand ? It's quite simple Ush.

The only way you could be separated from God, if God is truly omnipresent, is if you end up no where, meaning you no longer exist. If you suffer in Hell, then you still exist, and thus, there is an existance where God is not. Then he cannot be omnipresent.

Okay ?

Do you have scriptures for this that are not metaphorical, allegorical, or symbolic but are literal in interpretation. hmm

Even in Mormonism, we are not sure what Outer Darkness(hell) is. Some say it is a state of mind, others say it is a universe of true nothingness. (Yes, Shaky, pure utter nothingness.)

SpearofDestiny
Originally posted by Symmetric Chaos
An omnipotent creature is not necessarily limited by simple conceptions of logic.


But my point is, it is not logical in the first place.


And I am not necessarily discussing an omnipotent being, but an omnipresent one.


If God is truly omnipresent, then there is no existence which is separate from himself. Only non existence could be separate from him. If Hell exists, and it is separation from God, then God is not truly omnipresent, only virtually so.


For God to be truthfully omnipresent, but for Hell to be the separation from God at the same time would be illogical and contradicting.


If God is perfection, how can anything having to do with him be illogical and contradicting ... ?

dadudemon
Originally posted by SpearofDestiny
If God is truly omnipresent, then there is no existence which is separate from himself. Only non existence could be separate from him. If Hell exists, and it is separation from God, then God is not truly omnipresent, only virtually so.

I tend agree with the above. I also think that for all intents and purposes, God was omnipresent for the understanding of those the scriptures were originally written for. Due to how in depth people are getting with interpretations, it may become necessary to redefine or even come up with a new word and definition for what God really is. He is virtually omnipotent and omnipresent. To me, he is virtually omniscient as well because it is possible that there are other things beyond God out there. (Such as God having sibling Gods that are in no way shape or form, part of this reality...or he may have a God that is above him...there could be an infinite number of generations of Gods before our God because of omnipresence.)

Ushgarak
Originally posted by SpearofDestiny
First of all, In the Bible you will see that Hell is described as a place, not just a state of mind. Hell has fire according to the Bible, meaning it occupies Space. It is also said to be under the earth...


Secondly, even if Hell were simply a state of mind, the mind is still a place where God would exist. If God does not exist in the mind, then he is not really omnipresent.


So either way, whether Hell be a real place, or an event, or whatever you want to call it, if God does not exist there, then he is not truly omnipresent.



If God were truly omnipresent, there could be no separation from him. Do you understand ? It's quite simple Ush.

The only way you could be separated from God, if God is truly omnipresent, is if you end up no where, meaning you no longer exist. If you suffer in Hell, then you still exist, and thus, there is an existance where God is not. Then he cannot be omnipresent.

Okay ?

No not really, because you are still making assumptions about the word 'omnipresent' in extending it to non-physical places. That you want to interpret it like that, fine! But don't expect everyone else to. In the end, your argument also comes down to semantics.

It is indeed very simple! But you are the one not understanding it. You are blinding yourself in your deterimation to score cheap points of logic that frankly have no value.

Not that it makes any difference at all to anything Christians believe whether he has a presence there or not, but your argument is still deeply flawed.

chithappens
then the word omnipresent can't be used. either god is omnipresent or not. if god is omnipresent, then god is in all things humans can imagine, period.

Symmetric Chaos
Originally posted by SpearofDestiny
And I am not necessarily discussing an omnipotent being, but an omnipresent one.

You are clearly refering to the Judeo-Christian god, who is usually viewed as being omnipotent.

Originally posted by SpearofDestiny
For God to be truthfully omnipresent, but for Hell to be the separation from God at the same time would be illogical and contradicting.

If God is perfection, how can anything having to do with him be illogical and contradicting ... ?

You're making an assumption about perfection.

chithappens
Originally posted by Symmetric Chaos



You're making an assumption about perfection.

erm

lil bitchiness
Allah-uh Akbar. God is great. Now lets move on.

