Conservapedia - User contributions [en]

Talk:Homosexuality

2019-01-29T16:51:22Z

MrLalnon:

[[Talk:homosexuality/archive_Set1|Archives]]

== 8 major identical twin studies demonstrate homosexuality is not genetic ==

Eight major studies of identical twins in Australia, the U.S., and Scandinavia during the last two decades all arrive at the same conclusion: gays were not born that way. http://www.redflagnews.com/headlines/identical-twin-studies-prove-homosexuality-is-not-genetic [[User:Conservative|Conservative]] 05:28, 15 January 2015 (EST)

== Cleaning up ==

There are WAY too many sections and subsections on this page, I'm going to see if I can combine the major information and remove the subsections with little content to make the Table of Contents readable. There are actually sections with two sentences or less right now. That kind of material would be better left in subpages or just referred to in the See also section; perhaps mentioned briefly in another section. I'd like to clean up the page so it is more readable though. --[[User:JZambrano|Joshua Zambrano]] 20:35, 25 January 2015 (EST)
:[[User:Conservative]] I saw the page was recently protected. If you dislike the edits being made, can you tell me what exactly you disagreed with? By and large I just moved material around to trim unnecessary categories or duplicate sources, and added sections on xenoestrogens and polling.[http://www.conservapedia.com/index.php?title=Homosexuality&action=historysubmit&diff=1135467&oldid=1134830] My next edit by the way was going to involve moving the Ex-homosexuals section into the Personal Choice section. Just through categorizing, moving sections with little to no content into other areas, I had reduced the number of total sections from 35 to 16 and was about to reduce it to 15 so that the Table of Contents would be readable. --[[User:JZambrano|Joshua Zambrano]] 23:20, 25 January 2015 (EST)
::JZambrano, I admire your zeal. At the same time, at this juncture, I have multiple demands on my time and I am unable work with you on major revisions to this article. And wouldn't be fair to the people I made promises to for me to get involved in such a project. It would cause unnecessary delays which they would not appreciate.

::At a future time, perhaps we can revisit this matter. In the meantime, I suggest contacting [[User:Daniel1212]] and perhaps you two could discuss your suggestions as far as improving article. Daniel1212 created a lot of homosexuality related content to Conservapedia. [[User:Conservative|Conservative]] 23:53, 25 January 2015 (EST)

:::I notice Daniel hasn't done much editing since 2012 and none since October. Will he be online enough for that? I did leave them a message just in case. --[[User:JZambrano|Joshua Zambrano]] 00:23, 26 January 2015 (EST)
::::It is going to have to be enough for now. And another person who edits using the User: Conservative account has a demanding job and is now a part-time business owner too. So I know that person cannot help as well. It is a particularly busy time for that person.

::::Second, you wanted to give a strong emphasis to xenoestrogens in the article and place the material near the very top of the article. I don't foresee such a change happening.

::::Lastly, I know you want to discuss this matter further right now, but I politely decline to do so given my present commitments. [[User:Conservative|Conservative]] 01:02, 26 January 2015 (EST)

:::::Alright, I was just curious where the objection lay. I have no problem with moving the xenoestrogen material further down on the page. Were there any other concerns about the proposed edits? --[[User:JZambrano|Joshua Zambrano]] 23:26, 29 January 2015 (EST)

== It should be illegal ==

I am tired of seeing fellow members of my community being converted into homosexuals. The countries of the world should just ban homosexuality and make it a crime so as to prevent younger minds with potential being indoctrinated by this evil. {{unsigned|JoaoV}}
:A user that one of your collective have [http://www.conservapedia.com/Special:Contributions/JoaoV blocked] user:conservative. Why block him then restore his edit after JoeyJ has removed it? [[User:Davidspencer|Davidspencer]] 12:05, 1 March 2015 (EST)
::Cons, I don't often agree with you, but I must give credit where credit is due. (Ooh! Another idiom article to write! I'm way behind.) You did exactly the right thing in restoring Joao's edits. You of course used the principle that talk pages are ongoing journals of a discussion, and edits are not to be removed unless they are libelous. I don't agree with Joao's comment, but I think it's within the realm of acceptable comments here. By the way, I used to have a coworker generally called John, but his real (Hispanic) given name was Joao.
::While I'm heaping praise on you, you recently replied to something underneath a paragraph, by someone else, that had two of the grammatical and stylistic errors that I used to accuse you of.
::And now I see that you have unblocked him. Congratulations. Joao will now have the distinction of having been unblocked by <s>the person most hated at RW</s> probably CP's most interesting admin, one who does not often unblock people :-) [[User:SamHB|SamHB]] 16:37, 1 March 2015 (EST)
=== JoaoV's response ===

