Sunday, March 29, 2009

Just Curious

I was looking at my Ash Wednesday poll, upon which at one time I had intended to comment ~ but life got the best of me ~ and then I thought of a new one.

No reason in particular. Maybe it's the shadow of The Shack. Maybe it's being back in a seminary where 99% of the population refers to God by male pronouns 100% of the time. Maybe I'm just curious.

Anyway, have a go at the new poll in the sidebar. Comments welcome.

13 comments:

Elaine (aka...Purple) said...

I voted...but had to for both always female and no gender. I do not "mind" the male image...but that is ALL I hear. I have a pretty broad portrait of God. Thanks for posting the poll GG.

Joan Calvin said...

A parishioner commented to me that I never refer to God as he. (Actually I had referred to God as she in a recent sermon.) I was amazed anyone noticed. Everyone here calls God "he".

Kathryn J said...

I clicked on "No gender" because that is what I truly believe. I've been known to alter prayers we say aloud in church. I change the pronoun "he" to "God" and it generally works out OK. That said, there are so many images of a male God in classical art that there is a dim shadow across my otherwise genderless belief.

giggles said...

My Episcopal priest dad does sometimes refer to God as a "she...," and did so, I think, way earlier than any of his contemporaries.... (do I remember him doing that in the 70's??!!) Very radical! (He is still a feminist.....)

Michelle said...

...I tend to think of the Spirit as female most often, and the Creator as male or genderless; Jesus is a guy.

I've been reflecting a lot lately about how threatening gender issues are for some people.

Lisa :-] said...

You know me...it's "The Universe" or "The Creator." If I had to choose a gender for the creator, I would probably lean toward the "Mother Earth" image...

Lori said...

I voted.

And because you just don't have enough to do
;)
there's a blog award for you at my place.

Cynthia said...

Expect a blog entry from me on this. I've been thinking on this issue for weeks now.

Althea N. Agape said...

I am one of those that tends to use a masculine pronoun, because I refuse to use "it" and too many people I have run across who use "she" seem to mean more of a Gaea than Yahweh. HOWEVER, I do not think of God or the Spirit as either male or female. God existed before creation and male and female are aspects of creation. Male and female are each and together the image of God.

not what you expected from me, perhaps.

*debbi* said...

The poll began a musing in my mind as to how I think of God (such as during prayer--genderless) and how I refer to God (He).
*debbi*

Jim said...

I voted "male" in your pole; but, then, I am male and everything I've read in the Bible refers to Him in such manner. Might I also add, then, that I have no qualm with those who view the Almighty otherwise, His gender, if indeed He possesses any, seemingly a matter of His own discretion, not mine. Books like "The Shack", shows like "Joan of Arcadia" give me no problems. If the Holy Spirit, whom I find to be the voice of God, the mind of Christ, indwells us all, then surely He, Himself, finds no challenge to acclimating to either gender. The problem, I think, is with us if we develop an attitude that trys to put "Him" in a box.....

altar ego said...

For my own purposes God has no gender, though in preaching I tend to stick to "he" so that the matter of gender doesn't get in the way of congregants hearing what is more important in a sermon. There are times when I tease with "she," and that is both welcomed and tolerated. At other times I simply trust the Spirit to guide me.

Dorcas (aka SingingOwl) said...

I voted the way I think of God--not what I believe. Meaning, I think God is genderless...but I am one who uses he for God most often because to do otherwise in my circles would create needless consternation. Ha. Still, I think of God as Father most often, Jesus as in his human form and the Spirit as female. Interesting poll!