Bentley
Originally posted by SpearofDestiny
Then Hell is not a place where only the evil dwell and thus would be a contradiction.


And if God is truly Holy and Sacred, and Hell is separation from God, then how could the two be together ? It really doesn't make sense.

I have never believed for a second that there is only evil in hell, since even by definition, if the people there are in damnation because of God's will, the tortures in hell serve God and thus His hand is in hell. So to me the definition you give of Hell is what creates the conflict in the first place.

God is indeed everywhere, even in hell, but it cannot be perceived for those inside hell who live in despair.

Blax_Hydralisk
Originally posted by lil bitchiness
Allah-uh Akbar. God is great. Now lets move on.

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f122/blaxican_templar/1192057100519.jpg

confused

SpearofDestiny
Originally posted by Ushgarak
No not really, because you are still making assumptions about the word 'omnipresent' in extending it to non-physical places. That you want to interpret it like that, fine! But don't expect everyone else to. In the end, your argument also comes down to semantics.


Since when is omnipresent only applied to physical places ? Cuz that's news to me buddy.




Originally posted by Ushgarak
It is indeed very simple! But you are the one not understanding it. You are blinding yourself in your deterimation to score cheap points of logic that frankly have no value.


That's simply your opinion, and nothing more, so I will not bother arguing it.




Originally posted by Ushgarak
Not that it makes any difference at all to anything Christians believe whether he has a presence there or not, but your argument is still deeply flawed.


How is my argument flawed ? I love how you are not actually addressing it, but still attempt to critisize it. Funny.



It's fairly simple, and if you just look at it, you will see:


If there is any where in existence where God is not present, then he is not truly omnipresent. He can't be everywhere "except in this one place", and still be omnipresent.


If God is everywhere and occupies everything, then there can't be an existance where he is not and that is not himself. The only conclusion is that non existence is the only true separation from God.


What part do you not understand ?





Originally posted by chithappens
then the word omnipresent can't be used. either god is omnipresent or not. if god is omnipresent, then god is in all things humans can imagine, period.




thumb up


I'm glad someone understands.






Originally posted by symmetric chaos
You are clearly refering to the Judeo-Christian god, who is usually viewed as being omnipotent.



But omnipotence and omnipresence are not the same thing. I am sure if you have one, then you can easily obtain the other, but that is besides the point.


I am only discussing omnipresence, not omnipotence. So please stay on topic.

Secondly, back to the point: It is illogical and contradicting for an omnipresent being to not exist in Hell. Then that can only mean that Hell doesn't exist, logically.

I am not saying that the illogical answer cannot be true, only that it is not logical in the first place. Do you understand ?





Originally posted by symmetric chaos
You're making an assumption about perfection.



Even though I still back what I said, you have a point. Arguing what perfection is will lead to a never ending nonsense debate. And it is off topic. So feel free to ignore the statement I made on that.







Originally posted by dadudedemon
I tend agree with the above. I also think that for all intents and purposes, God was omnipresent for the understanding of those the scriptures were originally written for. Due to how in depth people are getting with interpretations, it may become necessary to redefine or even come up with a new word and definition for what God really is. He is virtually omnipotent and omnipresent. To me, he is virtually omniscient as well because it is possible that there are other things beyond God out there. (Such as God having sibling Gods that are in no way shape or form, part of this reality...or he may have a God that is above him...there could be an infinite number of generations of Gods before our God because of omnipresence.)




I can always rely on you to have an open minded and objective response thumb up


I think you may be right. I think that this God is logically virtually omnipresent (and omniscient and omnipotent), but not literally.


I think it makes more sense though if God was both good and evil. Or if God wasn't either, but rather the personification of everything.


That way, he can occupy Hell, Earth, Heaven, every facet of the universe, including what's beyond the universe, etc. and still be God. However, if this were the case, he wouldn't be a "he".

chithappens
Wait, I have to ask: Is saying that a "perfect being" is automatically "omnipresent" an assumption?

