Who or what is God?

If we are going to worship God, or deny God, we should know what or who we are choosing to worship or deny the existence of. One can read many descriptions of God from a variety of sources. Some of those sources say that God is an alien. Some say He is everything, and others say He is nothing more than a fable or an illusion. Some say God is each individual person. Still others say that God is an omnipresent, all powerful, all knowing, expression of love.

A rational thinker would conclude that, if there is a God, and that God wants us to worship Him, then that God would make Himself readily known to all who seek Him. A real, true, living God would provide answers to questions like:

Where did we come from?
Why we humans exist?
What is expected of us?
What should God's role in our life be?
Should we worship Him, and if so, how?

A real God would leave evidence that He is God. He would be able to predict the future, explain death, and tell us what, if anything, exists after death. If there is a God and that God is worthy of worship, then that God must be greater than man. That God must be ethical. That God must be able to account for the creation of not only mankind, but the universe, the world, everything. That God must be able to preserve His words and directives without contradiction for all mankind.

There is only one place to start in a quest to find God for the atheist, the agnostic, and the born again believer. Everyone must go to the source. Each individual must see what God claims to be. One cannot objectively deny the existence of God if he or she does not even know what God claims to be. On the other hand, we would be foolish and reckless to worship God if we do not know what God claims to be. This quest for who God is will look at the major religions of the world and ask these questions of each of them:

Who is God?
Is he greater than man?
Can he account for the creation of not only mankind, but the universe, the world, everything?
Does he explain where we came from?
Does he explain why we humans exist?
Does he explain death and tell us what, if anything, exists after death?
Does he explain what is expected of us?
Is he ethical?
Does he explain what his role in our life should be?
Has he left evidence that he is God?
Is he able to predict the future?
Has he been able to preserve his words and directives without contradiction for all mankind?
Has he made himself readily known to all who seek him?
Should we worship him, and if so, how?

Hinduism is considered by some in the modern world to be the oldest religion, so a quest for God would be incomplete without taking a look at this religion. The first thing one learns when studying Hinduism is that it is certainly not the oldest religion. Hinduism was born out of Brahmanism. That is not to say that Brahmanism is the oldest religion, but simply that Brahmanism is older than Hinduism. Therefore, Hinduism is not the oldest religion. Brahmanism was brought to India by Aryan pastoral nomads who are said to have invaded India from the northern steppes and took control of the area around 1500 B.C.. The Aryans were tall, light skinned, warriors. The Indian natives were dark skinned. The caste system, now in place, was born out of this takeover of India. The word "caste" is derived from the Sanskrit word "Varna" which means "Color." The division in the caste system was originally very much divided along the lines of skin color. The Aryans made up the top three classes in the caste system which are still in effect today. These three classes are the:

1. Brahmins - Priest, educators, and scholars who have the most rights and privileges.
2. Kshatriyas - Warrior and governing class.
3. Vaisyas - Commoners such as merchants, farmers, and businessmen.

Originally, only the males from these top three classes were called the "twice born." They underwent an initiation ritual when they embarked upon a formal education at which time they were given a "sacred thread." The sacred thread symbolized the teacher, called a guru, drawing or leading them toward "self." Today, the sacred thread ceremony is open to anyone, at any age, when they begin to be "reborn" intellectually under the care of a guru. The next class in the caste system is called the Sudras which were originally the darker skinned natives of India. The Sudras are officially the lowest division of the caste system. They perform menial labor that the higher divisions of the caste system do not want to perform. There is another lower social class that is technically not even considered part of the caste system. These people are called the "untouchables" or "pariahs". The word pariah comes from a Sanskrit word meaning "outcast." These people take on the worst of jobs such as cleaning sewers and burying the dead. The caste system is an integral part of Hinduism.

Hinduism is a polytheistic (has many gods) religion. The main god in Hinduism is called Brahman according to some sources and Krishna according to other sources. Brahman is said to be the "great world soul." Some say he is indescribable. Others say he is everything. They say he is every raindrop, every tree, and every mountain. He is said to be one god in many forms. In Hinduism, the atman is the individual soul. It is said to be a piece of Brahman which inhabits each person. One can visualize this concept in this manner: if Brahman is a camp fire, then each of the sparks coming off of the fire is an atman. Reincarnation, the belief that one is reborn into another life form when one dies, is at the heart of Hinduism. In Hinduism, everyone must do one's duty to the best of one's ability according to one's caste. This is called dharma, which must not be confused with karma. Karma is good or bad deeds. Everyone is believed to store up good or bad karma depending on the good or bad deeds that one does. The karma that one builds up in this life is said to determine one's ranking in the caste system in one's next life. The goal for everyone, according to Hinduism, is to break the cycle and exit the wheel of life. This concept is called Moksha which is the merging of one's atman with Brahman, thereby, entering an endless restful sleep. The sacred scriptures in Hinduism are called the Vedas which are hymns of praise to gods. The oldest Veda is called the Rig—Veda which contains over one thousand hymns of praise to different gods. The Upanishads are commentaries on the Vedas made by holy men. One of the key text in Hinduism is called the Bhagavad Gita (song of the lord).

