1.2 | Religious Concepts And Religious Life Flashcards
(9 cards)
Traditional Male Language
Despite God being genderless, He is often referred to as male
God the… Father, Son, Holy Spirit
—>Jesus (God incarnate)- SON of God, SON of man
Anthropomorphism
Applying human characteristics to non-human entities
—> ie. God
Helps us understand God’s identity
—> without it we wouldn’t be able to speak about God at all
Traditional Male Language- Issaiah 66:13
‘As a mother comforts her child, I so will comfort you’
Inconsistent with the typical male language attributed to God
Uses female language
—> infers more nurturing characteristics
Authority Surrounding Male Language
Male language represents loving, parental relationship over creation
Displays God as an omnipotent + omniscient ruler
Could reflect patriarchal society
—> distant + harsh?
—> militarism
—> may not appeal to those who seek a more inclusive + nurturing understanding of God (liberal Christians)
Metaphors- Sallie McFague
Metaphors are the only way to understand God
—> have become models
—> harmful if the idea of them being metaphors is forgotten
Names of God as metaphors
—> tool describe a being beyond our human understanding (anthropomorphic)
—> theological realm- God
Male metaphors have become the norm for describing God
—> patriarchal society?
McFague suggests expanding metaphors would be more effective
—> use female images
—> avoids simplistic, absolutionist misconceptions of God- these are too reductionist
—> reducing God to simple roles impacts our role in the world + with each other
God as Mother- Sallie McFague
Exclusively referring to God as ‘Father’ is outdated + lost its usefulness
—> doesn’t articulate God’s character
Language to describe God should evolve according to the Christian community’s ideas + cultural contexts of modern world
Highlighting female characteristics over male ones
—> not a removal of male metaphors- use a wider range that are helpful
Panentheism
The new trinity
Panentheism
The world is part of God’s body- God doesn’t rule the world
Maternal images of God giving birth to the world within Herself
—> rather than making it
God comforts + provides for world in her own body
—> emphasises our complete reliance on her
The New Trinity
Mother
—> instead of Father- Doctrine of Creation
—> agape (unconditional love)
—> compassion
Lover
—> instead of Son- Doctrine of Salvation
—> Eros
—> desire for the world
Friend
—>instead of Holy Spirit- Doctrine of Eschatology
—> philia
—> companionship
Female vs Feminine- Sallie McFague
Difference between what a women is and what society deems feminine
Unhelpful to associate God with femininity
—>connotations to weakness stereotypes
—> reduces women + God
God can be maternal without stereotypically being feminine
Mothering is NOT submissive + passive
—> it’s a sustaining role
