Who is God?

[Christyba75]

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[MrShorty]

God is an alien. He's an ancient astronaut. He is a member of a civilization with our same/similar DNA

How do you reconcile this with the "big bang" theory? Is this God/Alien confined to our universe, or does He exist outside of our universe? Did he observe the singularity (or whatever it was) and initiate the big bang as part of the creative process? Or do you prefer a different origin of the universe model that doesn't have a beginning point?

[Anddenex]

Originally Posted by Christyba75

First, I'd like to suggest that the scriptures aren't 100% historically accurate. Did the flood cover the peaks of every mountain on earth? Did the star stay in the same position above Bethlehem at all times? Did people live 900 years? I'm one of those who thinks that some biblical stories may be more allegorical than literal.

Correct, the majority, if not all, of members believe that the Bible is not 100% accurate.

The flood I am more inclined to believe a recent quote posted here on lds.net, which specified how in baptism some of the body is deeply covered by water, where at times peoples hair may be covered by the water at a different depth. It doesn't matter how deep the water was to cover the mountains, it only matters that they were covered.

Others have shared a localized flood.

The star most likely was newly created planet. As with any star during the day it wasn't there due to the light of the sun, and at night it was seen again.

Yes, people definitely lived as long as they say in the Bible. God is able to lengthen or shorten our days at his will.

Originally Posted by Christyba75

Second, we understand that the words of the scriptures were inspired, not usually handed to man word-for-word in English, so the phrasing may be a partial product of the mind of the prophet.

Some agree, some don't. I think of revelation to the prophets like revelation to myself. At times, I have a clear words spoken unto me and I am able to recall and write them as they were given, word for word, as from the voice of the Holy Spirit. Other times they are impressions written down and are a partial product of my mind. I am more inclined as such to believe prophets receive the same type of revelation.

Originally Posted by Christyba75

Third, I don't sleep well believing in paradoxes: can God make a rock so big that even he can't lift it? I say he can't. Even Cleon Skousen says that there are things God can't do.

I find this type of question ridiculous, nothing meant in offense, just what I feel. God doesn't need to lift the rock, through the priesthood he commands elements and they move and obey. It is a pointless statement, in my opinion. Cleon Skousen is a man with his own opinions and he can have them, as anybody else.

This question reminds me of conversation I had with a friend about how if God is all powerful, then can he create a rock he can't jump over? I find these conversation really silly and juvenile.

Originally Posted by Christyba75

So, here's the postulate. I'm sure that I'm not the first one to suggest this, and maybe if I searched harder, I could find others who believe this. God is an alien. He's an ancient astronaut. He is a member of a civilization with our same/similar DNA who when he said, "yonder is matter unorganized" was so very technologically advanced that they could do terra forming and start life on new planets. They have harnessed the ability to "read minds" (sense EEG wave forms at a distance) and preserve individual consciousnesses after death, and then transfer the individual's memories into an advanced body which is not subject to mortal decay. God and his society have rules and regulations (which we call commandments) for advancement.

Very interesting thoughts, but nothing in scripture backs up your thoughts. Questions I would ask, what does it mean that God is spirit? What is the purpose of death to becoming like God then? Why do we just not change like the "ancients" in Stargate? Death to become like a highly evolved civilization doesn't make any sense.

God just being an advanced civilization and race negates the atonement. There is no point to the atonement if God is but an advanced race. An advanced race/civilization would care for knowledge, not a person dying so that others could be saved.

The Priesthood. If God is just an advanced race then what is the priesthood? Is it just a name for "higher intellect?"

Originally Posted by Christyba75

Before you think me a nut job, please consider that this IS what we believe but we say it using Victorian English and limiting ourselves to ancient phrasing so that it sounds more pious to our ears. But from a 21st century viewpoint, isn't this what we believe?

No one thinks you a nut job. This is just evidence that when people say Mormons are brainwashed and can not think on their own, well, this proves it highly wrong. The Lord has given us a mind to think, and to think for ourselves, it is great.

No, from a 21st century view point this is not what we believe. The questions you have proposed and statements presented are speculative, not doctrinal.

[garryw]

It's no mystery that God is an alien. The definition of alien is not little green man. The definition of alien is a person who is not indigenous. In this case, he is not a native to our earth.

It would be more of a stretch of the imagination to assume God was born on Earth, that doesn't compute.

[volgadon]

So, here's the postulate. I'm sure that I'm not the first one to suggest this, and maybe if I searched harder, I could find others who believe this. God is an alien. He's an ancient astronaut. He is a member of a civilization with our same/similar DNA who when he said, "yonder is matter unorganized" was so very technologically advanced that they could do terra forming and start life on new planets. They have harnessed the ability to "read minds" (sense EEG wave forms at a distance) and preserve individual consciousnesses after death, and then transfer the individual's memories into an advanced body which is not subject to mortal decay. God and his society have rules and regulations (which we call commandments) for advancement.

Before you think me a nut job, please consider that this IS what we believe but we say it using Victorian English and limiting ourselves to ancient phrasing so that it sounds more pious to our ears. But from a 21st century viewpoint, isn't this what we believe?

This is as good a description of our beliefs as "wow, you're hot," is a paraphrase of
"Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?
Thou art more lovely and more temperate.
Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May,
And summer's lease hath all too short a date.
Sometime too hot the eye of heaven shines,
And often is his gold complexion dimmed;
And every fair from fair sometime declines,
By chance, or nature's changing course, untrimmed;
But thy eternal summer shall not fade,
Nor lose possession of that fair thou ow'st,
Nor shall death brag thou wand'rest in his shade,
When in eternal lines to Time thou grow'st.
So long as men can breathe, or eyes can see,
So long lives this, and this gives life to thee."

[prisonchaplain]

When I first started to learn of LDS beliefs at this site I had thoughts like the OP. God progresses. Matter is eternal and God fashioned it, rather than creating "out of nothing." I thought, "With these beliefs God could be a very advanced alien." Without rabbit-trailing off into other subjects I would suggest that traditional Christian teachings are less compatible with the idea of God as simply a more advanced alien.

[Loudmouth_Mormon]

Speculation is fun sometimes.

I respect the scientific mind and it's ruthless devotion to ruling out stuff that doesn't belong.

Something to consider, from IMO one of the scripture's most inspired notions:

And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.

Or, if you'd like something a bit less Victorian-Englishish:

If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.

I'm not saying you're lacking it, I just find it something important for a master thinker and reasoner to keep in mind.

I wish you well.

[mnn727]

I can live with your explanation.

I mean if Gods home star is Kolob, then he is both ancient and alien -- not sure about the mind transfer thing, but I could live with it.

I definitely believe your beliefs about Scripture

[Anddenex]

Originally Posted by garryw

It would be more of a stretch of the imagination to assume God was born on Earth, that doesn't compute.

Is not Jesus our God, and wasn't Jesus born on this planet?

[Christyba75]

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