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How knowable is God in Islam? In the Judeo-Christian faith?
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Muslims believe that God is so great that humans cannot presume to know Him
The Judeo-Christian view of God sees Him not only as personal but also as knowable. God’s plan was to reveal Himself through the Scriptures -
Islamists believe in an eternal, all-powerful, personal God and see him as the Creator and Sustainer of all that exists. Judeo-Christians believe that an all-powerful, personal Spirit spoke everything into existence while remaining distinct from his creation.
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One of my Jewish friends who has embraced other faiths over the years such as Sufi, believes in God…she says…but He and she are still a part of the Universe. She doesn’t believe in heaven or hell. I find Jewish beliefs and the rituals very beautiful and might even be a Messianic Jew. There is a span between orthodox Jews and progressive Jews that wanders all over the map.
Another friend I have is Muslim. He and I talk about Allah, and I believe He is the same God I worship. Of course, he thinks Jesus was just a prophet and I don’t think Allah is someone you can get up close and personal with.
Hindu, along with such religions a Bahai and Sufi, believe we are one with the Universe and so we are one with God, no heaven, no hell, no real personality – just the Universe. I have friends of these persuasions also. Muslim much the same regarding a God who has created and then pretty well turns things over to us to earn our way in a better life.
New Age, spiritualists, naturalists, again I have friends who embrace these, even a Druid. Everything including trees, flowers everything with substance is part of their universe. Everyone is all right as long as they follow their own path. Some even say that we are god or can become as god. It sounds really good and they are generally very generous, compassionate and you just can’t argue with them at all. -
Islam: unknowable.
Judeo-Christian: in some sense knowable. -
God is so great in Islam that it is not possible to know Him. In the Judeo-Christian faith it is possible to know God (talk to & listen to), but that does NOT imply that humans are equal to God. In simplistic terms, I could talk to a brilliant scientist, and listen to them, but I might only understand a small portion of what they say.