# How many names \*does\* God have? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 27, 2005, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-names-does-god-have/318906 "2005-08-27T21:12:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2005, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-names-does-god-have/318906/21 "2005-08-28T21:19:57Z")
Ah, that’s one other thing I remember from the story. The elimination was for four characters in a row, not three. One of the characters specifically asked another about that with “Surely you mean three?” or words to that effect. Or perhaps I’m misremembering. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Carrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f0a364/32.png) [@Captain\_Carrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Carrot)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2005, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-names-does-god-have/318906/22 "2005-08-28T21:37:50Z")
As I recall, the lama (or whatever) was taking hem on a tour (or something to that approximate effect), and described what the machine wasn’t supposed to print, which included strings with four or more successive identical characters. Then one of the protagonists interrupts and says, “Surely you mean three or more times?”, and the lama says, basically, “No, I meant what I said, we’re using a different alphabet.”. ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2005, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-names-does-god-have/318906/23 "2005-08-28T21:47:20Z")
Y’know. **Coop** did link to the full story. > [@Arthur C Clarke](#): > > all such names can be written with not more than nine letters in an alphabet we have devised. . . > > . . . Exactly – though we use a special alphabet of our own. Modifying the electromatic typewriters to deal with this is, of course, trivial. A rather more interesting problem is that of devising suitable circuits to eliminate ridiculous combinations. For example, no letter must occur more than three times in succession." > > “Three? Surely you mean two.” > > “Three is correct. I am afraid it would take too long to explain why, even if you understood our language.” . . . **PanamaJack** There is no information on how many characters are in the special alphabet. If no letter can appear more than three times in a row, the alphabet is at least two characters. I think it’s safe to set the upper limit at five thousand characters. Can anybody else narrow it down a bit? ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2005, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-names-does-god-have/318906/24 "2005-08-28T22:27:08Z")
One should note that, in the story, the computer was printing out a lot of things which were not Names of God, as well as genuine Names. The monks had worked out (by means unspecified) some necessary conditions on a Name of God, but not all of them, and so to be on the safe side, recorded every name which matched all of their criteria. Also, “Jehovah” and “Yahweh” are not two different names, but two different renderings of the same name, which would more properly be rendered using the Hebrew Tetragrammaton (which I will not here record, both out of respect for the religious beliefs of others and out of a lack of familiarity with the Hebrew alphabet). ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2005, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-names-does-god-have/318906/25 "2005-08-28T22:38:48Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > One should note that, in the story, the computer was printing out a lot of things which were not Names of God, as well as genuine Names. The monks had worked out (by means unspecified) some necessary conditions on a Name of God, but not all of them, and so to be on the safe side, recorded every name which matched all of their criteria. I thought I mentioned that. > [@](#): > > Also, “Jehovah” and “Yahweh” are not two different names, but two different renderings of the same name, which would more properly be rendered using the Hebrew Tetragrammaton (which I will not here record, both out of respect for the religious beliefs of others and out of a lack of familiarity with the Hebrew alphabet). The letters are Yod Hey Vav Hey. Keep in mind Hebrew is read from right to left so the written Name would be Hey Vav Hey Yod. With no dot, the Vav is a consonant and makes the same sound as V. With a dot over it, the Vav is a vowel making a long O sound. With a dot on the left side of it, The Vav is a vowel making an ew sound. The Vav in the Tetragrammaton has a dot over it, but also a vowel underneath it. This means that there is no proper way to pronounce it. Naturally, Jewish belief holds that speaking the name properly literally performs miracles. In Jewish thought, those four letters are the True And Ineffable Name Of G-d. All the others are just placeholders. ---
**Author:** ![CynicalGabe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@CynicalGabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CynicalGabe)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2005, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-names-does-god-have/318906/26 "2005-08-28T23:38:28Z")
> [@DocCathode](#): > > speaking the name properly literally performs miracles. In Jewish thought, those four letters are the True And Ineffable Name Of G-d. All the others are just placeholders. Whoa. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2005, 7:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-names-does-god-have/318906/27 "2005-08-29T07:58:56Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > Wasn’t the story set in the future? It doesn’t really say. But like virtually all SF writers of the time (up through the early 70s at least) Clarke isn’t very precient about how computers will evolve. Most stories either ignore computers or if they have them, they are just like the ones at the time the story is written. Or sometimes just bigger and a bit faster than that. So I assume that Clarke had existing printers in mind when he wrote the story. Certainly what little we get about the computer is no better than a 50’s era calculator. For example, it’s made only to handle numbers, so it doesn’t even have a character set. ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2005, 8:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-names-does-god-have/318906/28 "2005-08-29T08:05:49Z")
> [@Diceman](#): > > [ul][li]God[/li][li]The Lord[/li][li]The Father[/li][li]The Almighty[/li][li]The Creator[/li][li]Yaweh[/li][li]Jehova[/ul][/li] [\*] The Alpha, The Omega ---