The Bhagavad Gita is the source for much of the information in this article. There are several English translations of this book which vary wildly in content. In order to avoid confusion, a single version is quoted and referenced here. In this most famous of Hindu texts, a warrior named Arjuna is being counseled on the battlefield by his charioteer who is a god named Krishna. According to the story, Krishna had given the two opposing forces in the battle a choice between his army and himself. The opposing forces made their choices. Krishna is then said to have given his army to the opponents of Arjuna, and himself as an adviser to Arjuna. According to the Bhagavad Gita, Arjuna was engaged in a moral dilemma because he did not want to kill his friends and family in the battle. His god, Krishna tells Arjuna that he will be committing a sin if he fails to perform his dharma (duty) according to his Kshatriyas caste. In this case, Arjuna's duty was to kill his opponents who were made up people he knew very well including his friends and members of his family such as cousins.

Krishna continues by telling Arjuna that he will only be killing the physical body and not the atman.

Krishna says that the atman will be reincarnated into another life form. Then Arjuna's god attempts to shame him into fighting by appealing to his pride.

Krishna tells Arjuna to fight for the sake of fighting with little care for success or failure.

Krishna continues in his efforts to manipulate Arjuna by telling him that the outcome of the battle has already been decided by him (Krishna).

Finally, Krishna tells Arjuna that he has no choice in the matter. Krishna says that all living entities are "seated as on a machine" and he (Krishna) controls them. Therefore, Arjuna will fight either willingly or by being "falsely directed."

Who is Krishna?

In the Bhagavad Gita, Krishna claims to be literally everything including a false ego.

In addition to being everything, Krishna claims to be all-knowing in verse 7.26. In Chapter 9 of the Bhagavad Gita, Krishna list some more of the things which he claims to be including the syllable om. The om is the Sanskrit mantra which is verbalized during yoga in order to achieve a greater level of concentration enabling one to connect to Krishna or Brahman.

In that verse Krishna even declared himself to be death. In Chapter 10 of the Bhagavad Gita, Krishna recites a long list of his identities which include Uccaihśravā - a seven headed horse produced by the churning of the ocean for nectar (10:27), surabhi - a winged bovine goddess with a white female human head and breast (10:28), and a humanoid bird called Garuda (10:30). He says that he is also the "Supersoul" (10:20), the letter a (10.33), and fame, fortune, fine speech, memory, intelligence, steadfastness and patience (10.34). The impression one gets when reading the Bhagavad Gita is that Krishna claims to be everything and everyone that has ever existed or will exist.

According to the words of the Bhagavad Gita, Krishna reveals his true self to Arjuna at one point. The following quote reveals what Arjuna says that he saw.

The Bhagavad Gita supports the idea of many gods.

Krishna is sometimes said to have been the ninth avatar (incarnation) of the god named Visnu mentioned in the above quote. However, this belief is not unanimous among Hindus. According to the Bhagavad Gita, the sun and the moon are both gods.

At one point in the Bhagavad Gita, Krishna says that he taught yoga to the sun.

How are the Hindu gods worshiped or served?

According to the Bhagavad Gita, one worships Krishna in a variety of ways such as studying the Vedas and the Bhagavad Gita, drinking soma juice, seeking the heavenly planets, and performing yoga.

Furthermore, Krishna states that he is the receiver of all worship because everyone who worships any deity is actually worshiping him.

Throughout the Bhagavad Gita one learns the principles of Hinduism. Several methods or paths to enlightenment are mentioned such as yoga, meditation, works, sacrifice, and the cultivation of knowledge.

Yoga is an integral part of the worship and service to Hindu gods. This fundamental principle is constantly and continually reinforced throughout the Bhagavad Gita. Yoga is a means of linking one's self with the gods of Hinduism including Krishna.

According to the opinion of Krishna as expressed in the Bhagavad Gita, Yoga is one of the highest forms of worship and provides for the most intimate connection to the Hindu gods.

