Nature of God.
God’s Characteristics
The comprehension and dedication to the belief in a supernatural being or entities, which are referred to, in certain contexts, as God, is the most consistent factor in all of the religions that have been researched. The way in which each religion interprets the concept of God, as well as the manner in which the believers are obligated to serve or worship the God or gods, varies drastically from one another. So one could legitimately assert that, in order to really understand a religion, its adherents, and their activities, one must first recognize the viewpoint that a specific religious tradition holds toward the supernatural entities on whom the religion is founded. Because of this, the author believes that the most interesting and telling element of any religion is the focused belief in the nature of the god or gods, which the followers recognize as supernatural and supreme in their existence, and which is the most interesting and telling element of any religion.

There are several ways to analyze these disparities and the ensuing understandings of the religions that can be found in each of the religions that have been examined so far this semester. For example, according to both the research and “The Big Religion Chart” (2014), Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism, Daoism, Confucianism, Shintoism, Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Sikhism, and Modern Religions all have a conception of a god or a set of gods that they believe in. Hinduism, Judaism, Christianity, Islam, and Sikhism are all monotheistic (believing in one god) religions, whereas Jainism, Daoism, and Shinto are polytheistic (believe in many gods). When comparing religions, they are either monotheistic (believe in one god) or polytheistic (believe in many gods).

It is vital to highlight that Buddhism differs from Confucianism in that there is nothing permanent in the cosmos, even the gods, whereas Confucianism does not address the issue of the number of superior beings in the universe, as Buddhism does. Given the wide variety of belief systems discussed within this category of modern religions, modern religions also differ in their concept of the supernatural. Using Scientology as an example, the organization affirms a belief in the supernatural but does not specify the number of gods, stating that this is to be established by the person through the Eight Dynamics (“The Big Religion Chart,” 2014).

Moreover, because each religion interprets conceptions of supernatural reality as being relevant to their cosmos, the manner in which they engage with supernatural creatures varies greatly. Each religion has its own traditions and holidays, which helps to understand the variations between them. In the portrayal and comprehension of the gods, humans is able to better grasp the reason for their being on the planet and what they expect to happen to them in the afterlife. A religious belief in the nature of the god or gods in which they serve can lead to the development of everything that is relevant to the religion being practiced.

According to their respective roles in humankind, the amount of power that the gods wield and the degree of worship that each of them deserves varies tremendously, as does the character and expectations of human beings. A Christian follower of Martin Luther declared that “everything is God,” and that “in our finite way of only standing and talking, we must think of God as Father Almighty, creator of everything that is.” Hilibrand (2014) cites Luther’s statement as evidence. We are familiar with the term “Father.” “He is the Supreme Ruler” (pg. 52). This demonstrates that religions that recognize one God as a supreme being who is everywhere at the same time recognize that everything they do should be in some way related to god, whereas religions that do not recognize god as being involved in all aspects of life may be more likely to not be concerned about the ramifications of their actions. Almost everything in a person’s religious beliefs and actions is closely related to the nature of God.

It has become a problem in modern times for individuals to develop their own personal interpretations of god and religion in order to better suit their particular life choices. Thus, a universe is created in which people act as they like and excuse their actions by appealing to their own understanding of God’s character. According to Byfield and Byfield (1998), the level of freedom that individuals enjoy has resulted in a shift in the fundamental beliefs that underpin religious traditions. Furthermore, a religious “framework” places unique limitations on our ability to do certain things. It is possible to think, say, or do things that we would like to do, but they are just not permitted. Other activities, which we do not wish to perform, are forced upon us by our superiors.

We may choose to ignore these responsibilities, of course, but our failure to do so is a blatant betrayal” (pg. 33). Due to the fact that God’s nature has been changed in order for people to not feel guilty for disobeying his commandments, the world has been subjected to immoral and inhumane acts such as terrorist attacks and the abuse of individuals based on their race, gender and life style choices. While there have been many different theories about the nature of god, the collective character of these ultimate creatures does not condone such actions, despite the fact that they are frequently carried out in the name of a god.