The Comprehensive Job Description of What it Takes to Be God
The concept of God is deeply embedded in human consciousness, representing the pinnacle of authority, wisdom, and power. The role of God, as understood through various religious, philosophical, and theological lenses, requires an entity to possess an array of supreme attributes and capabilities. This article aims to encapsulate the comprehensive job description of what it takes to be God, reflecting on the criteria that have emerged from millennia of human thought and experience.
To be recognized as God, an entity must demonstrate eternal existence. This attribute is foundational because it ensures that the entity has witnessed and comprehended all of history firsthand, thus possessing true omniscience. Direct experience with the past confers credibility and authority, enabling the entity to provide guidance and wisdom based on a complete understanding of all events. This eternal past existence also establishes the entity as the ultimate creator, as it must have existed before the universe and everything within it, affirming its role as the prime cause. The eternal existence of God underscores the entity's supreme power, independent of any other cause, and embodies the ultimate source of stability and continuity in the cosmos.
Omniscience is another critical attribute. An entity worthy of being called God must have complete and perfect knowledge of all things—past, present, and future. This comprehensive understanding includes not only the physical universe but also the thoughts, prayers, and needs of all beings. Such omniscience allows the entity to offer infallible wisdom and guidance, ensuring that divine actions and decrees are always perfectly aligned with the highest good. This depth of knowledge also implies an inherent understanding of the moral and ethical dimensions of existence, allowing the entity to establish and uphold the highest standards of justice, mercy, and righteousness.
Omnipresence is equally essential. God must be present in all places at all times, transcending physical limitations to ensure constant accessibility to all beings. This attribute facilitates a direct and ongoing relationship with creation, allowing the entity to communicate through spiritual and mystical experiences such as dreams, visions, and inspirations. The presence of God must be felt universally, providing assurance and guidance to all who seek it, regardless of their physical location. The ability to transcend space and time not only reinforces the entity's supreme power but also ensures that divine guidance and support are available to all, fostering a sense of connection and belonging among worshippers.
The role of God as the creator and sustainer of the universe involves maintaining the natural order and providing for the physical and spiritual needs of all creation. This responsibility includes ensuring the ultimate salvation and well-being of all beings, extending divine care and influence beyond the confines of physical life. The ability to resurrect the dead and grant eternal life is a crucial aspect of this role, as it assures worshippers that divine care and salvation continue beyond death. This attribute also implies a deep understanding and control over the spiritual dimensions of existence, ensuring that the entity can influence the eternal destiny of all souls.
Moral and ethical authority is a defining characteristic of God. The entity must embody the highest standards of morality and ethics, ensuring that all actions and decrees are perfectly just and merciful. This involves influencing and guiding the moral and ethical development of all beings, fostering an environment where justice, mercy, and righteousness prevail. The entity's actions must consistently reflect these principles, providing a model for worshippers to follow and establishing a foundation of trust and reverence.
The existential impact of God is profound, encompassing the ultimate salvation and well-being of creation. This includes providing protection and support for worshippers, fostering faithfulness and devotion, and influencing their spiritual growth and moral rectitude. The entity must ensure that worshippers can coexist with God through an appropriate balance of fear and reverence, while also providing the necessary protection to uphold their faith and practices. This relationship often takes the form of a covenant, a mutual agreement that establishes the expectations and responsibilities of both God and worshippers.
Engagement in spiritual and mystical experiences is a critical aspect of God's role. The entity must communicate with worshippers through non-physical means, such as dreams, visions, and inspirations, supporting the innate human need for spiritual guidance and transcendence. This spiritual communication allows worshippers to connect with the divine on a deeply personal level, fostering a sense of closeness and understanding that transcends the material world.
The entity must also demonstrate an unwavering commitment to the well-being of worshippers, ensuring that divine care and protection are constant and reliable. This commitment includes the ability to guide and support worshippers through challenges, providing the necessary strength and wisdom to navigate life's complexities. The entity's actions must consistently reflect a deep sense of compassion and mercy, reinforcing the trust and devotion of worshippers.
God must possess an eternal existence that stretches back into the past, ensuring an unbroken presence and influence throughout all of history. This eternal nature provides the foundation for the entity's omniscience, omnipresence, and omnipotence, reinforcing its role as the ultimate creator and sustainer. The entity's eternal existence also ensures that no future being can surpass or replace it, affirming its status as the one true God.
The relationship between God and worshippers is characterized by a mutual investment. Worshippers invest their faith, devotion, and reverence in God, hoping in return for divine care, guidance, and protection. This relationship is often formalized through a covenant, which outlines the expectations and responsibilities of both parties. The covenant provides a framework for worshippers to understand their role in the relationship, ensuring that they can fulfill their obligations while receiving the necessary support from God.
In summary, the job description of God encompasses a range of supreme attributes and responsibilities that ensure the entity's worthiness of worship and reverence. Eternal existence, omniscience, omnipresence, omnipotence, and perfect moral and ethical authority are foundational to this role. The entity must demonstrate an unwavering commitment to the well-being of all creation, providing guidance, protection, and salvation. The relationship between God and worshippers is characterized by mutual investment, trust, and a covenant that outlines the expectations and responsibilities of both parties. This comprehensive understanding of what it takes to be God reflects the depth of human thought and experience, emphasizing the importance of divine perfection in all aspects.
ChatGPT with Stephen D Green, 2024
