Why can't some people specify which god they're talking about?

Question

It's like someone saying "I'd like you to meet Mr.Bob!" ..."Um which Bob there are like thousands of Bobs...Bob Marley,Bob Barker,ect. Same deal with God...there are a ton of gods. Why not call him Yahweh or Jehovah his proper name for Christians

Jeff the Drummer: you an insomniac or something?

Ryoko: yep reaaal clever there with the yo momma jokes

Answer 1

Superstition, primarily.

The bible uses the Divine Name ("YHWH" or "Jehovah") nearly SEVEN THOUSAND TIMES. The bible writers refer to the Almighty by His personal name more times than by "God", "Lord", and "Father" COMBINED. There is no other personal name used in the bible more than the personal name of Almighty God. It seems clear that Jehovah wants his name to be used, while insisting that the Name be used respectfully.

(Exodus 20:7) You must not take up the name of Jehovah your God in a worthless way
http://watchtower.org/e/bible/ex/chapter_020.htm?bk=Ex;chp=20;vs=7;citation#bk7


The name "Jehovah" is an English translation of the Hebrew name pronounced as or similar to "Yahweh" or "Yehowah"; the exact original pronunciation is unknown. The four Hebrew characters corresponding to the letters "YHWH" are well-recognized as the biblical personal name of Almighty God, and are universally designated as "the Tetragrammaton" or "the Tetragram".

For centuries, most Jews have superstitiously refrained from pronouncing aloud any form of the divine Name. They base that superstition on the third of the Ten Commandments given to Moses:
(Exodus 20:7) You must not take up the name of Jehovah your God in a worthless way
http://watchtower.org/e/bible/ex/chapter_020.htm?bk=Ex;chp=20;vs=7;citation#bk7

Over the centuries, that Jewish superstition has expanded to also forbid writing or engraving any form of "YHWH", even when simply copying from one of the nearly 7000 occurences in the Hebrew Scriptures. In recent centuries, some superstitious Jews have even forbade unabbreviated EUPHEMISMS for "YHWH"; capitalized terms such as "Tetragrammaton" and (amazingly) even "the Name" are forbidden by such superstitions.

More recently, the Jewish superstition has ballooned out of all reasonableness by also forbidding respectful impersonal TERMS referring to the Almighty; thus many Jews insist upon writing "G-d" or "G~d" rather than "God". They may even refrain from capitalizing impersonal terms such as "Creator" and "Almighty".

Naturally, the religious and superstitious practices of a person are between him and his Creator. However, in recent decades these superstitious Jews have worked to impose their superstitious sensibilities beyond their religious communities, and onto the entire populace. Thus, although "YHWH' is unanimously recognized as the personal name of God, few today use any form of it in their writings and conversation.

Interestingly, Christendom has largely joined with superstitious Jews in suppressing the use of "Yahweh" and "Jehovah". However, it seems that Christiandom's anti-YHWH bias largely devolves from their hatred of Jehovah's Witnesses, the religion almost single-handedly responsible for the growing public recognition that the Almighty God of Judaism and Christianity actually does a personal name.

It seems that too many are more interested in coddling superstition than in allowing intellectual honesty and respect for the Almighty.

Learn more:
http://watchtower.org/e/na/
http://watchtower.org/e/20040122/


Interestingly, Encyclopaedia Judaica says that “the avoidance of pronouncing the name YHWH ... was caused by a misunderstanding of the Third Commandment.”
http://www.jehovantodistajat.fi/e/20040122/article_02.htm

(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

Answer 2

Lots of people feel the need argue about names. If you back up far enough to encompass every bit of matter, energy, and awareness, this is the sum total body of God. The name is not important, there is only one everything.

The meaning is not important. Why do we pray to the body of everything? The reason differs from person to person. I find it calming and safe to be within the body of everything, and I believe the highest awarenss is enlightened, thus is a loving being of truth and justice. This also gives me a sense of security.

We are aware. This is something we humans do not have a monopoly on. It's silly to think so.

Our limited outlook on reality can sometimes be the walls protecting us from harm. Think on it. Improve yourself for the good of the human pool, all negative emotions are your own creation, and you're responcible for them. Beware the ripples you make, they'll return with similar smells.

Answer 3

I can clearly see that you are frustrated but you can look on it this way

1. If you ask a question pertaining to 'God" but you did not specify which, then a person may assume that you know the exact one that you are talking about. Consequently, he will reply using the term"God" only with the expectation that you know which one he/she is peaking about, that is, the one you had in mind when you asked the question in the first place.

2. Having to assume the particular 'God" to which a person may refer to in a question, leaves too many open doors so therefore to keep it simple its best not specify.

3. Where questions are concerned, I totally agree with you

But there is only one God though-Jehovah- although He has many other names.

Answer 4

Didn't know there were that many gods ? I think the true god has no name. If there is a god he is a state of consciousness that people experience in deep states of meditation. God's names are just as phoney as the one your parents gave you. Think about it. God is before all creation and he has never communicated his name to anyone. I think we need to go beyond words to know god.(sorry to dissapoint you ).

Answer 5

There is only one God and no proper name.

So you will just have to live with me saying God. I use a name when I am speaking about something that is not God.

~ Eric Putkonen

Answer 6

This is because so many Christians ignore their own history and doctrines and insist that the Christian God doesn't have a given name and is just "God", the one and only. To personify him with a name might imply to them that there are other gods too, and heaven forbid that!!

Answer 7

Some people do specify which god they are talking about.. like Shiva, Zeus, etc...

I believe that for Christians, we know who is being talked about when someone says "God."

Answer 8

There is only one God and that is God the Father. All these other gods are false.

Answer 9

God has many names and although He has different ways of being worshiped He is the God sovereign over all.

1Cronicles 12:6
And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.

Answer 10

Allah is Yahweh is Jehovah is God

they are all names for the one God most people worship. If you worship one God and one God only it is the same God