Why is the bible God male?

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Permalink Reply by david thurman on September 30, 2009 at 4:22pm

Because it was a bunch of guys writing that were homophobic...:D Actually I might contend that the Holy Spirit is the divine feminine with a cloak over the top of her. Jesus couldn't give a Dualistic view without everyone becoming confused by it. He wasn't exactly talking to an open minded crowd that day. The other problem lays in the idea of the very word God. The systematic theologians of the day were defining God the same as we do today, a separate from reality or separated from us, since you have made me think a bit on the term reality. I would contend that the NT is about breaking down that barrier of separation from that Word that was of course rebuilt in 325AD.

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Permalink Reply by Jeff H on September 30, 2009 at 9:26pm

Copied from my response to Roman in the "Lecture Revisited" discussion
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God is referred to in Scripture in the Masculine. I follow suit. Does that mean I thing less of women? Absolutely not. Christianity was the only faith at the time of of Christ to hold there is no man, nor woman, Jew nor Gentile, slave nor free. All where equal in Christ Jesus. It was and is revolutionary, or perhaps you prefer Islams view of women.

Here is another interesting insight into God's view of women: Other the his inner circle, to whom did Jesus first reveal that He was the Messaih? It wasn't a man, it wasn't even a Jew. It was a Samaritan woman. Go figure! (By the way, that and the fact that women were there first to be notified of the the resurrection as well go a long way in my mind to substantiate the veracity of the Gospels, but I digress)

Additionally, as far as God being in touch with His feminine side; One of the Hebrew names for God is El Shaddai. It means, among other things, the God who nurtures, and protects. Scroll down to about the middle of the page for "The All-Sufficient God" Shad shares the root with the word breast, and offers the thought that God is a tender God, fully sufficient to bring Israel in to existance (as in Jacob's blessing) or a individual believer into the fullness of their Godly potential.

http://www.hebrew4christians.com/Names_of_G-d/El/el.html
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James, The Holy Spirit is referred to in the masculine as well, but I don't think it made a difference to the culture in which it was written, nor should it to us. If God is all knowing, He understands all things male and female. If God created woman, He fully comprehends femininity. That coupled with the high place He has placed women in scriptural history (see above) show me He was one of the first gender, ethnic, and social,emancipationists.
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Funny how you post "At 2:52pm on September 30, 2009, "Roman Kozlowski said… Hi D, I think I've hit a raw nerve on RG with my latest topic on which no one seems brave enought to enter into discourse".

So a 2 hour an 20 minute delay constiutes fear. Sorry to disappoint, but I work for a living, and this evening was the first I saw of it. You think too highly of yourself. Denita and I may disagree on theology, but I don't think she see's me as condescending, or sexist. Case in poin:, if you read my posts since Denita joined RG, I almost never use the word "mankind", substituting "humankind" instead. That is a lesson I am happy to credit her with, among others. Again, you work to stir animosity instead of rational conversation. You want to "Strike a Nerve" (your words not mine).

Remember.... The Fundie Christians are the combative irrational bigots Roman, right??? In the words of the ever immortal Bugs Bunny.... "It is to laugh"

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Permalink Reply by Molly Goodman on September 30, 2009 at 9:49pm

I have often wondered this myself. Do you think it dates back to the Adam and Eve days? Adam was made from God and Eve was a "copy" of Adam. Adam seems to be more prominent than Eve because he came directly from God.

Also, Eve was the curious, and possibly courageous, sinner. I think the Bible portrays her as lesser of a human being because she is so sinful. This makes it easier to portray God as a male because they are closer to perfection (WOW! I never thought I would say that!)

Just some things I was thinking as I was reading for another religion class...

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Permalink Reply by Jeff H on October 1, 2009 at 12:14am

Man and woman were both created in God's image.

