– Steve Shoemaker, Urbana, IL, May 2, 2012
In Islam there are ninety-nine names for Allah
(for God.) The Merciful, Compassionate One, these
begin the list that goes on for pages. Hindu
respect for many Gods is almost limitless,
although legally Gods in India are wards
under the care and protection of government
(perpetual minors, they would say.)
Jews have words
they use instead of saying Tetragrammaton:
say Adonai, or Elohim.
The followers
of Christ repeat and repeat names he gave himself:
Good Shepherd, Light, the Vine, the Way, the Truth, the Life–
and share the “I am as I am” name with the Jews
(but add quickly “the Trinity, the three-in-one!”)
Agnostics, atheists point inward and are done…
Views from the Edge 
I really enjoyed this one. I love to hear how many things the different cultures and religions have in common. And I do know a few atheists and agnostics! What a good way of describing their faith.
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I know you know them all…and love them all. Thanks, Christina.
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Gary did a compilation of all the “names” of God in the Baha’i Faith, gleaned mostly from prayers. Amazing how expansive God is, when you start listing all the attributes (names of God). I think it’s four pages long! “Most Compassionate” is my favorite!
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Theer names are endless because no one can speak the Name Itself. As you and Gary know, to assign a “name” to something or someone was to have a thing in your hand or mind. God is no thing. God is beyond human knowing, except for the plethora of attributes…like Compassion. I like that on too.
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