What is in a name?

Submitted by Raphael Ortasse (United States), Jun 29, 2005 at 17:45

The article by Mr. Pipes "Is Allah God?" is fine in explaining what the three main religions mean when they make reference to G'd. The Jews have several references to God, as Adonai, Elohim, El Shadai, YHWH, the Christians refer to Him as God, Gut, Dieu but they all mean the same thing, the Muslims refer to Him as Allah. For the average person this may be satisfying and interesting. However, the big issue and big problem is what do you do to serve, Allah, Elohim or God? If you use Allah to kill innocent people as a suicide bomber, then you are simply a murderer, If you use G'd or Jesus to burn people at the stake, like the Christian inquisitors did, you are again nothing but a murderer. However, if you use the name God, Adonai or Elohim or El, or Allah to help the stricken, the poor, the orphan or the widow, then you are doing G'd's work on earth. For that is what He is asking us to do.

The question then boils down to one thing, it is not What name you use to refer to Him, but it is What you do on behalf of the name?

With the blessing of Shalom,

Raphael

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