NationStates Jolt Archive

Personally I don't beleive in god. But I don't see it as problem
either way. But what I am is that I'm a very interested about
religion and faith. So I Want to ask you a question. If you
would have to choose one of the following wich would it be?

God is a:

Man
Woman
God has no sex

I beleive the 'gender' free God is most popular opinion. but
interesting though 'he' is usually shown as a man. In bible
also.

I'm talking about the Christian, Muslim, Jewish god here.
If you beleive in other religion/god you must see yourself
as a non beleiver in THIS thread. Sorry if someone feels
left out.

Poll coming...

God has no gender, and the fact that Bible calls God "him" is a proof that although possibly inspired by God, it is heavily contaminated by human factor.
[edit:]
Your post has made me reaalize that I became a believer. Oh shit. I'm converted. :eek:

God has no gender, and the fact that Bible calls God "him" is a proof that although possibly inspired by God, it is heavily contaminated by human factor.
Well, actually, in English 'he' is used as the gender neutral pronoun for human beings. Most people switch to the plural when gender is unspecified and use 'they' but technically that's gramatically incorrect.

So, where are the obligatory "I am God, so God is clearly <insert gender> because I am!" options? :D

I can't see how people can take something so unlimited and unbound by human conceits like the concept of god, and feel perfectly justified in assigning it a gender.

I can't see how people can take something so unlimited and unbound by human conceits like the concept of god, and feel perfectly justified in assigning it a gender.
Well, you have to have something to visualize, and we were made in his image they say...

God has no gender in the human or animal sense. He does have masculine characteristics (such as father, provider, leader, lover), as well as a few feminine characteristics (nurturing, comforting)

God doesn't have sex......so I say genderless even though I call him "He"

God doesn't have sex......so I say genderless even though I call him "He"
And that's perfectly correct! In the English language, 'he' is the gender neutral pronoun for sentient beings. It might seem a little sexist, but it's traditional, and gramatically correct!

I can't see how people can take something so unlimited and unbound by human conceits like the concept of god, and feel perfectly justified in assigning it a gender.

Didn't mean to upset anybody. Sorry. But like Quorm said:
yes we can.

I can't see how people can take something so unlimited and unbound by human conceits like the concept of god, and feel perfectly justified in assigning it a gender.

i don't see it as unlimited and unbound concept. That's just few phrases in historical book called Bible, which refers to god mostly as him, hence, my concept of that cristianity god has concept of masculine gender. simple as that. And I feel perfectly justified doing that. (if I read in historical books that there is person, called Napoleon and everybody refers to it as masculine, I will base my concept on these books. Just as god in Bible.


more interesting is - what gender is "Human"?

God doesn't have sex...
Oh my. Poor God :D

Well, actually, in English 'he' is used as the gender neutral pronoun for human beings.
But Bible was written in other language (hebrew? arameic? I don't remember). I have no idea what gender was God in it but I guess noone would dare to change it in translation...
Oh, and the poll lacks "Any" answer.

Actually... God in the Bible doesn't have gender at all. In the OT at least, if you read Hebrew and Aramaic, God is often referred to as Sophia, wisdom... Sophia is the femine aspect of the OT God.

i don't see it as unlimited and unbound concept. That's just few phrases in historical book called Bible, which refers to god mostly as him, hence, my concept of that cristianity god has concept of masculine gender. simple as that. And I feel perfectly justified doing that. (if I read in historical books that there is person, called Napoleon and everybody refers to it as masculine, I will base my concept on these books. Just as god in Bible.


more interesting is - what gender is "Human"?
By human conceits all I meant was that the concept of god is supposedly far beyond our understanding. To simply say that something so beyond our range of knowledge is limited by the concept of sex seems to be paradoxical. "We can never hope to understand god, but he's definately a dude."

But Bible was written in other language (hebrew? arameic? I don't remember). I have no idea what gender was God in it but I guess noone would dare to change it in translation...
Oh, and the poll lacks "Any" answer.

Stop complaining about the poll... There is other.

