What is your visual image of God?

[Backintown]

I find this interesting. In the novel The Shack, God is portrayed in a different way than many imagine (that's all I'm saying, I've not even finished this book and I won't spoil it for anybody).
Anyhow, a friend and I were discussing our visual images of God, or mostly at least of the Father and of Jesus. We both agreed that we didn't have a definite mental image of either but were certain that Jesus is not a blue eyed blond! However, I wanted to share my childhood image of God (the father I presume)...from my earliest memories I always envisioned him just like that floating cloud head in the Wizard of Oz. And how they come trembling down that long corridor, it makes me think of coming into a large cathedral...the arches and such...and the fear and tremling?! Oh my can you imagine...just imagine...he is the great and the powerful. Crazy I know but it's an image I still haven't been able to completely shed. So how do you view him from a visual point?

[boiler5a]

I have not enjoyed reading a book more than The Shack for a very long time. The visual protrayal of God was great and it does makes the reader examine some of their own beliefs in that area. It makes me smile even now thinking about it. I'll keep my other comments to myself for those who have not read it.

When I was child I thought God must look like Jesus, because kids look like their dads. As I got older I thought he was more menacing (a judge sitting in judgment). Now I see him more like a relative or old friend, I'm not sure what he looks like in my mind, but I know he is waiting on me and we will be glad to see each other when the time is right.

[taxfax]

When I was very young, I can remember looking at a bright, full moon...so bright and white in a black sky. In the white of the moon were gray shadows and, in my vivid childhood imagination, I saw the face of Jesus.
As an adult, I really have no visual of God. I, too, am fairly certain He is not blond and blue-eyed! But, He's never told us what He looks like. Our human assumptions may be all wrong! Maybe we cannot even fathom what He really looks like, maybe it's too much for the human mind to conceive.
Here's another thought. When we are children, are our first visuals of God how He reveals Himself to us individually? As we become adults, and think we know so much more, do we obscure his true vision for each one of us? I wonder...

[lizra]

I look forward to reading this. :) Since I don't believe in a god....I don't really have an image....but if I were wrong, and there was a god figure, I'd sort of have to go with the glowing power source rays of light thinh....kind of like Star trek did sometimes......and does god have a sound/voice? Or does god just infuse you with godliness...no visual or audio or anything....just a feeling of overwhelming revelation?

[nono]

I look forward to reading this. :) Since I don't believe in a god....I don't really have an image....but if I were wrong, and there was a god figure, I'd sort of have to go with the glowing power source rays of light thinh....kind of like Star trek did sometimes......and does god have a sound/voice? Or does god just infuse you with godliness...no visual or audio or anything....just a feeling of overwhelming revelation?

It is overwhelming for me when I am sad or something terrible has happened in my life, to pray to god and most times I feel overwhelmed with love like is is embracing me.

[lizra]

That makes sense....no visual, just a comforting feeling of completeness and clarity.

[nono]

That makes sense....no visual, just a comforting feeling of completeness and clarity.

Yes, just like a giant weight has been lifted off of me.

[yus2bfrmlebtuky]

When I was a child, I only imagined a gaint, gentle hand, but a thunderous voice. Never a face. Even now when I see sunbeems coming down in streaks through the clouds ( the most beautiful sight on earth to me) I feel that is God letting me know he is there, He is with me. I don't think he has a booming voice anymore...But a very quiet one that I can shut out way too easily, and that scares me. I need to listen harder I think.