I have no words

[crowdog66]

I have no words for the depth of my indignation over this. The link is to the Wren's Nest Pagan news listing on the article (51 comments and counting), and the italicized text is an excerpt from the article itself:

Prager: Our Father Is No 'It' Or Gal God

Father's Day provides a fine opportunity to talk about our Father in Heaven. Why do Judeo-Christian religions insist on God being a father and not a mother? Is it still important to use masculine images and vocabulary to describe God? Or is that all a vestige of sexist religion?

That is the charge of "progressives" within Christianity and Judaism. Because men and women are equal, their argument goes, describing God, the highest being, in male terms is pure sexism. It simply discriminates against women and places men in a superior position. These arguments have great appeal in an age that confuses equality with sameness. So it is worth briefly sketching some of the arguments for preserving male depictions of God.

First, God is the source of moral rules. As the feminist thinker Carole Gilligan argued years ago, men think more in terms of rules, and women think more in terms of feelings/compassion/ intuition. There is a great human need for both. But, first and foremost, the Judeo-Christian God is a moral ruler (giver of moral rules and moral judge of humanity), and neither men nor women want to be given rules or ruled by a woman. For both men and women, the masculine image carries an authority that the feminine one does not.

I hate having the flu -- it ramps my emotional responses in all directions. *snarl*

Comments

[dark-puck.livejournal.com]

Speaking from a purely educational viewpoint - specifically, English/Grammar - persons of unknown gender, or no gender, are generally referred to in the masculine.

Speaking as me - the stupid. It burns.

[crowdog66.livejournal.com]

Maybe it's just because I'm fluish, but I had a hard time making sense of your post. *scratches head*

The person who wrote the article in question isn't Wiccan.

The reaction he's getting from a lot of people over at Witchvox is a response to his sexist attitude.

I think a lot of Wiccans would say that Deity encompasses all things, including male and female attributes -- and hence have absolutely zero problem with Christians choosing to worship a male God.

However, when someone starts blathering about "nobody wanting to take orders from a MERE FEMALE", they're going to get some backlash. ;-)

[metisbutterfly.livejournal.com]

GRRRRRR..masculine image carries more of an authority MY FOOT! I'd like to see the author of this article come up against the Morrigan in Her full Warrior aspect and then dare to say that!

[metisbutterfly.livejournal.com]

Matrix, firstly, this person was not Wiccan that wrote the article. Secondly, the indignity is not over the fact that some people choose to view God as male. In fact, many Wiccans view God as Male and Female. The indignity is that the article makes assumptions about womanhood and what this means, and stating the "masculine image carries more authority" is a statement of male patriarchy over females.
BTW, not to pick nits, but if you state that you believe God loves you as a male loves a female, what about men that are Christian? Or those of a different sexual orientation?

[nightdog-barks.livejournal.com]

... Deity encompasses all things, including male and female attributes...

Which is what I believe.
God is male and female, white and black, Janus-faced, and is not bounded by our human perceptions of S/He.

To view God as simply a male mouthpiece is an insult to the power and mystery that governs the universe.

Uh ... just my two cents, anyway ...

[matrixrefugee.livejournal.com]

::Now wishing she hadn't said anything... doesn't feel up to religious debates...::

[beckyh2112.livejournal.com]

God loves you as a male loves a female

I'm sorry, but I've been reading bad porn lately, and that line just made my mind go a really weird place....

[metisbutterfly.livejournal.com]

I agree Nightdog.
I love the statement of God as a "male mouthpiece!!"

[metisbutterfly.livejournal.com]

MR, no one is insulting you or your beliefs, but if you are going to be making bold statements like this you should be ready for the fact that people will question them and be ready to back them up.
I grew up Catholic and have great respect for all religions, I just do not respect it when someone decides to twist God to fit their political agenda as the author if the original article did, and your post seemed to point fingers and confuse so a few of us questioned that. Religious debates are tiresome because there is no **right** answer, but again, if you are going to say very strong statements you have to be willing to explain yourself. You are Catholic and there are Catholic apologetics/philosophers at your disposal, maybe have a peek at them instead of becoming insulted when people question your views?

Uhhhh...

[cockatiel-art.livejournal.com]

First, God is the source of moral rules. As the feminist thinker Carole Gilligan argued years ago, men think more in terms of rules, and women think more in terms of feelings/compassion/ intuition. There is a great human need for both. But, first and foremost, the Judeo-Christian God is a moral ruler (giver of moral rules and moral judge of humanity), and neither men nor women want to be given rules or ruled by a woman. For both men and women, the masculine image carries an authority that the feminine one does not.

What the F**K?

The creator I know is just as poweful and has just as much authority in both male and female aspects. To say a god is more moral because he has a dick is just a little disgusting. Close minded. Did I mention disgusting? Tell the morrigan and Sekmet that they're not as moral and authorative as their male counterparts! HA!

And who's to say i don't want to be ruled by a woman? I say there's far too few woman in rulership roles!

[gasphemer.livejournal.com]

I agree. But the Bible says some pretty weird things, like "He made Adam like Himself and made Eve by taking a rib" or something to that extent.

I don't know if I make sense, but I think they're using this reference to determine the gender of God.

I think God's a hermaphrodite. No joking here.