The nature of God is one of the most controversial and widely debated topics in the history of mankind. Across cultures, religions, and generations, people have always argued about the precise qualities, attributes and characteristics of God. In order to understand the nature of God, it is important to understand the meaning of the word God. According to Pickover (14-16), God is a common word for a personal object of worship and is usually applied to all superhuman beings. In Christianity and all other monotheistic religions, God is described as the creator of the universe and the giver of life. In other religions, God refers to a superhuman being, deity or spirit that is worshipped and referred as having inexplicable powers over nature.
The vast religions of the world teach a variety of concepts about the nature of God. Over the centuries, books have been written which list thousands of Gods who have been worshipped by mankind in different eras and locations. In Christianity, God’s nature is depicted as a supreme power which is the chief lawgiver and creator of the universe. The Christian God is concerned with promoting the welfare of his creations and the salvation of those who follow his laws. The majority of the Christian denominations agree that God is the Sovereign of the universe existing above all else. The supreme creator exists in a different realm from all that He created, including human beings. Christianity also teaches that the true nature of God is beyond human understanding, and therefore any perceptions about God are based on revelations given through the Bible. Within Christianity, there is the concept of the Holy Trinity which states that God is a single being but exists eternally and simultaneously as a perichoresis of three persons: God the Father; God the Son and God the Holy Spirit (Pickover, 18-19).
In Islam, God is described as a supreme being that created the universe and retains absolute power over everything in the universe. According to Islamic teachings, God is the only one deserving of worship, and the ultimate purpose of any human being is to submit to God’s will. Islam rejects the Christian notion of the Holy Trinity and insists on a pure and clear understanding God. In Hinduism and Buddhism, the concept of a personal God does not exist. Buddhism rejects the abstract notion of God operating in the universe. Instead, the religion teaches that the concept of God came about as a human response to frustrations and fear in the world. Buddhism maintains that when ancient civilizations found themselves in hostile and dangerous situations, the fear of catastrophic events, diseases and attacks by wild animals were overwhelming. They, therefore, created the idea of God to console themselves against these dangers (Donald, 82).
In Judaism, God is not merely a philosophical concept or a final cause that explains the origin and fate of the universe. Rather, God is the only being that lies above all other beings and who should be praised. The Jewish religion teaches that God is a whole, single, indivisible entity that cannot be understood by man. He lacks physical form and is everywhere present. Several other religions have different teaching about the nature of God. Because of these differences, it is difficult to tell whether there is one God leave alone describing the nature of God (Collins, 72).
Works Cited
Collins Francis. The Language of God: A Scientist Presents Evidence for Belief. Free Press, 2006.
Donald Swearer. Becoming the Buddha: The Ritual of Image Consecration in Thailand. Princeton University Press, 2004.
Pickover Cliff. The Paradox of God and the Science of Omniscience. Palgrave/St Martin's Press, 2001.
