Does it bother you that God is called 'HE'?

Of course God is male. The bible was wrote by men (many men) and is sexist. What can one expect except a Him?

It doesn't really bother me that much, being an atheist, but my opinion on the topic is that it really stems from the fact that the world's major monotheistic religions all share common sources in the same patriarchal cultures. Often the holy texts of these religions actually explicitly give men a higher degree of freedom and power than women, and are propagated by an exclusively male clergy. Personally, I think the idea of assigning a gender to god is sort of ridiculous to begin with, as (at least with monotheistic religions), there are no other gods for god to procreate with and have little baby gods with. It's an example of anthropomorphizing god, as there really is no reason for god to have a gender. I believe "male" and "female" are pretty much defined at this point as the member of a species who produce the (male) smaller, mobile reproductive gametes versus the (female) larger reproductive gametes. I don't see why god would have a gender at all, unless one believes that god actually physically produces god-sperm.

I don't know about the bible but in India we have godesses and they are worshipped more by women then the male gods. The godesses of Money is worshipped all the time.

Hi astromama. In English 'he' is the universal pronoun, that is it can be used to refer to a male or to a person in a non-gender specific way. Just a 'man' can be used to refer to a person in a non-gender specific way. In fact 'man' originally meant person. Males were Wap-men and women Wif-men from which we get the word wife. This, of course, dates back to Anglo-Saxon. God, presumably, encompasses both male and female. all the best urban

In my religion, there are multiple gods. Some are consider "male" and some "female". So I don't really have to worry about it. I did learn a lot about Christianity growing up around it, however, and this did always bother me about it (and related religions). I don't really think I could worship only a male deity. It would just seem wrong to me. Even looking at it as "of course he's male he's Father God" that still leaves the question "How can you have Father without Mother?" I don't think it's as much a flaw in the religion as in the viewpoint of people at the time the religion started. The Bible was written by men at a time when men had power, so of course it speaks of a male God.

That kind of bothers me too. For one, humans are supposedly created in the image of God. But wait- if God is male, then does that mean I'm not created in His image? That would make me of less value spiritually, and I think that's rubbish. Anyway, God is supposed to be a spiritual being, and as such, would not technically HAVE a gender at all! I think that calling God "He" is the product of a mostly-patriarchal world. I think we should agree to use gender-neutral pronouns when referring to God- I like the ones that have been suggested by the trans community- "ze" instead of he or she, and "hir" instead of him or her.

Historically - the different cultures had differing beliefs and explanations. The ancient texts were translated by scholars who had to translate concepts and beliefs from one language to another. if there was no exact translation for a word they would transliterate to a parallel concept in their own culture. Then by the time the Greek and Latin translations occur they use the parallels from their deities and beliefs. An everyday example of the kind of thing we could be meaning here is "MAN" is most likely a concept for 'Mankind' or several men. Or another: "in this day and age" can be a moveable concept as it is a general concept for 'modern times' as it was ten years ago or even a hundred years ago. Wiser scholars than I have debated long and hard on all these concepts as they wish to appeal to the people they wish to educate. When someone says "The whole of 'mankind'" - what do you understand the term to mean...?

This is a topic that could go on and on go much deeper than it has. I have written letters which I started "Dear Sirs" although a woman may be the one to read it. We talk about "mankind" but we all know that we're not refering to only men. I always thought that refering to God as "He" was only proper just like addressing a letter properly. I know he is not male or female...God is a spirit and we WERE created in the image of God. God wanted to have a relationship with someone that could love "Him" back...we all have the desire to love and be loved. Where do you think that came from? It is a God-given instinct which was meant to be used to love "Him" and have a relationship with "Him". Obviously mankind is far from that. God created man AND WOMAN to be in "His" image...they are the same to God because after all...it is only our physical bodies that have a gender...once we die and our souls go to Heaven or Hell there is no gender...our souls/spirits have no gender. I know I'm probably going way in over peoples heads and I'm sorry. I just wish people understood but the only way to really understand is to read the Bible which was written by men inspired by The Holy Spirit. It is not those mens' words. Women were also significant throughout the Bible. They were treated less important by human men but not by God. I think God is into the rights of women also because God used women to do mighty things but "mankind" was the one always putting women down, not God. Someone stated that Christianity is outdated...I have had many relationships come and go but the relationship I have with my God is still going. I was the one that left God and came back several times...God was always here waiting for me because "He" always forgives and loves me no matter what. No human could ever fulfill my desire to feel loved at ALL times. God is not outdated because "He" is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow(Hebrews 13:8). I am witness to that with the situations I've had in my life. I do not like to be called "religious" because religion is "man's" idea of what he thinks God wants from us. I don't want what mankind says I should do...I want what God says. God gave us 10 simple rules...that's it. Some religious "men" have rules like...you have to wear certain clothes, have your hair a certain length and have a certain number of children if you're going to be a certain religion. WHY? My God excepts everyone where they are and how they are...my God doesn't care about gender why would "He" care about what I am wearing? I hope you can understand this and like I said, there is so much more that we could go into. For now I hope this interests someone. I don't want everyone to agree with me because everyone has their own choice to make and that choice is between them and their "god". If anyone does have any questions tho I am more than happy to talk. Besides the question on whether God is male, female or spirit is the fact that people are offended by it. I'm so sick of people getting "offended" by everything. If one does not have a personal relationship with Christ why are they offended by what people call "Him". I don't get it. If a person is not interested in spending time with God why do they care anything about the topic?

