Names for God

Since recorded time, in attempts to make The Supreme Being more recognizable and approachable,  humans have given personal names to God. We listed some of these names in our first newsletter.

With thanks to author, Israelite, and great friend and supporter of AumCreations, Tami Lowenthal, we are pleased to add this information to AumCreations.com. Tami wrote to us after reading our newsletter and suggested:

"Adding another name for God: ELOHIM. The reason is:

"Perhaps you know that Jehovah is taken directly from the Hebrew - Yahweh
(which the Jehovah Witnesses acknowledge). The meaning of Yahweh is: He
(neutral- and not to be understood as male) Who Has No Name. Yahweh is translated as -"UNKNOWN NAME" or "UNKNOWABLE NAME". As that much power can't even be put into words.

"The Hebrew reference to God is actually much closer to the Eastern concept than to the Western. The reason that God is not named is because Hebrew letters have
numerical power - power referring to spiritual potency (from the Kabala). So
every important word and name has a spiritual power.

"For example: The word -LIFE - is a very important word and it's letters add up to 18. Eighteen is a very spiritual number because it holds the impact of reference to
life-energy power. The word for God, therefore, cannot be used because
using/ writing/ uttering God's name would be too powerful or a misuse of
spiritual power (because speech and thought can combine with real spiritual
power). Therefore, the name of God is: He Who Has No Name, or Unknown Name, or Unknowable Name. This is a very serious name.

"But there are three other "names" for God:

"ELOHIM, and is actually used by the general public (Yahweh is rarely used).
(Also spelled: ELOQIM). That refers to He Above, or in the sky, or in
space (whatever) - so again- like Yahweh - it's just a reference rather than a
name. But you can add Elohim to your list because it's more frequently
used and far less intense.

"EL (Notice that it is included in ELOHIM). EL is the most casual and
refers more to God in general, more or less like the English word "God". If
someone says, "Thank God." The Hebrew translation of this casual reference
uses "EL". In Hebrew, the expression, thank you, is: "Toda." So the
expression, "Thank God" in Hebrew is: "Toda L'El." ("L" means "to"). It
is NEVER "Toda L'Yahweh".

"The Fourth word, "HaShem" is not really a word but just means, The Name.
It's used strictly in the context of a blessing: Hoping for a blessing,
receiving a blessing or having benefited from some incredible good luck.

"Yahweh" is very formal and intense and refers more to the brute power and
serious aspect of God. It would NEVER be used in a joke, not even by an
atheist (who was raised a Jew).

"Elohim" is the more casual word, referring more to the tender, merciful and
understanding aspect. It can, but would rarely be used in a joke.

"El", is used in reference more to earthly stuff and to the more
environmental/geographical manifestations on the planet AND IN JOKES.

"And finally, "HaShem", is reserved for people's wishes - ones that are
fulfilled, ones that are requested to be filled and those that are on their
way to being fulfilled. And that's never funny."