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Is God a male?

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indianabob:
Ancient religions had goddesses as coequal or even superior to their gods.
Why is God of Scripture described as male?
Why is the Messiah a male rather than a female?
Inquiring minds want to know!

Did Ray Smith discuss this question?

Here is a thought provoking opinion that may elicit discussion on the forum.
Please comment if interested.
Indiana Bob
= = =

One of the criticisms many people make against the Bible is that it depicts God in male terms. The most obvious example is God is referred to as “He.” Why did the Bible do this?

Well, here’s the answer: Because the Bible is preoccupied with making a kinder, less violent, more just world. If you share these goals — and I suspect you do — then you’ll have to agree the Bible made the right decision.

Before I explain, I need to add an obvious caveat: The God of the Bible is neither male nor female. God transcends gender. What I’m talking about here is why God is depicted in male terms in the Bible.

Gender-wise, the Bible had three choices: masculine — “he”; feminine — “she”; or neuter — “it.”

We can readily rule out neuter. For one thing, neuter nouns don’t exist in Hebrew, the language of the Old Testament – which, after all, first introduced this God to us. For another, the biblical God is a personal God to whom we can — and must — relate. And we cannot relate to, let alone obey or love, an “It.”

Aside from the language issue, the Bible depicts God in masculine terms because:

One: The Hebrew Bible’s primary concern is making a good world.

Two: A good world can only be achieved by making good people.

And three: The people who commit nearly all the world’s violence are males.

Therefore, it is in both men’s and women’s interests to depict God in the masculine.

Here’s why:

Without a father or some other male rule-giver, young men are likely to do great harm. If there is no male authority figure to give a growing boy rules, it is very difficult for him to control his wilder impulses.

As President Barack Obama told an audience in 2008, “Children who grow up without a father are five times more likely to live in poverty and commit crime, nine times more likely to drop out of school, and twenty times more likely to end up in prison.” Commenting on that speech, Dr. Alvin Poussaint, a psychiatrist with Harvard Medical School, confirmed these statistics: “The absence of fathers corresponds with a host of social ills, including dropping out of school and serving time in jail.”

In other words, if one’s primary goal is a good world — specifically, a world with far less murder, child abuse, theft, and rape — a God depicted in masculine terms (a Father in Heaven), not a goddess (a Mother in Heaven), must be the source of moral commands such as “Do not murder” and “Do not steal.”

If the father figure/rule-giver that boys need is not on Earth, a morally authoritative masculine God can serve as an effective substitute. Any discomfort you might feel with a masculine depiction of God is not comparable to the pain we will all feel if boys are not civilized into good men.

To transform a wild boy into a good man, a male role model is as necessary as a male rule-giver. So, when the Bible depicts God as merciful, compassionate, and caring for the poor and the widow, it is not so much interested in describing God as in providing a model for humans, especially males, to emulate.

If God were depicted as female, young men would deem traits such as compassion, mercy, and care for the downtrodden as feminine and would not identify with them. But if God, their Father in Heaven, who is strong — on occasion, even a warrior — cares for the poor and loves justice, mercy, and kindness, then these traits are also masculine and to be emulated.

The argument that girls equally need female role models to avoid violence is objectively not true — because the problem of mayhem and violence is overwhelmingly a male one. Of course, girls need female role models, but not to avoid violence.

And, like boys, girls are more likely to obey a male authority figure. A report released by the Minnesota Psychological Association concluded: “In a study of female inmates, more than half came from a father-absent home.”

It is therefore ironic that some women are attempting to render the God of Western religious morality less masculine. Because if their goal is achieved, it is women who will suffer most from lawless males.

We have too many absent fathers on Earth to begin to even entertain the thought of having no Father in Heaven.

Wanda:
Hi Bob,

Ray did speak on this subject at the 2006 Mobile conference.

I copied the following...

This is a transcript taken from the 2nd and 3rd audio.
Some notes Ray handed out at the conference and scriptures have been added.

I couldn't pin point the specific audios, because I didn't understand the numerical order. Maybe someone else could figure it out.

The transcript...

https://bible-truths.com/forums/index.php/topic,3720.0.html

Dennis Vogel:
Is God Male and Female?    https://youtu.be/GzH7_v-ezVg  Move to about 20 minutes in where Ray gets to the point.

wat:
Interesting piece, Bob. Did you write that? If not, who’s the source?

I knew about the fatherlessness epidemic going on, and that males growing up without a father are more likely to be violent and drop out of school and such, but I never connected it to the effect on females. It makes sense though, women need good men as well as good women.

indianabob:
Hello LOC,

Sorry that I did not provide attribution with the article.
The author is Dennis Prager.

I think one of the main points is that boys tend to ignore the instruction of their mothers for various reasons among which is the NEED to conquer. The need to conquer their fears, the environment and often their fellow man apart from love for family. It's excess testosterone and false pride.
But doesn't God make boys that way on purpose?
Life is supposed to be a continuing challenge and overcoming self is a never ending battle.

Separately from that opinion is my own experience in that I provided the authority in my family by fully supporting my wife in her relationship with the children, two girls and two boys. Of course, between us as lovers, we knew the power was equally shared. I'm slow but I'm not stupid.

My temper did occasionally get the better of me, but I found that a quick and sincere acknowledgment of my fault was helpful to build trust in the hearts of my children. A father who loves his kids even while administering justice imperfectly is preferred to a father who ignores their rebellion and tolerates bullying of younger or smaller persons and disrespect of established authority figures. Grandparents, neighbors, police etc.

I could write a book on my many mistakes on the way to becoming a reasonably competent example, but that is life and it cannot be otherwise.

Perhaps we could share other helpful personal experiences.
Bob ;)

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