I dont believe God is male, or even female for that matter. The problem is that we try to rationalise the concept of God with our own imperfect references. What I'm trying to say is we cannot even begin to comprehend what God is, our best hope is to just believe in him/her/whatever. It all comes down to your personal choice, all you need do is belive in Gods powers. I hopse that made sense

it dosent bother me at all...... god actually is neuther a HE nor SHE......... GOD is an experience which is experienced by those who search for it .....(sorry..... if i offend anyone....)

It doesn't bother me either, who cares if God, who in the Bible is believed by all to be a man and our Father? It's just a gender. And if it is a thing of balance with you, then maybe Satan is a woman.

It doesn't bother me at all. The bible refers to God as our Father. I don't know about you but my father is a male. :) I'm all about equal rights too, but that doesn't change that I believe God is male and this is backed up by the bible which I believe in. I don't believe that there is a "divine female" so there is not one for me to acknowledge.

Wether HE or SHE God is there.I believe God is formless and you can give the form as your mind pleases.

Normally compare to women, men is brave and couragious.And also lot of encagement with others.Like he will do any thing,with out the womens help.But 90 percentage of women always depends on men. Ther is no dependency for God and therefore we told God as a male.And our ancestors write so many poems regording God,they mentioned God as Male..... But My thing is God is may or may not be male,But he is in the world......

Well the world ws ruled by men and is still being ruled by men. Ofcourse things have changed slightly in the recent past, but nt much, rather not in many countries. And so GOD is picturised to be male in many of the casts. If you would consider hinduism, although we have trimurthis, Brahma Vishnu and Maheshwara, still they all owe to AdiShakthi, a female. It all comes from the way it has been in history. Now why is bravery a masculine, Why is pink associated with girls, like that. And coming to the Bible, I think you are forgetting that people do pray to Mother Mary.

Let me ask you a similar questions. Does it bother you that Jesus Christ was a man? I say that with a smile on my face. :)

I am not religious in any way, but no it doesn't bother me. We don't have any non-gender specific pro-nouns in the english language that would really be appropriate, and I think the idea of god is valid regardless of how people imagine him or her (or it?) to be.

Not really. God is not just called HE. Some times SHE also. Earth is treated as godess and called SHE. Sun is treated as God and called as HE. These are couple of examples :)

Not really. I don't mind calling God with that, since the only human form I know is from the Bible - a man called Jesus. I didn't think of it as gender thing, it's just so happens that's the only human form I've heard God took. Virgin Mary, the Mother of God, is already a perfect female figure in heaven for me. She may not be the divine, but she gave birth of the human form of God, it doesn't happen to just any woman.

It doesn't bother me to refer to God as a He. I feel God is neither male or female but is something that humans are unable to understand. If it makes it easier to refer to Him as a He then so be it. From a social viewpoint, I don't see the problem with allowing men to be the protectors over women. It's not about are men better than women or vice-versa. Both sexes contribute equally to society, obviously in different ways, but nonetheless making significant contributions. You said you identify more with a "balanced energy". That is a good definition of what I feel God is. Yes, I refer to God as a He but only because it follows tradition. I couldn't go off referring to God as an It, it would seem like a rude and condescending way to refer to the Creator.