One myth about God from the Middle-East says "he" impregnated a girl called Mary. This is the best evidence I can find that God has sex, and is male.

Of course there are many myths in other cultures which God is female, so take your pick.

Perhaps God is a hermaphrodite. But when animals that are hermaphrodites mate, often both want to be the male because sperm are cheaper to make than eggs. Often there is some sort of a struggle, and the winner will take the male role. Since God is theoretically so much stronger than humans, "he" might always be male in any sexual dealings with us.

The Christian/Jewish/Islamic god is a man. He was created to serve patriarchal societies, so it is no surprise he is male.

God has no Gender... Jesus however is Male.

now why do we referre to God as He and other Male Discriptors... possibliy because of the social norm of the area. after all, Men were seen as superior to women at the time so the idea of God being a She would be silly. but I believe that God is without Gender. and if I am wrong... then I aplogize to the Almighty.

One myth about God from the Middle-East says "he" impregnated a girl called Mary. This is the best evidence I can find that God has sex, and is male.

Of course there are many myths in other cultures which God is female, so take your pick.

Perhaps God is a hermaphrodite. But when animals that are hermaphrodites mate, often both want to be the male because sperm are cheaper to make than eggs. Often there is some sort of a struggle, and the winner will take the male role. Since God is theoretically so much stronger than humans, "he" might always be male in any sexual dealings with us.


But it wouldn't be a problem for "him" to be a female? So
being creator and all of that wouldn't he want to make it
easier on man and be a female?

My concept of god is genderless. I was raised in a nice christian home, so my tendency is to assume god is a he when I meditate. When I really think about it, assigning gender to god is like assigning a gender to the universe - what ever would god need genitals for? I think needing to assign god a gender is a result of our human incapacity to comprehend abstract things.

By human conceits all I meant was that the concept of god is supposedly far beyond our understanding. To simply say that something so beyond our range of knowledge is limited by the concept of sex seems to be paradoxical. "We can never hope to understand god, but he's definately a dude."

Well, yes, Mr Hammopolis, it could be true if you really believed that there are some great mystical force that created all things and that we cannot understand. Then we could think about genderless.

My opinion is there that since, there really are no such thing as god, then speaking about him, we speak about how historical books reflect his gender. It's just like Santa Claus - my opinion that he is also male, while it can be argued that "such concept of free-gifts-giving force is beyond our rational understanding, hence, it must be genderless".
Well, YMMV

I beleive the 'gender' free God is most popular opinion. but
interesting though 'he' is usually shown as a man. In bible
also.


Not really, God isn't really portrade as a male or a female in the bible, more as an it.

for example, in genesis, when it says the spirit of god hovers above the water, the floasting is in female terms "merachepfet" rather than "merachef".

in ancient hebrew scrolls god in sometimes refered to as male, as in "hamakom baruch hu" or "baruch shomer havtachato leisrael" - blessed be he who keeps his promise to israel" and sometimes as female, for example, the "Schina".

Not really, God isn't really portrade as a male or a female in the bible, more as an it.

for example, in genesis, when it says the spirit of god hovers above the water, the floasting is in female terms "merachepfet" rather than "merachef".

in ancient hebrew scrolls god in sometimes refered to as male, as in "hamakom baruch hu" or "baruch shomer havtachato leisrael" - blessed be he who keeps his promise to israel" and sometimes as female, for example, the "Schina".

I was totally unaware of that. Thank you :)

Quote:

"But it wouldn't be a problem for "him" to be a female? So
being creator and all of that wouldn't he want to make it
easier on man and be a female?"


In myth, God is sometimes male and sometimes female. Take your pick.

Now I'm sure that some people here take the concept of God very seriously. I think there is nothing wrong with this as long as you realize that God is like money. Not something that's real, but an imaginary concept that has a large effect on people's relations with each other. It's okay to take imaginary things seriously if they give you enjoyment. For example, many people take their soap operas seriously. But when your imaginary ideas start making you miserable, or you think they require you to cause other people pain, it's time to give them up or modify them.

