Divine Names and Nature
Photo by Crystal Jo
Unfortunately the word 'God' has been associated
with the supernatural, instead of the natural—
and with a supreme Being, instead of all Being…¹
— Margaret Laird
For many of us, the word God conjures up an image of an old man with a beard, seated on a throne in the sky. Although this image may have served well in Biblical times, it more than hints at time, space, separation, journey, and gender. These objections are resolved when we know God as divine consciousness:
‘Consciousness’ is a [non-religious]
scientific way
of referring to Totality,
One without a Second,
which from a religious point of view
we refer to as Gd.²
— Steve Sufian
Even better, is when we acknowledge only one God, one consciousness, one essence, one Being. As a world-renowned Zohar scholar says:
God is not somewhere else
hidden from us,
God is right here, hidden from us.³
— Daniel C. Matt
In her book, The Path of Blessing, Macia Prager tells of “A noble thinker [who] once challenged Martin Buber” regarding the use of the word ‘God:’
What you mean by the name of God
is something beyond
all human grasp and comprehension,
but in speaking about it, you have
lowered it to human conceptualization.
What word in human speech
is so misused, so defiled,
so desecrated as this!
All the innocent blood
that has been shed for it
has robbed it of its radiance.
All the injustice that it has been used
to cover has effaced its features.
When I hear the highest called ‘God,’
it sometimes seems almost blasphemous.⁴
— Marcia Prager
Below you’ll find lists of synonymous names for God in Judaism, Islam, and Christian Science.
But first, the following gems are reminders to honor and acknowledge the names and qualities of Divinity in whatever sacred tradition they are revealed.
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Reflection
Names of God in Judaism
the Tetragrammaton
Ein Sof
El
Elohim
Ayin
Zot
Ehyeh
Hashem
Adonai
I AM
Shaddai
Tzevaoth
Shekhinah
Names of God in Islam
The Compassionate, The Beneficent
The Merciful
The King, The Sovereign Lord
The Holy
The Source of Peace
The Guardian of Faith
The Protector
The Mighty
The Strong
The Compeller, The Majestic
The Creator
The Evolver, The Maker
The Fashioner
The Great Forgiver
The Subduer, The Dominant
The Bestower
The Sustainer, The Provider
The Opener, The Reliever
The All-Knowing
The Retainer
The Expander
The Abaser
The Exalter
The Honorer
The Humiliator
The All-Hearing
The All-Seeing
The Judge
The Just
The Subtle One
The Aware
The Forbearing
The Great One
The All-Forgiving
The Grateful
The Most High
The Great
The Preserver
The Maintainer
The Reckoner
The Sublime One
The Generous
The Watcher
The Responsive
The Vast
The Wise
The Loving
The Glorious
The Resurrector
The Witness
The Truth
The Trustee
The Strong
The Firm On
The Supporter
The Praiseworthy
The Counter
The Originator
The Reproducer
The Restorer
The Destroyer
The Alive One
The Self-Subsisting
The Perceiver
The Unique
The One
The Eternal
The Able
The Powerful
The Expediter
The Delayer
The First
The Last
The Manifest
The Hidden
The Governor
The Most Exalted
The Source of All Goodness
The Acceptor of Repentance
The Avenger
The Pardoner
The Compassionate One
The King of Kings
The Lord of Majesty and Bounty
The Equitable One
The Gatherer
The Self-Sufficient
The Enricher
The Preventer
The Distresser
The Propitious
The Light
The Guide
The Incomparable
The Everlasting
The Inheritor
The Guide to the Right Path
The Patient One
Synonyms of God in
Christian Science
Mind
Spirit
Soul
Principle
Life
Truth
Love
[Mind, Spirit, Soul, Principle, Life, Truth, Love]
are intended to express
the nature, essence, and wholeness of Deity.¹
— Mary Baker Eddy
See also: Reflection
Waves of the Ocean
[1] Margaret Laird, What is the Idea?, (Institute of Metaphysical Science, 1953), p. 9
[2] Steve Sufian, Commentary on Parashat Devarim, Congregation Beth Shalom Newsletter, Fairfield, IA • 07.23.20 AX 6003
[3] Daniel C. Matt, God and the Big Bang, (Jewish Lights Publishing, 1996), p. 171
[4] Marcia Prager, The Path of Blessing, (Jewish Lights Publishing, 1998), p. 79-80
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