Does the word God, or any of the other names referring to a supernatural being with abilities beyond the imagination of mankind, really describe that being? Is God a real being of some kind? Or is it merely a word used by humans to make themselves feel good? Is God something like a human being? Or is God merely a term for a creative force? If there is a God, what does that being expect humans to do? Is it possible for any of us to know, understand, or expect to communicate with God? Do we have any responsibility to a God, any God? Do we have to believe in God? If there is a God why does he, she, or it allow evil to exist? Are there any other beings that are associated with God, or against God? These questions have various answers that have resulted in many religions throughout the world and throughout history.

The word God refers to a being or an object that is worshipped. The word is used in the Western World and most of the rest of the world to mean a spiritual being that has intelligence and supernatural powers. No matter what religion people belong to, if they do not accept any formal religion, or even if they are Agnostics, Atheists, or Anti-theists, most Americans and Europeans use the word God with the Judeo-Christian definition. This does not mean that everyone who uses this word believes in that particular God or that there is any God. This volume discusses God in terms used by Judeo-Christians, as understood by them.

The Holy Bible used by Christians says humans are made in the image of God. Most humans like to think of themselves that way. In reality, the God or Gods people worship are more likely to be images of themselves and their cultures. Descriptions and attributes of God accepted by societies and by individuals tell more about them than about God.

Humanitys concept of God continues to change. God does not change and has not changed. But the concept of God by humans at any time or place has changed many times. Most of the changes have been progressive; although, some societies developed concepts of God that were not improvements over previous beliefs of followers or neighbors. Some concepts have been destructive for believers, neighbors, and societies around the world.

Even though Jews, Christians, and Muslims trace their origins to Abraham, and these three religions share some teachings and history, their concepts of God are not the same. The God of Jews is a God of law, of Christians a God of love, and of Muslims a God of submission. The God of the Jews is a single being, similar to the one called Father by Christians, who believe God is a combination of the Father and two other spiritual beings, the Holy Trinity. The Christian God is a God for all people, whether believers or not. The God of Islam is somewhat like the God of Jews but does not have the same characteristics or the same attitude toward behavior of humans as the God of Christians or Jews. The Islamic God demands obedience and does not allow for contrary opinions about God or what is expected of humans.

Hindus have many Gods, with two Gods somewhat like two members of the Trinity. Most other Asian religions have impersonal and remote Gods. Some people believe God is a female. Some think the earth is God, or Goddess. Some think there is no personal God; but what others call God is a spiritual force called Eternal Intelligence, or merely Eternity. Some people worship Satan, another spiritual being who is competitive with God in most religions. Atheists and Anti-theists have their own ideas of what the God they do not believe in or hate is like.

Some societies have worshiped ancestors, a human ruler, or a human teacher. Nazi Germany worshipped Hitler and he used the vision of ancestors to support his position. Soviet Russia worshipped the State, Lenin, Stalin, and Marx. Many people worship various other substitutes for a spiritual god: knowledge, science, money, power, nature, the environment, sports, entertainment, Utopia, socialism, capitalism, a popular person, and many other things of the world. But all people within these separate beliefs are searching for some reason to live.

The point is that when groups of people are using the word God, they might all have a different being or concept in their minds. Theists, who believe there really is a Supreme Being, are reassured by using the word, and believe the reference is to the God of their faith.

All religions, including Agnosticism, Atheism, and Anti-theism have some explanation for existence of the universe and the presence and development of human beings on Earth. Secularists believe the universe and life started by itself or by accident, probably with the Big bang. A popular term being used recently to help understand the existence of the universe and of mankind is Intelligent Design, which means God to everyone.

What people believe about the God they worship is more than merely a philosophical issue. People frequently take action based on what they believe their god wants them to door what their leaders tell them their God wants them to do.

Is it possible for any of us to know, understand, or expect to communicate with God? We cannot know God in the same way we know other humans, but we can know about God and some of the characteristics of God; and if we are earnestly seeking it, we can at least emotionally, if not actually, learn to know God.