Just as I don't force my money on other people, I expect them not to force their concept of God on me.

Well, yes, Mr Hammopolis, it could be true if you really believed that there are some great mystical force that created all things and that we cannot understand. Then we could think about genderless.

My opinion is there that since, there really are no such thing as god, then speaking about him, we speak about how historical books reflect his gender. It's just like Santa Claus - my opinion that he is also male, while it can be argued that "such concept of free-gifts-giving force is beyond our rational understanding, hence, it must be genderless".
Well, YMMV

Enter Random Grammar Fairy
Well, yes, Mr Hammopolis, it could be true if you really believed that there are should be is some great mystical force that created all things and that we cannot understand. Then we could think about genderless Genderless what? Needs noun.

My opinion is there that since, there really again, are should be is no such thing as god, then speaking about him, we speak about how historical books reflect his gender. It's just like Santa Claus - my opinion is that he is also male, while it can be argued that "such concept of free-gifts-giving force is beyond our rational understanding, hence, it must be genderless".
Well, YMMV What does YMMV stand for?

I am God.
BOW BEFORE ME OR FACE ETERNAL DAMNATION!

Soz if i offend anyone in this statement, but i felt i just had to say it.

1. I see many of the posts on this thread stating god IS a man, or god IS a woman or god IS genderless. whatever happened to I believe god is a man or that god may be a woman in my opinon? I mean have any of you ever met god? and how do you know god even exsists? dont give me any of the "because the bible said so" crap because the bible is just a book, written by an ordinary man or woman about what he or she believed in

2. on your poll options i dont quite understand options 4,5 and 6. how can you believe god is a man, woman or genderless if you dont believe in god at all?????

:confused:

and 3. The title of this thread is "a religious question.....for all of us" so how come your excluding people dont believe in the conventional religions???

Soz if i offend anyone in this statement, but i felt i just had to say it.

1. I see many of the posts on this thread stating god IS a man, or god IS a woman or god IS genderless. whatever happened to I believe god is a man or that god may be a woman in my opinon? I mean have any of you ever met god? and how do you know god even exsists? dont give me any of the "because the bible said so" crap because the bible is just a book, written by an ordinary man or woman about what he or she believed inthe question is about GOD... so if you don't believe in God and have no opinion of God's Gender then you either vote "Other" or don't vote. and please do not attempt to turn this into another "Prove to me God Exsist" thread.

2. on your poll options i dont quite understand options 4,5 and 6. how can you believe god is a man, woman or genderless if you dont believe in god at all?????because it's a trick... to see how many people say they don't believe in God yet still think about God...

and 3. The title of this thread is "a religious question.....for all of us" so how come your excluding people dont believe in the conventional religions???he does applogize for that in his first post.

edited... sorry didn't notice your Post Count... so therefore I really wouldn't have seen you post anywhere else... :D

Soz if i offend anyone in this statement, but i felt i just had to say it.

1. I see many of the posts on this thread stating god IS a man, or god IS a woman or god IS genderless. whatever happened to I believe god is a man or that god may be a woman in my opinon? I mean have any of you ever met god? and how do you know god even exsists? dont give me any of the "because the bible said so" crap because the bible is just a book, written by an ordinary man or woman about what he or she believed in

2. on your poll options i dont quite understand options 4,5 and 6. how can you believe god is a man, woman or genderless if you dont believe in god at all?????

:confused:

and 3. The title of this thread is "a religious question.....for all of us" so how come your excluding people dont believe in the conventional religions???

I am an Atheist but the god of Judaism/Christianity/Islam is male, created to reinforce the patriarchal society.

And if you don't follow a conventional religion, vote 'other', that's what it's for.

2. on your poll options i dont quite understand options 4,5 and 6. how can you believe god is a man, woman or genderless if you dont believe in god at all?????

:confused:

and 3. The title of this thread is "a religious question.....for all of us" so how come your excluding people dont believe in the conventional religions???