SpearofDestiny
No, what I said earlier was that how can anything illogical and contradicting come from a being who is perfection ?

inimalist
Originally posted by SpearofDestiny
No, what I said earlier was that how can anything illogical and contradicting come from a being who is perfection ?

unfortunately, the only logic we have access to is flawed human logic

If logic can exist outside of the human perspective, there is no reason to assume that it would contain the same axioms as ours.

Bentley
Originally posted by Bentley
I have never believed for a second that there is only evil in hell, since even by definition, if the people there are in damnation because of God's will, the tortures in hell serve God and thus His hand is in hell. So to me the definition you give of Hell is what creates the conflict in the first place.

God is indeed everywhere, even in hell, but it cannot be perceived for those inside hell who live in despair.

Bump myself!

Symmetric Chaos
Originally posted by chithappens
erm

¿Que?

Originally posted by SpearofDestiny

But omnipotence and omnipresence are not the same thing. I am sure if you have one, then you can easily obtain the other, but that is besides the point.


I am only discussing omnipresence, not omnipotence. So please stay on topic.

Secondly, back to the point: It is illogical and contradicting for an omnipresent being to not exist in Hell. Then that can only mean that Hell doesn't exist, logically.

I am not saying that the illogical answer cannot be true, only that it is not logical in the first place. Do you understand ?

But you're also talking about God. You ignore the fact (for the sake of argument lets assume God is real) that God doesn't have to follow logic.

Saying that one aspect of a being doesn't work while ignoring the parts that do make it work is foolish. If I said that it didn't make sense for you to breath because your lungs needed a signal to tell them to do that you would point out that your brain does that.

The same applies here, I mention omnipotence because it (inelegantly) solves your perceived paradox and is often a power credited to god.

SpearofDestiny
Originally posted by Symmetric Chaos
¿Que?



But you're also talking about God. You ignore the fact (for the sake of argument lets assume God is real) that God doesn't have to follow logic.

Saying that one aspect of a being doesn't work while ignoring the parts that do make it work is foolish. If I said that it didn't make sense for you to breath because your lungs needed a signal to tell them to do that you would point out that your brain does that.

The same applies here, I mention omnipotence because it (inelegantly) solves your perceived paradox and is often a power credited to god.



Okay. My point though, is that it is a contradiction and is illogical in the first place.



Whether or not God is beyond logic, etc. is beside the point. I still feel it is a major cop out though.


If God encompasses all things, then he exists in all possible directions, and his presence cannot be escaped. Thus, whether he likes it or not, Hell would exist within him. Logically only non existence can be separate from himself, if he were truly omnipotent.

However, when you include omnipotence in the equation, then who is to say that he can't be omnipresent without having to exist in Hell as well ? Who knows. That's another argument entirely though, because I'm not really trying to resurrect the Omnipotence Paradox Thread again.


My primary point is that for God to be truly omnipresent, while not existing in Hell is a major contradiction and is illogical. If you disagree, then say so.



But I think it is going off topic to include the paradox of omnipotence into the argument, when one can easily just repeat that in an argument having to do with Omniscience vs Free Will, and Love being cruel, etc. There are many contradictions about the Biblical God, and it's kind of a cop out and played out argument that due to omnipotence, God can be pure love while still doing evil things, and God can be two completely contradicting entities at the same time, etc.


So I will leave it at that. If you wish to continue playing the omnipotence card, then please take it to the Paradox of Omnipotence Thread. But if you wish to argue why it is actually logical and not contradictory for God to be omnipotent and not exist in Hell, then I welcome you to do so.


I mean no offense, so please don't take it that way, but I just think the Paradox of Omnipotence is another topic all together.

SpearofDestiny
Originally posted by inimalist
unfortunately, the only logic we have access to is flawed human logic

If logic can exist outside of the human perspective, there is no reason to assume that it would contain the same axioms as ours.



