Does God have a proper name? What for?

[shunyadragon]

Interesting.

Do you think that YHWH is an attribute of God that got seasoned as his proper name?

YHWH like other names for God in the Tanakh evolved in Babylonian, Canaanite, Ugarit and Hebrew cultures in a polytheistic world.

Examples of attributes of God are Love, Compassion, Justice, Eternity, cycles of nature and life and death, and the Natural Laws of our physical existence

 

[RestlessSoul]

It seems like you're asking for the point of human nature. Humans name things.

There's no need for me to call my coffee maker "Chester Coffeepot," but that doesn't change the fact that this is its name.

Probably is fulfilling a need in you somewhere.

I’ve just named the cactus and money plant in my window Sid and Nancy. Makes me feel more protective toward them somehow, thus presumably filling a psychological need in me. And making it less likely I’ll forget to water them occasionally

 

[firedragon]

I'll address the last question: "what for" first. The name of God is a prayer intended to evoke nearness in the context of mantra. It has a physical effect that can be measured. http://www.ijastems.org/wp-content/...tific-Analysis-of-Mantra-Based-Meditation.pdf

Beyond that, repeating a name of God changes awareness and experience of the immanence of the divine in the every day world. It thus can be a method to, as the book of this name puts it "Practice the Presence of God".

Looking at "does God really have a proper name",
if one wants to use the Bible, we have the famous "I am That I am" ("I am who I am" and so forth) I Am that I Am - Wikipedia which was the answer to Moses' question.

There is no question that the bible has a name for God. The question is not "does the bible have a name for God".

 

[firedragon]

YHWH like other names for God in the Tanakh evolved in Babylonian, Canaanite, Ugarit and Hebrew cultures in a polytheistic world.

Examples of attributes of God are Love, Compassion, Justice, Eternity, cycles of nature and life and death, and the Natural Laws of our physical existence

So, bottomline is, in your thesis, people gave names.

 

[robocop (actually)]

Referring to the God of Judaism and Islam, which conceivably defines monotheism, why would God have a name?

If there is only One God, does "THE GOD" need a name? A proper name? Is it a sociological aspect of humans wanting to anthropomorphise God? Or does God really have a proper name? If so, what for?

"The Lord?"

 

[Samael_Khan]

"The Lord?"

In the Bible "The LORD", lord in capitals, is a substitute for YHWH, as there is a tradition that says nobody should pronounce the name lest they use it in vain.

 

[rrobs]

Referring to the God of Judaism and Islam, which conceivably defines monotheism, why would God have a name?

If there is only One God, does "THE GOD" need a name? A proper name? Is it a sociological aspect of humans wanting to anthropomorphise God? Or does God really have a proper name? If so, what for?

"If there is only One God..." is an assumption that is not in the scriptures. The scriptures actually say there are many god, hence the need for the creator of the heavens and earth to name Himself Yahweh so as not to be confused with all the other gods.

Read Ps 82. There you will see God holding a council with many created spiritual beings whom Yahweh calls "gods" in verse 6. The scriptures also talk frequently of the "gods" of many nations. In Jeremiah 2:28 accused Judah of having as many gods as they have cities. The reference to multiple gods can be found in many other places.

We try to interject the commonly accepted modern Western understanding of the word "god" into the scriptures. Since the scriptures were not written last year in L.A. or New York, it behooves the student of scripture to ascertain what the people to whom the scriptures were actually given thought about the word "god." Suffice it to say, it was much different than our current understanding of the word.

 

[Clara Tea]

Referring to the God of Judaism and Islam, which conceivably defines monotheism, why would God have a name?

If there is only One God, does "THE GOD" need a name? A proper name? Is it a sociological aspect of humans wanting to anthropomorphise God? Or does God really have a proper name? If so, what for?

Put yourself in God's position. Lets say that you create a miraculous universe, replete with intelligent creatures, and you make it beautiful with natural wonders. Then what? Do you make such a fine life for creatures then not ask expect a certain minimal amount of gratitude?

From time to time, God instructs mankind, and he expects that they will heed his words (don't kill....don't make wars, for example). God gets deeply depressed when he sees people openly defying him....take the recent war in Iraq, for example.

So, from time to time, God demands that we read what he commanded, open what he commanded, and respect him, and not worship others (otherwise we would follow what they command and ignore God's commandments which are designed to keep us safe and happy).

So, God demands that we honor him and think of him.

To do so, usually requires a name.

Some fear to speak the name of God, for fear of repercussions. So they say G-d instead. Archie Bunker (TV show) used to point to God, but put his hand over his pointing finger so God wouldn't see it. God sees and hears all, of course, even that which is not said.

 

[sun rise]

There is no question that the bible has a name for God. The question is not "does the bible have a name for God".

That was not responsive to my point. My quote of the Bible was to illustrate one point I made. And by writing "If one wants to use the Bible", I meant that to be an illustrative example by my use of the word "IF" and only that.

But for this point, let's look at the Quran which states that God has "the best names" (plural):

He is Allah, other than whom there is no deity, Knower of the unseen and the witnessed. He is the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful. He is Allah, other than whom there is no deity, the Sovereign, the Pure, the Perfection, the Bestower of Faith, the Overseer, the Exalted in Might, the Compeller, the Superior. Exalted is Allah above whatever they associate with Him. He is Allah, the Creator, the Inventor, the Fashioner; to Him belong the best names. Whatever is in the heavens and earth is exalting Him. And He is the Exalted in Might, the Wise. (Translation of Qur'an: Chapter 59, Verses 22-24)

Zoroastrians have 101 names of God.

