Nine Billion Names of God

[Bob the Unbeliever]

Back in 1953, the author Arthur C. Clarke wrote a very short story, entitled The Nine Billion Names of God.

I won't say much about the story here, apart from posting a link to where you can read the entire tale-- I think it is well worth study, for anyone curious about theistic ideas, regardless of where you are in the spectrum of faith or non-faith.

I would like to point out, that I think the story says as much about what it means to be human as it does about other topics, and for that point alone, it's worth the 5-10 minutes it would take someone to read through-- it really is short. (Clarke was very good at the short story; I wish he'd written more of them.)

Nine Billion Names of God

(google search)

In keeping with the theme of the short story? I had started a hobby back in 2010, to list as many names of god or gods as I could locate, alphabetically. I found the task quite interesting, and got up to 512 [correction 513] before the thread it was on drifted to other things (as threads are wont to do).

I'll put the list in the next post, to keep this one from being too long (if it gets quoted).

I would welcome anyone wishing to add to the list, or comment on individual names in the list. I have always been fascinated with the subject of Myths and Legends (or even Religion to some folk--don't mean to be mean, here. Not my intent in this thread. )

 

[Bob the Unbeliever]

513 gods so far -- notebook: most spelling is Anglicized, as I speak English. There may be alternative spellings (or better renditions) of specific god's not listed herein. Any mistakes are mine.

