Posted: Feb 26, 2010 5:23 am
It helps to have a definition of the word god. I have no idea what Gardners definition might be, but I assume it includes the qualities of omniscience and omnipotence. For myself reality meets these qualities as well. The problem, however, is what to do about this subjective point of view that nobody can deny. It is not good enough to explain that it is just a process. Everything is just a process. I see no reason not to accept subjectivity as real, and also accept I have no idea what happens to this process when my brain runs out of whatever makes it work.
In the subject object split which bits are real? The object that is seen? The person that is seeing it? Or just the process of seeing? I don't think anyone could argue that the process of seeing is not real, but the object that is seen will not be seen as it is (I think Kant talked about this bit) as it will be colored by the subjectivity of the one doing the seeing.
Assume the process of seeing is real. Where is the beginning and end of this process? It takes place within the framework of full reality. THAT is omniscient, omnipotent, immortal and all the godly stuff.
We then get people claiming materialism. But material is merely the object side of this subject object split. I have no problem with material being an essential element, but by itself it seems insufficient as we can never point to the subjective in the same way we point to an object. Yet we all have this subjective point of view.
Anyways - God = Reality for me. If you want you may label me theist. I would rather be called realist.
In the subject object split which bits are real? The object that is seen? The person that is seeing it? Or just the process of seeing? I don't think anyone could argue that the process of seeing is not real, but the object that is seen will not be seen as it is (I think Kant talked about this bit) as it will be colored by the subjectivity of the one doing the seeing.
Assume the process of seeing is real. Where is the beginning and end of this process? It takes place within the framework of full reality. THAT is omniscient, omnipotent, immortal and all the godly stuff.
We then get people claiming materialism. But material is merely the object side of this subject object split. I have no problem with material being an essential element, but by itself it seems insufficient as we can never point to the subjective in the same way we point to an object. Yet we all have this subjective point of view.
Anyways - God = Reality for me. If you want you may label me theist. I would rather be called realist.