The Nature of God | Religion, Philosophy & Ethics for GCSE/IGCSE - Year 11 PDF Download

Judaism: The Nature of God

The Jewish faith is founded on the belief in a single, indivisible God who is all-powerful, all-knowing, and ever-present. This God is just, fair, and the creator of both the universe and humanity.

According to Judaism, God possesses several key attributes:

• One: Jewish teachings emphasize that God is a singular entity, without parts or divisions.
• Omnipotent: God has unlimited power and authority.
• Omnibenevolent: God embodies perfect love and goodness.
• Omniscient: God possesses complete knowledge of everything.
• Omnipresent: God exists everywhere simultaneously.
• Transcendent: God surpasses human limitations, existing beyond the constraints of time and space.
• Immanent: God is actively present in the world, sustaining its existence.
• Eternal: God has no beginning or end and exists forever.
• The Creator: God brought the entire universe into being.
• The Lawgiver: God established moral and spiritual laws for humanity, including the 613 commandments found in the Torah.
• The Judge: God evaluates individuals based on their adherence to His laws, administering justice accordingly.
• Merciful: God demonstrates compassion and kindness.

The concept of God’s nature is central to Jewish beliefs and practices, forming the foundation of the religion. The understanding of God in Judaism aligns closely with the perspectives of other Abrahamic faiths, such as Islam and Christianity.

Judaism: God as One

• Judaism is rooted in monotheism, the belief in one God.
• Christianity and Islam also adhere to monotheistic principles.
• The Shema prayer encapsulates this belief, declaring:

“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.”

• God is regarded as omniscient (all-knowing), omnipotent (all-powerful), and omnipresent (ever-present), reinforcing the idea that God is singular and all-encompassing.
• Like Islam, Judaism holds that nothing should be likened to God:
  • Synagogues reflect this by avoiding statues or images of living beings.
• Some Jews treat God’s name with such reverence that items bearing it must be buried when no longer in use.
• The Torah emphasizes God’s oneness and prohibits the worship of other deities:

“You shall have no other gods before Me” (Exodus 20).

Judaism: God as Creator

• A core Jewish belief is that God created the universe.
• The Book of Genesis opens with the Hebrew word Bereshit, meaning “in the beginning.”
• God is believed to have created the universe from nothing, shaping it precisely according to His will.
• As a result, God profoundly influences the world and humanity’s role within it.
• God expects loyalty from His people for granting them the Earth and for sustaining its existence.
• Many Jews believe God alone created all life, as described in Genesis, the first book of the Torah:

“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1).

“In the image of God, He created him; male and female He created them” (Genesis 1).

• Some Jews interpret the creation account literally, believing God created the world in six days.
• Others view the story symbolically, emphasizing that its significance lies in affirming God as the creator.
• The weekly festival of Shabbat commemorates God’s act of creation:
• Since God granted life, the principle of Pikuach Nefesh (preserving life) is highly valued.
• God’s ultimate authority over the world stems from His role as its creator.

Judaism: God as Law-Giver & Judge

• God provided Moses with a set of responsibilities for the Jewish people, including the Ten Commandments.
• By adhering to these laws, Jews fulfill God’s expectations and build a relationship with Him.

The Ten Commandments

• The Ten Commandments serve as a moral and ethical guide for Jewish conduct.
• The Torah also includes 613 laws, known as the mitzvot, which form the foundation of Halakhah, the Jewish code of conduct.
• Following God’s laws is critical because He judges individuals based on their adherence to them.
• God’s judgment is particularly significant during Rosh Hashanah and after death, where He evaluates people’s beliefs and actions.