The word “God” does not have one universally accepted meaning. In philosophy of religion, it usually refers to a supreme or ultimate reality, but its precise meaning depends on the religious tradition and philosophical theory being examined.
The Meaning of “God”
In classical theism, God is understood as a personal, transcendent being who created and sustains the universe. This concept normally includes several divine attributes: omnipotence, omniscience, perfect goodness, eternality, necessity and immutability.
These attributes help philosophers clarify the concept before asking whether God exists. For example, describing God as necessary means that God cannot fail to exist, unlike contingent beings whose existence depends on other conditions.
However, “God” can refer to significantly different concepts:
| Conception | Meaning of “God” |
|---|---|
| Classical theism | A personal, omnipotent, omniscient and perfectly good creator who is distinct from creation. |
| Deism | A creator who established the universe but does not intervene through miracles or revelation. |
| Pantheism | God is identical with nature or the universe, rather than a separate personal being. |
| Panentheism | The universe exists within God, but God also exceeds the universe. |
| Polytheism | “God” or “gods” refers to multiple divine beings with different powers and functions. |
A key philosophical issue is whether the word has a coherent meaning. For example, philosophers may ask whether omnipotence includes the power to do what is logically impossible, or whether divine foreknowledge is compatible with human freedom.
A common misconception is that defining “God” proves that God exists. A definition identifies the concept under discussion; an argument for God’s existence, such as the cosmological or ontological argument, attempts to establish that something corresponding to that concept exists.