The question of which God is the one true God above all others has been debated for millennia. Humans have worshipped thousands of gods throughout history, but which deity holds the ultimate power and authority? Let’s examine the major contenders.
Yahweh – The God of Judaism and Christianity
Yahweh is the name used for the supreme being of the ancient Israelites and the modern day Jews and Christians. According to the Hebrew Bible, Yahweh created the heavens and the earth and everything in them in six days. Here is a quick overview of Yahweh’s resume:
- Creator of the universe
- Performed miracles like the 10 plagues on Egypt and the parting of the Red Sea
- Led the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt
- Gave Moses the 10 Commandments
- Flooded the earth during Noah’s time
- Father of Jesus Christ in Christianity
Yahweh is described as all-knowing, all-powerful, and ever-present. He is a jealous God who demands exclusive devotion from his followers. Many believers consider Yahweh to be the one supreme being that reigns over all.
Allah – The God of Islam
Allah is the Arabic word for God used by Muslims worldwide. Followers of Islam believe Allah is the same supreme being that was worshipped by Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and other prophets. Here is some key info about Allah:
- Creator and Sustainer of all existence
- Authored the divine revelations of the Quran
- Sent many prophets including Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and Muhammad
- Does not beget nor is he begotten
- All-Powerful, All-Knowing, Most Merciful
Muslims consider Allah to be the one true God with no equal. He is transcendent above all of creation and is perfectly unified without parts. Allah never becomes weary or sleeps. For Muslims, Allah is the God above all.
Brahman – The Supreme Reality of Hinduism
In Hinduism, Brahman refers to the supreme, ultimate, and absolute reality. Brahman is formless, endless, eternal, and unchanging. Here are some essential attributes of Brahman:
- Infinite, limitless, transcendent
- The Primal Source and Divine Ground of all existence
- Too vast and complex for human mind to fully comprehend
- The ultimate power behind all gods and goddesses
- The World Soul that interpenetrates, creates, sustains the universe
For many Hindus, Brahman is the one true supreme being, the Divine Absolute which transcends all names and forms. Brahman is the infinite ocean, and the many Hindu gods are the waves on the surface.
Is Brahman a Personal or Impersonal God?
There are differing schools of thought on the nature of Brahman in Hinduism:
- Impersonal, Nirguna Brahman – Brahman is a formless, abstract principle with no attributes or qualities.
- Personal, Saguna Brahman – Brahman manifests in personal forms as different gods and goddesses such as Vishnu, Shiva, Devi.
So Brahman encompasses both impersonal Absolute and personal creator/sustainer aspects.
Zeus – Ruler of Greek Gods
In ancient Greek religion, Zeus was the sky and thunder god who ruled over the other gods on Mount Olympus. He was the king of heaven and earth who oversaw law, order, justice, and fate:
- Most powerful of the Olympic gods
- God of thunder, lightning, law, order, justice
- Youngest son of the Titans Cronus and Rhea
- Symbols include thunderbolt, eagle, bull, oak tree
- Married Hera but had many affairs with goddesses and mortals
While Zeus was considered the ruler of the Greek pantheon, some philosophers saw Zeus as subordinate to the concept of Moira or Fate.
Odin – Ruler of Norse Gods
In Norse mythology, Odin was the chief god, creator of the world, and ruler over Asgard. He was worshipped by Vikings, Germanic tribes, and Scandinavian peoples. Here’s an overview of Odin:
- Father of Thor, Baldur, Höðr, and other Norse gods
- Associated with wisdom, poetry, prophecy, magic, healing
- Sacrificed an eye to drink from the Well of Wisdom
- Has ability to see all past, present and future events
- Gathered great warriors to Valhalla for the final battle of Ragnarök
While Odin was the supreme deity of the Norse pantheon, the other major gods such as Thor and Loki limited his powers and challenged his authority at times.
Ahura Mazda – Supreme Being of Zoroastrianism
Ahura Mazda is the main deity in the ancient Persian religion of Zoroastrianism. He represents truth, order, righteousness, and goodness. Here’s an overview:
- The uncreated Creator and source of all goodness
- Represents truth, light, the sun, intelligence, wisdom
- Oversees the cosmic conflict against Angra Mainyu (evil, chaos, darkness)
- Communicates through prophets like Zoroaster to spread daēnā (religion)
- Will ultimately defeat evil at the end of time (Frashokereti)
For Zoroastrians, Ahura Mazda is the supreme omniscient, omnipotent, and benevolent deity that all humans should worship and follow.
Aten – Solar Deity of Egyptian Pharaoh Akhenaten
During his reign in the 14th century BCE, Pharaoh Akhenaten promoted Aten, the solar disk, as the supreme god above all others in ancient Egypt:
- Represented as a sun disk with rays shining down
- Solar deity providing life, fertility, and prosperity to Egypt
- Incorporated as aspect of sun god Ra during Amarna Period
- Worshipped exclusively by Akhenaten, who suppressed other Egyptian gods
- Declined after Akhenaten’s death when polytheism was restored
While the Aten cult was short-lived, it represented one of the earliest known attempts at establishing a monotheistic state religion in recorded history.
Who is the True “God Above All”? Evaluating the Evidence
When looking at the major gods that have been worshipped as supreme throughout history, how can we evaluate which deity is truly the undisputed “God above all”? Let’s compare some of the criteria:
| Criteria | Yahweh | Allah | Brahman | Zeus | Odin | Ahura Mazda | Aten |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Creator of Universe | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No |
| Performs Miracles | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Immortal | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No |
| Omnipotent | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | No |
| Omniscient | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Partial | Yes | No |
| Intervenes in Human Lives | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Demands Exclusive Worship | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Reveals Truths/Scriptures | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | No |
Conclusion
Based on these criteria, the gods Yahweh, Allah, and Brahman seem to have the strongest claims of supremacy. Each possesses the traits traditionally associated with an all-powerful, all-knowing “God above all” – omnipotence, omniscience, immortality, and creatorship. They are described as actively involved in guiding humanity (through revelation or divine incarnations) unlike the more passive deities Zeus, Odin, Aten who do not directly intervene in earthly affairs.
Ultimately, determining the identity of the “One True God” requires some degree of faith, as definitive empirical evidence is lacking. But an evaluation of the major deities worshipped throughout human civilization shows that certain gods like Yahweh, Allah, and Brahman have the most extensive historical records, theological support, scriptural authority, and active religious traditions that point to their supremacy.