This is such a touching thread. I love reading the things everyone has written. One thing to be said for exjws - we are a very, very open and honest group of people. Honest with our deepest thoughts and feelings.
That's a really nice quality 'we' have.
Hint: everyone has doubt - it is part of life - there are no definitives in the unknowable - you just have to reach a point where you refuse to deny some things - even a dog sitting on the front porch has howled when his master on the second floor took his last breath - there is easily no denying that there is something more than what we can see or experience through our famous five senses - seeking to make sense of it, seeking to share these experiences, these thoughts and feelings, is at the root of most religion. So is the feeling that somehow, it's a good thing we're talking about. And these thoughts and feelings and experiences are universal to humankind.
Some other things good to know: According to Jewish tradition, the name of God is never to be spoken. Doesn't this make a certain kind of sense? I think it is reverant to feel that we should not speak the name of God. And it recognizes that God belongs to everyone, no matter the place or the language.
For the record, 'Allah' is also a reference to God. The same God of the Bible that we are all talking about. Father of Abraham, Moses and Jesus too, I think. I think this might be good to understand, or at least be aware of, at this particular time and place.
Some people might enjoy taking a look at a book called, "The Shattered Lantern; Rediscovering a Felt Presence of God" by Rolheiser. Take a look on amazon.
God bless you all. Thanks for starting this thread.