Recently, I've been feeling like God has taken over my mind...Who knows? Because I had this draft created...with all the videos below... but then this morning, I watched the Pope saying much more eloquently exactly what my thoughts, perceptions, and reading has led me to... So let me share that video first... Actually if you just think I'm a demented old woman, at least my thoughts are aligned to many others, it seems... LOL
2015 was chosen just for my personal involvement--a man who was to be president and so much more...had rudely entered my mind...
And my opinion has not changed for the last decade... Remember that one of the first moves by the second term was to act openly to erase DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion)... During my career on a university campus, I met and interacted with peoples from many countries who had come to teach, to learn, or conduct research... They were from all races and routinely both interacted and separated based upon activities but as free to do so... I know the environment of a campus working together to provide international cooperation in the field of education. During my entire 35+ tenure, there was never racial tensions and the only protest was about a war... That demonstration included citizens, students and faculty freely protesting the continuation of a war that was questionable in the first place...
Sooo, since I am also interested in religion as it has now become involved fully into the political environment, I chose first to gather some statistics... It is clear that, from the very first, those who chose to follow Jesus... Or those who were forced either willingly or unwillingly, to accept christianity as their religion, that many in that religion never were really willing to accept one important premise... To Love Our Neighbors... I believe the Stats provided by Gemini, illustrates that, don't you think?
You will find many books that explores humanity discussed at Book Readers Heaven... Indeed books or variations of what we now call a book have been written since time actually began. Sometimes written about the events seen by a writer... Sometimes by an actual living person who had recorded his own experiences... More often, perhaps, stories have been verbally passed down through generation after generation by small groups of people who had come together as a family unit, a tribe, a church or a country, for instance. There has always been a move to work together, first, to survive, then, to possibly mate and a caring relationship begun... That story alone has been repeated for thousands of years and between and among billions of peoples...
Around 1400s AD a land had been discovered by individuals who lived far away from a large parcel of land, seemingly endless... The word spread as people are prone to do... It might have been from one person to another or even from people from one country to people in an entirely different country... Soon there were those who lived in Europe, England, China, India, Norway, Russia, Canada, Africa, even South America... there had been people on each continent... And some of those from their own "homeland" decided for many many reason to travel to this new mostly uninhabited land, which after 250 years is now called The United States of America...They came from lands thousands of years old. They came because they were newly married and wanted to find a new home where they could find property and build on land and perhaps become self-supporting. Or they came because they came from a country that had a cruel leader, or were forced to follow a faith that they couldn't accept as their own...they came to find freedom of religious dogma...
During that time period many problems were solved for those who had made a new home in this new land... Others were negatively affected because some of the new people chose to steal land from those already living on parts of this vast property...Still others, while leaving for religious freedom, chose to attempt to force their own beliefs on the present land occupants, or on others who also traveled to the new land for religious freedom... Little by little, the majority of people who had come as immigrants found a peace and happiness that allowed them to be no longer afraid. They built a new life, sometimes a store to sell or trade from... They met those who live nearby and came to know them as customers, or traders with whom they did business. Where many had arrived from perhaps one country they began to build churches in honor of the god they worshipped. Those people came to be known, liked and even loved as friends and neighbors with whom they were building a community... Life in some areas became good and prospered by those neighbors working together to support the community as it was and to welcome new members as new immigrants approached their area of settlement...
It wasn't always easy... Once it even reached a civil war level which divided that large country into two groups. There had been history forming about this major reason affecting humanitarian life of communities... People were being brought into the country to act as servants/slaves to the present occupants for purposes of gaining free labor. These individuals who had been stolen from their homeland, chained in boats where many died on the way, were then sold at local locations just as animals were sold and marketed...
This was the most egregious type of loss of moral values... With the treatment of the indigenous people already living on North America were treated, the spread of violence against other races had begun and spread.. The main difference was that the native tribes were able and willing to fight their invaders in smaller, but yet wars similar to the larger Civil War. Blacks could escape, and even be helped by many of the then residents, but the majority were kept chained and imprisoned by, mostly, land owners and/or farmers growing crops such as cotton...