Performing yoga is also seen as a way of washing away sin from one's soul.

According to the Bhagavad Gita, another means of releasing one's self from sin is to eat foods which have been offered in sacrifice. Those who eat for enjoyment are said to eat sin (Bhagavad Gita 3.13). Salvation in Hinduism is determined by one's thoughts at the moment of death.

Studying the Vedas, uttering the om syllable, and remaining celibate are also important to the salvation of Hindus according to the Bhagavad Gita

As eluded to in that last quote, reincarnation is also a fundamental aspect of Hinduism. The actions in which one is engaged in at death determines one's status in the next life according to the Bhagavad Gita. Accordingly, a person can be reincarnated as an animal or be destined to live on different planets.

According to the Bhagavad Gita, everything in the human experience such as actions, knowledge, determination, happiness etc... is evaluated and determined to fall into one of three categories. These three categories are goodness, passion and ignorance. Ignorance is the lowest category. If one feels any emotion, either good or bad, or if one feels pain, this is judged as passion and is something that needs to be overcome. According to the Bhagavad Gita, goodness is when one is disconnected from feeling and simply does one's duty without regard for any consequences, and also without regard for how well or poorly one does one's duty.

The greatest achievement in Hinduism is said to be gained through knowledge.

The enemy of the Hindu is said to be lust, pride, arrogance, conceit, anger, harshness and ignorance.

In the Bhagavad Gita, self-control, humility, nonviolence, simplicity, and living alone are encouraged. Family life is discouraged as shown in the highlighted text below.

These words reflect the general theme that runs throughout the Bhagavad Gita which is self-control. The emphasis in Hinduism is placed upon one's self. However, People are not responsible for their actions and may be considered saintly even if they commit the most abominable act.

The idea that one must be self-disciplined, but is not accountable for one's actions may appear to be conflicting ideologies.

Contradicting and Nonsensical Text

In reading the Bhagavad Gita, one will find numerous contradictions. For instance, Brahman is called the "indestructible, transcendental living entity" in verse 8.3, but in verse 13.13, Krishna declares himself to be greater than Brahman.

When explaining how he could teach the sun god yoga when the sun god was the elder, Krishna states that he had been born many times, but in the next line, he states that he is unborn.

In reading the Bhagavad Gita, one will also encounter numerous examples of nonsensical doublespeak disguised as words of wisdom. These words of the Bhagavad Gita encourage a sense of confusion. Here are some examples:

Besides being nonsensical, verses 9.4-6 appear to contradict each other. The reader is told in these verses that: all beings are in him, everything that is created does not rest in him, and all created beings do rest in him. The Bhagavad Gita contains many statements that defy all logic and understanding and also flatly contradicts written history. Krishna claims to return every thousand years to destroy everything and start anew.

According to the Bhagavad Gita, Krishna claims that there are various inhabited planets.

Conclusion on Hinduism

Who is the god of Hinduism?

✗ There are numerous gods in Hinduism.

Are they greater than man?

✓ According to the Bhagavad Gita, Krishna claims to be everything that ever was or will be.

Can he account for the creation of not only mankind, but the universe, the world, everything?

✗ No. According to the Bhagavad Gita, Krishna claims that everyone's atman has always existed and will always exist. He does claim to destroy and rebuild the world every millennium.

Does he explain where we came from?

✗ No. According to the Bhagavad Gita, Krishna claims that everyone's atman has always existed and will always exist.

Does he explain why we humans exist?

✓ According to the Bhagavad Gita, we exist to gain knowledge and modify our behavior in order to exit the wheel of life. In other words, we exist in the hopes that one day we can stop existing.

Does he explain death and tell us what, if anything, exists after death?

✓ According to the Bhagavad Gita, Krishna says that everyone is reincarnated at death.

Does he explain what is expected of us?

✓ According to the Bhagavad Gita, there are numerous things expected of everyone such as doing ones duty, performing yoga, drinking a specific juice, eating foods that have been sacrificed etc...

Is he ethical?

✗ According to the Bhagavad Gita, Krishna is not ethical in his advice to and treatment of Arjuna, his treatment of the army he supplied to the opponents of Arjuna, or the opponents of Arjuna.

Does he explain what his role in our life should be?

✓ According to the Bhagavad Gita, Krishna can provide armies for humans to use in battle and can communicate and reveal himself to humans. One comes away with the impression that Krishna is a counselor to humans.

Has he left evidence that he is God?

