Is it all right to call God Allah? – Craig Keener
Some people today debate whether
it is all right for Christians to call God “Allah.” Those within cultures that
speak Arabic (or Hausa or other languages that use this title) have a right to
discuss whether there might be inappropriate connotations in some of their
contexts (or where it might be against the law). But from a purely language
standpoint, nobody else should be debating it.
The English word “God” did not
originate as a Christian title. Nor did the Greek word that we translate God,
“theos”; that was used for pagan Greek deities long before the spread of
monotheism in the Greek-speaking world. Canaanites called their chief god “El”
and their gods “elohim” before the patriarchs could adopt these titles for the
true supreme God. “Allah” in Arabic is related to the Hebrew term for God. It
makes no more sense to prohibit Arabic-speaking Christians from using an Arabic
term for God, understood in a Christian way, than to prohibit English-speaking
Christians from using the term “God,” understood in a Christian way, even
though we recognize that others could speak of other “gods” using the same
English word, or that others who believe in one God might have a different
understanding of this God. I am not entering into the debate here about what
Muslims and Christians mean by God–there are some significant differences. But
one either adapts existing language, which is usually how we translate, or uses
a new loanword and explains it. (YHWH may be “untainted,” but even biblical
terms for God such as Elohim and El and theos are not.)
In English we speak of Saturday
without regard for it being named after the Roman divinity Saturn, or Sunday being
named for the Sun (deity), or Thursday for Thor or the like. We are often very
inconsistent in what we tolerate–usually tolerating more that is under our own
nose than what is under someone else’s. What might be more fruitful is getting
to better understand and communicate what God is like–getting to know His heart
in Jesus Christ.
http://www.craigkeener.com/is-it-all-right-to-call-god-allah/
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