Originally posted by spearofdestiny
Even though I still back what I said, you have a point. Arguing what perfection is will lead to a never ending nonsense debate. And it is off topic. So feel free to ignore the statement I made on that.

Bentley
I said it already, the flaw in your argument is that you think Hell has only evil when it clearly serves a good propose and is in nature not pure evil by definition.

SpearofDestiny
Originally posted by Bentley
I said it already, the flaw in your argument is that you think Hell has only evil when it clearly serves a good propose and is in nature not pure evil by definition.


Supposedly, the Bible dictates Hell as a place of evil and suffering, and Hell is ultimately the absence of God.


If you mean to defy that version of Hell, then tell me...what is Hell really ?

Bentley
Hell can be a relative absence of God, as I said, as long as God cannot be perceived by those on Hell, they are outside His grace and thus, suffering.

There is a complex answer: Hell is anyplace with less presence of God than this world, when people die outside God's grace they are pushed away from Him, when this happen they go to some other earth where there is "less" God's presence. As they were uncapable of saving themselves in God's eyes when they were closer to God, they are doomed to fail in that lesser place. Loop this until you get yourself eternal damnation. God's grace needs only to be less than that which exists in the world to cause eternal damnation, no need to have zero presence at any point.

Also, we know that Jesus (Christian God) went to limbo/hell to save the damned souls, since God is atemporal, we know that God has in fact, being in hell already, thus there is a presence of God in hell.

Blax_Hydralisk
Originally posted by SpearofDestiny
Supposedly, the Bible dictates Hell as a place of evil and suffering, and Hell is ultimately the absence of God.


If you mean to defy that version of Hell, then tell me...what is Hell really ?

Jehovah's Witnesses see hell as something different.

inimalist
Originally posted by SpearofDestiny


isnt your point that a quality of God contains a paradox?

I think a discussion of whether logical paradoxes can exist, whether they exist outside of human language, whether logic exists outside of human conception and how close we can come to knowing those axioms is, pretty much, the only important line of dialog.

Every paradox about God is instantly rendered moot if God exists and the paradoxes are merely a product of language.

If you aren't interested in talking about the base assumptions you are making, then there is no reason in discussion. You can actually make ANY statement, and have it be true, so long as the underlying assumptions are assumed to be true. The problem here, is that what you are assuming to be true might not be.

SpearofDestiny
Originally posted by Bentley
Hell can be a relative absence of God, as I said, as long as God cannot be perceived by those on Hell, they are outside His grace and thus, suffering.

There is a complex answer: Hell is anyplace with less presence of God than this world, when people die outside God's grace they are pushed away from Him, when this happen they go to some other earth where there is "less" God's presence. As they were uncapable of saving themselves in God's eyes when they were closer to God, they are doomed to fail in that lesser place. Loop this until you get yourself eternal damnation. God's grace needs only to be less than that which exists in the world to cause eternal damnation, no need to have zero presence at any point.

Also, we know that Jesus (Christian God) went to limbo/hell to save the damned souls, since God is atemporal, we know that God has in fact, being in hell already, thus there is a presence of God in hell.





Okay. So what you are basically saying is that God does exist in Hell.

Deja~vu
I wouldn't call it by name. People give it a name. But yes, paradoxes do exist.

SpearofDestiny
Originally posted by inimalist
isnt your point that a quality of God contains a paradox?


Yes, but that's not the basis of what I am saying.


There can be a logical paradox in nature, or in one's lifetime experience.


I just think in this case, the paradox is illogical. I think the contadiction here is more severe than God knowing the future, but there still being free will.



Originally posted by inimalist
I think a discussion of whether logical paradoxes can exist, whether they exist outside of human language, whether logic exists outside of human conception and how close we can come to knowing those axioms is, pretty much, the only important line of dialog.


Well I will admit that I do think logical paradoxes exist in nature, and in many ways which only a number of people can recognize. So I'm not exactly saying that a logical paradox cannot exist.

