Some questions on God

If God is eternal (i.e. has existed forever), then he logically cannot have either had a beginning or an end. Since he is omniscient, he knows everything. I believe that with a single being existing as the sole thing in eternity, there can be no real concept of time. When, then, did God decide to create the universe?

Assuming we are the only universe God has created, then he must have known how we would turn out as soon as he came into existence. Since he is eternal, he never came into existence, and thus the decision to create the universe must also be eternal. Along with the fact that for God there cannot be any passage of time, then the universe must have always been in existence (since he would have created as soon as he came into existence, but he's eternal).

If, then, the universe has always been in existence, then what is the need of a God to create it?

(I know there's probably myriads of flaws in there, but it confuses me. An omniscient God can have no concept of time, since he knows everything that has happened and will ever happen at once.)

because sometimes you have to think about how there really isn't a god. 🙂

Originally posted by LizzyT123
because sometimes you have to think about how there really isn't a god. 🙂

Originally posted by Trickster
If God is eternal (i.e. has existed forever), then he logically cannot have either had a beginning or an end. Since he is omniscient, he knows everything. I believe that with a single being existing as the sole thing in eternity, there can be no real concept of time. When, then, did God decide to create the universe?

Assuming we are the only universe God has created, then he must have known how we would turn out as soon as he came into existence. Since he is eternal, he never came into existence, and thus the decision to create the universe must also be eternal. Along with the fact that for God there cannot be any passage of time, then the universe must have always been in existence (since he would have created as soon as he came into existence, but he's eternal).

If, then, the universe has always been in existence, then what is the need of a God to create it?

(I know there's probably myriads of flaws in there, but it confuses me. An omniscient God can have no concept of time, since he knows everything that has happened and will ever happen at once.)

GOD is what we WANT him to be. How convenient.

Originally posted by badabing
Wow, what a revelation. It must be great knowing everything at only 15 years old. 😉

well honestly, why should I believe? my age doesn't mean anything to me...but if you're gonna judge me by that, whatever 🙂

Originally posted by badabing
This is the only way I can think of explaining the whole eternity question. God is a being that has total control of time, space, energy and matter. Time doesn't apply to God because He controls it and lives outside of it. Think of it this way, if you controlled time, you could go back to the dawn time and then travel to the end of time. This would make you eternal. You would have been around from the beginning of time to the end of time.

But still, what would be the point of travelling backward and forward? God would already know everything and would have done everything the first time round. And to suggest God is following some sort of cosmic plan implies there's a greater power.

In the same vein, if there is a beginning and an end, then they are boundaries, much like the boundaries of this universe. Who made them?

God The Father

1. God Is One—Deuteronomy 6:4; Malachi 2:10; Isaiah 46:9; Romans 3:30; 1 Corinthians 8:6; Galatians 3:20; Ephesians 4:6; 1 Timothy 2:5; James 2:19
2. Creator—Job 4:17; Psalm 95:6; Isaiah 40:28
3. Truth—Deuteronomy 32:4; Psalm 31:5, Isaiah 65:16
4. Holy—Psalm 92:15, 99:9; Hebrews 12:10; Leviticus 19:2
5. Just—Deuteronomy 32:4; Revelation 15:3
6. Faithful—Deuteronomy 7:9; 1 Corinthians 10:13; 2 Corinthians 1:18; 1 Peter 4:19
7. Good—Psalm 25:8, 143:10; Matthew 19:17; Psalm 92:15; Romans 2:4
8. Merciful—Deuteronomy 4:31; Psalm 145:8; Luke 6:36
9. Long-Suffering—Exodus 34:6; Numbers 14:18; 2 Peter 3:9; Psalm 86:15
10. Loving-Kind—Psalm 36:7, 69:16; Jeremiah 9:24; Luke 6:35-36
11. Compassionate—Psalm 86:15, 111:4, 112:4, 145:8; Matthew 20:34
12. Gracious—Exodus 34:6; Psalm 86:15, 145:8; Joel 2:13
13. Love—1 John 4:8, 16
14. Light 1 John 1:5; 1 Timothy 6:16; James 1:17
15. Life—Genesis 2:7; John 5:26, 14:6; 1 John 5:11-12
16. Judge—Psalm 50:6, 75:7; Hebrews 12:23; 2 Timothy 4:8; 1 Peter 2:23
17. Father—Psalm 68:5; John 20:17
18. King—Psalm 5:3, 10:16, 29:10, 47:7, 95:3; Malachi 1:14; Revelation 17:14, 19:16
19. Great King—Malachi 1:14
20. Unchanging/Constant—Malachi 3:6; James 1:17; Hebrews 6:17-18
21. Eternal—Deuteronomy 33:27; Romans 16:26
22. Omnipotent—Jeremiah 32:17, 27; 1 Timothy 6:15; Revelation 4:8, 19:6
23. Omniscient—Psalm 94:11, 147:5; 2 Corinthians 11:11; 1 John 3:20
24. Omnipresent—Psalm 139:7-12; Jeremiah 23:24
25. Peace—Isaiah 9:6; John 14:27, 16:33; Romans 15:33, 16:20; 1 Corinthians 14:33; Philippians 4:7, 9; Colossians 3:15; 1 Thessalonians 5:23; 2 Thessalonians 3:16; Hebrews 13:20
26. Righteous—Psalm 25:8, 92:15, 145:17; Daniel 9:14; Hebrews 6:10; Deuteronomy 32:4
27. Mighty And Awesome—Deuteronomy 7:21; Psalm 50:1
28. From Everlasting To Everlasting—Psalm 90:2
29. Most Upright—Isaiah 26:7
30. A God Of Patience And Comfort—Romans 15:5
31. Hope—Romans 15:13
32. Peace—Romans 15:33, 16:20; 2 Corinthians 13:11; Philippians 4:9
33. Love—2 Corinthians 13:11
34. Great and Awesome—Nehemiah 4:14

