Thoughts on God

[krept]

first and foremost, it's very common for religions to assign masculine attributes to God. In Christianity, "The Heavenly Father" is frequently used. In Islam, Allah said it is appropriate to refer to "himself as a he" and like some languages, Arabic and Spanish both have masculine and feminine words. The word "god" is masculine.

One thing that I found interesting about Sunni Islam is the phrase "Allah Tallah" which means "God is clear of all attributes" or that God does not resemble any aspects of creation.

In my opinion... again OPINION... assigning attributes like masculinity is a detraction from omnipotence. While I realize much of this is out of convention... i.e. instead of "God said that God wanted" we say "God said he wanted"... I wonder if people actually interpret what is written as God actually having a physical male form.

I had this discussion with a reverend and when he prays he indeed gets a feeling that he is conversing with and being supported by a "fatherly" presence. I found that interesting and know where he's coming from and... well, what was cool is that he admitted that this could very well be a product of his upbringing (he had strong but gentle father figure).

There are some people, however, that really take this to the extreme. Some Sunnis that I know swear up and down that Shia believe that God is actually the personification of a big man sitting on a jeweled throne of gold. I mean this literally. As to whether or not that is their actual belief or simply secular slander, I don't know.

I think that in order for someone to have true conviction in their given (Monotheistic) faith that discussions about about the attributes of God, if any, are important. Many people avoid them for fear of ridicule or perhaps because they don't "know" but in that respect... it become more of a feeling than something that can be supported by facts or logic.

I definitely do not believe that God is masculine, but do say "he" as a product of convention. If that is not the case, wouldn't that naturally mean that female is naturally the inferior gender?

there is a lot to say but I don't want to go on and on and on... :D

thoughts?

[Flinter]

The book of Genesis says that God created man in his image. The question is, does that refer to the physical attributes or the goodness that is inside all of humanity?

I think the father figure came from the traditional role of parents. Mothers nurtured......fathers nurtured and disciplined when needed.

I see father as a term of respect.

Is God male? I dunno. I think God is all things good.

Then again......Jesus did refer to God as his "Father".

It's a good question that I kinda wish you hadn't asked. :)

If you look at the responsibilities God placed on fathers in the New Testament I'd say that yes God is male.

[RIKA]

I can't attribute either male or female to God. God is all things. I know that God exists and can't be understood by the human mind so I'm content to let things be as they are. I believe that Jesus was God incarnate on this earth but at the time he was born males were much more dominant than females and more likely to be heard. All in all this isn't really something that bothers me.

Just my .0001

RIKA

[krept]

thoughful comments, thanks

I agree, Rika, it really doesn't bother me... I do think, however, that how a person envisions his or her creator, or "the creator of the universe" is interesting and worth discussing.

With the reverend who I talked to (http://rockass.net/therev - VERY cool guy btw) it actually seemed like our conversation gave him ideas on how to better tailor his sermons.

I definitely don't mean to be condescending in any way, for I feel this could be one of the most personal beliefs that a person can have. I just, well... I haven't read much of the Bible or the Qur'an or the Torah and I'm not really the type to ask questions face to face as people get on the defensive very fast and they think I'm messing with them.

One thing I think of is that there are FAR more years that humans (Homo spp.) have been around than even the Torah. Even with animism, polytheistic beliefs or the fertility/Goddess worship, one must have frequently wondered about a "god of gods" so to speak.

[Magnum88C]

The reason God is referred to in the masculine in Christianity is because He set man up as the head of the family, and of society. it's not because God is a male (although Jesus, son of God and God the Son, does have a male body since His incarnation) or has some sort of genitalia. If He had set the female up as the head, then God would have been referred to in the feminine. Referring to Him in the masculine, is simply a way for us to relate to Him and His Lordship over us (as Christ is the head of the man, the man is the head of the woman).

As to the reason, it's clear in Genesis, that:
1.) God made man first (To answer Flinter's question, Adam being made in God's image refers to His and our triune nature -- Father, Son, Spirit, and body, soul, spirit).
2.) God made woman from man, and gave it to man to name her.
3.) She was to be Adam's helper, not leader.
4.) Woman sinned first, being cursed to pain in childbirth and subserviance to man.

This in NO WAY debases women, just as men being subservient to Christ does not debase men. Women have a very important role in life and the family. It is no less important than the man's, but it is DIFFERENT.

It's merely the creeping in of the heathen concepts of feminism into our society and a less than honest handling of God's word that promulgates the misconception that women are of lesser importance or value in the Christian life.

[brass hammer]

here's 'my' TAKE!,,,on the whole GRAND-SOUL! of 'MAN',,,as i have had 'IT'
revealed unto me 'step-by-step'

the ALL-POWERFUL LORD GOD 'ALMIGHTY' [in heaven,,,,mind-you!]

CREATOR OF THE "HEAVENS AND THE 'EARTH',,,was sittin' around in his kingdom at a 'SPAN' and 'STATED' ,,,,I AM GOD!,,, well, his 'FAVORITE'[I.E.SATAN,,2nd in COMMAND],,,kinda {{thought}}} different!
[I.E. THE WHOLE ****IN' 'FREE-WILL' aspect!]

so!,,,,GOD formed the earth!,,,[HIS PRECIOUS 'BLUE-GREEN' JEWEL]

AND AFTER A WHILE, he 'allowed'
enititys to take a 'GLANDER/GLANCE' at his WORK![I.E #2 BOY 'howard dean'
SATAN],,, sooooo, upon this FAIR/JEWELED CREATION the CHESS-BOARD WAS "****IN'" FORMED!!!,,,[i could go on IN DETAIL ABOUT THE pre-historic lizards an such,,AS IN 'PLANT/FLESH' EATIN' TYPES!!!,[oh,yes friends! as it's been a CONSTANT ****IN' BATTLE LONG BEFORE 'YOU' COULD MASTER A SOLID - ****IN' TURD!
as the 'DEVIL' HAS GREAT-POWERS :wavey: [THATS ALL FOR NOW!,and ALL you need to KNOW!,,,fer NOW! :rolleyes: ]

[BigEd63]

Brass I agree with that.

Plus there are things out there more complex than we know as well as things a lot more simple than we make them out to be.

[Mad Mike]

God is the alpha and the omega..... :cool:

[John in AR]

I think it’s largely because the attributes we see in God are the attributes we WANT from a father more so than from a mother.

A father’s protection, direction, etc, more than the nurturing, comforting, etc, typically associated with motherhood.

Not a denigration of women or mothers, because men aren’t ‘better’ than women, but men & women ARE inherently different. (Sorry if anyone’s shocked by that claim... ;) )

But as said above; it's not an 'issue' I really struggle with either way. Tomato, Tomahto...

[KJUN]

God must be male, or so many men that claim to be religious would feel more guilty for their porn-related activities. :)

[7of7]

.....
As to the reason, it's clear in Genesis, that:
1.) God made man first (To answer Flinter's question, Adam being made in God's image refers to His and our triune nature -- Father, Son, Spirit, and body, soul, spirit).
2.) God made woman from man, and gave it to man to name her.
3.) She was to be Adam's helper, not leader.
4.) Woman sinned first, being cursed to pain in childbirth and subserviance to man.
....


There you have it,... From the beginning,... women are trouble.....(LOL) Some in more ways than others... :dgrin:

I, personally, have always felt that God was more masculine than feminine. However with reference to the bible, man was made in his image. Therefore, the masculine reference.

Very interesting, and thought provoking topic.

[KJUN]

Hel was female. Probably the best gender - and personification - for the god of the underworld in any religion.