::Thanks for unblocking me. My intention is to use this wiki for educative purposes, I don't want to cause trouble. Concerning homosexuality, I am glad that you are trying to undo it and these articles are very informative. I beg you to forive me though for having a more cynical view of it however as my experiences with homosexuality in my neighbour have been purely negative. See, here is my problem: I have seen good, upstanding neighbours that were previously heterosexual (I do not believe that "I was in denial" myth) and had girlfriends and went to church being converted. We all got along well and even though in my neigbourhood there were differences among various denominations, we never criticized each other. We were all Christian after all. Then one day a number of college-age deviants start going door to door and asking us to answer to bizarre questionaries (at one point I heard one of them ask (and I joke you not) "What's your wildest sex fantasy?". You notice that I previously used the word "converted". Well, you see, most of us either tried to tell them about The Lord when the weird questions started and a few of us didn't bother to answer, but a young male member of our community not only answered them earnestly but actually invited them inside. After that day, everything went downhill in our community as apparently the deviants were there to "inform" our neighbourhood and others about various laws concerning homosexuality and other deviations and how the law ''protected'' such degeneracy. It began with the male neighbour (whose name was Joaquim). He began to flaunt that he was "no longer going to lie" and "that he was going true to his self". He, who had been a model citizen and neighbour up to that point, had been successfully converted into the religion of the homosexuals. I do not know what tactics they used or why they did it, but I '''know''' that Joaquim was not "born that way". He openly challenged God by behaving like a sodomite and trying to coax others into joining him. As Joaquim was not just a neighbour but my friend I tried to convert him back to the true faith, but my efforts were in vain. I don't know what tactics the deviants used, but my friend had a spiritual death that day. His faith died. The one before us afterwards was just another deviant of the bunch - worse, he had become a missionary of their wicked cult. And what had once been a great neighbourhood suddenly became a den of degeneracy and corruption. A man a few streets below started to wear womens' clothing, a few more started to preach the homosexual lifestyle and a worrying number of adolescents were admitting to "trying things". Those of us who still cling to tradition tried to show them the light but they would not listen - the alure of the flesh was greater to them than the word of The Lord. That day my hope for peace died. I stopped turning the other cheek. I started shunning them and others even condemned them in public. At the very least we managed to keep them away from our homes and children. Others are doing so as well and although our neighbourhood is not the same at least it's purifying itself. The reason I want homosexuality banned is not to persecute homosexuals. It is to prevent good people, like Joaquim, from being corrupted. Every time I recall this story I feel like I have failed myself because Joaquim was a long time friend. Our group of friends had shared with him movies, church goings, sports, and videogames. He had made our lives better by being our friend. But because he couldn't resist temptation - and because he was tempted in the first place - there is now an empty seat whenever we try to make a group activity. This saddens me. What could I have done to convert him back? Is there still hope for him? Doubt started to linger in my heart. "You're not my friends. Friends don't judge their friends." Joaquim said. But he was wrong. If a friend commits a crime and you are called to judge him, God demands that we answer with the truth. We must show mercy and compassion, but we must not lie. Well, thanks for reading my story. I'm sorry to have let it out here, it's just... I wish homosexuality didn't exist. I want our group of friends to be complete as it once was. --[[User:JoaoV|JoaoV]] 23:52, 5 March 2015 (EST)