Like I stated before, I find this paradox illogical. And I don't think it's just a paradox like the one for omnipotence.

If God is omnipresent, then nothing in existence is separate from him. He would exist in all directions, in all categories of thought, in all atoms, in every possible facet of being, since omni encompasses all, and present encompasses being.


The only logical conclusion would be that non-existence is the only thing separate from God.

If Hell is total separation from God, then it exists...but if it exists, then it is a place/idea/state of mind/state of being that does not include God. If that is so, God is then not omnipresent.


So it's not just a paradox, but a logical impossibility. If you want to say that God is beyond logic, and can break the rules of restrictions of reality, then you can say that. But to me, that's a major cop out, and a conveinent "all answer" to anything having to do with God in the first place.


But, I accept your argument about human logic. All we can work with is what we can conceive of, and if God is beyond human conception, then he or it is not bound by our perceptions.

I am simply stating that this contradiction/paradox is not logical or consistent, and thus causes a problem for general understanding.



Originally posted by inimalist
Every paradox about God is instantly rendered moot if God exists and the paradoxes are merely a product of language.


But language does not dictate nature. Whether or not we recognize a paradox to be so, does not render the paradox existent or non-existent. And this problem is not simply that of language, or even common sense.


It's not like the mysterious black hole, or presence of dark matter, or curvature of space time. Those mysteries still fit with each other, and can be explained logically through study and evidence.


The contradiction of God's omnipresence, yet non existence of Hell can't be logically explained or made sense of.







Originally posted by inimalist
If you aren't interested in talking about the base assumptions you are making, then there is no reason in discussion. You can actually make ANY statement, and have it be true, so long as the underlying assumptions are assumed to be true. The problem here, is that what you are assuming to be true might not be.


What do you imagine I am assuming to be true ?


I don't beleive in Hell or the Biblical God.

Gannon
SoD i answered your question right here. But apparently no one saw it...
Originally posted by Gannon
Hell is the presence of God in His wrath. It is His eternal punishment for the wicked.

Psalm 139:8 "If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there." Hell is the presence of God in His pure wrath, while heaven is the presence of God in His eternal love.

Therefore there is no contradiction against His omnipresence.

chickenlover98
Originally posted by Gannon
SoD i answered your question right here. But apparently no one saw it...
Hell is the presence of God in His pure wrath, while heaven is the presence of God in His eternal love.

Therefore there is no contradiction against His omnipresence. yes however hell is construed in 2 ways. 1 being satan torturing you, and the other is the lack of the presence of god. your description does not exist

inimalist
Originally posted by SpearofDestiny
I am simply stating that this contradiction/paradox is not logical or consistent, and thus causes a problem for general understanding.


I'm sorry I cut this down, but I agree with much of what you said, so its all generally "cosign 100%"

I personally don't believe that logical paradoxes can exist in the universe (re: I believe there is some order, but admittedly this is a belief), though humans might not understand this order, so stuff may appear paradoxical to us at times.

I also agree that, if we assume that Hell is supposed to not have God in it, God being omnipresent is a paradox.

Gannon
Originally posted by chickenlover98
yes however hell is construed in 2 ways. 1 being satan torturing you, and the other is the lack of the presence of god. your description does not exist Where do you get this definition of hell being the absence of God? Just curious.

leonheartmm
i think it wud only make sense for god to be omnipresent if god WAS everything, as opposed to being a seperate entity and being PRESENT everywhere.

Quark_666
Would it make sense to you if an omnipresent being had awareness and power over everything but did not presume to exist there?

leonheartmm
omnipresence and opmniscience denies the presence of dicrete entities, e.g. our thoughts/sense of self etc. i certainly dont feal god in my self awareness. even if god can SEE it, still doesnt mean he sees it in the same unique way that i do. for god to be omnipresent, he wud have to be able to do that with every discreet entity.

