Naming G-d in The World to Come

Naming G-d in The World to Come
By:  Aimee Golant Casella

Author’s Note:  One way I survive difficult times is to use my imagination to postulate the world I want to live in.  This piece is a personal reflection on how we might begin to prepare our hearts and minds for The World to Come—an era of peace, unity, and deeper understanding across all spiritual traditions.  It was inspired– in part by a teacher training I completed for the Waldorf Schools before the pandemic.   As an artist who imagines peace daily, I offer these ideas as part of my ongoing commitment to building a more peaceful world—one that honors both difference and divine oneness.  I hope this essay could help bring The World to Come– some folks call it the “Messianic Era.”  It addresses the people of the world who believe we are in or approaching The World to Come and are therefore expecting “The Messiah” to come. It also addresses people who are hopeful for such a thing, but never expected or dreamed it could be possible. For Atheists this article may be irrelevant, but feel free to read it, if it’s interesting to you.

Main Idea:  In order for G-d to be revealed, humans are required to have a change of mindset about how we name or discern G-d. Here are some concrete steps towards “The World to Come Mindset” you can start practicing now:

Four Steps Toward ‘The World to Come Mindset’

1.) In The World to Come, one must postulate that G-d is known by every name in the universe.
It’s not the name itself that matters, but the understanding behind it. What counts is the essence the name points to—not the form it takes.
Why it matters:
This step dissolves the egoic attachment to names and labels—one of the core obstacles to spiritual unity. In Jewish thought, the name of G-d is deeply sacred, but it also represents only a facet of something infinite. The World to Come is described in Zechariah 14:9 as a time when: “On that day, G-d will be One and His Name will be One.”  That doesn’t mean everyone will call G-d the same thing—but rather that the essence of the Divine will be recognized through all names, reflecting a unified awareness. Letting go of name-based division is a step toward that oneness.

2.) Listen to the meaning behind someone else’s name for G-d
If you call the Divine HaShem, and another person—shaped by their own faith—calls upon The Etheric Christ or another name, pause and listen with your heart. What does that name mean to them? What truth does it carry for their soul?  How does that truth resinate with yours?
Why it matters:
Listening with your heart (Shema) cultivates compassion, humility, and curiosity. In Kabbalah and Chassidic teachings, The World to Come  is brought about not by dominance or persuasion, but by elevated consciousness—especially the ability to see the Divine spark in others. When you listen deeply to what someone else’s name for G-d means to them, you’re practicing the kind of empathy that creates holy space between people.  The Talmud teaches, “Just as each person’s face is different… so their minds are different from one another.” This reminds us that each person brings a unique spiritual perspective—worthy of understanding.  In Chagigah 3b, we’re taught: “Make your ears like funnels, and acquire a hearing heart—listening to words that defile and words that purify…”  This advises cultivating an open-hearted and discerning listening practice—essential when engaging with another’s sacred naming.  When you sincerely listen to what another’s divine name means to them, you create sacred space—a space filled with mutual recognition and spiritual resonance. In The World to Come, it is not doctrinal conformity that unites us, but presence, attention, and shared longing. That kind of sacred listening is the foundation of true empathy and interfaith harmony.

3.) Avoid projecting your associations onto another’s sacred name.
Don’t attach your own positive or negative connotations to the name someone else uses for G-d. Let it stand in its own meaning, as it lives in their hearts. Easier said than done!
Why it matters:
This step breaks the cycle of judgment and fear. So often, wars (literal and spiritual) are fought not over ideas themselves, but over what we think others’ ideas mean. The World to Come Mindset is about seeing clearly—without distortion. By resisting the urge to interpret another’s language of faith through your own biases, you honor their humanity and G-d’s multiplicity.  In mystical Judaism, the “Other Side” (Sitra Achra)—the realm that opposes holiness—is fueled by misunderstanding and separation. Every act of non-judgment is a tikkun (repair) that weakens the hold of that distortion.

4.) You are not required to adopt another’s name for G-d.
Respecting different names for the Divine doesn’t mean you must use them yourself—even if they refer to the same sacred reality. And vice versa: others are not required to adopt yours in return. Mutual respect is the path.
Why it matters:
This is a deeply Jewish approach: respect without assimilation. In The World to Come vision, nations and peoples retain their unique paths while existing in harmony. The prophet Micah (4:5) offers a powerful vision: “For all people will walk, each in the name of their god, and we will walk in the name of the Lord our G-d forever and ever.”  In other words, we don’t have to become the same to be at peace. Holding your own truth while honoring someone else’s is a posture that I think The World to Come requires.