**Author:** ![cabdude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/58956e/32.png) [@cabdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cabdude)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2005, 9:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-names-does-god-have/318906/29 "2005-08-29T09:38:07Z")
Surely this is more a philosophical question, with no strict answer, along the lines of “how many angels dance on the head of a pin?” ---
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2005, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-names-does-god-have/318906/30 "2005-08-29T12:19:53Z")
> [@cabdude](#): > > Surely this is more a philosophical question, with no strict answer, along the lines of “how many angels dance on the head of a pin?” fourty-two? Brian ---
**Author:** ![Scott\_Plaid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Scott\_Plaid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scott_Plaid)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2005, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-names-does-god-have/318906/31 "2005-08-29T14:25:13Z")
> [@Diceman](#): > > \ > [ul][li]God[/li][li]The Lord[/li][li]The Father[/li][li]The Almighty[/li][li]The Creator[/li][li]Yaweh[/li][li]Jehova[/ul][/li]\ What about > [@Exodus (34:14)](#): > > “For thou shalt worship no other god: for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God”. ---
**Author:** ![mojave66](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5f9b8f/32.png) [@mojave66](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mojave66)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2005, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-names-does-god-have/318906/32 "2005-08-29T22:00:37Z")
(Waheguruji ka Khalsa, Waheguruji ke Fateh!) In the Sri Guru Granth Sahib, the Sikh holy book, it is written that there are infinite names for God, since all who worship one creator, either as a single entity or an entity with many facets or representations are worshiping the SAME God The SGGS can be interpreted such that beings on other planets are mentioned as worshipping God, too, interestingly enough). We Sikhs believe there is no one true path to God; all are valid. Historically speaking, Sikhism was founded in 1499 by Guru Nanak who was born Hindu but also studied Islam and was deeply spiritual. He went for his usual morning swim and never returned, after an extensive search was presumed drowned. He returned some time later much to his family’s shock but was silent for three days. His first words were “There is no Hindu nor Musalman [Muslim].” He then talked of meeting God during the time he was absent, and spent the next 20 years traveling through the Middle East and South Asia to teach about the experience. ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2005, 8:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-names-does-god-have/318906/33 "2005-08-30T08:24:53Z")
> [@Paul in Saudi](#): > > By Islamic tradition, ninety-nine. My favorite is “The Subtle One.” That makes me chuckle. Plus a hundredth name known only to the camel, which is why the dumb beast looks so insufferably smug. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![ouryL](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ouryl/32/6067_2.png) [@ouryL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ouryL)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2005, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-names-does-god-have/318906/34 "2005-08-30T22:05:45Z")
Yes, but he only answers to ~!@#$%^&\*()\_+=-`{}|":’;\<\>?/. ---
**Author:** ![douglips](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@douglips](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/douglips)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2005, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-names-does-god-have/318906/35 "2005-08-31T04:42:07Z")
Harold. Our Father, who art in heaven - Harold be thy name… ---
**Author:** ![Enola\_Straight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dec6dc/32.png) [@Enola\_Straight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enola_Straight)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2005, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-names-does-god-have/318906/36 "2005-08-31T23:41:41Z")
“Over the 50 year4s that I have subscribed to National Geographic, I have often chucked at scientists either expounding or scratching their heads over matters that have been settled for me long ago by my faith in God. Your article says, “Something out there holds swarms of galaxies together and keeps their stars from flying apart,but scientists still haven’t learned what this invisible substance is.” Although I am familiar with the many names of God, this is the first time I heard Him called Dark Matter.” _-Clyde A. Bachelor, members forum_ ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2005, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-names-does-god-have/318906/37 "2005-09-02T19:02:35Z")
> [@Anaamika](#): > > **Clothahump** , the story referenced is pretty good, even if you are an atheist (as I am). Oh, I’ve read it. Many times. It’s one of Clarke’s better efforts, and that’s saying something. ---
**Author:** ![Foaming\_Cleanser](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f05b48/32.png) [@Foaming\_Cleanser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Foaming_Cleanser)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2005, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-names-does-god-have/318906/38 "2005-09-03T18:15:25Z")
> [@](#): > > Originally Written By **Arthur C. Clarke** > “Thank you. It appears to be–ah–adequate. The second matter is so trivial that I hesitate to mention it – but it’s surprising how often the obvious gets overlooked. What source of electrical energy have you?” So, even in the '50s, the support guy’s script included asking whether the thing is plugged in. ---
**Author:** ![Foaming\_Cleanser](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f05b48/32.png) [@Foaming\_Cleanser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Foaming_Cleanser)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2005, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-names-does-god-have/318906/39 "2005-09-03T18:24:17Z")
> [@](#): > > Originally Written By **Arthur C. Clarke** > “What source of electrical energy have you?” Even in the '50s, support told users to check the plug. ---
**Author:** ![Foaming\_Cleanser](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f05b48/32.png) [@Foaming\_Cleanser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Foaming_Cleanser)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2005, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-names-does-god-have/318906/40 "2005-09-03T18:29:33Z")
Sorry. I had cancelled the first post, I thought. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-names-does-god-have/318906.md?page=1)