Concepts of God and the Ultimate
In 2015 we commissioned a group of writers to produce articles on the concept of God and the Ultimate from a variety of different belief traditions: Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Humanist, Muslim, Jewish and Sikhi. You can find links to each of them below.
Ultimate reality, God and gods in Buddhism – Denise Cush
Summary explaining that Buddhism does not centre on a creator God but on awakening to ultimate reality through the Dharma; seen as truth, nirvana, emptiness, mind‑only or Buddha‑nature depending on the tradition.
Christianity and God – Jane Brooke
Christian concepts of God and ultimate reality, providing insights and teaching ideas for Religious Education lessons.
The Hindu Concept of God – Jim Robinson
Summary explaining how Hindu traditions understand the divine as both one ultimate reality (Brahman) and many deities who express its different qualities, allowing diverse ways of relating to and realising the sacred.
Humanism, Ultimate Reality, God and Gods – Sara Passmore
How humanists understand ultimate reality—rejecting supernatural gods, grounding meaning and morality in human experience, and turning to science and reason to explain the natural world.
Islam and God – Aliya Azam
Summary explaining Islamic beliefs about God as absolutely one, unique and indivisible, transcendent and beyond human comprehension, with any association of partners rejected as shirk.
Judaism and G-d – David Hampshire
Summary explaining how Jewish thought focuses less on defining God’s essence and more on covenant, scripture and lived responsibility.
The nature of God in Sikhi – Ranvir Singh
Summary of Sikh belief in one formless, timeless and all‑pervading God, known through the Guru and realised by remembering the divine Name.