Originally posted by SelphieT
well honestly, why should I believe? my age doesn't mean anything to me...but if you're gonna judge me by that, whatever 🙂

Originally posted by Trickster
But still, what would be the point of travelling backward and forward? God would already know everything and would have done everything the first time round. And to suggest God is following some sort of cosmic plan implies there's a greater power.

In the same vein, if there is a beginning and an end, then they are boundaries, much like the boundaries of this universe. Who made them?

Originally posted by JesusIsAlive
God The Father

1. God Is One—Deuteronomy 6:4; Malachi 2:10; Isaiah 46:9; Romans 3:30; 1 Corinthians 8:6; Galatians 3:20; Ephesians 4:6; 1 Timothy 2:5; James 2:19
2. Creator—Job 4:17; Psalm 95:6; Isaiah 40:28
3. Truth—Deuteronomy 32:4; Psalm 31:5, Isaiah 65:16
4. Holy—Psalm 92:15, 99:9; Hebrews 12:10; Leviticus 19:2
5. Just—Deuteronomy 32:4; Revelation 15:3
6. Faithful—Deuteronomy 7:9; 1 Corinthians 10:13; 2 Corinthians 1:18; 1 Peter 4:19
7. Good—Psalm 25:8, 143:10; Matthew 19:17; Psalm 92:15; Romans 2:4
8. Merciful—Deuteronomy 4:31; Psalm 145:8; Luke 6:36
9. Long-Suffering—Exodus 34:6; Numbers 14:18; 2 Peter 3:9; Psalm 86:15
10. Loving-Kind—Psalm 36:7, 69:16; Jeremiah 9:24; Luke 6:35-36
11. Compassionate—Psalm 86:15, 111:4, 112:4, 145:8; Matthew 20:34
12. Gracious—Exodus 34:6; Psalm 86:15, 145:8; Joel 2:13
13. Love—1 John 4:8, 16
14. Light 1 John 1:5; 1 Timothy 6:16; James 1:17
15. Life—Genesis 2:7; John 5:26, 14:6; 1 John 5:11-12
16. Judge—Psalm 50:6, 75:7; Hebrews 12:23; 2 Timothy 4:8; 1 Peter 2:23
17. Father—Psalm 68:5; John 20:17
18. King—Psalm 5:3, 10:16, 29:10, 47:7, 95:3; Malachi 1:14; Revelation 17:14, 19:16
19. Great King—Malachi 1:14
20. Unchanging/Constant—Malachi 3:6; James 1:17; Hebrews 6:17-18
21. Eternal—Deuteronomy 33:27; Romans 16:26
22. Omnipotent—Jeremiah 32:17, 27; 1 Timothy 6:15; Revelation 4:8, 19:6
23. Omniscient—Psalm 94:11, 147:5; 2 Corinthians 11:11; 1 John 3:20
24. Omnipresent—Psalm 139:7-12; Jeremiah 23:24
25. Peace—Isaiah 9:6; John 14:27, 16:33; Romans 15:33, 16:20; 1 Corinthians 14:33; Philippians 4:7, 9; Colossians 3:15; 1 Thessalonians 5:23; 2 Thessalonians 3:16; Hebrews 13:20
26. Righteous—Psalm 25:8, 92:15, 145:17; Daniel 9:14; Hebrews 6:10; Deuteronomy 32:4
27. Mighty And Awesome—Deuteronomy 7:21; Psalm 50:1
28. From Everlasting To Everlasting—Psalm 90:2
29. Most Upright—Isaiah 26:7
30. A God Of Patience And Comfort—Romans 15:5
31. Hope—Romans 15:13
32. Peace—Romans 15:33, 16:20; 2 Corinthians 13:11; Philippians 4:9
33. Love—2 Corinthians 13:11
34. Great and Awesome—Nehemiah 4:14

