God is a general term used to describe a higher being than humans. Why do people equate it with Christianity? Jesus should be equated with Christianity, Yahweh with Judaism, Allah with Islam, etc. But God is a general term, which means that any government use of the term "God" is not promoting any single religion, it is promoting the belief in a higher being. If you responded to my other question of "Is there difference between an atheist trying to convince there is no God and Christian or other believer sharing their faith?" I would especially be interested in hearing your response to this question.
2007-10-12 07:43:57 · 24 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Interesting responses. I should note that I am a Christian and, therefor, believe that Yahweh and Jesus are different manifestations of the same God. Was just wondering about how other people see this, thanks for the responses.
2007-10-12 08:12:10 · update #1
Agreed, but Christianity is the most common religion in North America; therefore, it's natural that people would tend to associate the word "God" with it.
What annoys me much more is the assumption that ALL religious people are Christian, or that ALL religions are identical to Christianity.
2007-10-12 07:48:46 · answer #1 · answered by prairiecrow 7 · 5⤊ 0⤋
The word god simply refers to 'a higher being', however christians had a number of problems when they invented their religion. First of; Their 'God' is a variation on the Jewish god Yahweh or Jehovah, as a result there might have been problems if they called him that. Second; in the massively popular and successful attempts to spread christianity, there was a need to have the religion structured not to conflict too much with other pre-existing religions. Naming their god God meant that in almost every language and culture they would merely need to replace a number of gods with one but they would not have to change the concept or the name. Another way they did this was by setting 'christian' holidays and festivals and rituals along the general lines of older religions, hence avoiding too much conflict. In south America, many of the local god's were demoted to christian saints and angels, as a result it was easier for the locals to accept christianity.
2007-10-12 07:59:00 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The term "god" is neutral. The term "God" (capital G) was first used in the Gothic translation of the Bible, done by Bishop Ulfilas in the 300s. Thus, with a Capital G it is always a reference to the Abrahamic deity (since Muslims have adopted this practice with a capital A in Allah). There are even some ignoramuses that think the capital letter means this is a name!
And, since there are religions that can be atheistic (Taoism, Buddhism, Advaita Vedanta, etc.), the governmental use of the term god (with a capital or not) is establishing a form of religion - theistic.
2007-10-12 08:00:15 · answer #3 · answered by neil s 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
God is just a term or title. There are many Gods. Satan is a god. Many believe that Jesus was god. He is not God but Gods son. But the bible does not say that Jesus is God even though people say he is. The question should be who is the one and only true God that many claim to worship? Remember God is a God who is against false worship. Anyone worshiping another God besides the true God is actually going against the true God himself and is constituting himself as an enemy of the Supreme Being of the Universe.
2007-10-12 07:54:35 · answer #4 · answered by . 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
More than likely they, as well as you, it seems, were raised ion a society where Christianity was the major religion. The major God that they heard about was the Christian God, as well as the one mentioned during holidays like Christmas and Easter. If they were raised in a society where Islam was the main religion or in India, where most are Hindu, they would equate the word God with Allah or the Hindu Gods.
2007-10-12 07:48:32 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
See the problem with the government using the word "god" isn't that it is promoting any particular religion but it IS promoting religion in general. There are those who DO NOT believe in a higher power you know.
2007-10-12 08:33:31 · answer #6 · answered by Tamsin 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
There is only One True God, The Creator...after The Creation there was a lot of history... then God, through Jesus The Christ, commissioned The Church... The Chruch is made up of those of The True Christian Faith... those are The Body of The Church of which Jesus The Christ is The Head... only those of The Church will enter Heaven... God makes The Rules... play by God's Rules... or... ultimatly... you will lose.
the difference beween and atheist trying to convince and one of The True Christian Faith "sharing" their Faith.... A True Christian knows he can not "convince"/"prove" any thing to any one concerning The Faith... that kind of proof is up to God... we of The Faith are to witness and testify...but only to those recptive to that... when God calls someone and they respond to Him... then those of The Faith are there to assist the ones called by God in the worldly matters of The Faith... we do not do the "convincing"...that is God's business
2007-10-12 07:55:20 · answer #7 · answered by ? 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
False, false, false. The same God (Yahweh), of the Jews is the God of the Christians. God may be a general term, but it is the only way for english speaking people to describe the Creator of the universe.
2007-10-12 07:48:08 · answer #8 · answered by phil 2 · 2⤊ 2⤋
the title God is put with Christians because that is what we call our Lord.
I have tried to find a way of answering the second part of your question, but everything I come up with would offend someone who is an atheist. So I dont think I will try.
GOD Bless!
2007-10-12 08:00:26 · answer #9 · answered by knight_janette 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Than that is sponsoring the belief in any god, and not everyone does, and we are free from religion also....AND i really think your twisting this around (as christians often do) to help your cause, I'm pretty sure they are speaking of the christian god, in god we trust not gods, under god, not gods
2007-10-12 07:51:11 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