Why does anything exist at all, including God?

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BenFTW

BenFTW

Senior Member
#1
Oct 7, 2012
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#1
If I remember correctly, this is known as "the existential question." Its something to ponder, or at least since I was young I often had this thought cross my mind as I looked into the blue sky as clouds drifted on by. I would look up, sun glaring down, and deep within I would ponder this and every single time this peculiar feeling would overcome me. Some unknown expression, possibly bewilderment.

Does this question matter? I don't know. Does God Himself ponder His existence? Not in that He came to be but has always been, but in such existence did He ever think, "Why AM I?" Maybe this question is truly irrelevant and just something to bring up that bewilderment but nonetheless I continue to ponder.

It is such a bizarre feeling to consider why something instead of nothing. That I am typing right now, breathing, seeing, have a brain, fingers, a body, and all that I am currently experiencing in the present moment. To think that this is, instead of not being the case. I could find the answer to why I exist, why anything exists possibly if God granted it, but to include God, Himself, in the question of all existence it seems perplexing.

As I said, just maybe the question isn't one to be answered? Our finite minds incapable of knowing? Either way, there is that feeling again. :)
 
M

Miri

Guest
#2
#2
I suspect it's because life as we think of it, is not the same as life as God
thinks of it.

We are like goldfish in a bowl thinking that the bowl is the universe and the water,
gravel plants are the sum of all life.
 
BenFTW

BenFTW

Senior Member
#3
Oct 7, 2012
4,834
981
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#3
Miri said:
I suspect it's because life as we think of it, is not the same as life as God
thinks of it.

We are like goldfish in a bowl thinking that the bowl is the universe and the water,
gravel plants are the sum of all life.
Click to expand...
How little we know. :p
 
PrynceNY

PrynceNY

Banned
#4
Aug 16, 2016
2,184
62
0
#4
Yea not only his existence but his nature as well. We are blessed that he is loving, patient & righteous. When he could've had the nature of one of the many evil dictators we have had throughout history.
 
P

pottersclay

Guest
#5
#5
BenFTW said:
If I remember correctly, this is known as "the existential question." Its something to ponder, or at least since I was young I often had this thought cross my mind as I looked into the blue sky as clouds drifted on by. I would look up, sun glaring down, and deep within I would ponder this and every single time this peculiar feeling would overcome me. Some unknown expression, possibly bewilderment.

Does this question matter? I don't know. Does God Himself ponder His existence? Not in that He came to be but has always been, but in such existence did He ever think, "Why AM I?" Maybe this question is truly irrelevant and just something to bring up that bewilderment but nonetheless I continue to ponder.

It is such a bizarre feeling to consider why something instead of nothing. That I am typing right now, breathing, seeing, have a brain, fingers, a body, and all that I am currently experiencing in the present moment. To think that this is, instead of not being the case. I could find the answer to why I exist, why anything exists possibly if God granted it, but to include God, Himself, in the question of all existence it seems perplexing.

As I said, just maybe the question isn't one to be answered? Our finite minds incapable of knowing? Either way, there is that feeling again. :)
Click to expand...
I think king David and you shared the same thoughts. Throughout the psalms he brings up a variety of subjects to think about. Surprisingly you would take him as a philosopher, a poet, even a artist. Not knowing he was a man of war.
Not knowing he would slay more people with his pen than with his sword.
I think God made special people like David and you to keep us all in check as to ponder the reason of " why".
 
BenFTW

BenFTW

Senior Member
#6
Oct 7, 2012
4,834
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#6
pottersclay said:
I think king David and you shared the same thoughts. Throughout the psalms he brings up a variety of subjects to think about. Surprisingly you would take him as a philosopher, a poet, even a artist. Not knowing he was a man of war.
Not knowing he would slay more people with his pen than with his sword.
I think God made special people like David and you to keep us all in check as to ponder the reason of " why".
Click to expand...
Thank you for your kind words. You've encouraged me. Appreciate it. :)
 
BenFTW

BenFTW

Senior Member
#7
Oct 7, 2012
4,834
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#7
PrynceNY said:
Yea not only his existence but his nature as well. We are blessed that he is loving, patient & righteous. When he could've had the nature of one of the many evil dictators we have had throughout history.
Click to expand...
That is a very intriguing thought, beyond the reason for His existence, why is He love itself? Good one!
 
M

MadebyHim

Senior Member
#8
Dec 17, 2016
572
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#8
God exist because He is, as for everything else, because God allowed it.
 
B

BeyondET

Guest
#9
#9
Not a easy question to answer can be very complex indeed, if I was to give a simple answer I'd say it would be of these things but not a complete full answer that will surely be answered fully after this life.....

God’s love, which is one of His God-like attributes, also the reason for the creation. Because for His consummate love, God wished to create beings to which He would pass on part of His Goodness and His Kindness. That’s why it is written that His created beings were “very good”. the reason for the creation: “Because, the Good and Most Kind God did not regard as sufficient the contemplation of Himself, but because of His excessive Goodness He took delight in creating beings which would benefit and participate in His kindness, has brought into being all creation (visible and invisible) out of non existence, including man, who is made of visible and invisible elements. He thinks and He builds, and His thoughts become deeds, which are accomplished by Word and fulfilled by the Spirit”.
 
Grace777x70

Grace777x70

Banned
#10
Nov 22, 2015
20,436
1,430
0
#10
BenFTW said:
That is a very intriguing thought, beyond the reason for His existence, why is He love itself? Good one!
Click to expand...
If God is love - then this begs the question - who did He display this love to before man came? The very nature of love says that there must be something to love and to share with. The Trinity to me is the answer. The Father loves the Son and the Son loves the Father and the Holy Spirit loves the Son...etc.