== "Causes of homosexuality" ==

The section entitled "Causes of homosexuality" does not address its purported topic at all, but merely serves as a brief introduction to several topics to be addressed later in the article. This section (along with most of the rest of the article, IMO) is in need of a serious rewrite. [[User:IsabellW|IsabellW]] 23:19, 13 May 2015 (EDT)

== God's Greatest Commandment ==

I would, as a God fearing conservative, like to have the sentence that refers to homosexuality being condemned more than any other act in the Holy Bible to be removed. Yes it is condemned, but I think that this view ignores God's greatest commandment: Love your neighbor as you love yourself. If that is his greatest commandment then NOT loving your neighbor as yourself would be the greatest sin. Do not mistake me here, homosexuality is a sin, but just not quite the most evil of them all. - Anonymous poster (check edit log to find username)

:You make a good point--I haven't read through this entire article yet, but Jesus did say: 
{{cquote|'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ (38) This is the first and greatest commandment. (39) And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ - Matthew 22:37-39}}

:It seems that he's actually saying that "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind" is the first and greatest, but in any case, if these are the two greatest commands, breaking them would logically be the two greatest sins. It looks like the user (and admin) [[User:Conservative|Conservative]] wrote this. He's not as available as he used to be, but you can wait to see if he responds. If he doesn't in a few days or maybe a week, try asking [[User:Jpatt|Jpatt]] or [[User:Aschlafly|Aschlafly]] on their talk pages to consider making this change. Unfortunately, this page was often attacked, so they locked it to prevent this. Therefore, we can't change it ourselves, even if they did agree. --[[User:DavidB4|David B]] ([[User talk:DavidB4|talk]]) 14:09, 4 May 2016 (EDT)
::Anonymous Poster, I reviewed your request previously and edited out the material you wanted to be removed. [[User:Conservative|Conservative]] ([[User talk:Conservative|talk]]) 14:18, 4 May 2016 (EDT)

:::Thanks Cons. Also, thanks for catching my mistake with the signature...obviously, I got a bit confused there! --[[User:DavidB4|David B]] ([[User talk:DavidB4|talk]]) 14:31, 4 May 2016 (EDT)

== Mr. Schlafly, saw video on Conservapedia. Keep up the good work ==

Mr. Schafly,

I saw the [http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2sae6u Conservapedia on the hour] video.

You said about Conservapedia's homosexuality article: "On Conservapedia your going to get the other side of that. You going to get evidence against [[evolution]]. Same thing for homosexuality. We bring in all the health harm that is caused by homosexuality. All the biblical quotes against it. You get that at Conservapedia. You're not going to get that sort of fair treatment at Wikipedia."[http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2sae6u].

Keep up the good work Mr. Schlafly.[[User:Wisdomcriesout|Wisdomcriesout]] ([[User talk:Wisdomcriesout|talk]]) 13:55, 4 May 2016 (EDT)

== Debunking gender ==

The article doesn't go into explaining the gender theory fraud (probably because most editors are American and raised brainwashed into it unknowingly).

Here are some documented facts (which weirdly enough you can also find on wikipedia).
Whereas "sex" (male/female) is an incontrovertibly proven biological truth, "Gender" is a political construct coined by John Money, a pedophile far-left feminist in 1955, made mainstream by 60-70s feminists.
John Money also used the theory to justify [http://archive.is/Epqdn pedophilia], his quote:

"''If I were to see the case of a boy aged ten or eleven who's intensely erotically attracted toward a man in his twenties or thirties, if the relationship is totally mutual, and the bonding is genuinely totally mutual ... then I would not call it pathological in any way.''"

The primary goal of "gender" was to normalize homosexuality and transexualism as natural choices, and is now being purposely used as a replacement for "sex".
Even [http://archive.is/mGa1A the Wikipedia article] outlines this fact:

"''The popular use of gender simply as an alternative to sex is also widespread
In the last two decades of the 20th century, the use of gender in academia has increased greatly, outnumbering uses of sex in the social sciences.''"

There is even a sentence explaining how usage of "gender" in place of "sex" is used to virtue-signal subservience to feminists:

"''Among the reasons that working scientists have given me for choosing gender rather than sex in biological contexts are desires to signal sympathy with feminist goals''"

Ultimately, gender theory is the "academic validation" of the far-left's theory that being a man/woman/homosexual is just an identity to play with, if you don't debunk gender you can't even start to debate homosexuality or transexualism.