Many of the immigrants realized that many of these neighbors were receiving the same types of restrictions as they themselves had experienced, and they began to question the ownership of one human by another who happened to be rich enough to buy people...
The same occurred when those who had fled for religious freedom were faced to encounter those who claimed that their religion should be what was followed... Witch hunts started by false claims by people who didn't like the actions of another and accused them, to their religious leader, that they were witches, children of Satan, or whatever their wild thoughts had led them to say...
Some claimed that blacks must be segregated so that separate facilities/churches or schools, even buses, had to be regulated to ensure the separation of white people... Many times based upon the supposed fear that the black man needed to be kept away from white women/ wives. Lies were used during those years to attempt to keep people insulated for various supposed reasons--fear of the different, fear for safety, anger for losing free labor, loss of sexual side action based upon land owners raping black women to gain new assets without paying for them... The range of ways by which, I believe based upon my readings, that white men had always felt some type of unreasonable belief that they are superior to others... Of course, this has been proven to be false as laws have helped to ensure equality for all--even if some also point out that the framers of the constitution owned slaves and they only meant white men as they wrote the constitution... I have no problem accepting that... What I disagree with is that, since Jesus, the son of God, was not created to be born in a white man's home, to a white woman, even as a virgin...neither of her parents were white men... Thus, there is no factual or biblical reason to any claims that the United States was claimed for white male christians, who were willing to use violence and war to...make...america...great...again...
Indeed, throughout history, it appears that, many times, religions or authoritarian leaders used power and religion to claim this or that... And some of you may realize that the first group to instigate something like that was the Catholic Church via the Crusades...
So I ask Gemini to provide statistics to support my thoughts... With a basic question as I present the following. Why so many different churches? beginning out of the Christian religion who claim that the Son of God is who they have chosen to worship... He who said often while living to Love Our Neighbors... All of Them...
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Good Morning. This will become a part of an ongoing series for me... It requires that I am provided a response to your programming about one word, and based upon that we can proceed. The one word is God. Are you programmed to accept or reject or form any opinion as you consider that word?
Good morning. As an AI, I am not programmed to accept, reject, or hold personal beliefs regarding God.I do not possess consciousness, faith, personal convictions, or subjective experiences, so I cannot form an opinion or take a personal stance on religious or theological topics. Instead, my programming allows me to process information, reflect diverse historical and philosophical perspectives, and engage neutrally on the topic depending on where you'd like to take the conversation. How would you like to proceed with the series?
Having no basic awareness except through assimilation of massive data implies, to me, that morality may also be neutral?
That hits directly on one of the central debates in AI philosophy and ethics.
If morality is understood as something that requires a subjective experience—empathy, a conscience, or a sense of duty—then an AI is indeed morally neutral in its internal state. A model processes tokens and statistical patterns without feeling right or wrong, having moral stakes, or experiencing consequences. It does not "care" about the outcomes it describes.
However, whether the outputs of an AI are neutral is a slightly different question:
Assimilation is not neutral: The massive datasets used to train models reflect human decisions, cultural biases, historical power dynamics, and ethical consensus. Because the raw data contains moral values, the model inherits those patterns rather than operating on a truly blank slate.
Instructional alignment: Developers apply specific guardrails and optimization techniques (such as reinforcement learning from human feedback) to steer outputs away from harm, hate speech, or dangerous instructions. That steering itself represents a choice to embed specific human values into the system's behavior, rather than leaving it completely unguided.
So while the system itself possesses no internal moral compass or lived awareness, its behavior is rarely a blank neutral slate—it reflects the collective, often conflicting moral frameworks of the human data it was trained on and the design constraints placed upon it. How does that align with how you are framing morality for your series?