Angdistis
Achelois
Achilles
Aglauros
Ah Puch
Ah Tzenul
Ah Tzul
Ahea
Ahura Mazda
Aigle
Akbul
Alberich
Alicha
Alklha
Allowat Sakima
Almudj
Amalthea
Amaterasu
Amesha Spentas
Amn
Amun Ra
An
Anaitis
Anapel
Anat
Anatiwa
Andai
Andvari
Anet
Angak' Chin Mana
Ankhet
Annona
Anshar
Anu
Aphrodite
Apollo
Apollon
Apsu
Arceus (Pokemon)
Ares
Arnakuagsak
Arsnuphis
Artemis
Asclepius
Ashtoreth
Asshur
Astarte
Atahensic
Atai
Athena
Athene
Athirat
Athtart
Atlas
Atropos
Atum
Atum Ra
Auster
Autrimpas
Awitelin Tsta
Ba Xian
Baal
Bacchus
Balder
Baldur
Bast
Basuki
Bell Bird Brothers
Bellifluficus
Bellona
Bergelmir
Bes
Beydo
Bible God
Big Head
Bilfrost
Bixia Yuanjin
Blodeuedd
Bon Dieu
Borr
Bragi
Brahma
Brigit
Buku
Byakko
Cabracan
Calliope
Camaxtli
Camenae
Cauac
Ceres
Ceridwen
Cernunnos
Cetha
Ceucy
Ch'u Kiang Wang
Ch'uang K'ung
Chac
Chac Xib Chac
Chalchiuhtlicue
Charites
Charun
Cheng-huang
Chloris
Chu Jung
Chu Pa Chieh
Chulyen
Cocijo
Coltus
Coqui Huani
Cotys
Cronus
Cybele
Da Yu
Dagon
Damkina (Dumkina)
Darana
Davlin
Dawn
Demas
Demeter
Di Cang
Dian Cecht
Diana
Dijun
Dionysus
Djanggawul
Dongo
Dreamtime
Dreamtime Snake
Durgath (Klingon)
Dylan
Ea
Echidna
Egle
Ehi
El
Elohim
Endovelicus
Enki
Enlil
Eos
Ephialtes
Epimelides
Epona
Ereshkegal
Ereskigal
Erythia
Eshu
Estasanatlehi
Evus
Farbauti
Feng Shui
Fenrir
Flying Spaghetti Monster
Fornax
Forseti
Fotla
Freya
Freyr
Frigg
FSM
Furude Hanyuu-Higurashi (Higurashi no Naku Koro ni)
Ga Gaah
Gaia
Ganesha
Ganga
Garuda
Gauri
Geb
Gede
Geirskokul
Genbu (Japanese)
Geong Si
Glory, Glorificus,'That Wich Cannot Be Named'(Buffy the Vampire Slayer)
God
God Ch
God E
God G
God S
Gondul
Gucup Cakix
Guede
Gurumukas
Hades
Han Hsien Tzu
Hanuman
Hapakhered
Harakan
Harensnuphis
Haruhi Suzumiya (Haruhiism)
Hathor
Heget
Heimdallr
Helios
Hemera
Hemere
Heng-o (Chang-o)
Hephaestus
Heqet
Hera
Hermes
Herne
Hero Twins
Hestia
Hod
Hoderi
Hodur
Hoori
Hope
Horus
Hotei
Hsi Ho
Hsi-Wang-Mu
Huang Gun
Huitzilopochtli
Huixtocihuatl
Hukere
Hun Nal Ye
Hurrican
Huwawa
Hygeia
Hypnos
Icovellauna
Igigi
Ilaheua
Illuyankas
Inanna
Inti
Invidia
Invisible Pink Unicorn
IPU
Ishtar
Isis
Issitoq
Itzamna
Ix Chel
Ix Chup
Ixtab
Izanaki Yu-huang
Izanami
Jahovah
Jarilo
Jesus
Jiang Qin Guang
Jotunheim Nergal
Juno
Jupiter
Juturna
Kagutsuchi
Kahless (Klingon)
Kali
Kamonou
Kan Ajana
Kanassa
Kapoonis
Kartikeya
Kek
Ken
Kerberos
Khepri
Kherty
Khonsu
Ki
Kingu
Kinich Ahau
Kishar
Koko
Kothar
Kotihaltia
Krishna
Kukulcan
Kumokum
Kwatee
Kwolam
Kybele
Laertes
Lakshmi
Latinus
Legba
Lei Chen Tzu
Leto
Li Ba Bai
Li Er
Limoniads
Liu Hai
Liza
Lofn
Loki
Louhi
Lu Ban
Lugh
Luk Xing
Luna
Macuilcozcacuahtli
Madderakka
Magna Mater
Maia
Makemake
Mama Oullo
Mamaragan
Mamitu
Manes
Mani
Marduk
Mars
Mebere
Medb
Mehen
Menoetius
Mephitis
Mercury
Metis
Milu
Mimi
Mimir
Minerva
Mithras
Moloch
Mon Moko
Month
Morrigan
Mot
Mummu
Muses
Mwambu
Nammu
Namorodo
Nanna (Norse)
Nanse
Ndo'yet
Ned Er Tcher
Nefertum
Neit
Neith
Nemesis
Nephthys
Neptune
Nereides
Nergal
Nijole
Nik
Ninazu
Nine Worlds
Ninhurzag
Nintu
Ninurta
Njord
Nocoma
Nokomis
Nun
Nut
Nyikang
Obatala
Odin
Ohkuninushi
Ohyamatsumi
Okypete
Onuris
Orans
Oreades
Orgelmir
Orixa
Osiris
Ostara
Ouranos
Paiva
Palee
Pan
Parvati
Penie
Phaethon
Philammon
Phoebe
Phoebus Apollo
Pichana Gobeche
Pihuechenyi
Pilumnus
Piquete Zina
Ploutos
Po
Porewit
Poros
Poseidon
Quetzalcoatl
Ra
Radgrid
Rama
Ramakian
Raven
Re
Rhea
Rig
Rindr
Roonikka
Rosmerta
Ruhanga
Sabazius
Samanelis
Sandy
Sarasvati
Seiryu
Selene
Seshat
Seti (Set)
Sha Wu Ching
Shamash
Shapsu
Shen Nong
Shen Yi
Shiva
Shou Lao
Shu
Si-Wang-Mu
Sibilja
Sigu
Silvanus
Sin
Sinaa
Sirona
Sito
Skadi
Skylla
Snoqalm
Soko
Sol
Sosom
Sothis
Sotuknang
Sphinx
Spider Woman
Striges
Styx
SubGenius, J.R. "Bob" Dobbs
Sui Ren
Surya
Susanoh
Suttung
Suzaku (Japanese)

T'ao T'ieh
Tai Sui Xing
Tamendonare
Tammuz
Taoism
Tartaros
Taru
Taueret
Tawaret
Tawhiri Ma Tea
Tefnut
Tethys
Tezcatlipoca
Thalassa
Thanatos
Thanatus
Theia
Thiassi
Things
Thor
Tiamat
Tiwaz
Tlahuixcalpantec
Tlaloc
Tonatiuh
Toyo-Uke-Bime
Tuatha De Danann
Turan
Tyche
Tyr
Ull
Unktehi
Untunktahe
Utu
Uzume
Valkyrja
Vari
Varpulis
Varuna
Venus
Vesta
Viracocha
Vishnu
Volturnus
Vulcan
Wainamoinen
Wandjina
Wuluwait
Wuraka
Xaman Ek
Xi Wang-mu
Xipe
Xiuhtecuhtli
Xmulzencab
Xochipilli
Xochiquetzal
Xuan Zang
Yam
Yama
Yambe Akka
Yan Luo Wang
Yarikh
Yaweh
Yin
Ymir
Yu Ch'iang
Yu Shun
Yum Kimil
Yun Dun
Zakar
Zemyna
Zephyros
Zeus
Zhao Xuantan

 

[Bob the Unbeliever]

Notebook: I have been keeping the list in a spreadsheet, for easier alphabet sorting, and tallying. There may be duplicates, as I indicated earlier.