Much like communists used "economic equality" as a weasel word to undermine the idea of private property, "gender" is used by feminists to sleazily erase biological sex.

This is why when conservatives try to debate lefties on this issue saying things like "there are only two genders" they get rolled, because you're unknowingly playing with their cards.

If you want an easily-shareable recap for your friends here's a pic: http://i.imgur.com/gtPLU7a.jpg

Reply: I agree with what the person above has written. [[User:GraceDalrymple|GraceDalrymple]] ([[User talk:GraceDalrymple|talk]])

== Article on Sodomy? ==

To me "homosexuality" is kind of an ambiguous term and might include persons who merely prefer the company of the same sex, like boys who prefer to play with boys at some stage of their life (nothing sexual). The Apostle Paul seems not to have been attracted to women (or anyone else) sexually because he had the gift of celibacy (no itch, 1 Cor 7). Biblically the sin is men-lying-with-men and women-lying-with-women, not even the temptation is a sin, though lust is also a sin. So I am thinking that an article needs to be written on sodomy, persons practicing sexual activities characteristic of the city Sodom, which was destroyed, though I realize that sodomy in modern English may mean other things as well.

The language used in a controversy is important; I think that liberals typically try to win arguments by controlling the terms of the debate, typically coming up with "talking points" like "love" in this case, or "non-discrimination." If we speak about fornication, that is quite different in connotation from being sexually active (who wants to be an inactive bore, not involved in life?) If we debate the ills of insertion of the membrum virile into the posterior orifice, that is quite different from debating "gay" (happy & carefree) vs homophobia (a phobia being an irrational fear).

So what do you think? Should there be an article on Sodomy, focusing on the actual acts done with their physiological and spiritual consequences?
:Please create these articles on [[Sodomy]] and [[Sodomy law]]. In addition, you can create articles related to sodomy laws for various regions such as for various countries, Africa, etc. [[User:Conservative|Conservative]] ([[User talk:Conservative|talk]]) 17:56, 18 August 2016 (EDT)

Re: Section on Homosexuality and Pedophilia. There is a lot of evidence most of it from homosexuals themselves and their biographers confirming this close link. The article could include a footnote referring to this online reference guide to source-material on the topic:
https://voice1nthecrowd.blogspot.co.uk/2014/09/homosexuality-and-paedophilia-reference.html
https://voice1nthecrowd.blogspot.co.uk/2014/09/homosexuality-and-paedophilia-part-2.html
https://voice1nthecrowd.blogspot.co.uk/2014/09/homosexuality-and-paedophilia-reference_29.html
https://voice1nthecrowd.blogspot.co.uk/2014/09/homosexuality-and-paedophilia-part-4-h-m.html
https://voice1nthecrowd.blogspot.co.uk/2014/09/homosexuality-and-paedophilia-part-5.html
https://voice1nthecrowd.blogspot.co.uk/2014/09/t-z-homosexuality-and-paedophilia-part.html
and the final part, which is an Index:-
https://voice1nthecrowd.blogspot.co.uk/2014/10/homosexuality-and-paedophilia-index.html
[[User:GraceDalrymple|GraceDalrymple]] ([[User talk:GraceDalrymple|talk]])

Can we make pages such as this and others less subjective? Can you stop taking a scientist saying "idfk" as "Whatever you think, is right"? We don't know yet if homosexuality is a choice, we can debate it, but we can't truly know. I think this wiki should show the Conservative viewpoints as viewpoints, not facts.

God

2019-01-29T16:42:28Z

MrLalnon: Made it longer, and better, and less subjective.