Quark_666
My mistake. Should have used the word "omnipotent." But you satisfied my curiosity anyway big grin

chickenlover98
Originally posted by Gannon
Where do you get this definition of hell being the absence of God? Just curious. most christians interpret it this way even our resident christians JIA and ushomefree

chickenlover98
Originally posted by leonheartmm
omnipresence and opmniscience denies the presence of dicrete entities, e.g. our thoughts/sense of self etc. i certainly dont feal god in my self awareness. even if god can SEE it, still doesnt mean he sees it in the same unique way that i do. for god to be omnipresent, he wud have to be able to do that with every discreet entity. seriously bro great to have you back on teh religion forum. i think ransfinitum is comin back soon. be ready big grin

Bentley
Originally posted by SpearofDestiny
Okay. So what you are basically saying is that God does exist in Hell.

Yeah, that would be the conclusion.

Quark_666
Originally posted by chickenlover98
seriously bro great to have you back on teh religion forum. i think ransfinitum is comin back soon. be ready big grin Yeah he just responded to this age-old dead thread on a conversation that doesn't have a point. Course we all do that with conversations we seriously wanna revive...

chickenlover98
Originally posted by Quark_666
Yeah he just responded to this age-old dead thread on a conversation that doesn't have a point. Course we all do that with conversations we seriously wanna revive... oh oh oh which thread. i have no knowledge of this!

peejayd
Originally posted by SpearofDestiny
-




.....then that must mean he also exists in Hell.




I think that's a contradiction. If God is omnipresent, and exists in all places and facets of actuality, then he must also exist in Hell. But if Hell is a place of pure evil, and no good can exist there, then how can God be there? And if God is Holy and Pure, and Hell is the absense of God, then how can God exist in Hell at all ?


And if God does not exist in Hell, then how is he omnipresent ?




confused

Originally posted by Shakyamunison
God is not Omnipresent.

* at long last, we're on the same page... Happy Dance

Mindship
Originally posted by dadudemon
...it may become necessary to redefine or even come up with a new word and definition for what God really is...
...there could be an infinite number of generations of Gods before our God because of omnipresence.
Perhaps this overall scenario, this all-encompassing process (an infinite regression?), could be the "ultimate form" of God. The "ultimate form" is omnipresent, but perhaps not the lesser manifestations.

Originally posted by inimalist
I think a discussion of whether logical paradoxes can exist, whether they exist outside of human language, whether logic exists outside of human conception and how close we can come to knowing those axioms is, pretty much, the only important line of dialog. I pretty much agree. Start a thread. rolling on floor laughing

SpearofDestiny
Originally posted by Gannon
SoD i answered your question right here. But apparently no one saw it...
Hell is the presence of God in His pure wrath, while heaven is the presence of God in His eternal love.

Therefore there is no contradiction against His omnipresence.


Wait...if Hell is actually God's wrath manifest, then that would make total sense.



The only thing is, I don't think other Christians view Hell as God's wrath, but rather as our path away from God.


But if Hell is actually God's wrath, then it makes sense.

chickenlover98
Originally posted by SpearofDestiny
Wait...if Hell is actually God's wrath manifest, then that would make total sense.



The only thing is, I don't think other Christians view Hell as God's wrath, but rather as our path away from God.


But if Hell is actually God's wrath, then it makes sense. no it doesnt, hell i sposed to be either the absence of god, or being tortured by the devil. hwever if its the former then i submit to the kmc religion forum that earth is hell and that we are already repenting for our sins and are garunteed our way into heaven.

Zeal Ex Nihilo
LOL, thanks for that insight. You're always a real treat.

Gannon
Originally posted by SpearofDestiny
Wait...if Hell is actually God's wrath manifest, then that would make total sense.



The only thing is, I don't think other Christians view Hell as God's wrath, but rather as our path away from God.


But if Hell is actually God's wrath, then it makes sense.
Just cause some people believe that hell is the absence of God doesn't make it true. The Bible should is the final authority.


Luke 3:7 "Then said he to the multitude that came forth to be baptized of him, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?"

John 3:36 "He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him."

