98. Are some aspects of culture more god-like than others?

To discuss this question we must first define the revelation of God we are using as a source of god- likeness. The assumption in this question is the the god-like qualities we are discussing are those of the Supreme Creator God. This God has many names in many cultures. To the Arabs he is ‘Allâh’ and to the Maori he is ‘Io’ and to the Chinese he is ‘Shang-di.’ The Books of the great religions inform us about the character and nature of the Supreme Creator God if that is a doctrine of that religion. From these great Books we can read and gather the character attributes the Supreme Creator God has and wants his followers to practice. A brief synopsis of the character attributes of Jehovah in the Bible, and Allâh in the Qur’an gives us insights into the aspects of culture that Jehovah and Allâh like and want their followers to practice.

In the list below, each line listed a Cultural Values/attributes on the left, the Qur’an Source in the middle and the Bible Source on the right.

a) Almsgiving Surah 107 Mk 10:21; Acts 20:35

b) Anger; Assertiveness Surah 3:134 1 Tim 1:7; James 1:19

c) Authoritarianism Surah 3:159; 5:44-48 Is 22:20-23;Matt 28:18

d) Belief – Faith/faithfulness Surah 3:173 Deut 32:3-4;

e) Change – innovation Surah 13:11 Malachi 3:1-3

f) Charity Surah 2:110,177 Luke 12:33; Col.3:12

g) Clothing – modesty Surah 24:30-31 1Tim 2:9

h) Communicativeness Surah 26:69-74 Heb 13:16;1Tim6:18

i) Compassion Surah 2:178 Luke 10:33; Zech 7:9

j) Companionship Surah 2:186; 50:16; 56:85; Phil 2:25

k) Conversion Surah 9:29 Is 60:5; Ps 51:13

l) Creativity Surah 2:29; 6:73 Col 1:16; Rom 1:25

m) Curiosity Surah 5:101-102 Acts 19:19; Is 40:28

n) Deception Surah 9:115; Matt 27:63;Eph 5:6

o) Defeat Surah 4:89-91 2 Sam 17:14

p) Dyadism – honour in relationships Surah 3:45 Ps 104:1; Heb 2:7

q) Emotion Surah 3:159 Ps 65:13; Acts 12:22

r) Envy – evil eye Surah 68:51 1 John 2:16

s) Equality Surah 49:13 2 Cor 8:14

t) Exorcism Surah 16:98-99 Acts 19:13; Lk 11:14

u) Grace/Favour Surah 27:73 Esther 2:17; Dan1:9

v) Feast – hospitality- generosity Forgiving Surah 22:27-28 Surah 4:25; 26; 5:74; 15:49; 42:25 Ezra 3:5; 1 Cor 5:8 1 John 1:9

z) Gratitude and thanksgiving Goal – purpose – aim Surah 16:71-73 Surah 53:42; 6:103; Rev11:17; Heb13:15 Eph 3:11

aa) Healing – wholeness Surah 26:80 Lk 5:17; Acts 8:7

bb) Hope – resurrection of the dead Surah 53:47 Rom 5:1-5

cc) Humility – kindness Surah 9:117;85:14 Eph 2:7; Titus 3:4

dd) Hypocrisy Surah 63:1 John 11:47-48

ee) Jealousy Surah 3:19 Rom 10:19

ff) Justice – truth Surah 55:7-9; 4:40; 21:47; 20:114 John 4:23;14:6

gg) Judgement – punishment Surah 53:50-53; 53:57-62; 3:179; 2Cor5:10;Rom 14:20

hh) Law-mindedness Surah 2:27 1 Cor 6:12; 1 Tim1:8

ii) Manliness – attractiveness Surah 18:13 1 Cor 14:20

jj) Mediator – peacemaker Surah 55:31; 94:2; 3:109; 128; 10:109; Gal 3:20

kk) Meekness Surah 36:72 Gal 6:1; Eph 4:2

ll) Mercy Surah 6:26; 5:74; 13:109; 6:12; 10:21; 35:2-3

mm) Mirth – laughter Surah 53:43 Luke 6:21

nn) Obedience Surah 3:132; 4:59 1 Pe 1:22

oo) Patience Surah 2:225; 235:263; 3:155; 5:101; 22:59 Rom 5:1-5

pp) Peacemaker Surah 3:154; 9:26; 43:4; Prov 16:7

qq) Power, might, helper Surah 3:150; 4:45 ; 31:9; Rom 16:25

rr) Prayerful Surah 2:186; Acts 6:6

ss) Protector Surah 6: 61; 93:1-5; 94:1-6 Deut 32:38

tt) Provider – Sustainer Surah 29:60-62; 51:58, 10:52 1 Tim 5:8

uu) Purity – cleanliness Surah 4:49; Prov 22:11

vv) Sin Surah 49:12 1 John 1:9

ww) Submission Surah 3:19 Eph 5:21

xx) Suffering Surah 16:41-42 Rom 8:18

yy) Trust Surah 3:122 Heb 2:13

zz) Unity Surah 2:163; 6:19; Psalm 133

aaa) Worshippers Surah 53:62; 2;114; John 9:31

bbb) Wrath Surah 1:7; 7:97-99 Rom 1:18

ccc) Zeal, zealousness Surah 3:139 Is. 9:7; Tit. 2:14