''This article is about the biblical God. For the term as used to refer to any divine being, see [[Other gods]]''
[[Image:Alphaomega.jpg|thumb|200px|God is the Alpha and Omega, the first and last, the beginning and the ending <ref>Revelation 22:13</ref>]]
{{trinity}}
{{cquote|'''Genesis 1:1''' In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.}}
'''God''' is a concept that comes from the bible that represents a sovereign creator and eternal ruler of all things and beings that exist, whether in the physical [[universe]] or in the spiritual realm ([[Heaven]]). God is the creator and ruler of the things and beings within those two realms, but he is also the creator of the realms themselves. God created the physical universe, and before he acted in this creation, the universe did not exist. Likewise, God did with the spiritual realm.

== God is Revealed: How we know about God ==

It is most commonly believed that God is the source of creation itself. In religion, God is revealed in several ways, including conscience and special revelation (the creation of the [[Bible]], and prophets). It is also believed that God is revealed in [[Jesus Christ]], the person believed to be the son of God.
[[File:Mezquita Catedral Cordoba.jpg|frame|center|[[Cathedral]] Cordoba, Spain.]]

== Attributes or Character of God ==
[[File:Rembrandt Ascension.jpg|thumb|[[Rembrandt]], Ascension.]]
The attributes of God are things that describe who He is. Similar to the way one might describe a close friend to another individual, so too do these attributes describe God's character and nature. Attributes of God include but are not limited to [[Wisdom]], [[Infinitude]], [[Sovereignty]], [[Holiness]], [[Trinity]], [[Omniscience]], [[Faithfulness]], [[Love]], [[Omnipotence]], Self-existence, Self-sufficiency, [[Justice]], [[Immutability]], [[Mercy]], [[Eternal]], [[Goodness]], Graciousness, and [[Omnipresence]]. These attributes all work in complete and perfect harmony with one another.

God exercises eternal and righteous judgment of the wicked in [[hell]], because of an inherent problem in the human heart, namely [[Sin]]. According to the [[Bible]], the sacrifice of [[Jesus Christ]] on the cross of [[Calvary]] and then [[resurrection]], is God's merciful and gracious response to the problem of the human heart.

=== God is Triune ===
{{main|Trinity}}

Although the Bible does not use the term, it is clear that God is a triune God, or three in one.
These are sometimes referred to as ''God the Father'', ''God the Son'' ([[Jesus Christ|Jesus]]), and the ''[[Holy Spirit]]''.

The first hint of the Trinity is in {{Bible ref|Genesis|1|26}} which relates God saying, "Let us make man in our image", indicating that God is a plurality.

The three persons of God are treated as equivalents in these words of Jesus shortly after His resurrection:
{{Bible quote|Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.|book=Matthew|chap=28|verses=19|version=NIV}}

==== Jesus is God ====
[[Image:Pieta.jpg|thumb|270px|[[Pieta]], [[Michelangelo]].]]

The first verse of the [[Gospel of John]], in which Jesus is referred to as the "Word", makes clear that Jesus is synonymous with God:
{{Bible quote|In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.|book=John|chap=1|verses=1|version=NIV}}
This verse not only says that "the Word" (Jesus) is synonymous with God, but also says that the Word was "in the beginning", which means that He existed before all else existed, something that is only true of God.

This is reinforced two verses later, in which Jesus is described as the creator.
[[Genesis]] refers to God as being the Creator.
{{Bible quote|Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.|book=John|chap=1|verses=3|version=NIV}}

==== The Holy Spirit is God ====

In the following passage, the [[Holy Spirit]] is referred to as God:
{{Bible quote|Then Peter said, "Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? Didn't it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn't the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied to men but to God."|book=Acts|chap=5|verses=3-4|version=NIV}}

=== God is omniscient ===
{{main|omniscience}}

God knows everything:
{{Bible quote|This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence whenever our hearts condemn us. For God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything.|book=1_John|chap=3|verses=19-20|version=NIV}}

Because God is outside of [[time]], He can see and knows the [[past]] and the [[future]] as well as the present.