One of the absurdities of Adam's behavior is that he blames eveybody, even God. He says "It was the woman" (her fault) that You (God) gave me (It's your fault its her fault.). Yet Paul says through Adam, sin and death entered our world. Eve isn't faulted.

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Permalink Reply by Katinka Hesselink on October 1, 2009 at 2:09am

In male dominated societies, god gets seen as male. That simple.

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Permalink Reply by Roman Kozlowski on October 1, 2009 at 5:32am

Jeff H

Thank you for your expected circumvented bible based reply, ‘as a hen gathers her chicks’ etc, etc. ‘Yeeaah - What’s up doc?’ You crack me up sometimes man. Don’t you have a mind of your own or capable of giving non bible centric responses? What do YOU think? You, I mean you, anthropologically or otherwise? My question was ‘Why is the bible God male?’

By the way, I encouraged some of our female members to contribute so we should get a good share of balanced perspective responses, and its good to see some clear and deep thought provoking responses already being added.

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Permalink Reply by Jeff H on October 1, 2009 at 11:34am

Roman, When a person quotes EInstein, another doesn't ask... What do you think? Why would I second guess what I believe to be the very words, and teachings of God? Do you think He might know more then even Einstein?

I happen to KNOW from my experience and study the Bible is the truth. Not a guess, not a what if. As I've said many times, the life I've led has moved me from a leap of faith to a step. Is it ever scary, yep sometimes, but I go back to the touchstones of my faith that give me sound footing. I pick up and use the Bible that I mentioned in one of the first Blogs I did on RG...

http://www.redefinegod.com/profiles/blogs/a-minor-miracle-for-me-a-...

That is one among many of things that keep me grounded. I have the answer Roman. THE answer! (I'm not saying I fathom every aspect of GOD, just enough to know that what I know is the real deal) You may not accept it, that's fine and I won't think any less of you. For me to give any other answer would be lying. God is the core of my life. He is my life support in recovery. He is the rock and sure foundation.

I know how God has impacted my life. I often ask people who would question my beliefs to let me know what impact their belief system has had on themselves, and the world. Have the been changed somehow? Are they better people for it? Are the Happier, More Joyful, More Free? (Yes db... shades of AA) I can say for certain I am.

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Permalink Reply by Roman Kozlowski on October 1, 2009 at 5:46pm

Jeff H

You're happy in your box and you're not coming out of it to see what's really going on around you.

Fine, now I understand.

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Permalink Reply by James S Saint on October 1, 2009 at 6:04pm

Well, I have given my response to this question several times on this site, so no need to rehash.

It is obvious to me that there are NO members here that have any idea concerning this subject as it involves why people did something 3-6000 years ago in a culture that none of you even begin to understand, yet feel free to opinionate about.

If debating other religions is going to be the standard here, things are going to change, big-time. We were supposed to be investigating new things, not arguing in serious naivety about old things. What is really the point?

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Permalink Reply by Jeff H on October 1, 2009 at 6:27pm

And your not a box Roman. The fact is everybody is. Another fact is you have no clue what I've investigated, and what I haven't. You have no real insight into me at all. Feel free to continue with your assumptions though. If nothing else, they are entertaining.

Roman Kozlowski said:

Jeff H

You're happy in your box and you're not coming out of it to see what's really going on around you.

Fine, now I understand.

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Permalink Reply by Roman Kozlowski on October 1, 2009 at 6:43pm

Hey Jeff, you’re one of the kindest natured souls on this site. As a psych dr, wodya expect me to say? I’m just being true to myself. Just as you gotta be true to yourself n mean it. We live in different realities, that’s all.

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Permalink Reply by James S Saint on October 1, 2009 at 8:57pm

Roman Kozlowski said:

Hey Jeff, you’re one of the kindest natured souls on this site. As a psych dr, wodya expect me to say? I’m just being true to myself. Just as you gotta be true to yourself n mean it. We live in different realities, that’s all.

That was a typo. He meant, "As a psycho, wodya expect me to say?"

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