1Th 5:9 "For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ."

Psalms 139:8 "If I ascend up into heaven, thou there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there."



It's clear that God appoints some to wrath and some to salvation. It's also clear that God is present in hell as well as heaven. Jesus warns the wicked of wrath to come.

So I think it's pretty clear that hell is the wrath of God on the wicked. I couldn't find one verse saying that hell is the absence of God...

willofthewisp
"no it doesnt, hell i sposed to be either the absence of god, or being tortured by the devil. hwever if its the former then i submit to the kmc religion forum that earth is hell and that we are already repenting for our sins and are garunteed our way into heaven."----chickenlover

God is all over the earth. We aren't automatically separated from him by being here.

Shakyamunison
Originally posted by willofthewisp
"no it doesnt, hell i sposed to be either the absence of god, or being tortured by the devil. hwever if its the former then i submit to the kmc religion forum that earth is hell and that we are already repenting for our sins and are garunteed our way into heaven."----chickenlover

God is all over the earth. We aren't automatically separated from him by being here.

This life is hell and heaven and 8 other worlds, all in one. That is what Nichiren Buddhism teaches.

dadudemon
Originally posted by Shakyamunison
This life is hell and heaven and 8 other worlds, all in one. That is what Nichiren Buddhism teaches.

I can agree with that.

willofthewisp
Are you a Buddhist, shaky? Buddhists and Christians have very different ideas about the world and the purpose of it. It's my personal belief that this world is not hell. It's imperfect and sometimes sucks, but there is so much here for us to enjoy and God gives us so many resources here that it just can't be hell imo. Hell, in my definition, is eternal suffering and I'm not eternally suffering nor feel a separation from God here.

Shakyamunison
Originally posted by willofthewisp
Are you a Buddhist, shaky? Buddhists and Christians have very different ideas about the world and the purpose of it. It's my personal belief that this world is not hell. It's imperfect and sometimes sucks, but there is so much here for us to enjoy and God gives us so many resources here that it just can't be hell imo. Hell, in my definition, is eternal suffering and I'm not eternally suffering nor feel a separation from God here.
I understand that. However the idea that Hell is a state of mind is useful in everyday life, and is fundamentally different then the Hell you are talking about. However, I enjoy watching the kids squirm and twitch when I say this life is Hell. laughing

willofthewisp
Oh believe me, it can feel that way, and I do believe we can create our own private hell through our obsessions and bad decisions.

Shakyamunison
Originally posted by willofthewisp
Oh believe me, it can feel that way, and I do believe we can create our own private hell through our obsessions and bad decisions.

Then you might be interested in the Ten Worlds. You can use the concept as a philosophy, and not as a religion. I will pm you a link, only if you are interested. big grin

peejayd
* we can create our own private hell through our obsessions and bad decisions, true... but just a question, do we really have to be that pessimistic?

willofthewisp
I don't find it that pessimistic a statement. It's just a possibility. The best way to avoid a personal hell is to learn from your past experiences and change your behavior. Our own thoughts and involvement can lead to great things, but as soon as something becomes an obsession, it's no longer a good thing for you.

SpearofDestiny
I agree with the above three posts

Deja~vu
I have mixed feelings on this tonic.

Bardock42
Originally posted by Deja~vu
I have mixed feelings on this tonic. I have a mixed gin tonic.

Quiero Mota
Originally posted by Bardock42
I have a mixed gin tonic.

laughing That was golden!

peejayd
Originally posted by willofthewisp
I don't find it that pessimistic a statement. It's just a possibility.

* it really is a possibility... but your mind is very clouded, dark and pessimistic, for you in a state to might even think creating your own private hell...

Originally posted by willofthewisp
The best way to avoid a personal hell is to learn from your past experiences and change your behavior. Our own thoughts and involvement can lead to great things, but as soon as something becomes an obsession, it's no longer a good thing for you.

* agreed... and i might add: learn to see opportunity in every calamity... not the other way around...

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