== "God" sometimes used to refer to God the Father ==
[[Image:Velasco Padre Eterno.jpg|thumb|left|180px|God the Father by [[Jose Maria Velasco]] (1840-1912).]]
In the Bible, the word "God" (θεός) does not always refer to God's being as a whole, but more specifically refers to the Person of the Father (God the Father). Here are some verses which demonstrate this:
{{cquote|'''John 3:16''' (NASB) For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.}}
{{cquote|'''1 John 4:10''' (NASB) In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.}}
Notice how in each case, "Father" can be substituted for "God." For example, "For the ''Father'' so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son," and "not that we loved the ''Father'', but that He loved us and sent His Son."
{{Clear}}

== Terminology ==

The Bible uses several different words to refer to God.
"God" itself is not a name, but an [[Old English]] word meaning ''supreme being, deity'',<ref>[http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=god God] Online Etymology Dictionary.</ref> which the translators who translated the Bible in to English chose as the appropriate English word for the [[Hebrew]] ''elohim'' and the [[Greek]] ''theos'' used in the [[Old Testament]] and [[New Testament]] respectively.<ref name="DPK">Kruse, Dale P.,[http://www.layevangelism.com/advtxbk/sections/sect-10/sec10-9.htm More on the ''Names'' of God In the Bible], Advanced Training Program of Evangelism.</ref>

The other main term for God is the Hebrew ''adonai'', usually translated ''Lord''.
There are various compound words also used in the Bible, such as ''el shaddai'', which means ''God Almighty'' ("''el''" is a short version of ''elohim'').<ref name="DPK" />

''YHWH'' is given in the Bible as God's actual name. In most English Bibles it is translated as ''Lord'', in small capitals. The name has various other English versions, including Yehovah, Jehovah, and Yahweh.<ref>McHyde, Tim, [http://www.escapeallthesethings.com/yahweh.htm God’s Name: LORD, Yahweh, Yahveh, YHWH, YHVH, Jehovah or Yehovah?]</ref>

== Resources on becoming a Christian ==
[[File:Hoffman Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane.jpg|thumbnail|170px||Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane by Heinrich Hofmann.]]

''see also:'' [[Resources on becoming a Christian]]

'''Below are some resources on becoming a [[Christian]]:'''

*[http://www.jesusfilm.org/film-and-media/watch-the-film Jesus film - free access]

*[http://www.thewordfortoday.org/?page=C2000 Free audio Bible and Bible audio streaming]

*[http://www.gotquestions.org/repentance.html Repentance]

*[http://www.allaboutgod.com/ AllAboutGod.com]

*[[Video testimonies of Christians]]

'''Tips on choosing a Christian church:'''

*[http://www.allaboutreligion.org/choosing-a-christian-church-faq.htm Choosing a Christian Church]

'''Spiritual growth as a Christian:'''

*[http://www.navpress.com/product/9781576839324/The-Pursuit-of-Holiness-Jerry-Bridges The Pursuit of Holiness] by Jerry Bridges
*[http://www.navpress.com/product/9780891099413/The-Practice-of-Godliness-Jerry-Bridges The Practice of Godliness] by Jerry Bridges
*[http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/529785.The_Complete_Book_of_Discipleship The Complete Book of Discipleship: On Being and Making Followers of Christ]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== See also ==
*[[Other gods]]
*[[Atheism]]
*[[Christianity in Conservapedia]]
*[[Bible Art Gallery]]

== External links ==
*[https://www.gotquestions.org/who-is-God.html Who is God?], at [[GotQuestions]]
*[https://www.gotquestions.org/what-is-God.html What is God?], at [[GotQuestions]]
*[https://www.gotquestions.org/is-there-a-God.html Is there a God?], at [[GotQuestions]]
*[https://answersingenesis.org/jesus-christ/jesus-is-god/10-biblical-reasons-jesus-is-god/ 10 Biblical Reasons Jesus Is God], by Simon Turpin at [[Answers in Genesis]], August 8, 2017
*[http://www.theopedia.com/God Theopedia - God]
*[http://christiananswers.net/dictionary/god.html ChristianAnswers.net - God]
*[http://wikible.org/en/God Wikible.org - God]

{{Conservatism}}

[[Category:Christianity]]
[[Category:Divine Beings]]

God

2019-01-29T16:28:08Z

MrLalnon: Made it more objective

''This article is about the biblical God. For the term as used to refer to any divine being, see [[Other gods]]''
[[Image:Alphaomega.jpg|thumb|200px|God is the Alpha and Omega, the first and last, the beginning and the ending <ref>Revelation 22:13</ref>]]
{{trinity}}
{{cquote|'''Genesis 1:1''' In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.}}
'''God''' is a concept that comes from the bible that represents a sovereign creator and eternal ruler of all things and beings that exist, whether in the physical [[universe]] or in the spiritual realm ([[Heaven]]). God is the creator and ruler of the things and beings within those two realms, but he is also the creator of the realms themselves. God created the physical universe, and before he acted in this creation, the universe did not exist. Likewise, God did with the spiritual realm.