All commentary is welcome.

 

[Nietzsche]

Question. Would the various names of the Germanic Gods in the other Germanic languages count? For instance, Thor is known as Thunnar, or Donar, or Thunraz, so on depending on whether you're talking Norse, Anglo-Saxon, Continental Germanic, or Proto-Germanic. Then there's the kennings or poetic names, like Véurr(Hallower) or Vingþórr(Battle-Thor).

Odin alone has "as many names as there are ways for men to die" in that regard. Hangatyr(God of the Hanged), Hangadróttinn(Lord of the Hanged), Galgatyr(Gallows-God), Valfodr(Father of the Slain), Geirtýr(Gore/Spear-God)..

So on, so forth.

 

[Nietzsche]

513 gods so far -- notebook: most spelling is Anglicized, as I speak English. There may be alternative spellings (or better renditions) of specific god's not listed herein.

Oh.

By the by. "Jotunheim" is a place, not a deity.

 

[Nakosis]

Back in 1953, the author Arthur C. Clarke wrote a very short story, entitled The Nine Billion Names of God.

I won't say much about the story here, apart from posting a link to where you can read the entire tale-- I think it is well worth study, for anyone curious about theistic ideas, regardless of where you are in the spectrum of faith or non-faith.

I would like to point out, that I think the story says as much about what it means to be human as it does about other topics, and for that point alone, it's worth the 5-10 minutes it would take someone to read through-- it really is short. (Clarke was very good at the short story; I wish he'd written more of them.)

Nine Billion Names of God

(google search)

In keeping with the theme of the short story? I had started a hobby back in 2010, to list as many names of god or gods as I could locate, alphabetically. I found the task quite interesting, and got up to 512 [correction 513] before the thread it was on drifted to other things (as threads are wont to do).

I'll put the list in the next post, to keep this one from being too long (if it gets quoted).

I would welcome anyone wishing to add to the list, or comment on individual names in the list. I have always been fascinated with the subject of Myths and Legends (or even Religion to some folk--don't mean to be mean, here. Not my intent in this thread. )

Spoiler: Story Spoiler

What are you trying to do? Kill us all!

 

[columbus]

Back in 1953, the author Arthur C. Clarke wrote a very short story, entitled The Nine Billion Names of God.

I loved that story!

I was an impressionable youngster, maybe 9-10 when I read it in the mid 60's. The computer was exciting on it's own, in a world of rotary phones. But the last paragraph still haunts me today, in a way. It stretched my brain so much it almost hurt!
Tom

 

[Thief]

Back in 1953, the author Arthur C. Clarke wrote a very short story, entitled The Nine Billion Names of God.

I won't say much about the story here, apart from posting a link to where you can read the entire tale-- I think it is well worth study, for anyone curious about theistic ideas, regardless of where you are in the spectrum of faith or non-faith.

I would like to point out, that I think the story says as much about what it means to be human as it does about other topics, and for that point alone, it's worth the 5-10 minutes it would take someone to read through-- it really is short. (Clarke was very good at the short story; I wish he'd written more of them.)

Nine Billion Names of God

(google search)

In keeping with the theme of the short story? I had started a hobby back in 2010, to list as many names of god or gods as I could locate, alphabetically. I found the task quite interesting, and got up to 512 [correction 513] before the thread it was on drifted to other things (as threads are wont to do).

I'll put the list in the next post, to keep this one from being too long (if it gets quoted).

I would welcome anyone wishing to add to the list, or comment on individual names in the list. I have always been fascinated with the subject of Myths and Legends (or even Religion to some folk--don't mean to be mean, here. Not my intent in this thread. )

if descriptive items count.....you forgot......Almighty

 

[It Aint Necessarily So]

Thor is known as Thunnar, or Donar, or Thunraz, so on depending on whether you're talking Norse, Anglo-Saxon, Continental Germanic, or Proto-Germanic.