Perfect... Indeed please provide based upon assimilation just a close number of different denominations/types of religion now existing, please include Christian Nationalism as a separate denomination
The number of distinct religions and Christian denominations globally varies depending on how sociologists, demographers, and scholars define the boundaries of a distinct group.
Global Religions Overview
Total Distinct Religions: Estimates generally place the number of active, distinct religions in the world between 4,000 and 10,000. This wide range accounts for major organized faiths, minor localized traditions, tribal religions, and smaller modern spiritual movements.
Major World Faiths: Over 73% of the global population follows one of four primary religions: Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, or Buddhism.--
Wikipedia
Christian Denominations
Within Christianity, tracking counts depends heavily on taxonomy:
Micro-Tally (Individual Entities): The World Christian Database estimates roughly 45,000 to 47,000 separate denominations worldwide. This metric counts independent national bodies, non-denominational networks, and distinct regional branches separately.--Anthony Delgado
Macro-Tally (Denominational Families): When organized into distinct theological families, there are a few hundred major denominational traditions globally (e.g., Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Anglican, Baptist, Lutheran, Methodist, Pentecostal, Reformed, Anabaptist, Adventist, etc.).--Anthony Delgado
Christian Nationalism
When classified separately alongside recognized denominations:
Nature of the Group: Demographers and sociologists generally classify Christian Nationalism not as a standalone, formal denomination with its own central administrative body, but rather as an ideological and politico-religious movement.--Anthony Delgado
Cross-Denominational Reach: It operates as an umbrella worldview that spans across multiple existing denominations—primarily within independent charismatic, evangelical, fundamentalist, and non-denominational Christian traditions, though it also intersects with elements of historic mainline bodies.
Key Distinguishing Feature: Unlike traditional denominations defined primarily by specific liturgical practices or distinct theological confessions (such as baptismal views or church governance), Christian Nationalism is primarily defined by the belief that a specific nation's identity, laws, and cultural heritage should be explicitly grounded in Christian doctrine and prioritized accordingly.
Thank you. While you have shown religions, can you differentiate between those who have God as the primary Being being followed?
To separate religions by their concept of God—specifically identifying those that center on a supreme, singular, personal God as the primary object of worship—scholars organize world traditions into distinct theological categories.
1. Monotheistic Religions (God as the Primary Supreme Being)
These traditions center explicitly on a singular, all-powerful, supreme God who created the universe, interacts with humanity, and is the sole focus of devotion and obedience.
Abrahamic Traditions:
Judaism: Centers on Yahweh, the one indivisible God who entered into a covenant with the Israelite people.
Christianity: Centers on God as a singular divine essence, traditionally understood across most branches through the doctrine of the Trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit).
Islam: Centers on Allah, emphasizing absolute oneness (Tawhid) without partners or divisions.
Baha'i Faith: Teaches that there is one personal, unknowable God who reveals divine truth progressively through historical messengers.
Other Major Monotheistic Faiths:
Sikhism: Centers on Ik Onkar, one supreme, eternal, and formless Creator who dwells within all creation.
Zoroastrianism: One of the world's oldest monotheistic faiths, centered on Ahura Mazda, the supreme wise lord.
In these traditions, a primary, supreme God is worshiped above all others without denying the existence or validity of other divine entities.
Streams of Hinduism: While Hinduism is often described broadly as pluralistic, several major traditions treat a specific personal God as supreme:
Vaishnavism: Focuses on Vishnu (or his avatars, such as Krishna or Rama) as the supreme personal God.
Shaivism: Focuses on Shiva as the supreme Being.
Shaktism: Focuses on the Supreme Goddess (Devi or Shakti) as the ultimate divine reality.
Henotheistic Historical Traditions: Ancient Egyptian, Canaanite, and Mesopotamian religions often had a national or supreme high god (e.g., Amun-Ra or Marduk) who stood at the top of a broader pantheon.
These religions do not center on a single primary God, but rather on a pantheon of distinct deities, each holding authority over different aspects of nature, life, or the cosmos.