✗ No. There are no key events, historical records, or archaeological findings to support the notion that Krishna ever existed.

Is he able to predict the future?

✗ According to the Bhagavad Gita, Krishna claims to control everything, but there is no evidence to support this claim.

Has he been able to preserve his words and directives without contradiction for all mankind?

✗ No. There are numerous contradictions in the Bhagavad Gita.

Has he made himself readily known to all who seek him?

✗ No. Knowledge of the gods of Hinduism are largely limited to those who practice the religion. Hinduism can only truly be practiced in India because of the caste system which is a fundamental part of the religion.

Should we worship Hindu gods, and if so, how?

✗ No. Hinduism is really a mixture of different religious traditions melded together. Hinduism can only truly be practiced in India because of the caste system which is a fundamental part of the religion. According to the Bhagavad Gita, Krishna supports the caste system. He states that everyone within the caste system deserves their position because of their actions in a previous life.

However, as shown in verse 4.5 above, people cannot remember what they did in their previous life to deserve their position in this caste system. Therefore, they can neither know how to preserve their current status or improve upon it. Is this the action of a just God? The Bhagavad Gita makes clear that segregation along the lines of race and gender are acceptable. In verse 9.29, Krishna states that he is impartial and in the following verse refers to women and the members of two of the lower classes in the caste system as being of "lower birth."

The Bhagavad Gita appears to be full of contradictions. Furthermore the god represented in the pages of the Bhagavad Gita appears to be immoral. The entire premise of the book is based upon the god Krishna manipulating Arjuna into killing his friends and family. In Hinduism, there are also no real central characters or key events which can be verified in independent historical documents or through archeology. There is no evidence of the powers of any of the gods associated with Hinduism. In fact, if one starts searching for the name of the Hindu god(s), one will quickly realize that there are no Hindu gods that are accepted universally throughout Hinduism. What or who a person of Hindu faith says God is, depends greatly upon which person of Hindu faith one talks to. Most Hindus appear to acknowledge one main deity called Brahman or Krishna. However, Hindu beliefs vary wildly. Some Hindus claim to be monotheistic, while others openly admit to being polytheistic. Creation is another topic of contention among Hindus of different sects. However, one common theme does appear to be that most Hindus believe that everything was created by sound. Finally, many of the claims within the pages of the Bhagavad Gita defy explanation and rational thought. Therefore, since there is not even a hint of supporting evidence to uphold the foundations of Hinduism, this writer is of the opinion that the gods of the Hindu faith are nothing more than trinkets made by the hands of men. They have no power and are unworthy of worship or further consideration.

A man named Siddhartha Gautama (Buddha), who lived for roughly eighty years beginning in about 560 B.C., founded an ideology based upon a reformed view of Hinduism and Brahmanism. Siddhartha Gautama was born into a wealthy family and lived a sheltered life. He married and had one son. According to Buddhist tradition, he encountered a sick person, an old person, a holy man, and a funeral procession for the first time on a trip to his local village. Siddhartha left his wife and child and followed the holy man into a life of asceticism where he wasted away eating only a single grain of rice per day. After several years of asceticism, he was only emancipated and had not found the secret of life. He then sat under a Bodhi tree for forty nine days and is said to have become enlightened. Buddha then began preaching a middle path void of the extremes of poverty and wealth. His first sermon is often called the "Four Noble Truths." These "truths" are:
1. Life is suffering.
2. Desire causes suffering.
3. Renounce desires.
4. Eightfold path or middle path. This is a way of living that emphasizes wisdom, ethical conduct, and mental development.

Buddhist believe that if they follow the eightfold path in a series of intellectual steps that they will achieve wisdom called Bodhi and then enter a state of nirvana. Nirvana is said to be the ultimate transcendence from the illusion of the material world. Buddhist are believed to be released from the "wheel of life" by achieving the state of nirvana.

Buddha never claimed to be a god and forbid his followers from worshiping him. He left instructions that his body should be cremated in an effort to prevent people from worshiping him. Today, people do worship Buddha and Buddhism has become a religion rather than a philosophy in many cases. Buddhist temples are called Stupas and frequently contain relics of Buddha in the form of nail clippings and hair.

Conclusion on Buddhism

Who is God?

✗ There is no God in Buddhism. Buddha himself claimed that he was not God and took steps to prevent people from worshiping him.

Is he greater than man?

✗ No. Buddha was just a man by his own account.

Can he account for the creation of not only mankind, but the universe, the world, everything?

