They Fight in His Name, Yet They Call Him Undefinable, Omnipotent
By Dr Aslam Abdullah
CA

 

God is the most significant entity, the cause of all things, and is the universe's creator, sustainer, and ruler. God is incorporeal and independent of the material creation, while pantheism holds that God is the universe itself.

The concept of God varies across significant world religions, reflecting different theological frameworks, philosophical understandings, and cultural contexts. Across all traditions, God or the divine is the foundation of existence, ethics, and spiritual purpose. Here's an overview of how God is defined and perceived in some of the world's major religions:

Indigenous and Traditional Religions

In many Indigenous and Traditional religions, concepts of God or gods are often tied to natural elements and the cosmos. Many Indigenous traditions recognize spirits, ancestors, and nature deities, usually viewing the divine as interconnected with the Earth, animals, and the universe.

God or the divine is personal in various forms—such as the Great Spirit in some Native American traditions or Olorun in Yoruba religion.

Often, the divine is seen as inherent within the natural world, providing guidance and balance to all life.

Hinduism

In Hinduism, the concept of God is complex and can range from monotheistic to polytheistic interpretations. The ultimate reality is known as Brahman, an impersonal, infinite, and formless entity that pervades the universe. Hindus may also worship personal gods like Vishnu, Shiva, and Devi as manifestations of Brahman.

Brahman is eternal, changeless, and beyond human comprehension. In some sects, God incarnates on Earth in human or animal forms (Avatars), as seen with Vishnu incarnating as Krishna or Rama. "The wise one who sees that all beings are in Brahman and Brahman in all beings is the one who has the true vision." (Bhagavad Gita 6:30)

Buddhism

In Buddhism, the concept of God as an omnipotent creator does not exist in the same way as in theistic religions. Buddhism is non-theistic, focusing instead on the nature of suffering, impermanence, and the path to enlightenment. While some forms of Buddhism revere Buddhas and Bodhisattvas (enlightened beings) as highly advanced spiritual beings, they are gods in the traditional sense.

In Buddhism, the ultimate reality is Nirvana, liberation from the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth (Samsara). The focus is on achieving enlightenment through meditation, wisdom, and ethical living rather than worshiping a deity. "There is no creator, no supreme being. All things arise through dependent origination."

Judaism

In Judaism, God is strictly monotheistic, transcendent, and the sole Creator and ruler of the universe. God is considered omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent, but unknowable and beyond human comprehension. Central to Judaism is the belief that God entered into a covenant with the Jewish people, which obliges them to follow His commandments (mitzvot).

God is one, eternal, and indivisible. He is just and merciful and intervenes in human history, especially in the Exodus story. "Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord, is One." (Deuteronomy 6:4)

Christianity

Christianity teaches belief in one God but with a unique understanding of God as a Trinity—Father, Son (Jesus Christ), and Holy Spirit. It is a complex theological concept where God is one in essence but exists in three distinct persons. Christians believe in God as the Creator and Sustainer of the universe, and that God became incarnate in Jesus to redeem humanity.

God is often referred to as God the Father or simply as God, with Jesus as the divine Son of God and the Holy Spirit as God's active presence in the world.

God is loving, merciful, omnipotent, omniscient, and eternal. In Christianity, God's nature comes through Jesus Christ as loving and forgiving. "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life." (John 3:16)

Islam

In Islam, God is Allah, the singular, all-powerful, and compassionate Creator of the universe. Allah is both transcendent and immanent, meaning that while He is beyond the physical world and human comprehension, He is also intimately involved in the world and people's lives. The absolute oneness of God (Tawhid) is the central tenet of Islamic belief, and associating anything with God (shirk) is considered the gravest sin.

Allah is the Arabic word for God, and Muslims use it worldwide. Other names of God, known as the 99 Names of Allah, describe His various attributes, such as Ar-Rahman (The Compassionate), Al-Hakim (The Wise), and Al-Malik (The Sovereign).

Allah is omnipotent, omniscient, merciful, and just. He is beyond human understanding and is not anthropomorphic (he does not take human form). "Say: He is Allah, the One and Only; Allah, the Eternal, Absolute; He begetteth not, nor is He begotten; and there is none like unto Him." (Qur'an 112:1-4)

Sikhism

In Sikhism, God is called Waheguru or Ik Onkar (One God) and is understood as a formless, timeless, omnipresent being beyond human comprehension. God is both transcendent and immanent, creating and sustaining the universe while also being present within all creation.

Waheguru (Wonderful Lord) or Ik Onkar (One Creator). Other terms like Satnam (True Name) also emphasize God's truth and unity.

God is formless (Nirankar), eternal, compassionate, and merciful. God is accessible to all through devotion, prayer, and selfless service.

"There is one Creator of all. His Name is Truth. He is without fear, without hate. He is immortal, without form, beyond birth and death." (Guru Nanak, Japji Sahib)

 

Taoism

In Taoism, the ultimate reality is the Tao (The Way), the fundamental principle that underlies and unites all existence. The Tao is not a god in a personal or anthropomorphic sense, but rather the natural order or flow of the universe. The goal of Taoist practice is to live in harmony with the Tao.

Tao (The Way) is not a personal god but an impersonal principle of existence.

The Tao is eternal, nameless, formless, and beyond human description. It is the source of all creation, and everything follows its natural rhythm. "The Tao that can be told is not the eternal Tao; the name that can be named is not the eternal name." (Tao Te Ching, Chapter 1)

(Dr Aslam Abdullah is a resident scholar at Islamicity.org and editor-in-chief of the Muslim Observer newspaper. He is also the Indian Islamic Heritage Project director of the American Federation of Muslims of Indian origin and the interim President of the World Council of Muslims for Interfaith Relations, WCMIR.)