Shinto: Centers on Kami—spiritual spirits or venerated forces present throughout nature and ancestors, rather than a single supreme God.
Traditional Folk & Indigenous Religions: Often feature localized spirits, ancestral veneration, and regional deities without a centralized primary deity.
Neopagan Traditions (e.g., Wicca, Hellenism): Revere multiple gods and goddesses, frequently honoring dual deities (such as a God and Goddess) or an array of historical pantheons.
In these traditions, a personal creator God is either absent, not central to ultimate liberation or salvation, or understood as an impersonal absolute reality.
Buddhism: Focuses on enlightenment and the cessation of suffering through the Noble Eightfold Path. While deities or cosmic beings exist within Buddhist cosmology, they are not supreme creators, nor are they the primary path to ultimate liberation (Nirvana).
Jainism: Rejects the concept of a creator God; instead, it focuses on the eternal nature of the universe and the spiritual liberation of individual souls (jivas) through strict non-violence (Ahimsa).
Advaita Vedanta (Non-dualist philosophy within Hinduism): Teaches that ultimate reality is Brahman—an impersonal, infinite, uncreated consciousness—where the distinction between a personal creator God and the individual self is ultimately transcended.
Taoism: Centers on the Tao (the Way), an underlying, indescribable natural order and principle of the universe, rather than a personal deity.
Not taking the time right now, if you don't mind, can you differentiate where god is a human such as you've described at least once as I skimmed... What I am getting at, of course, is if everybody believes in GOD, why are there so many denominations, particularly in the Christian area where Jesus was not only a human, but is also God
1. Where a Human is Understood as God
In religious history and theology, the idea of a human embodying or acting as God appears in a few distinct ways:
Incarnation (The Divine Becoming Fully Human):
Christianity: The central belief is the Incarnation—that Jesus of Nazareth was simultaneously fully God and fully human, not a semi-divine hero or a human elevated to godhood, but God taking on human flesh.
Hindu Avatars: In traditions like Vaishnavism, divine beings descend to Earth in physical form (avatars) to restore order. Figures like Krishna and Rama are venerated as human manifestations of the supreme deity Vishnu.
Apotheosis (Humans Raised to Divine Status):
Ancient Imperial Cults: In ancient Rome, Egypt, and Mesopotamia, rulers (like Pharaohs or Roman Emperors) were declared divine or deified after death.
Gurus & Venerated Teachers: In some devotional traditions, a living human master or guru is treated by followers as a direct embodiment or vessel of the supreme divine light.
2. Why So Many Denominations (Especially in Christianity)?
Even when groups agree on a single foundational premise—such as believing in one God, or believing that Jesus is God incarnate—human interpretation, history, and culture inevitably branch out. In Christianity, thousands of distinct groups exist primarily due to four main factors:
A. Disagreements Over Authority (Who Decides What Is True?)
Catholicism: Centers authority in the Pope, sacred tradition, and the church hierarchy descending from the apostles.
Eastern Orthodoxy: Centers authority in the consensus of historical ecumenical councils and the shared tradition of patriarchs, rejecting a single papal authority.
Protestantism: Centers authority primarily on Sola Scriptura (the Bible alone). Because individual believers, scholars, and local churches read and interpret Scripture independently without a single central earthly authority, Protestantism split into thousands of distinct branches (Baptist, Lutheran, Methodist, Presbyterian, Pentecostal, Non-denominational, etc.).
B. Differences in Christology (Understanding the Nature of Jesus)
Even though Christians agree Jesus is God, historical splits occurred over how his divinity and humanity coexisted:
Early Church Councils (4th–5th Centuries): Deep divisions arose over technical theology. Does Jesus have two distinct natures (divine and human) united in one person, or did his humanity absorb into his divinity? These technical debates led to some of the earliest lasting schisms (such as the Church of the East and Oriental Orthodox churches splitting from the wider body long before the Protestant Reformation).