Well, he doesn't sound like the fire breathing dragon that people are trying to avoid for some reason. 🙄

Originally posted by JesusIsAlive
God The Father

1. God Is One—Deuteronomy 6:4; Malachi 2:10; Isaiah 46:9; Romans 3:30; 1 Corinthians 8:6; Galatians 3:20; Ephesians 4:6; 1 Timothy 2:5; James 2:19
2. Creator—Job 4:17; Psalm 95:6; Isaiah 40:28
...
33. Love—2 Corinthians 13:11
34. Great and Awesome—Nehemiah 4:14

And this helps... how? It doesn't answer my question.

Originally posted by Justbyfaith
Well, he doesn't sound like the fire breathing dragon that people are trying to avoid for some reason. 🙄

Wooo! He's not a fire-breathing dragon! Who cares? That's not what the thread's about.

If neither of you can give an answer, don't just wave your Bible in my face.

Originally posted by badabing
Wow, you have some questions! I'll have to think on this one a bit. I promise to try and come up with a good response.

Cool. Thanks.

Originally posted by Trickster
But still, what would be the point of travelling backward and forward? God would already know everything and would have done everything the first time round. And to suggest God is following some sort of cosmic plan implies there's a greater power.

In the same vein, if there is a beginning and an end, then they are boundaries, much like the boundaries of this universe. Who made them?

Why do Humans continually get arrogant enough to the point where they believe they can understand certain concepts such as eternal when they can't even figure out how switch an economy based on oil to free-energy. ermm

Well, that doesn't help, but thanks for the input.

I consider time, space and existence as a closed circle with no beginning or end. It just exists. I agree that someone or something had to construct all of existence. I cant fathom that we owe existence to just the random luck of being in the right place at the right time.

Also, if time is a circle, then all our actions are simply repeated, and we cannot really have free will. Can we?

Originally posted by Trickster
But still, what would be the point of travelling backward and forward? God would already know everything and would have done everything the first time round. And to suggest God is following some sort of cosmic plan implies there's a greater power.

In the same vein, if there is a beginning and an end, then they are boundaries, much like the boundaries of this universe. Who made them?

God did.

Originally posted by JesusIsAlive
God did.

Wow, you have no idea what I'm talking about, do you?

Enlighten me. Maybe I misunderstood what you were trying to convey.

Originally posted by Trickster
Well, that doesn't help, but thanks for the input.

So existence is a closed circle, and I assume God exists outside it. Why, then, if he is a greater than time, does he describe himself in terms of time? If God is inside existence, then who made him?

Also, if time is a circle, then all our actions are simply repeated, and we cannot really have free will. Can we?

Right... I'm not sure if I can explain things better than I have previously. I'll give it a go:

(1) An eternal being can't have a beginning or end.
(2) God is an eternal being.
Conclusion: God does not have have a beginning or an end.
(3) Time is a measurement of the progression between two points (a beginning and an end).
Conclusion: There can be no passage of time for God.

Question: When did God decide to create the universe?

Development:

(1) There is no passage of time for God.
(2) All God's actions occur at once
Conclusion: God must have created the world immediately he began to exist.
(3) God is eternal
Conclusion: The universe is eternal.

Question: If the universe is eternal, then what need is there of a God to create it?

_____

The actual point you were responding to was my response to badabing’s own response. He suggested that God actually travelled backward and forward in an existing timeline. I asked that if God was travelling backward and forward in such a timeline, that had a beginning and end, then they are effectively boundaries on God. God, then is not all-powerful, and in turn, the existence of boundaries give rise to the question of what made them.

_____

Actually, I’m not sure if that is clearer. Sorry if it isn’t. If you read it, explain to me any points you don’t understand.