Navigating Cultural Perspectives on God:  Some Fundamental Questions to Consider (Part 1)

If there exists a singular Deity/God who has disclosed himself/herself in various cultures worldwide, it follows that this Deity/God, both in essence and in personal attributes, must exhibit a consistent nature across these diverse cultural contexts. While different cultures may interpret the nature and identity of God in varied ways based on their unique perspectives and cultural frameworks, the fundamental ontological unity of God should remain unchanged. For instance, whether viewed as a singular entity or a trinity, this ontological understanding of God should ideally transcend cultural boundaries, hermeneutics, and epistemologies.

However, despite the universal availability of divine revelation, cultural interpretations of God can diverge significantly. Why, then, do some cultures perceive God as singular while others perceive God as triune? If God represents the ultimate reality and truth, shouldn’t human understanding of God align with the manner in which God has revealed himself/herself, reflecting a consistent truth?

Let us explore these issues important questions below:

1. Is it conceivable that certain cultures grasp a more accurate understanding of God than others? If so, how can these cultures be confident that their comprehension aligns closely with God’s original intent and revelation?

2. Could it be that some cultures’ conceptions of God represent a departure from the authentic divine revelation?

3. Is there a possibility that all interpretations of divine revelation and knowledge about God are fundamentally flawed? How can humanity ultimately come to know God accurately or truthfully?
These questions delve into the complexities of theological interpretation across cultures, prompting reflection on how diverse human perspectives shape our understanding of the divine.
While it can be challenging to contemplate and express certain concepts about God without filtering them through our cultural perspectives, it’s crucial to differentiate between the concept of culture and the concept of God. When God is exclusively seen through the lens of a specific culture, there’s a risk that this cultural framework might distort the true essence of God. Conversely, if God is not considered within certain cultural traditions and practices, that God may seem unfamiliar or foreign to those within that culture.

If God indeed transcends our cultural constructs and exceeds our imaginations, it becomes necessary to somewhat disentangle God from our cultural biases and specificities. A God who mirrors human behaviors may not rise above human conceptions of God. Conversely, a God who transcends human imagination and cultural boundaries is not confined to such habits or specificities.

Moreover, let’s revisit my previous discussion about Pope Francis’s remarks regarding God and how different cultures or religions perceive and interpret God. Christianity and Islam, for example, are particularly noteworthy due to their explicit claims about the authority of salvation. For example, Jesus asserts his divinity as the sole true messenger of God on Earth, describing himself as the exclusive gateway to God. Crucially, Jesus also claims to be God incarnate.

(Pope Francis recently made this declaration in public, but the statement cannot be both true and false at the same time and in light of the exclusive claims of Christianity and Islam—Christianity concerning Jesus as the “Christ” and Islam concerning Prophet Muhammad as God’s “Final Prophet”—for example:

“All religions are paths to reach God. They are—to make a comparison—like different languages, different dialects, to get there. But God is God for everyone. If you start to fight saying ‘my religion is more important than yours, mine is true and yours isn’t’, where will this lead us? There is only one God, and each of us has a language to arrive at God. Some are Sheik, Muslim, Hindu, Christians; they are different ways to God.”
—-Pope Francis)

Pope Francis’s statements have several implications:

1. All religions are perceived as equal and provide an equivalent path or access to God.

2. All religions essentially tell the same universal story about God, albeit with cultural variations.

3. God does not belong exclusively to any religious system nor is God bound by any particular tradition.

4. God is a shared inheritance and possession of all religions and their adherents; in other words, God belongs to the people.

5. God transcends all religious traditions and their doctrines.

In reality, religions do not universally share the same language or beliefs about God; often, they contradict each other in their teachings and doctrines. Nevertheless, God is aware of and acknowledges the languages and belief systems created by humans because God is and has been present within every culture and left a mark on each. To put it differently, God exists simultaneously here and there.

For instance, in Haitian Vodou, “Bondye” (God) is viewed as a distant and transcendent deity whom no one can directly approach. Instead, Bondye created and delegated the lwa (spirits) to assist humans; thus, it is through the lwa that Bondye interacts with people within this tradition. Conversely, in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, God is seen as the supreme ruler of the universe, and he is actively involved in human history and affairs, while also being transcendent and omnipresent. Another example contrasts Christianity, where Jesus is regarded as the cosmic Savior and Lord, with Prophet Muhammad, who did not make similar claims. Similarly, the Yoruba and Vodou religions do not espouse the concept of a cosmic Savior and Redeemer. Despite these differences, all religions offer elements of truth regarding God, human origins, ethics, and human relationships, albeit with varying goals and interpretations.

In conclusion, while religious pluralism and epistemic relativism acknowledge the diversity among religions, it’s essential to recognize that religions differ significantly in their perspectives. Ultimately, every religion may present distinct concepts of God and varying teachings, yet God understands and embraces the diverse languages and beliefs of all religions, having left an imprint in every culture.