Present said:
of course i am not searching for solid evidence.
I am wondering how religous sects come to their conclusion that god is a being or that god is not a being. what string of logic do they follow to come to the conclusion that god is or is not a being.
mabey its the word "being" that im getting caught up on, because a being is of course something that exists, so saying he is a being means that he does exist. while saying he is not a being would mean he could be what.....he is a non-physical thought that encompasses space?
surely you can tell that im new to this
you give good question
from what i am learning we have to go way back to ancient Greece, to th time of the transition from classical Dionysianism to Orphism dont have url on me right now, pbut if you google From Orphism to Gnosticism you should find the essay that will give more depth about what i am about to say
basically with Classical Dionysianism there was the ritual experience (alto it doesn't specifally say so in the essay i give here, i have found out tis from other spurces, such as from J.M.Allgro's research in his book, The Sacred Mushroom and the Cross) of communally partaking of a psychedelic sacrament where by the celebrants beliefed they were possessed by god. Now the very sacrament was called 'Dionysos' and 's/he' was known as the 'god of many names'--these neames included the 'Loosener', the god of theatre, the god of Nature etc. so, you can imagine--te celebrants woul have felt god~like. that's the essntial point!!.....they felt expanded from usual sense of self to asense of interelationship with Nature. and 'Nature' for them included universe/ 'Cosmos'
now, that becomes reformed by the more philosphical Orphics who had been a part of the very open Dionysiansm. the latter had left interpretation open for individuals, but the Orphics started to impose A interpretation, and ere the first to write it down. they also were the first mystery schpol in the West, nd some scholars believe their ideas were influenced via contact with oriental mystical schools of thought
So te Orphics set down their dogma, and they create a dogma which says that humans are part 'Titanic'/'of the earth' part 'Dionysos'/'divine spark'---and that tis devine spark is trpped in the body, and so they devise rituals of 'purification' so as the trapped sparks can ruturn to 'God'--who npow has been -via dogma-placed an a transendental spiritual realm, AWAY from Nature
so, understand tis profound TRansition. from the Dionysian rituals --the Bacchanal--which was an ecstaic abandon to sensusal reaity, and of course involving intimate ecstaic communion with Nature. It became tamed, and diluted. for NOW it was considered a trap. Nature was said to be a trap, as was the body. the Orphic motto was 'soma sema' meaning 'the body a tomb'
So can you see tis drastic transition?
the cult of Orphism has been a major influence on Cristianity. and there too we can see the guilt-ridden dogma that guilts people about their bodies and Nature and te promise of a return to a spiritual home!.....agreeed? are you with me?
so, in answer to you question. when the question is god a being, we must inquire what the question actually meas. for if you are me have an experience rthat seems So awesomly ecstatic tat our usul sense of self is overwhelmed wit wonder....what is that?.let me first ask you that?