"If we do not mean that God is male when we use masculine pronouns and imagery, then why should there be any objections to using female imagery and pronouns as well?" -- Rita Gross
"Consider the impact on your self-image of being 'in the likeness of God,'...[and] never finding yourself reflected in the sacred pronoun. Utter: God, He...; God Him. Now say: God, She... . Imagine the experience of seeing onself reflected in the sacred images of power."-- Sheila Ruth
I became inspired by the quotes from Rita Gross and Sheila Ruth concerning the use of feminine God-language. Although there is an understanding that God is neither male or female -- but a Spirit-being -- people are taught and influenced to refer to God as a masculine figure. Referring to God with feminine qualities or imagery causes most people -- especially men -- to think it disrespectful and sacrilegious. How fascinating that it is acceptable to refer to an asexual God as "he or him", but unacceptable to refer to God as "she or her".
Pre-college, I was an agnostic of sorts. Although I believed that God existed, I did not concern myself with thinking about, or living my life spiritually. I remember my sophomore year in high school, a couple of girls were debating with my then boyfriend that God was female. My boyfriend was very adamant at holding onto the notion that God was male, and that the Bible's use of masculine characteristics were literal descriptions of God's nature. I found those girl's insight so compelling, yet so taboo. The thought of picturing God as a woman was exciting, but within the same instance, I found it crazy. Surely an all-powerful God was in deed a man, or so I thought.
But as I have become older, I have been actively pursuing a spiritual relationship with the God of the Bible, not solely based on anyone's religion in particular. On my quest for spiritual truth, I have been replacing my thoughts about God's nature from what other people have told me, with what my personal study and pursuit of God has shown me. Psychologically speaking, how we imagine a powerful figure such as God, will have an influential impact on how we view ourselves, others, and our outlook on life. Because I do not have the most positive and nurturing relationship with my father, it is difficult for me to connect with a God that is referred to as my Heavenly Father. Sometimes, I view God as being strict and more willing to be a provider than a source of comfort and encouragement, despite what Scripture tells me. Again, these characterizations are based on my experiences with my own father, or men that I have encountered. As I stated before, I always understood that God was androgynous, but consistently reading, hearing, and calling God as "he" has automatically sent a mental picture of God as a man. When I pray, I "see" a manly being. I can't help it. I'm a visual human, as most people are.
But when Ruth stated, "Imagine the experience of seeing oneself reflected in the sacred images of power", I instantly conjured up the image of an all-powerful, all-knowing, beautiful, ebony-skinned, female-Spirit, that is ever-present in my daily life, the Earth, and inhabits within me. You know who I see when I picture a she-God? I think of X-Men's STORM (not Halle Berry, but the actual comic book character, click on the link) What a lovely, moving feeling to actually identify the image and likeness of God as a reflection of the woman!
Despite many individuals who may think it blasphemous to call God "her", whether they admit it or not, continuing to perceive God is a masculine way subconsciously puts men closer to God, because they can identify themselves with the "he-God". I find that it would be spiritually motivating if all people could find a little of themselves in God, and God in themselves, because there has been an unspoken understanding that God is this big white guy, with huge beard sitting in the sky (kind of reminds me of Santa Claus...). This concept may just generate more love, pride and dedication to the Creator of all things. After all,
"God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them." (Genesis 1:27)
I myself am agnostic but
I myself am agnostic but leaning closer to atheist. This whole notion of God being on a "he" is one of the reasons that I doubt that a "God exists. Saying that God can only be a man and even rule out the possibility of it being a woman is simply sexist. The whole notion and reference of God as "He" is absolutely man-made, just like man created and made many other things..... I did enjoy this post!
www.glennishamorgan.com
If God WAS one of us...
It is interesting that you stated that one of the reasons why you doubt God's existence is because of the sexist view that God is a "he". I understand your point, and I am quite sure that there are other people who feel as you do, and that those discrepancies lead you to question what is Truth.
But one thing you have to understand, there is a big difference between religion and spirituality. Religion is a set of belief systems, traditions, and practices that are largely man-made, so the institution of religion is imperfect. Spirituality on the other hand is your personal relationship with your God, and how you live your own life in respects to the Supreme. God is neither male nor female, but a Spirit being, but because that is a concept that we humans have a difficult time comprehending, we feel a strong tendency to have to label God either a he or she, instead of coming to the realization that God just IS!
But regardless of how we identify God's form (which we will never know in this lifetime), what I find most important is that we realize that there is a higher power that exists. Just looking at nature, our solar system, the universe, life itself is so complex, yet so ordered, that it is impossible for me to deny God's existence. Just think about how DNA is made, and how each strand of it dictates how a living organism will look like. How the universe is consistently growing, and how stars "die" and the regenerate to new stars. How about how trees use sunlight and our carbon dioxide to turn into oxygen, just so we can breathe it in, and exhale more carbon dioxide. Life is amazing, because God is amazing, and it is impossible for life as we know it to exist only by accident or chance.
So I just wanted to reiterate my stance on my blog. I am not saying that I particularly believe God is a woman, nor am I saying that God is a man. God is not exlusively one another, but humankind are made in God's image. It just should be equally acceptable to refer to God as "she" or "he", because in the whole scheme of things, God is bigger than our expectations of who God is. I just realize that by holding onto the sexist view that God is ONLY male, then a paradigm exists for women who want to connect to God, but feel as though we cannot be close to God, because we imagine an Ultimate Male.
"I am a divine original, fashioned by Yah to be radiantly beautiful."
Great
yeah...I like this post...I know many sisters who use the term "Goddess" a lot, I think this implies what you are saying here. The funny thing is when you say it to a random sis, and they look at you like "what did she just call me!" LOL...Great post!
SoulLiving ~ Every Minute Counts