What Do You Mean by God? Six Guests and Joe Rogan Answer
An imam describes a personal God to whom submission brings peace, Jordan Peterson a pattern worth imitating and the unity behind many gods, philosopher Jack Symes the perfect God of classical argument set against suffering, Rob Bell a source that the usual question misframes, Thomas Campbell an evolving consciousness system, and David Choe a faith practiced as creativity, while host Joe Rogan suggests the universe itself, or love, may be God. Arguments about belief often stall because the two sides are not using the word for the same thing, so comparing the definitions comes first.
Why can a debate about God's existence go in circles? Show answer
Because the word names different things. Until it is clear which God each person means, they cannot tell whether they agree.
How does Omar Suleiman describe God? Show answer
As personal, perfect and merciful, beyond imagination yet closer than your jugular vein, a God who commands, plans, answers and judges.
How does Suleiman answer the problem of suffering? Show answer
Humans should take responsibility for what they cause, our view is limited, and the hereafter offers recourse. He trusts the planner without understanding the plan.
What is Jordan Peterson's definition of God? Show answer
The spirit you must emulate in order to thrive, the pattern left when you distill what makes admirable people admirable.
What two forms does Peterson say the divine takes for someone seeking purpose? Show answer
Calling, which draws your enthusiasm, and conscience, which bothers you.
What definition does Jack Symes test, and what does he conclude? Show answer
A perfectly good God who created the universe. He finds strong arguments on both sides and suspends belief.
What is Symes's systemic problem of evil? Show answer
A perfectly good God could have created life without evolution, which required the suffering of countless creatures over billions of years.
What does Joe Rogan suggest God might be? Show answer
The universe itself, a creation machine that has always existed, or love, a force of creation and bonding between people.
Why does Rob Bell reject proofs of God? Show answer
A God that could be proved or disproved would sit inside our categories. A real source would transcend them.
What is Thomas Campbell's God? Show answer
A larger consciousness system that is evolving, not infinite and not supernatural, whose purpose is lowering entropy through kindness and cooperation.
What two lines sort the definitions? Show answer
Whether God is a person or a pattern, and whether God is perfect from the start or still developing.
What limit does the article note about its own range? Show answer
Only one of the seven voices speaks from inside a traditional religion, so the range is wide but not complete.