There are only so many different views on the question of God. Do you know what you believe?
Atheism, or materialism, is the view that there really is no God. As a dogma or philosophy, atheism says that there is a physical universe and nothing else. Belief in God is a weak-minded explanation or naïve wishful thinking preventing people from standing on their own two feet.
Polytheism is the belief that there are many gods. The polytheist says, “in our tribe we worship this god, but you live on the other side of the river (or across the ocean, or in a different culture), and you worship a different god. We choose to accept a plurality of gods because we’re not about to believe in your god, and we don’t care a bit if you believe in our god.” There is no absolute God to whom you are fully accountable.
Pantheism holds that there is a divine nature in the universe, but it is indistinguishable from the physical universe itself. God is not separate; God is what is; God is an “it.” Pantheism deifies the earth and the self. It holds that if we have within us an urge to find the divine, it is because we are divine, and part of a spiritual unity that binds together all reality. Pantheism says that your search for God doesn’t need to stretch any further than what you can see. What it does not offer is a God who is better than us, higher than us, stronger than us.
Deism is the belief that there is a God who created the universe, but then stepped back from it all and has no controlling influence over or involvement in the world. There are no miracles–never have been. There is no word from heaven–never has been. Don’t expect any direct divine involvement in your life–never will be. The Bible is a human book with spiritual aspirations, but ignore the miracles (including the resurrection of Jesus) because we know better than that today.
Theism is the biblical view. A confidence that when you pray, there is a God who hears you. An anticipation about what new movement God is going to initiate in the world today. An attentiveness to the voice of God. A confidence in divine love. A belief that God acts with intelligent purpose. Theism is the belief that there is a God who is singular, transcendent, all-powerful, consistent, and wise. And he is personal.
Next time: how is God “personal”?
[Mel expands on all this, including explanations of how Christianity is different from Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, and other world religions in his book I Want to Believe: Finding Your Way in an Age of Many Faiths. You can get this book free today when you order a copy of Patterns: Ways to Develop a God-Filled Life. Order HERE.]
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There is a God!
God is alive and he is real. He sent his son Jesus to earth to save mankind. Jesus died on the cross and arose on the third day. God loves us and sends his angels to watch over and protect us. He has a heavenly home prepared for those who love him and obey his commands. He hears our prayers and answers them. He is loving and forgiving, merciful,longsuffering. He is creator of the world and everything in it on it and under it, creator of the universe. The Lord is my shepard I shall not want.
Thanks for expanding, Jean. You’re hitting on the truth that the God who created the universe is a personal God, not just some force.
God have done so much for me, that it would be impossible for me to not believe in him. He is my father and the father of my Lord.
My God is so REAL and so PERSONAL, the one and only TRUE AND LIVING GOD, He blesses me abundantly beyond all understanding, each and every day. For me there is no “GOD QUESTION” only God’s answers to prayer even before I’ve asked. I love your “Everything New” series and look forward to the day we will all be made new and start our wonderful new life of fellowship and learning with our Creator. Amen.
Full belief in God and wanting to spread the gospel.
Christianity is God’s idea. Other religeons are men’s idea.
It’s so good to KNOW that I KNOW that I KNOW that God is. It required me to let go of my preconceived ideas and take a step of faith I was not at all sure of in the beginning. Letting go of all my preconceived and wrong beliefs and believing that God is who He says He is couldn’t be simpler and brings so much peace that passes my understanding and joy unspeakable in the midst of the utter chaos that is happening all over the world. You can’t just pull that from thin air. He’s the perfect, intimate Father who never takes His eyes off us, wants to play with us and fellowship with us all the time. For me, there is nothing more worthwhile that Him.