Summary:
Talking about God between religions and cultures can be especially difficult due to the restrictions of language nuances. This article discusses the concept of God and what it means.

Details or Sample:
The Concept of God
by Rebecca J. Stigall

Speaking about God is difficult for many reasons, the least of which is the limitations that surround the use of language. The nuances of words between languages are likely to cause difficulties in rendering a description of the differences between the everyday and the divine. Certainly, even the word God has numerous connotations between languages and even in the same language depending upon whether capitalization is used.

Part of the problem lies in the “abstractness” of the concept of the divine; concept being the operative word. Because God and the divine are not concrete things – things that we can see, touch, and manipulate – the discussion of God and the divine are therefore rendered as discussions of abstract concepts, or terms. Discussions of God are often circular as a result of their philosophical nature. Unfortunately, discussions of abstract concepts are not often possible except as philosophical debates between believers and non-believers.

It is far easier to discuss God and the divine in terms of what they are not. As they are not positive, concrete objects, but rather concepts, God and the divine are often discussed by what they are lacking. Thomas Aquinas attempted to solve this problem by relating God as a mover, or creator. He asserts that God is not a name, but a term that identifies a force that is responsible for the function of all things.

Of course, the word God is not always used to directly address an individual. At times, prayer and other forms of direct address are more of a general plea or discussion with whatever force is operating at the head of the universe. In this sense, God is less of an actual person and more of a universal directive. This rendering of God is also more in line with the abstract discussion of many languages. However, Christians, and other religious groups, address God by using the word God, or Allah, or Jehovah, as a proper name.

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