Let "Us" make man in "Our" image and after our likeness.
 
B

BeyondET

Guest
#11
#11
Grace777x70 said:
If God is love - then this begs the question - who did He display this love to before man came? The very nature of love says that there must be something to love and to share with. The Trinity to me is the answer. The Father loves the Son and the Son loves the Father and the Holy Spirit loves the Son...etc.

Let "Us" make man in "Our" image and after our likeness.
Click to expand...
Loves thirst to share....

How did he display it before man, The question is, can man handle that answer.. lol...
 
R

reneweddaybyday

Senior Member
#12
Mar 23, 2016
6,834
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#12
Why everything exists: Revelation 4:11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.




As far as God Himself? To me, that question is unanswerable at this present time. The finite trying to grasp the infinite. Perhaps in the future (when we know even as also we are known) we will be able to comprehend that.
 
N

Naboth

Banned
#13
Feb 1, 2017
586
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#13
This is a good question. Just my opinion, but I think it is for Love. The two halves of the laws of the universe. Love God and love your neighbor.

Can one truly exist without the other?
 
resurrection33

resurrection33

Banned
#14
Dec 19, 2009
27,513
128
0
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#14
BenFTW said:
If I remember correctly, this is known as "the existential question." Its something to ponder, or at least since I was young I often had this thought cross my mind as I looked into the blue sky as clouds drifted on by. I would look up, sun glaring down, and deep within I would ponder this and every single time this peculiar feeling would overcome me. Some unknown expression, possibly bewilderment.

Does this question matter? I don't know. Does God Himself ponder His existence? Not in that He came to be but has always been, but in such existence did He ever think, "Why AM I?" Maybe this question is truly irrelevant and just something to bring up that bewilderment but nonetheless I continue to ponder.

It is such a bizarre feeling to consider why something instead of nothing. That I am typing right now, breathing, seeing, have a brain, fingers, a body, and all that I am currently experiencing in the present moment. To think that this is, instead of not being the case. I could find the answer to why I exist, why anything exists possibly if God granted it, but to include God, Himself, in the question of all existence it seems perplexing.

As I said, just maybe the question isn't one to be answered? Our finite minds incapable of knowing? Either way, there is that feeling again. :)
Click to expand...
I don't know why the Lord exists, but I think it's because he exists that everything else exists. He created everything, didn't he?
 
OneFaith

OneFaith

Senior Member
#15
Sep 5, 2016
2,270
369
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#15
I've pondered that question. God always existed, and God is love, and love needs to express itself. We exist to please God- to reflect love back to Him as a diamond reflects light. This is God's good pleasure. Why has God always existed? Because love and light are powerful. And we can absorb that love and light just by being still and fathoming Who God is.
 
O

oldethennew

Banned
#16
Feb 28, 2016
11,311
2,972
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#16
He inhabits Eternity'...if He had to 'ponder-anything', then He would not be omnipotent...
 
Chester

Chester

Senior Member
#17
May 23, 2016
4,275
1,410
113
#17
BenFTW said:
If I remember correctly, this is known as "the existential question." Its something to ponder, or at least since I was young I often had this thought cross my mind as I looked into the blue sky as clouds drifted on by. I would look up, sun glaring down, and deep within I would ponder this and every single time this peculiar feeling would overcome me. Some unknown expression, possibly bewilderment.

Does this question matter? I don't know. Does God Himself ponder His existence? Not in that He came to be but has always been, but in such existence did He ever think, "Why AM I?" Maybe this question is truly irrelevant and just something to bring up that bewilderment but nonetheless I continue to ponder.

It is such a bizarre feeling to consider why something instead of nothing. That I am typing right now, breathing, seeing, have a brain, fingers, a body, and all that I am currently experiencing in the present moment. To think that this is, instead of not being the case. I could find the answer to why I exist, why anything exists possibly if God granted it, but to include God, Himself, in the question of all existence it seems perplexing.

As I said, just maybe the question isn't one to be answered? Our finite minds incapable of knowing? Either way, there is that feeling again. :)
Click to expand...
Interesting - the question twists the brain around - and I am not sure I have any sort of good answer

Thoughts:
(1) Simply that there is something in existence proves that there is a God - evolution cannot satisfactorily explain how the universe began or how matter came into existence
(2) Buddism's goal is to get back to nothingness - if God did not exist - then there would be nothing
(3) I'm asking myself - so why does God exist? - and all it is doing is making my brain hurt! LOL!
(4) I keep coming back to the fact that if there was nothing - then maybe evolution could be proved true - LOL! (Who would do the proving?)

There's some random thought on the subject or related to it: no answers though! :)
 
BenFTW

BenFTW

Senior Member
#18
Oct 7, 2012
4,834
981
113
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#18
MadebyHim said:
God exist because He is, as for everything else, because God allowed it.
Click to expand...
That doesn't answer why, though. :p Why does He exist? He just is, but for what reason? I suppose to seek a reason kind of insinuates that some greater unknown force or power decided that God should exist, so the question itself is, maybe, wrong? Not that He came to be, but has always been but in always being why is it so? Why does God exist as opposed to not existing?

I think there is something wrong in the question. I think I see a flaw in the question, just out of grasp. To ask why He is, would again, point to some greater force than God, but there is none greater than God. Hm... interesting. For me to ask why God exists, the question of why, means that there must be some reason to His existence, but to seek a reason for His existence would automatically assume a determining factor. There is none, He just is.

Getting mind blown over here...
 
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