A retiring Roman Catholic bishop in the Netherlands has been making headlines around the world in recent days with his suggestion that Dutch Christians should pray to Allah.
Bishop Tiny Muskens of Breda, a former missionary to Indonesia, suggested that conflict between Christians and Muslims could be lessened if Dutch Catholics followed the lead of some Christians in Muslim-dominated lands and adopted Allah as the preferred name for God..
2007-09-19 11:11:48 · 51 answers · asked by lablover2 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Personally I would never call God by this name it is not found in the Christian or Jewish bible.
This name is in reference to a pagan god.
2007-09-19 11:28:30 · update #1
I am that I am (Hebrew: אהיה אשר אהיה, pronounced Ehyeh asher ehyeh) is one English translation of the response God used in the Bible when Moses asked for his name (Exodus 3:14). It is one of the most famous verses in the Torah. Hayah means "existed" or "was" in Hebrew; "ehyeh" is the first person singular present/future form. Ehyeh asher ehyeh is generally interpreted to mean I am that I am (King James Bible and others), yet, as indicated, is most literally translated as "I-shall-be that I-shall-be."
The word Ehyeh is used a total of 43 places in the Old Testament, where it is usually translated as "I will be" -- as is the case for its first occurrence, in Exodus 3:12 -- or "I shall be," as is the case for its final occurrence in Zechariah 8:8. It stems from the Hebrew conception of monotheism that God exists within each and everyone and by himself, the uncreated Creator who does not depend on anything or anyone; therefore I am who I am. Some scholars state the Tetragrammaton itself derives from the same verbal root, but others counter that it may simply sound similar as intended by God, such as Psalm 119 and the Hebrew words "shoqed" (watching) and "shaqed" (almond branch) found in Jeremiah 1:11-12.
So, no I would not call "God" "Allah"
2007-09-19 11:34:03 · answer #1 · answered by David G 6 · 3⤊ 1⤋
In Indonesia, since I knew ( Iwas brought up in Catholic environtment but choose Islam as my religion later),
Catholic called God Father as Allah Bapa.
Allah = God
Bapa= Father.
God Father was always Allah Bapa in Catholic teaching in Indonesia. And Jesus is tuhan Yesus.
It's called like that for at least 60 years by now.
What are some of you screaming loud for????
Histerical christians, screaming just about a name ??? No wonder i could not stand, I was a navigator for christian as well, cant stand the people there. Hypocrates... now ...histerics. Huh!!!
2007-09-19 15:51:20 · answer #2 · answered by Anna S 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋
The Christians in the Middle East already do. The problem is not the name of God or Allah, the problem is the people understanding of who was Muhammad. Considering his life style and some of his teaching I, for one, would doubts God or Allah would choose a person like him for such an important message.
That Bishop is just another political correct person who is willing to do anything to please the Muslims, and as a person who came from Indonesia. He knows how much trouble the Christians are by the hand of some of those Muslims. Don't take my words. Look it up yourself.
2007-09-19 11:30:00 · answer #3 · answered by Bravado Guru 5 · 10⤊ 0⤋
I believe it would only be appropriate to call the Christian God "Allah" if one's native language is Arabic. My understanding is that "Allah" simply means "God" in that language. With due respect to the Bishop, I think he is taking the idea of goodwill a little too far here. In fact, I think it could have the opposite effect. If we call God "Allah" when Arabic is not our language, and profess to worship "Allah", then the perception is that we intend worship according to Islamic practice. If we do not then worship according to Islamic practice, I imagine this would be offensive to Muslims. I would perceive it as dishonest if someone told me s/he worships Jehovah and then proceeded to pray towards Mecca 5 times a day.
2007-09-19 11:27:00 · answer #4 · answered by nardhelain 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Allah in Arabic means "The God", Allah in Hebrew mean "Spirit", Ellah in Aramaic which Jesus spoke means "The Father" which Allah in Arabic is derived from. The trinity from another stand point, such a Muslim, may be considered as thus: Allah would be God the Father, Allah would also be the Holy Spirit which teaches all the Prophets for measured roles, but what's called Prophet in English would be the Son. Son is allegorical since God is One and is not begotten, nor does God beget, it means like God in character/image and likeness of Spirit not body. Another example would be from Baha'i such as the title "Baha'u'llah" Glory of God, in Aramaic would be "Glory of the Father", as Christ Prophesied. So really Allah is just a collision of sounds in symbolism like the word God, what matters is what is intended. God bless.
2016-05-18 22:11:26 · answer #5 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No. I speak English.
If I were in an Arabic speaking country, speaking it myself, then when I talked about God I would use the word Allah.
I actually like it because it can not be pluralized. Therefore when you say it, there's no confusion that you are talking about THE God Almighty. God of Abraham, Moses, David, and Jesus. I don't think that non Arabic speaking people should have to use Allah in order to make Muslims feel better. Chances are if you are in a Muslim dominated land, then they would be speaking Arabic, there are Christians who speak Arabic and use the term Allah when they do. It wouldn't make sense to speak the language, then say "God," and continue on in the language.
2007-09-19 11:25:27 · answer #6 · answered by ♫O Praise Him♫ 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋
I would have to read the Quran first. From what it seems Allah does not share the same teachings as my God does. So why would I call my God Allah unless it were to only to passify a certain religous group? By doing that I would not be living the truthful and whole life I strive for. So, no.
2007-09-19 11:24:58 · answer #7 · answered by skycat 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
If you were an Arab it would be reasonable; I've heard said by muslims that Allah is used as the name of God by Arab christians, although whether this is so in every Arab community I don't know - e.g. might not the Copts (main group of Egyptian christians) use their own Coptic word for God? (Coptic was the original language of Egypt before state-sponsorred Arabic some centuries after Mohammedan conquest largely replaced it).
For me it smacks a bit of 'doormat' behaviour. It kind of makes them think you are going to accept their concept of God; that concept is actually * highly dishonouring* to Jesus' status and salvation achievement for us, using it would be a dishonour to Jesus. If we start dishonouring Jesus they will probably try to push in another way and so on .. it could start as a friendly-seeming gesture but end up with quite unpleasant behaviour as they perceive us as weak in our beliefs.
2007-09-19 11:31:37 · answer #8 · answered by Cader and Glyder scrambler 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Although the Arabic term "Allah" means God, the god of Muhammad is not the Father of Jesus.
Here's why:
Christians believe that Yahweh is the Father of Jesus Christ, who was begotten of the Father. As it is written in the Bible, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16)
Muslims reject that statement outright. As it is written in the Qur'an, "He is God, the One and Only; God, the Eternal, Absolute; He begets not, nor is He begotten; And there is none like unto Him." (Surah 112)
Further, Christians believe that Jesus is also God, something Islam would never accept. Therefore, I would never stoop to calling God "Allah," ever. Why perpetuate a myth, merely to appease?
2007-09-19 11:18:15 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 6⤊ 0⤋
This man is a fool. allah is not God and I will never use the word, even in an Arabic speaking country. Some Muslims do claim that allah is actually God's name, his proper name and I know that is false. There are some Arab Christians who refuse to use the name allah. Instead, they use al-ilaah, which is Arabic for The (al) God (ilaah). I'm sure you are aware that the Jews use Hebrew wherever they are. No one would ask them to use allah. No one should ask me to either.
God Bless.
2007-09-19 11:32:44 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