So rather than asking if God has a "proper name" as you did, the real question is why there are so many names attached to God and why they differ in different religions. And that to finish the point is why I so much like the great teaching story "The Blind Men and the Elephant". To make that lesson explicit, God is the "elephant" and religions and the names they use are only part of the divine reality which is beyond human comprehension and certainly beyond any name or names that a religion might attach to divinity.

To put a period on the point, the reason I chose "I am that I am" was to make that point using an actual scriptural reference.

 

[shunyadragon]

So, bottomline is, in your thesis, people gave names.

True, The names of God or Gods reflect the culture and language in all the religions of the world.

 

[savagewind]

Referring to the God of Judaism and Islam, which conceivably defines monotheism, why would God have a name?

If there is only One God, does "THE GOD" need a name? A proper name? Is it a sociological aspect of humans wanting to anthropomorphise God? Or does God really have a proper name? If so, what for?

God's Name in the Bible is for definition.

 

[blü 2]

If there is only One God, does "THE GOD" need a name? A proper name? Is it a sociological aspect of humans wanting to anthropomorphise God? Or does God really have a proper name? If so, what for?

Yahweh came into being around 1500 BCE when the rest of the world including Canaan already had lots and lots of gods, some of which are still in business.

The bible freely acknowledges the existence of other gods in the Torah and Psalms; not till after the Babylonian captivity does Yahweh become a monotheist.

So of course "God" isn't sufficient on its own.

And there are suggestions that "Yahweh" is itself a pseudonym, such that [his] real name is unknown. We apparently don't know what [his] mum and dad called [him].

 

[firedragon]

"If there is only One God..." is an assumption that is not in the scriptures. The scriptures actually say there are many god, hence the need for the creator of the heavens and earth to name Himself Yahweh so as not to be confused with all the other gods.

Yeah. But this thread is "if there is one". Anohwe thread can discuss your topic of mono vs poly theism.

 

[cataway]

you could ask the bible
"Isaiah 42
6 “I, Jehovah, have called you in righteousness;
I have taken hold of your hand.
I will safeguard you and give you as a covenant for the people
And as a light of the nations,
7 For you to open the blind eyes,
To bring the prisoner out of the dungeon
And those sitting in darkness out of the prison.
8 I am Jehovah. That is my name;

 

[firedragon]

Yahweh came into being around 1500 BCE when the rest of the world including Canaan already had lots and lots of gods, some of which are still in business.

The bible freely acknowledges the existence of other gods in the Torah and Psalms; not till after the Babylonian captivity does Yahweh become a monotheist.

So of course "God" isn't sufficient on its own.

And there are suggestions that "Yahweh" is itself a pseudonym, such that [his] real name is unknown. We apparently don't know what [his] mum and dad called [him].

So bottomline is humans made up this name according to you in order to differentiate their God.

 

[firedragon]

YHWH like other names for God in the Tanakh evolved in Babylonian, Canaanite, Ugarit and Hebrew cultures in a polytheistic world.

Examples of attributes of God are Love, Compassion, Justice, Eternity, cycles of nature and life and death, and the Natural Laws of our physical existence

Is that according to Judaism or Islam?

 

[firedragon]

Yahweh came into being around 1500 BCE when the rest of the world including Canaan already had lots and lots of gods, some of which are still in business.

The bible freely acknowledges the existence of other gods in the Torah and Psalms; not till after the Babylonian captivity does Yahweh become a monotheist.

So of course "God" isn't sufficient on its own.

And there are suggestions that "Yahweh" is itself a pseudonym, such that [his] real name is unknown. We apparently don't know what [his] mum and dad called [him].

So you are addressing not from a theological point of view.

 

[blü 2]

So bottomline is humans made up this name according to you in order to differentiate their God.

I don't know precisely how that particular name came about, but yes, it was necessary, since all the major Canaanite tribes had their particular deities eg Chemosh Judges 11:24.

So you are addressing not from a theological point of view.

I know enough about theology to appreciate that it doesn't answer to any objective criteria, hence has no objective definition of truth. It will say anything you want it to say. If it were otherwise there would be nothing like so many religions or so many sects within religions.

So here I simply go on the facts as they're presently understood, and the text of the bible, particularly the Tanakh.

 

[firedragon]

I don't know precisely how that particular name came about, but yes, it was necessary, since all the major Canaanite tribes had their particular deities eg Chemosh Judges 11:24.
I know enough about theology to appreciate that it doesn't answer to any objective criteria, hence has no objective definition of truth. It will say anything you want it to say. If it were otherwise there would be nothing like so many religions or so many sects within religions.

So here I simply go on the facts as they're presently understood, and the text of the bible, particularly the Tanakh.

Great. Thanks.

 

[Aupmanyav]

Some Hindus will address others as "Bhagawan" (not Bhagawān, that is nessiciated by Sanskrit grammar for addressing anyone), since they believe that every thing has a part of divine. It is just like in 'Namaste" which means 'I bow to the divine in you'.