Why do you think we say Father? - Page 2

Silas · 01-03-2007, 11:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wil

It appears to me it was a sign of the times.

They lived in a maled dominated society, women had very few rights, husbands and fathers ruled the roost.

It would make sense to the people of that day that G-d was also male.

After all men were the leaders, the politicians, the providers....

thoughts?

I know simplicty isnt in style anymore, but its all I have. God is called "Father" and "he" because that is the way He reveals Himself in scripture.

BlaznFattyz · 01-04-2007, 01:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by InLove

Just another thought--the repeated metaphor in the Bible which paints God as a mother hen. (I'm not saying God is poultry, okay?) But it does seem to point to the feminine characteristics of The Spirit.

InPeace,
InLove

that is just poetic description of how god loves, nothing to do with god being female.

InLove · 01-04-2007, 06:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlaznFattyz

that is just poetic description of how god loves, nothing to do with god being female.

Yes, I realize it is a metaphorical layer. I was not arguing as to God's gender. I see God as encompassing all aspects, and the poetics in the Bible as revealing as the literal interpretations.

InPeace,
InLove

17th Angel · 01-04-2007, 11:45 AM

lol our mother hen who art in the barn....
hallow be thy golden egg.
Thy hot wings come...
Not TOO well done.
here at home, as goods as it is at pizza hut.
give us this day our daily Mc chicken burger in bread.
And forgive us for eating you.
As the cow also forgives us.
And lead us away from healthy food.
but deliver us to macdonalds
For thine is the kingdom.
and the shakes
and fries
for ever and ever...
BACKAAAH!!! (chicken noise....)

sorry... came off the top of my head... ;\

Caimanson · 01-04-2007, 07:54 PM

In some catholic countries the worship of the virgin Mary is huge, so much so that in practice Jesus ends up in the back seat.
My perception of this is that some people are much more comfortable dealing with a female form of authority, fathers are mistrusted or seen as too harsh/unloving.
It reminds of the scenario where the little child prefers to deal with mum instead of dad.

If we had a pantheistic religion, I would think that the choice of deity would have a lot to do with the eye of the beholder.

LeoSalinas22 · 06-28-2007, 05:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by China Cat Sunflower

Well, the male acts, and the female is acted upon. The monotheistic God is an action figure. He dangles his big penis down from heaven, waggles it around, and everything springs to life.

Chris

lmfao!i did not want to hear that!

mental pictures! mental pictures! darn, it, china, what you say is true, but do you have to be so harsh? lol.

Thomas · 06-29-2007, 04:40 PM

Because that is the term that God asks us to address Him by? Or is that simple too passé these days?

Maybe because it's the best term to signify the kind of relationship into which we are invited, the mystery of Eternal Being?

Just thought I'd mention that. No-one else has.

Thomas

wil · 06-29-2007, 04:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thomas

Because that is the term that God asks us to address Him by? Or is that simple too passé these days?

Maybe because it's the best term to signify the kind of relationship into which we are invited, the mystery of Eternal Being?

Just thought I'd mention that. No-one else has.

Thomas

Namaste Thomas,

Pardon my ingnorance, where and when did 'he' do that?

wil · 06-29-2007, 04:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LeoSalinas22

lmfao!i did not want to hear that!

mental pictures! mental pictures! darn, it, china, what you say is true, but do you have to be so harsh? lol.

Yeah funny sometimes it has to be harsh to pop the mythological anthropomorphic bubble...

LeoSalinas22 · 06-29-2007, 05:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wil

Namaste Thomas,

Pardon my ingnorance, where and when did 'he' do that?

i guess it depends on your view of the trinity, though, Christ did ask us to call Him Father:

Matthew 6:6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.
Matthew 6:9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

and Isaiah calls Him that:
Isaiah 64:8 But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand.

pattimax · 06-29-2007, 05:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wil

Pardon my ingnorance, where and when did 'he' do that?

Seeing how He started out as a He in Genesis, maybe it was a given. (I know, I know... too simple.)

Thomas · 06-29-2007, 06:37 PM

Hi Wil —

Quote:

Originally Posted by wil

Namaste Thomas,

Pardon my ingnorance, where and when did 'he' do that?

LeoSalinas has pointed out the 'big one', but there are others:

Matt 5:16: So let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

Matt 5:44-45: But I say to you, Love your enemies: do good to them that hate you: and pray for them that persecute and calumniate you: That you may be the children of your Father who is in heaven...

Matt 18:14: Even so it is not the will of your Father, who is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.

Actually there's quite a few references.

Thomas

wil · 06-29-2007, 07:02 PM

Yeah I knew those references....of others refering to G-d as father...but he told moses when asked (he didn't say I am your Father) but I am that I am..

So when you say 'that is the term that God asks us to address Him by' you are not referring to what G-d said, but how others referred to him. ie Isaiah and Jesus. Now yes as Leo states if Jesus is G-d, when Jesus says Father, even though he isn't referring to himself, he is referring to his Father as our Father, he is G-d therefore G-d said?

Yes Karen, I'm hip to the 'He' that was the question in the OP, but we were a patriarchal society...so patriarchal that when we counted number of people we didn't include women....I'm wondering if equal rights had come about or if we were a matriarchal society if the reference would be different.

But just so I am clear...I did I miss something where G-d said 'Call me Father' or where Jesus said 'call me the Father'? (seems me recollection has 'don't call me teacher', and 'without the Father I am nothing' type statements)

pattimax · 06-29-2007, 08:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wil

Yes Karen, ...I'm wondering if equal rights had come about or if we were a matriarchal society if the reference would be different.

I have learned that is one of the reasons women were so important to Jesus. Even though the patriarchal society didn't recognize how important we are, Jesus did.

wil · 06-29-2007, 08:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pattimax

I have learned that is one of the reasons women were so important to Jesus. Even though the patriarchal society didn't recognize how important we are, Jesus did.

Yeah, that door slammed right back closed with the formation of the church didn't it! Folks for years (and still do) point to passages regarding the treatment of women and the role of the wife (wives, mistrisses, etc.) And is there any church which when starting to admit women into roles of authority didn't lose a few parishoners?

I believe you are correct in regards to the stories of Jesus, women, the tax man, robbers....no big deal...just the capitalists at the temple got his anger up...wonder what he'd do if he saw the church holdings and administrative bureaucracy of today...