✗ Some Buddhist believe in creation, others are evolutionist. Buddha concluded that this was one of the 14 unanswerable questions and that speculation on the topic was counterproductive.

Does he explain where we came from?

✗ Buddha concluded that this was one of the 14 unanswerable questions and that speculation on the topic was counterproductive.

Does he explain why we humans exist?

✓ According to Buddhist thought, we exist in order to achieve nirvana and end our suffering.

Does he explain death and tell us what, if anything, exists after death?

✓ Conflict exists among different Buddhist sects concerning what happens when one dies. According to some Buddhist teachings, there are different types of death but in general everyone is continually reborn until one enters a state of nirvana.

Does he explain what is expected of us?

✓ According to Buddhism, one's main goal should be building good karma and striving for nirvana.

Is he ethical?

✗ One would find Buddha's actions towards his wife and child to be unethical.

Does he explain what his role in our life should be?

✗ Buddha did not claim to be a god and thus cannot have any mutual interaction with those living today.

Has he left evidence that he is God?

✗ No, he did not claim to be God.

Is he able to predict the future?

✗ No, he did not claim to have this power.

Has he been able to preserve his words and directives without contradiction for all mankind?

✗ No. There are numerous texts within Buddhism, but few are considered authentic and authoritative.

Has he made himself readily known to all who seek him?

✗ No. He never claimed to be God, so one cannot seek him.

Should we worship him, and if so, how?

✗ No. Some Buddhist believe that Buddha was a human who attained a higher level. Others view Buddha as a higher being sent as a teacher. Some teach that Buddha is superior to and teaches the gods. Fundamentally, Buddhism is simply a form of Hinduism without the many gods. Buddhist largely either worship themselves in the form of philosophy or they worship Buddha. Buddha himself declared that he was not a god. Therefore, my opinion is that one will not find God in Buddhism.

The credit for the founding of Jainism is often attributed to a man named Mahavira who lived during the 6th century B.C.. Mahavira is said to be the twenty fourth Tirthankara which is a Sanskrit word meaning "Ford-maker." A Tirthanhara is said to be a savior who has succeeded in exiting the "wheel of life" and who has made a path for others to follow. According to Jainism, all of nature is alive, and one must be extremely careful to not harm anything. Some Jains wear a mask to prevent the inhalation of insects which would cause harm to the insects. Ahimsa (non-violence) is an important tenet of Hinduism and Buddhism, but is more strictly adhered to in Jainism. The ideology of Jainism prevents members from being farmers as this occupation would involve the killing of plants. Jains are typically vegetarian and are typically businessmen and bankers. Jains sometimes subscribe to an extreme form of asceticism. Mahavira starved himself to death as have many of his followers throughout the centuries.

Conclusion on Jainism

Who is God?

✗ According to Jainism, there are an innumerable amount of gods whose ranks are ever increasing.

Is he greater than man?

✗ According to Jainism, the numerous gods or saviors are simply people who have achieved nirvana.

Can he account for the creation of not only mankind, but the universe, the world, everything?

✗ According to Jainism, the universe has always existed.

Does he explain where we came from?

✗ No. According to Jainism, people have always existed.

Does he explain why we humans exist?

✓ Jains believe that they exist to become gods, but they get no help from any god.

Does he explain death and tell us what, if anything, exists after death?

✓ Jains believe in a rebirth similar to Buddhist.

Does he explain what is expected of us?

✗Jain deities do not interact with humans.

Is he ethical?

✗Since Jain deities do not interfere in the lives of humans, they are neither ethical, nor unethical.

Does he explain what his role in our life should be?

✗There is no role for Jain deities in human lives.

Has he left evidence that he is God?

No. ✗

Is he able to predict the future?

✗No.

Has he been able to preserve his words and directives without contradiction for all mankind?

✗There is no central God in Jainism to attempt this. There are numerous texts compiled by numerous followers of Jainism.

Has he made himself readily known to all who seek him?

✗Jain gods are not available to humans.

Should we worship him, and if so, how?

✗No. Like Buddhism, Jainism is also a reformed version of Hinduism. As such, my belief is that one will not find God in Jain philosophy.

