The question of who is God is extremely complex; however, it is frequently questioned by many groups of people including monotheists, polytheists and atheists. For those who believe in one god or many gods, they seek to determine the role this god or gods play in life and the root of this experience with them. However, for those who do not believe in a god, this decision to not believe is still linked to the idea of a god or gods. The two roots of God’s image according to Ratzinger are God the Redeemer or Savior and God the Creator, which have existed since the beginning of religion. Moreover, the image of God has arisen through human experience. God is not to be relied on only when we are amidst times of despair; instead, God is meant to be appreciated during the fulness of life as well as the difficult times we endure. When humans experience the greatness of life, they grant thanks to God the Creator. Humans’ experiences with loneliness also explains the root of God. When we realize this loneliness is a cry for another being, specifically God, we experience the joy of a secure relationship with Him.
Examining who God is through the lens of Christianity, we can refer to the Creed which begins with “I believe in God, the Father, the almighty, the creator.” By beginning this statement with “I believe,” there is a demonstration of faith. I think God can be thought of as a manifestation of one’s faith in a higher being. This profession is the foundation of the Christian religion and holds God at the center of this religion. This God is a loving, omnipotent, and merciful being who holds the life of his creations over all else. As seen through the sacred tradition and scripture, God has proven to be a benevolent being. For example, he guided Moses who led the Israelites out of Egypt, to raise them out of their captivity and save their lives.
Notre Dame Theology 
I really enjoyed how you brought a couple perspectives on how others view God since there are many religions and belief systems today. I also liked how you dug deep into the Christian lens, and brought up the creed and how we must have a two way relationship with God where we give back to him as well. We cannot always take from God and never give anything back in return.
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I really liked that you made the connection between the creed and how we perceive God. Faith is such a big part of our understanding of God, and it makes sense that we would know God through how we believe in Him.
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I like how you described God as a manifestation of our faith. It allows us to ground our faith in something more “tangible” while he still being something out of our realm of understanding. Ratzinger touched on this too, describing how God reveals himself as man to man, so that we can feel a deeper connection.
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I like how you say that humans hang onto God no matter what – in good times and in bad. However, I think it is important to mention Exodus 3 in where God says “I am who I am” because that is the moment where God ultimately forms the connection with the people – he joins in communion with them.
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