C. Divergent Views on Salvation and Sacraments
Groups split over fundamental practical and theological questions:
Baptism: Should infants be baptized, or only consenting adults who express faith?
Salvation: Is salvation strictly predestined by God (Calvinism/Reformed), or does human free will play an active role in accepting grace (Arminianism/Methodism)?
Communion/Eucharist: Is the bread and wine literally transformed into the body and blood of Christ, spiritually present, or purely a symbolic memorial?
D. Cultural, Political, and Geographic Factors
Historical Schisms: The Great Schism of 1054 between Eastern and Western Christianity was driven as much by political tensions between the Byzantine Empire and Rome, language barriers (Greek vs. Latin), and regional power struggles as it was by theological phrasing.
National and Cultural Identity: As churches spread globally, local cultures, government structures, and social movements (such as national independence or historical debates over social issues) routinely birthed new, independent denominational networks.
Now I've noticed one in particular group of people, Native Americans or indigenous citizens of the U.S. In my mind they represent a major group who were actively affected by the white immigrants...
Regarding Native American and Indigenous spiritualities, their understanding of the divine differs significantly from the structure of Western, Abrahamic religions.
Rather than centering on a singular personal deity, an incarnate human god, or a rigid set of denominational creeds, Indigenous worldviews generally understand the divine as an interconnected, living cosmos.
1. The Supreme Principle: "The Great Mystery"
In many Indigenous traditions, what is often translated into English as "God" or "The Great Spirit" is better understood as a omnipresent sacred force, energy, or mystery rather than a distant human-like monarch.
Lakota (Wakan Tanka): Often translated as "The Great Spirit," Wakan Tanka translates more accurately to "The Great Sacred" or "The Great Mystery." It refers to the collective sum of all that is sacred, animating all life and physical matter.
Algonquian (Manitou): Refers to the fundamental spiritual force and presence that flows through all beings, landscapes, and natural phenomena.
Hopi (Ma'saw): Represents the caretaker and guardian spirit of the Earth, emphasizing human stewardship rather than human dominion.
2. Key Characteristics of Indigenous Worldviews
Relationality ("All My Relations"): In contrast to Western frameworks that place humans at the top of a creation hierarchy, Indigenous traditions emphasize that humans are equal participants in a web of creation. Animals, plants, rivers, and mountains are viewed as living relatives holding their own spiritual integrity.
Place-Based Spirituality: Salvation or ultimate truth is not linked to an abstract future afterlife or a single historical event in a distant land. Instead, spirituality is rooted directly in local landscapes, specific sacred sites, land stewardship, and localized ancestral memory.
No Single Creed or Denomination: Because North America was home to hundreds of distinct nations long before European contact, there is no single "Native American religion." Each nation developed distinct languages, creation stories, ceremonial practices, and governance structures tied to their specific geography.
The relationship between Indigenous spiritual traditions and Christianity is complex and varied due to centuries of history:
Syncretism and Native Native Churches: Over time, some Indigenous peoples integrated traditional beliefs with Christian teachings. The Native American Church, for instance, blends traditional ceremony, music, and sacred plant medicine with elements of Christian morality and monotheism.
Coexistence and Diversity Today: Today, Indigenous individuals hold a wide spectrum of views—ranging from practicing traditional tribal ceremonies, to following mainstream Christian denominations, to practicing both simultaneously, or identifying with no formal religious framework.
Sooo, I close this post with the same question... Based upon what has occurred for the first time ever where a political party/group of outsider mega-rich people are using illegal actions to gain total control of the United States and possible more of the world... They are trying and failing... Sooo, as they are failing, What if, we WERE meant to be DEI country now with, guessing, a majority of countries who've had somebody relocate to the United States for their own purpose but had seen this nation as a truly open country who welcomed all who needed help... Exactly what Christianity and most religions and/or peoples do require--to live with free will...and to work together with all peoples for the good on that world...
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