Confucianism was founded by a Chinese philosopher named Confucius who lived at about the same time as Plato. Confucius spent much of his time in study. His center of attention was with daily life, and he was not concerned with God. He believed that everyone should study historical documents and thereby learn how to act. According to Confucian thought, one can better themselves and society by studying and attaining the next level called Junzi. Junzi literally means "lord's son" but is often said to mean a gentleman or superior person. The main text in Confucianism is called the Analects. The Analects is a collection of sayings attributed to Confucius, but not written by him. Many of the sayings in the Analects may or may not have actually been the words of Confucius. People who claim many different religious affiliations practice Confucianism. According to some translations, there are references to a god in the Analects. However, much is left to interpretation, and these references are sufficiently vague to allow even devout atheists to embrace Confucianism. Three core Confucian values are:
1. Ren - Being deeply concerned about the welfare of others.
2. Li - A prescription for how to behave such as being respectful of others, having good manners, and proper etiquette.
3. Filial Piety - A family value where children have a reverential respect for their parents even if the parent is wrong.

Conclusion on Confucianism

Who is God?

✗There is no God in Confucianism.

Is he greater than man?

✗There is no God in Confucianism.

Can he account for the creation of not only mankind, but the universe, the world, everything?

✗There is no God in Confucianism. According to Confucianism, the interaction between yin and yang generated by the great ultimate called Tao is the cause for everything that exists.

Does he explain where we came from?

✗There is no God in Confucianism. According to Confucianism, the interaction between yin and yang generated by the great ultimate called Tao is the cause for everything that exists.

Does he explain why we humans exist?

✗There is no God in Confucianism. However, according to Confucianism, everybody exists to discover their true self.

Does he explain death and tell us what, if anything, exists after death?

✗Confucius thought that what happens after death is beyond comprehension.

Does he explain what is expected of us?

✗There is no God in Confucianism. However, Confucius generally taught that one should do unto others as one would have done to them.

Is he ethical?

✗There is no God to be ethical or unethical in Confucianism.

Does he explain what his role in our life should be?

✗There is no God in Confucianism to be a part of anyone's life.

Has he left evidence that he is God?

✗No.

Is he able to predict the future?

✗No.

Has he been able to preserve his words and directives without contradiction for all mankind?

✗No.

Has he made himself readily known to all who seek him?

✗No.

Should we worship him, and if so, how?

✗No. Confucian philosophy contains some admirable tenets which a person searching for God may find helpful. However, Confucianism largely remains a philosophy with no God. A popular saying which is attributed to Confucius is: "respect ghosts and gods but stay away from them". If one is searching for God, Confucianism is not the means by which one should look.

Daoism or Taoism is primarily an Asian religion founded by Lao Tzu which emphasizes living in harmony with the Dao or way of nature. Lao Tzu is also regarded by some as one of a number of deities within Daoism. However, Daoism is fundamentally a pantheistic religion. Pantheism is the belief that everything (the universe, nature etc...) encompasses or makes up divinity. This duality in how Daoism is practiced by different sects demonstrates a certain level of confusion and uncertainty surrounding this religion.

Daoism is sometimes described as the opposite of Confucianism, and by some accounts, Lao Tzu actually met with Confucius. Daoism stresses simplicity, spontaneity, living a natural life in harmony with nature, not being ambitious, retreating to small villages, and not really doing anything. The term wu wei is a fundamental concept in Daoism which means non action or non-doing.

Conclusion on Daoism

Who is God?

✗Generally there is no god in Daoism. References are often made to the Tao similar to the Tao in Confucianism which guides everything in a non-personal way.

Is he greater than man?

✗Generally there is no god in Daoism.

Can he account for the creation of not only mankind, but the universe, the world, everything?

✗ There is no God to explain anything in Daoism. However, the Tao is said to have given birth to one. One gave birth to two. Two gave birth to three, and three gave birth to all things

Does he explain where we came from?

✗ There is no God to explain anything in Daoism. However, the Tao is said to have given birth to one. One gave birth to two. Two gave birth to three, and three gave birth to all things.

Does he explain why we humans exist?

✗ There is no God to explain anything in Daoism. However, Daoist thought is that each person exists to discover their self.

Does he explain death and tell us what, if anything, exists after death?

✗ There is no God to explain anything in Daoism. However, Daoist tend to believe that upon death a person who has followed "the way" will enjoy a more important ancestral position in an afterlife. Daoist believe they become the Tao upon death.

Does he explain what is expected of us?

✗ There is no God to explain anything in Daoism. There is no obligation to God in Daoism.

Is he ethical?

✗ There is no God to be ethical or unethical in Daoism.

Does he explain what his role in our life should be?

✗ There is no God to explain anything in Daoism. The Tao is thought to guide everything in a non-personal way within Daoism.

Has he left evidence that he is God?

✗ No.

Is he able to predict the future?

✗ No.

