posted
I'm sure humanity CAN strive to achieve godhood. And humanity probably SHOULD strive to achieve godhood.
If the question is whether humanity CAN achieve godhood, I'm afraid the jury's still way out on that one. Posts: 37449 | Registered: May 1999
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posted
I believe people CAN achieve Godhood because i believe the gospel of Jesus Christ made it possible. Now if people WANT to achieve Godhood is another question.
Posts: 2460 | Registered: Nov 1999
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I'm an agnostic who wants to beleive in god but can't, and generally embraces religion. Although I think it si the root of much bloodshed, it teaches goodness and supplies comfort. Currently, striving to obtain godhood is the better thing for scoiety. Except if the thing happens like in every science fiction movie where the religions take power because they were embraced, but that's a ridiculous theory, so I wont bother with it. I personally, think human nature tells us we can't acheive godhood, but the closer we get the better, and if you beelive in god, you can be all the more optomistic.
Posts: 103 | Registered: Jan 2003
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I think defining "godhood" would be important in responding to the question. Some people, when hearing it, think of omnipotence first. If that's all godhood means, then I'm against anyone striving for it.
However, if it means holiness, benevolence, magnanimity, etc., then striving for it can certainly be beneficial both to the individual and to all who encounter him/her. I personally don't believe the gospel of Christ made it possible to attain godhood (though that's not what this topic is about, right?), and I think striving to be like God (in as many ways as possible, which happens to exclude omnipotence) is more beneficial than trying to be a god.
I also just re-read the original question, and I'm now musing on the difference between humanity striving to attain godhood and humans trying to attain godhood. It might change my answer, and I'll have to think about it for a while and get back to you.
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I think that instead of striving to be gods we should strive to be closer to God. Humanity not far enough along right now to achieve the positive atributes we give to God, but I'm sure lots of people would try, and to an extent suceed in getting the power, omnipotence, and Influence. These things can be good, but not without even stronger morals.
In many, no Most religions, closeness to God is the goal. Christians hope to go to heaven, because thats were God and Christ are, I think Mormons also believe in a movement towards God, though through many, many worlds. Budism focuses on oness with the universe, or Nirvana. Speak to a learned Budist about God, and they may not know what you mean, nor believe you, but mention the unknowable essence, and you've got an amazing conversation starter.
Posts: 61 | Registered: May 2002
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Mormons believe that in moving closer to God you can, through the atonement of Christ and obedience to his gospel, actually become a god. Of course, the focus is in the achievement of God's noble qualities rather than omniscient powers. Therefore, when I said that I believe humans can become gods its because I am a Latter-day Saint (Mormon) where theologically it is a possibility and ultimate purpose.
Posts: 2460 | Registered: Nov 1999
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I dont think you can obtain god's noble demeanor without achieving his omniscient power along the way. If you're a mortal human how can you ever understand your neighbor implicitly without telepathy or at least incredible Empathy.
it's kind of like why we're taught so many different things in school at the same time, because, whether i like it or not history and english require a slight knowledge of science and math.
that's what they taught at seminary as i remember, that the more truth you have, the more light you'll receieve, and with the light the shadows are removed from other truths and when you have enough of both you'll be a god.
In my opinion as many people as possible should attain godhood, and all people should attempt it. If everyone tried to be godlike it'd be easier though, and i doubt that will happen. Obviously not everyone is cut out to be a god, i like to think i am, but that's why God's the judge about ascension and i'm not. being a god he knows the qualities i need.
~Brock ~By the Matrix!
Posts: 46 | Registered: May 2003
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Jettboy was saying (I think, help me out here) that the focus was on knowledge and growth, but His omniscient knowledge is probably going to come along with it.
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Nice, I like the way this is shaping up. Interesting points of view and various faiths represented. Thank you to those who have shared their beliefs so far. Any Buddhists, Hinduists, Muslims or ANY other religion represented here? Please, feel free to jump in. Have no fear of reprisal from me, I'm here to learn.
Posts: 172 | Registered: Jun 2003
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Well I'm not any of those things, but Hindus and Buddhists have the same concept as to what they want to end up being. Basically they'll continual to be re-encarnated until they attain enlightenment(sp?) an then become on with the universe (nirvana). In Buddhism sometimes those who have achieved Nirvana come back and help those who haven't (The Dali Lama for instance).
Hindus do have Gods, (actually God singular since all these Gods are part of one but that's not the point ) but your purpose is not to become like a God but simply to understand. The Buddha taught that there are no Gods, however some (the most popular ones) versions of Buddhism do believe in God(s). Once again they have the same end purpose as Hindus, not Godhood but complete understanding.
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I am a Jew and I practice the basic followings of that religion. I don't exactly know what I believe G-d to be. I do believe that G-d, or the supreme being(s), what ever you faith may be, is(are) there to provide some kind of hope for the people of the world. Something to count to on to help you or the world in some kind of holy intervention. I have read the old testament, not the new though, and I understand the teachings of my religion to a certain point. There are still some things that I don't quite follow or practice only because my religion has 4 basic followings and of those I consider myself Conservative, or what I affectionately call, the Lazy Jew. We don't follow Judaism as closely as the Orthodox and the spin offs, reform and Reconstructionist I don't know a lot about, there is also Hassidic, The ones with the curly side burns and the hats. Any way, back to the point, I bdont believe you can become like g-d or ever attain god-hood. Also i don't believe you can actually attain a certain level of holiness that allows you to bypass certain elements of HUMAN nature. Thats what I say
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I wasn't disagreeing with Jettboy, i was wondering what other people thought, i didn't think jettboy had made it clear what he meant so i was making my own question out of his.
~Brock ~three mothers you dont mess with, Mother Nature, Mothers-In-law, and Mother Freaken Ukranians!
Posts: 46 | Registered: May 2003
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I think Papa's point is important, what is godhood? I'm afraid that I can't conceive of a definition that doesn't have some reference to something we humans are capable of. That is, I think godhood and supreme being-ness are ideals of what a perfect human might be like.
I think Mormons aren't alone as Christians go in believing Christ was such a human. Though there may be disagreement over whether he was able to do this because he was supreme to begin with or if the accomplishment made him a supreme being.
But my understand of Mormonism is that no one else can achieve supreme-ness in that way. So I guess it's kind of both.
Posts: 11017 | Registered: Apr 2003
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