I think I see the English and German words for thunder in Thunnar and Donar.
.

 

[Vinayaka]

Hindus have lots. Here's a few. 1008 Names of Lord Shiva

 

[FearGod]

Back in 1953, the author Arthur C. Clarke wrote a very short story, entitled The Nine Billion Names of God.

I won't say much about the story here, apart from posting a link to where you can read the entire tale-- I think it is well worth study, for anyone curious about theistic ideas, regardless of where you are in the spectrum of faith or non-faith.

I would like to point out, that I think the story says as much about what it means to be human as it does about other topics, and for that point alone, it's worth the 5-10 minutes it would take someone to read through-- it really is short. (Clarke was very good at the short story; I wish he'd written more of them.)

Nine Billion Names of God

(google search)

In keeping with the theme of the short story? I had started a hobby back in 2010, to list as many names of god or gods as I could locate, alphabetically. I found the task quite interesting, and got up to 512 [correction 513] before the thread it was on drifted to other things (as threads are wont to do).

I'll put the list in the next post, to keep this one from being too long (if it gets quoted).

I would welcome anyone wishing to add to the list, or comment on individual names in the list. I have always been fascinated with the subject of Myths and Legends (or even Religion to some folk--don't mean to be mean, here. Not my intent in this thread. )

Yes, humans have created many Gods and many false religions.

 

[It Aint Necessarily So]

From the story:

"the Last Trump doesn’t blow"

A hilarious typo?

 

[Nietzsche]

I think I see the English and German words for thunder in Thunnar and Donar.
.

And you would be correct. Thunraz is the root word from which the Germanic words for thunder come from. So, in many ways, Thor is literally the Thunder and Lightning.

 

[George-ananda]

I like what is said in the Vedas........these thousand gods are just my thousand faces

 

[sun rise]

I like what is said in the Vedas........these thousand gods are just my thousand faces

Yes.

The story itself was one of the many "Is there a God" type nudges that impacted me slowly over time. Whatever your belief or lack thereof, I recommend it.

 

[Bob the Unbeliever]

Question. Would the various names of the Germanic Gods in the other Germanic languages count? For instance, Thor is known as Thunnar, or Donar, or Thunraz, so on depending on whether you're talking Norse, Anglo-Saxon, Continental Germanic, or Proto-Germanic. Then there's the kennings or poetic names, like Véurr(Hallower) or Vingþórr(Battle-Thor).

Odin alone has "as many names as there are ways for men to die" in that regard. Hangatyr(God of the Hanged), Hangadróttinn(Lord of the Hanged), Galgatyr(Gallows-God), Valfodr(Father of the Slain), Geirtýr(Gore/Spear-God)..

So on, so forth.

A most excellent question. I suppose one could ask, were the English versions of these names of a different god, than the Germanic ones, due to the different cultural biases of an English speaker's worldview?

I am not qualified to say either way, but my knee-jerk response is that if the essential description of the god in question is fundamentally the same, then they are the same god-- but using different names.

Now, using Clarke's short story? The two distinct names would simply two distinct names, and would each be added to the list.

 

[Bob the Unbeliever]

Oh.

By the by. "Jotunheim" is a place, not a deity.

Thank you. Many names in the list were given to me, and I did not bother to check, simply adding them as they were posted.

 

[Bob the Unbeliever]

Hindus have lots. Here's a few. 1008 Names of Lord Shiva

Cool! Thanks. Now I'm torn; should I add these, knowing ahead of time they are all for the same deity?

I know I have several "duplicate gods" in the list already.

Decisions, decisions...

 

[Bob the Unbeliever]

Yes, humans have created many Gods and many false religions.

Indeed. Kinda makes it impossible to "pick" the "correct" one, right?

Who can tell, anyway? It's not as if there is a Black Monolith on the Moon or anything...

 

[Nietzsche]

A most excellent question. I suppose one could ask, were the English versions of these names of a different god, than the Germanic ones, due to the different cultural biases of an English speaker's worldview?

I am not qualified to say either way, but my knee-jerk response is that if the essential description of the god in question is fundamentally the same, then they are the same god-- but using different names.

Eh. Depends. For instance, from what we have that has survived, Odin's character is not too different from the Continental "Wotan", and even less different than the Anglo-Saxon "Woden", but in Continental Germanic myth it is Tyr/Tiwaz who is the King of Asgard, while by the time we get to the Anglo-Saxons it is Woden/Odin.

Loki also does not exist in any but the Norse variant of the myths.