First off, I know that many religions believe their interpretation of God to be the only true one with no room for gentlemanly debate, and so for those who are unwilling to give a fair and open-minded answer I politely ask you not to write anything at all below.
I was merely wondering if the name of your God is all that important, as all religions do, in essesence, have the same basic priniciples (a love of God, fellow man and your elders etc etc).
Is denomination unimportant compared to the fact that a person has God in their life, and that this makes them a 'better' person?
Surely whether or not you call God Allah, Yahweh, Jehovah, Ahura Mazda is a moot point comapred to the fact that you have recognised a higher Universal power full stop?
I'd be interested to hear your opinions, but please be polite and fair in your answers. Thank you.
2007-01-26 23:56:59 · 17 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
If we want a familiar and close relationship, it makes sense to use the personal name of someone we love. The Scriptures encourage us to use God's personal name.
The Hebrew name “Yahweh” (or “Yehowah”) does seem to accurately pronounce the divine name. Just as the Hebrew name “Yeshua” (or “Yehoshua”) is translated into “Jesus” in English, the Hebrew name “Yahweh” is translated into “Jehovah” in English.
The important thing is to use God’s personal name in whatever language you speak, rather than insisting upon the impersonal! The name “Yahweh” is certainly preferable to the non-name “God” or “Lord”, especially if you speak Hebrew. If you speak English, feel free to use the name "Jehovah".
(Psalms 83:18) That people may know that you, whose name is Jehovah, You alone are the Most High over all the earth
(John 17:26) [Jesus said] I have made your name known to them and will make it known, in order that the love with which you loved me may be in them
Learn more:
http://watchtower.org/e/na/
http://watchtower.org/e/20040122/
http://watchtower.org/e/19990208/article_03.htm
2007-01-27 00:56:22 · answer #1 · answered by achtung_heiss 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
In Isaiah 42:8, God states very clearly that His name is Jehovah, although Hebrew scholars prefer Yahweh. Allah is the Muslim "version" of God, but I would hesitate to equate Ahura Mazda with God. Ahura Mazda is apparently derived from Indo-iranian religions, in which there are two categories of gods, ahuras and daivas.
2007-01-27 00:22:07 · answer #2 · answered by Scabius Fretful 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes it matters a lot. In the Bible, God has given Himself Names to reveal Himself to man and He states we are to not take the Names lightly or abuse them as it His revelation of Himself. Now if one says that there are other religions with other names, then one of 2 things is true. God did not tell the truth in the Bible or the other religions with other names is not referring to the same God. Even a brief study of the various religions show direct conflict and opposing beliefs so they can't be the same nor can they have the same God. God would be a deceiver and trouble maker if that were so.
edit (sp)
2007-01-27 00:10:24 · answer #3 · answered by beek 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes James it is important to use God's name to distinguish him from other gods worshiped.
For example, if you were in a room with other males and I came and shouted "man" or didn't use your correct name then how would you know I was referring to you?
God gives us his name in Psalms 83:18 & other places in the Bible. It is his name forever. - YHWH/ Yahweh/ Jehovah
It is also very important in view of the words found at Exodus 20:3
Also, Jesus words at Matthew 7:21-23 show that your religion really does matter. True, there are many nice people in all religions but its whether their worship is acceptable to God or not that matters. In short, we should worship God how He wants to be worshiped not according to what we want.
The scripture in Matthew shows that many who claim to follow Jehovah & Jesus will be rejected as they weren't doing the "will" of God. We should make sure that we are not among those who Jesus rejects.
Thank you for the question
:)
2007-01-27 02:10:18 · answer #4 · answered by New ♥ System ♥ Lady 4 · 2⤊ 1⤋
I think name is important because in times old gone and even today, it used to tell something about its owner. The first thing God did after He created Adam was to bring all the animals in front of him so he could give them names. That seems so vague for us for we put a name to child just for the sound of it, but all biblical characters' names meant something for them or for their parents. When God brought Eve in front of Adam he looked at her and he realized she is the one from his own kind made exactly for him and he gave her a name that sounded like the word "man" in Hebrew. So I think the most correct thing to do would be to call God the way He called Himself. God called Himself with different names as you can see in the Bible and they all tell something about Him. So when Christians or Muslims or Buddists turn to God, they definitely have a different God in mind.
2007-01-27 00:26:33 · answer #5 · answered by petyado 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
At Ps. 83:18, it says that Jehovah is the name of the Most High. In fact, God's name is recorded in the Bible some 7,000 times. So wouldn't you assume that God wants us to use his name?
In teaching his followers to pray, Jesus said at Matt. 6:9: "Our Father in the heavens, let your name be sanctified." How can we sanctify God's name if we don't use it correctly. It does matter what we call our God.
2007-01-27 01:15:10 · answer #6 · answered by LineDancer 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Every religion describes certain attributes and qualities of God that makes it specific to that religion, As in Islam, Allah almighty, has 99 attributes/qualitative names and Has no partners. So In Islam if we call Allah it means including 99 qualities the one who has no partners. This is the reason we can not call almighty Him with other names those are not meant for Him, which are not told to us by Him.
2007-01-27 01:10:47 · answer #7 · answered by Ishfaq A 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I accept Scriptures as true, and they say we should call on the name of the Almighty. His name YHVH is in scriptures 6800 times. The book of acts tells us there is only one name by which we can be saved. Ex.23:13 tells us not to use the pagan names of other religions. I find this message persuasive.
2007-01-27 00:07:04 · answer #8 · answered by hasse_john 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I think you hit the nail on the head there. In the book "The Mists of Avalon" the king addressed the Pagans and the Christians and said, "You all worship the Great One above us, by whatever the name."
Blessed Be.
2007-01-30 06:19:49 · answer #9 · answered by Maria Isabel 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, my point of view is that of course it doesn't matter in which language you're calling him: Allah, God...etc.
Religion is not about words, its about faith and beliefs in your heart, and then actions and good dead coming out from you.
what matters is to believe that there is only 1 God, and he is the one who has created everything..
And yeah by the way EXMUSLIMAH, Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him did not rape a 9 year old girl. who lied to you by telling you this?
And ted.nardo, Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him is not a God of course, he's just a human prophet, a messenger from God to remind humanity of God.
Of course he would die, as all other human prophets died, as Prophet Jesus peace be upon him died.
2007-01-27 00:09:39 · answer #10 · answered by Dee . 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