== God is Revealed: How we know about God ==

Other than creation itself, God is revealed in several ways, including [[theological correlates]], conscience, and special revelation (the [[Bible]], and prophets). Most importantly though, God is revealed in [[Jesus Christ]], who is the Son of God.

[[File:Mezquita Catedral Cordoba.jpg|frame|center|[[Cathedral]] Cordoba, Spain.]]

== Attributes or Character of God ==
[[File:Rembrandt Ascension.jpg|thumb|[[Rembrandt]], Ascension.]]
The attributes of God are things that describe who He is. Similar to the way one might describe a close friend to another individual, so too do these attributes describe God's character and nature. Attributes of God include but are not limited to [[Wisdom]], [[Infinitude]], [[Sovereignty]], [[Holiness]], [[Trinity]], [[Omniscience]], [[Faithfulness]], [[Love]], [[Omnipotence]], Self-existence, Self-sufficiency, [[Justice]], [[Immutability]], [[Mercy]], [[Eternal]], [[Goodness]], Graciousness, and [[Omnipresence]]. These attributes all work in complete and perfect harmony with one another.

God exercises eternal and righteous judgment of the wicked in [[hell]], because of an inherent problem in the human heart, namely [[Sin]]. According to the [[Bible]], the sacrifice of [[Jesus Christ]] on the cross of [[Calvary]] and then [[resurrection]], is God's merciful and gracious response to the problem of the human heart.

=== God is Triune ===
{{main|Trinity}}

Although the Bible does not use the term, it is clear that God is a triune God, or three in one.
These are sometimes referred to as ''God the Father'', ''God the Son'' ([[Jesus Christ|Jesus]]), and the ''[[Holy Spirit]]''.

The first hint of the Trinity is in {{Bible ref|Genesis|1|26}} which relates God saying, "Let us make man in our image", indicating that God is a plurality.

The three persons of God are treated as equivalents in these words of Jesus shortly after His resurrection:
{{Bible quote|Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.|book=Matthew|chap=28|verses=19|version=NIV}}

==== Jesus is God ====
[[Image:Pieta.jpg|thumb|270px|[[Pieta]], [[Michelangelo]].]]

The first verse of the [[Gospel of John]], in which Jesus is referred to as the "Word", makes clear that Jesus is synonymous with God:
{{Bible quote|In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.|book=John|chap=1|verses=1|version=NIV}}
This verse not only says that "the Word" (Jesus) is synonymous with God, but also says that the Word was "in the beginning", which means that He existed before all else existed, something that is only true of God.

This is reinforced two verses later, in which Jesus is described as the creator.
[[Genesis]] refers to God as being the Creator.
{{Bible quote|Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.|book=John|chap=1|verses=3|version=NIV}}

==== The Holy Spirit is God ====

In the following passage, the [[Holy Spirit]] is referred to as God:
{{Bible quote|Then Peter said, "Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? Didn't it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn't the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied to men but to God."|book=Acts|chap=5|verses=3-4|version=NIV}}

=== God is omniscient ===
{{main|omniscience}}

God knows everything:
{{Bible quote|This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence whenever our hearts condemn us. For God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything.|book=1_John|chap=3|verses=19-20|version=NIV}}

Because God is outside of [[time]], He can see and knows the [[past]] and the [[future]] as well as the present.