Answer to No2: You don't beleive in God, right? But you know what is disgussed here, right? So what to you imagine when god is mentioined. I'm sorry but I can't explain it better.

Answer to No3: I'm not excluding anybody. In the first post I said that if you beleive other religion/gods consider yourdelf a non beleiver in THIS thread. It is a question about christian god but anybody can answer. It's not a question to Christians.

ohhh i see now. thanks for clearing things up for me ^^

The Kristjan God might be male, but mine most certainly isn't - She's definately female. Of course, She's just one deity of a few I worship, but She's the most important.

I am an Atheist but the god of Judaism/Christianity/Islam is male, created to reinforce the patriarchal society.

And if you don't follow a conventional religion, vote 'other', that's what it's for.

soz for double posting but just thought id say that im an atheist

soz for double posting but just thought id say that im an atheist
Sooo..... how ja vote?

ohhh i see now. thanks for clearing things up for me ^^

No problem :)

The Kristjan God might be male, but mine most certainly isn't - She's definately female. Of course, She's just one deity of a few I worship, but She's the most important.

I know it's bit of subject. But It's my thread. What do you beleive in. Can it be labelled anything. Just curious.

I know it's bit of subject. But It's my thread. What do you beleive in. Can it be labelled anything. Just curious.

I believe that Gods, Deities, mythology in general are purely manifestations of the culture that believe in them. And when I say that, I don't mean they don't exist. I mean to imply that they do exist; that they are literally the communal "spirit" of a group of people.

The problems start when Gods and ideas native to other cultures try and assimilate other groups. the Kristjians are the worst offenders of this; so I reject all Kristjian ideas that have been introduced into my culture. I have nothing against Kristjianity personally, just they way it's followers try to force it on people. What I'm saying is it's not for me.

My prime Deity is female because I believe the earth to have given birth to all life, not in some cold "creation" act (molded out of clay - wtf is that??!) but in a continual emenation of life, through the divine act of evolution. That earth is a Mother God that I see as the originator of all life.
Other deities include the Goddess of the dawn and beauty, the God of the hunt and animals, the God of thunder rain and war, the Goddess of death, and the God of wisdom.
They are all essentially elements of the same pair of Deities however, the Divine Mother and her male Consort.


as for labels...

My beliefs evolved from Wicca and other Neo-Pagan movements, but has been heavily influenced by the philosophy of Friedrich Nietzsche, along with specific influence from various old Indo-European "pagan" religions such as that of the Celts, the Greeks, the Norse, the Baltic tribes (Lithuanians and Latvians), and the old Vedic religion of India. although I definately wouldn't label myself as exclusively a follower of any one of those movements... I guess there isn't really a specific "label" for my insanity :p

I still wonder how people can think that something, which is obviously superior to us and way out of range of what our minds can possibly understand, can be described as male or female.

God is a "they" - both male and female. Not that I think the Divine is really human-like at all, but I believe that it is the source of all energies (e.g., male, female, dark, light, "good", "bad", etc.). We create the image of the Divine that makes us feel all warm and cozy, so for me, that would be a heavenly couple - both Mother and Father.

I dont think humans are able to comprehend God's being. Its off our scale. Maybe we believers become aware of it when we fully accept him, die and go to eternal reward.

Other - I'm a believer and God has characterised Himself as masculine, though possessing attributes that belong to both genders as well as those that place Him above either gender...

If there is one "god" than She is Female.

hmm, i didn't read the thing thoroughly enough... i accidently said "God is a woman", when i thought i was clicking, i believe in God and I'm a woman... haha... score one for the stupid team...

hmm, i didn't read the thing thoroughly enough... i accidently said "God is a woman", when i thought i was clicking, i believe in God and I'm a woman... haha... score one for the stupid team...

Team Stupid seems to win everytime :D Thanks for the bumb.

I believe in God and that he has no gender...but I use he because it is correct in english and because calling God an "it" feels wrong.

I can't see how people can take something so unlimited and unbound by human conceits like the concept of god, and feel perfectly justified in assigning it a gender.

Because we are human.