Has he been able to preserve his words and directives without contradiction for all mankind?

✗ No.

Has he made himself readily known to all who seek him?

✗ No.

Should we worship him, and if so, how?

✗ No. There is much uncertainty surrounding Daoism from an outsider's point of view. Various dates have been ascribed to the life of Lao Tzu and some sources claim that he never existed at all. Some claim that his writings are actually a compilation of texts written by many different authors. On the question of finding God, the followers of Daoism claim different gods. Some followers claim a pantheistic point of view while others claim a number of anthropomorphic (having human characteristics) gods which leaves the person searching for the one true God with only one option; look elsewhere.

Traditionally, mainstream Judaism, Christianity, and Islam all claim to worship the same God. The merging of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam occurs at Abraham (Ibrahim). Muslims who claim descent from Ibrahim and who claim to worship the God of Ibrahim must worship the God described in the Tanakh. This is the God that Ibrahim (Abraham) worshiped. Therefore, the description of the God in the Tanakh must equally apply to the God upon which Islam was originally founded. The Old Testament of the Christian King James Bible and the Tanakh of the Jewish texts are almost identical. With all of that in mind, and for the purposes of this article, the God of the Tanakh or Old Testament will be examined here.

So far, none of the gods of the religions examined here have met all of the criteria established in the first section of this writing detailing what a God should be capable of. In fact, they have met very few, if any, of those criteria. In short, they all fail miserably as gods. However, there is a God who claims to meet all of those criteria and more. There is a God who claims to have created the heavens, the earth, and man. There is a God who claims to be superior to man. That God provides evidence of His existence and He has preserved His word without contradiction. This quest for the knowledge of who God is will continue by taking a closer look at that God. That God is called by different names but is the foundation for the three major religions of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. That God is the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

Who is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob?

✓ The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob is all powerful.

He is caring, and concerned about humans.

He makes covenants with people, He is merciful, and He is trustworthy to uphold His end of the covenant.

He is the God of action.

He is the only God.

He is the God of the people.

He wants what is best for people.

He does not force Himself on anyone.

He is unchanging.

Is He greater than man?

✓ Yes.

Can He account for the creation of not only mankind, but the universe, the world, everything?

✓ Yes.

According to these verses, God spoke everything into existence. Everything was created by words. Notice that the Hindus also believe that everything was created by sound. This appears remarkable considering how different these religions are.

Does He explain where we came from?

✓ Yes.

Does He explain why we humans exist?

✓ Yes. The Bible states that we were created for His pleasure, for His glory, to praise Him, and to tend the garden. There is also much symbolism in the idea of tending the garden because plants symbolize people in the Bible. Therefore, tending the garden is symbolic of people tending to, or caring for, each other.

Does He explain death and tell us what, if anything, exists after death?

✓ Yes. The Bible states that when people die, the flesh goes back into the ground through decomposition and the spirit returns to God who gave it.

The Bible states that everyone will die.

The Bible states that the dead know nothing and are in no way able to interact with anything on earth.

However, death is not the end of us according to the Bible. There is something more in the form of a resurrection of everyone who has ever lived.

The Bible states that there is a judgment.

The Bible states that, after the judgment, God will grant salvation to the people who have demonstrated the characteristics embodied within His commandments and statutes. In love, He rewards the obedient child with salvation. Perhaps this can more accurately be seen as the ultimate reason for our being.

Does He explain what is expected of us?

✓ Yes. The Bible states that whatever we do in this world is judged by God. He tells us to be righteous, and to live joyfully with our spouse, and that whatever we find to do, we should do it to the best of our ability.

He tells us how to be righteous.

Is He ethical?

✓ Yes. The laws of many nations all over the world reflect the ten commandments of the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The following verses also demonstrate His ethics.

Does He explain what His role in our life should be?

✓ Yes. God states that He should be our God. He wants to protect us and defend us and provide for us.

Has He left evidence that He is God?

✓ Yes. First, one can climb the highest mountain, or walk the lowest valley, or visit any corner of the earth and one will find evidence of the great flood described in Genesis six through eight. The vast majority of fossils around the world were created during the great flood. Second, the Bible has always been well ahead of science. For instance the Bible states that the earth is round, and that the universe is being stretched out, but scientists and theologians alike have been debating different theories about the shape of the earth and the nature of the universe until very recently.