== "God" sometimes used to refer to God the Father ==
[[Image:Velasco Padre Eterno.jpg|thumb|left|180px|God the Father by [[Jose Maria Velasco]] (1840-1912).]]
In the Bible, the word "God" (θεός) does not always refer to God's being as a whole, but more specifically refers to the Person of the Father (God the Father). Here are some verses which demonstrate this:
{{cquote|'''John 3:16''' (NASB) For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.}}
{{cquote|'''1 John 4:10''' (NASB) In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.}}
Notice how in each case, "Father" can be substituted for "God." For example, "For the ''Father'' so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son," and "not that we loved the ''Father'', but that He loved us and sent His Son."
{{Clear}}

== Terminology ==

The Bible uses several different words to refer to God.
"God" itself is not a name, but an [[Old English]] word meaning ''supreme being, deity'',<ref>[http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=god God] Online Etymology Dictionary.</ref> which the translators who translated the Bible in to English chose as the appropriate English word for the [[Hebrew]] ''elohim'' and the [[Greek]] ''theos'' used in the [[Old Testament]] and [[New Testament]] respectively.<ref name="DPK">Kruse, Dale P.,[http://www.layevangelism.com/advtxbk/sections/sect-10/sec10-9.htm More on the ''Names'' of God In the Bible], Advanced Training Program of Evangelism.</ref>

The other main term for God is the Hebrew ''adonai'', usually translated ''Lord''.
There are various compound words also used in the Bible, such as ''el shaddai'', which means ''God Almighty'' ("''el''" is a short version of ''elohim'').<ref name="DPK" />

''YHWH'' is given in the Bible as God's actual name. In most English Bibles it is translated as ''Lord'', in small capitals. The name has various other English versions, including Yehovah, Jehovah, and Yahweh.<ref>McHyde, Tim, [http://www.escapeallthesethings.com/yahweh.htm God’s Name: LORD, Yahweh, Yahveh, YHWH, YHVH, Jehovah or Yehovah?]</ref>

== Resources on becoming a Christian ==
[[File:Hoffman Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane.jpg|thumbnail|170px||Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane by Heinrich Hofmann.]]

''see also:'' [[Resources on becoming a Christian]]

'''Below are some resources on becoming a [[Christian]]:'''

*[http://www.jesusfilm.org/film-and-media/watch-the-film Jesus film - free access]

*[http://www.thewordfortoday.org/?page=C2000 Free audio Bible and Bible audio streaming]

*[http://www.gotquestions.org/repentance.html Repentance]

*[http://www.allaboutgod.com/ AllAboutGod.com]

*[[Video testimonies of Christians]]

'''Tips on choosing a Christian church:'''

*[http://www.allaboutreligion.org/choosing-a-christian-church-faq.htm Choosing a Christian Church]

'''Spiritual growth as a Christian:'''

*[http://www.navpress.com/product/9781576839324/The-Pursuit-of-Holiness-Jerry-Bridges The Pursuit of Holiness] by Jerry Bridges
*[http://www.navpress.com/product/9780891099413/The-Practice-of-Godliness-Jerry-Bridges The Practice of Godliness] by Jerry Bridges
*[http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/529785.The_Complete_Book_of_Discipleship The Complete Book of Discipleship: On Being and Making Followers of Christ]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== See also ==
*[[Other gods]]
*[[Atheism]]
*[[Christianity in Conservapedia]]
*[[Bible Art Gallery]]

== External links ==
*[https://www.gotquestions.org/who-is-God.html Who is God?], at [[GotQuestions]]
*[https://www.gotquestions.org/what-is-God.html What is God?], at [[GotQuestions]]
*[https://www.gotquestions.org/is-there-a-God.html Is there a God?], at [[GotQuestions]]
*[https://answersingenesis.org/jesus-christ/jesus-is-god/10-biblical-reasons-jesus-is-god/ 10 Biblical Reasons Jesus Is God], by Simon Turpin at [[Answers in Genesis]], August 8, 2017
*[http://www.theopedia.com/God Theopedia - God]
*[http://christiananswers.net/dictionary/god.html ChristianAnswers.net - God]
*[http://wikible.org/en/God Wikible.org - God]

{{Conservatism}}

[[Category:Christianity]]
[[Category:Divine Beings]]