the gender of the deity

This is to continue a tangential question raised in the thread about Lucifer. Does G-d have a gender? If so, what gender is it? If not, why?

I like the idea of this thread! :)

It was drummed into me for years that God is MALE... he is our FATHER... he is not a woman.... we must not see God as our mother in any shape or form.... he is MALE and that's it....

One woman who insisted that she saw God as a 'mother-figure' was made to feel so uncomfortable that she left the church (good for her - I wish I'd gone too!!!!) :twisted:

Christians are told that God made us all in his likeness - male and female alike. Women are, apparently, one aspect of God.... men are all the other 'aspects'.... which is probably why in one church that I went too, women were not allowed in any leadership roles..... they 'are' a minor part of God.... (yep... that's pretty well how it was put across! :? )

This is not meant as an anti-male rant.... I like men... men are nice...

But in my questioning what I actually believe in.... one major consideration for me is who/what God is... and whether he/she/it is male/female or whatever.... or whether God is a complete mixture of all three.... or whether, rather than there being one God.... there are several/many god-figures - male... female... both... genderless.....

I hope this makes sense - our computer's been out of action this week, and my daughter's hanging round waiting to use it... I'm desperately trying to ignore her... but it's really hard to concentrate.... I'll give up and come back later!!

I'm male, but I'm sick of the male-oriented and male-based culture we live in.
Even now, sexism is still a major undercurrent throughout corporations and society in general.
Many men STILL see women as weak, as unintelligent, as just a beautiful face to provide nurture and a warm body to hold at night.
So many don't take into account the gentleness and depth of women's feelings - nor do they even try and want to understand nor acknowledge that they even exist!!
Perhaps it's down to how males are brought up in this world - the boys are given action-man toys, encouraged to compete/fight with each other, made to concentrate on physical activities.
Whilst girls are given gentle things, things of beauty, to do with the soul, people and family.
Is it a wonder in this world that many men and women find it hard to communicate or understand one another when they have been brought up with such conflicting ideas about life???!! :?

I too, would prefer to look at a God as a Goddess - as being more tender and gentle than the traditional masculine images.
I myself identify with gentleness, tenderness and softness much more than most men...
...often I've felt I should have been born a woman, for all my un-male-like thoughts and beliefs and feelings about life, love, romance etc.
But I've learned that perhaps our main goal in life is to attain a balance - that men can both be strong, yet soft. Brave, yet tender. Forthright, yet feeling...
I also deeply believe that in softness and gentleness - there is greater strength than in muscle and brawn...

Originally Posted by devolution

But I've learned that perhaps our main goal in life is to attain a balance - that men can both be strong, yet soft. Brave, yet tender. Forthright, yet feeling...
I also deeply believe that in softness and gentleness - there is greater strength than in muscle and brawn...

balance is the key thing, i believe - it is indeed a strength as a man to be gentle :)

as for the gender of God, God is beyond gender, male and female, all aspects of both - we can relate to God as a Father or Mother or any other relationship we find helpful... 8)

Well, really: what use does God have for a penis

Howiemac's comment above describes my thoughts on this pretty much exactly! The Supreme Lord is beyond all mundane notions of gender.

'Krishna is your father, Krishna is your mother, Krishna is your life and soul.'

[quote=Space_Man]Well, really: what use does God have for a penis

Originally Posted by Poppies

Spacey, I don't know what the Wiccan belief system is - please could you give an overview?

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[quote=Space_Man]

Originally Posted by Poppies

Spacey, I don't know what the Wiccan belief system is - please could you give an overview?

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O.K., my Wiccan friend is having trouble with her member activation process, but has given me permission to post this for the moment:

Originally Posted by jadedmelody

Unfortunately because Wicca is so diverse and theres no main church telling us all what to believe there are lots of different beliefs. But most Wiccans as far as I know "worship" (although i use the term liberally) a God and a Goddess. The various interpretations of Gods and Goddesses throughout the ages are simply facets of their true being. So they have thousands of names and representations and thus the Wiccan can invoke them under different guises, with the traits most appropriate to their specific ritual.

Some go a step further and believe that the God and Goddess together make up something called Spirit - which is like an ageless genderless idea of God and that the God and Goddess are representations of the masculine and feminine aspects of that one supreme being or force. Wicca places strong importance on duality - the balance and equality of male and female.

Hope that helps some.