Thirdly, the historical accuracy of the Bible has been proven time after time. Places like Ur (mentioned in Gen 11:28, Gen 11:31, Gen 15:7, and Neh 9:7) and Nineveh (mentioned in Gen 10:11 and sixteen other verses) were thought to be fables until Archaeologist discovered them. The Hittite empire (mentioned in Exo 23:28 and twenty four other verses) was also mistakenly believed to be a myth until archaeologists also discovered evidence that verified the empire had once existed. In fact, the accuracy of the Bible has proven to be so reliable, that numerous archaeological discoveries have been made using the information contained in the Bible as a map. Finally, the creation of heaven and earth is a powerful testimony that He exists. While anyone, can claim to have created everything, anyone cannot fulfill all of the other requirements established in the first section of this writing detailing what a God must be. Therefore, since the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob does fulfill all of the other requirements, then the natural world all around us becomes irrefutable evidence that He is God.

Is He able to predict the future?

✓ Yes. The Bible states that God knew the ending from the very beginning.

The fact that God is indeed able to foretell the future can be verified independently on numerous fronts. This article will focus on one instance. The book of Isaiah, which is contained in the Tanakh or Old Testament, was written between 740-680 B.C.. In Isaiah 44:28 - 45:4, God declares that He will enable a man named Cyrus to cause Jerusalem to be rebuilt and the foundation of the temple at Jerusalem to be laid.

Here is a little historical background to set the scene for the above prophecy. Solomon had built the first temple in Jerusalem. This temple was destroyed by the Babylonians under Nebuchadnezzar II of Babylon in 586 B.C., and many of the Jews were sent into what is called the Babylonian captivity or Babylonian exile.

Cyrus the Great was born between 590 and 580 B.C..

As already stated, the book of Isaiah was written between 740 and 680 B.C.. The Encyclopedia Britannica states that Cyrus the Great was born between 590 and 580 B.C.. One can take even the most skeptical view and use the latest date for the writing of Isaiah and the earliest birth year for Cyrus and still come up with a difference of ninety years.

  680 B.C.
- 590 B.C.
  90 years.

This means that God not only foretold the events of Cyrus' life, but that He even referred to Cyrus by name at least ninety years before Cyrus was born.

Cyrus became a Persian ruler. The name Cyrus was not a common name in that part of the world. In fact, there was something very unique about the name Cyrus in that part of the world at that time.

Cyrus founded the Persian empire and began his rule around 550 B.C..

Cyrus freed the Jews from Babylonian captivity in 536 B.C. and aided them in their return to Israel.

This means that at least 144 years after Isaiah, under inspiration of God, penned the words "even saying to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be built;" the prophesy was fulfilled.

  680 B.C. Latest date attached to the writing of Isaiah
- 536 B.C. Date Cyrus freed the Jews from Babylonian captivity
  144 years.

The book of Isaiah states that the foundation of the second temple at Jerusalem would be laid because of Cyrus' freeing the Jews from Babylonian captivity. This is indeed what happened.

This is only one minor example of God foretelling events well before the events actually occurred. As shown here, numerous sources can be used to verify that God is able to foretell events and that He can actually control world changing events to bring about His predictions. Many of these sources are even hostile towards the word of God. However, the events foretold in the Bible are so monumental that they cannot be ignored even by the skeptics.

Has He been able to preserve His words and directives without contradiction for all mankind?

✓ Yes. The Bible states that the words of the LORD are pure and without fault.

The Bible holds the record for being the best-selling book of non-fiction in the world with the Guinness Book of World Records.

The words of God in the form of the Bible have been preserved better than any other book in the history of the world with more than 5 billion copies sold.

Has He made Himself readily known to all who seek him?

✓ Yes. Besides being the best-selling book of all time, the Bible is also the most widely distributed book of all time. According to the Guinness Book of World Records, at least one of the books of the Bible has been translated into 2123 different languages.

The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob is the God of all people on earth, if they choose to follow Him. Everyone is welcome by God to worship Him regardless of race or social position. There is no social division that can separate one from God.

Should we worship Him, and if so, how?

✓ Yes. The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob is the only God to meet all of the requirements as set forth in the first section of this writing detailing what a God must be. The evidence is very clear. The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob is God. He is not just another God. He is the only God. Therefore He is certainly worthy of our praise and worship. The Bible states that we should praise Him.

The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob has been established as the one true God. The Bible states that we are to worship Him. However, there are three different main religions that claim to worship the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Each of these three main religions worship God in different ways. Furthermore, there are numerous divisions within each of these main three religions, and each of these divisions also worship God in different ways. The next article in this series will look at some of the differences between these three religions and determine which religion one should follow.