Do Lutheran's view God as Goddess?

[Angel_Hazard]

Someone sent me a site of a Lutheran church herchurch.org/index.html
. The church views God as Mother and focuses on feminine aspects of God. I’m not familiar with the Lutheran Faith, is this part of their Faith?

Not judging, but curious.

 

[Nine_Two]

Nope, I do believe that’s just that one church.

 

[Angel_Hazard]

Nope, I do believe that’s just that one church.

Thank you for explaining this

 

[Nine_Two]

Taking a closer look at the website there doesn’t seem anything particularly Lutheran about it. I’d be surprised if it is a member of any Lutheran group.

 

[gmcbroom]

I’m no Lutheran but I’d have to say no. It’s likely a break away group with some rather unorthodox ideas on God.

 

[ChadTorgerson]

As someone who grew up in the Lutheran church, no. As Catholics, there are a number of things that we may see differently than the Lutheran church, but I do not remember God ever being referred to as Goddess.

Looking closer at the site, it is a Pro Gay/Lesbian church, and it heavily supports feminism. That is there cross to bear, but it would explain the unique view of God.

Chad Torgerson
Waking Up Catholic - RCIA

 

[Dale_M]

Taking a closer look at the website there doesn’t seem anything particularly Lutheran about it. I’d be surprised if it is a member of any Lutheran group.

Actually, it is part of ELCA. The Ebenezer/herchurch website mentions this at the very top of the homepage and the official ELCA website lists them in their “Find a Congregation” locator.
elca.org/ELCA/Search/Find-a-Congregation.aspx#&&miles=15&zip=94117

That said, it seems to be a San Francisco church which is… erm, expanding the boundaries of the denomination.

 

[Dale_M]

The church views God as Mother and focuses on feminine aspects of God. I’m not familiar with the Lutheran Faith, is this part of their Faith?

No, it isn’t. The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (the largest Lutheran denomination in the US, and the one with the most progressive views) offers this guidance about how to refer to God when worshiping.

Language Describing God

Language used to describe God is just that — descriptive, not literal. Scripture provides us with rich and expansive images to describe God, including: eagle (Deuteronomy 32:11-12) baker (Matthew 13;33) hen (Matthew 23:27) wind (Acts 2:2) bread (John 6;33-35) rock (Isaiah 17:10) and light (John 8:12).

Assigning male pronouns to human occupations (such as judge, teacher, potter, guard) or to objects (fortress, rock, shield) should be avoided when they are used as metaphors for God.

Language Addressing God

In the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus addressed God as abba, “father.” This address does not ascribe human male sexuality to God but is an intimate address that is suggestive of the loving and trusting relationship between parent and child.

The image of father used by Jesus draws upon the deepest and most human of all relationships — that of parent to child. God traditionally has been called “father” in worship to convey the intimate relationship between God and the church. The metaphorical use of the term “father” continues to be used in worship, alongside many other biblical metaphors for God. However, because sin can distort even the fundamental relationships of parents to children, the image of a father may be difficult to comprehend for some who have experienced alienation in their relationship to a human father.

Titles that suggest the activity of God may be used to address God. Such titles include Advocate, Healer, Savior, and Refuge. Many biblical titles for God are also available; They include Adonai, Source of Life, Root of Jesse, and Alpha and Omega.

Similes may be used to address God. For example, “God who cares for us as a mother hen cares for her chicks” or "God, who watches over us as a sentinel standing watch by night. . . . "

Second-person pronouns, instead of gender specific and third person pronouns, may be used to address God.

elca.org/Growing-In-Faith/Worship/Learning-Center/FAQs/Language.aspx

 

[kenofken]

As a priest and follower of a real goddess religion, I can assure you that Lutherans are not part of our general faith community! (Storm trooper speaks into his com-link: "These aren’t the pagans we’re looking for. Move along)

 

[gcnuss]

Someone sent me a site of a Lutheran church herchurch.org/index.html
. The church views God as Mother and focuses on feminine aspects of God. I’m not familiar with the Lutheran Faith, is this part of their Faith?

Not judging, but curious.

This is the viewpoint of one congregation and is not representative of Lutherans in general, not even within the ELCA of which this congregation is a part.

 

[JaredM]

I’m Lutheran. I have never once heard anyone in my church refer to God as Goddess.

 

[phoebecat3]

I am a LCMS Lutheran, Lutheran Church Missouri Synod member. No, that is not in any way shape or fashion a Lutheran doctrine. That being said, there could be some wacko spouting off false doctrine who claims to be a confessional Lutheran.

 

[gurneyhalleck1]

LOL…You forgot “he can go about his business…” LOL

The force has an especially strong influence on the weak theological mind! I better quit while I’m ahead or I’ll continue and talk about Mos Eisley, nowhere is there a greater hive of scum and villainy!

As a priest and follower of a real goddess religion, I can assure you that Lutherans are not part of our general faith community! (Storm trooper speaks into his com-link: "These aren’t the pagans we’re looking for. Move along)

 

[JonNC]

Someone sent me a site of a Lutheran church herchurch.org/index.html
. The church views God as Mother and focuses on feminine aspects of God. I’m not familiar with the Lutheran Faith, is this part of their Faith?

Not judging, but curious.

I was looking at the website, and, in a short glance, saw no mention of the Lutheran confessions. Perhaps I missed it. Certainly they did.

Jon

 

[SteveVH]

Someone sent me a site of a Lutheran church herchurch.org/index.html
. The church views God as Mother and focuses on feminine aspects of God. I’m not familiar with the Lutheran Faith, is this part of their Faith?

Not judging, but curious.

If I were Lutheran this would upset me. I know no Lutherans who would agree with this and it is deception on the part of this church to use the Lutheran name. It happens in the Catholic Church also. I remember in the 70’s when the feminist movement was doing their best to feminize the Scriptures and the liturgy, or at least make them gender neutral. Sadly, they made some progress for awhile. I still see remnants of this in some Catholic songs.

 

[JonNC]

If I were Lutheran this would upset me. I know no Lutherans who would agree with this and it is deception on the part of this church to use the Lutheran name. It happens in the Catholic Church also.

Probably some of the same people.

I remember in the 70’s when the feminist movement was doing their best to feminize the Scriptures and the liturgy, or at least make them gender neutral. Sadly, they made some progress for awhile. I still see remnants of this in some Catholic songs

There were some inroads into Lutheran hymnody as well, and even in the creeds (“who for us, and for our salvation”), but primarily in the ELCA.

All that said, you are right, it is upsetting and deceptive.

Jon

 

[Alix1912]

If I were Lutheran this would upset me. I know no Lutherans who would agree with this and it is deception on the part of this church to use the Lutheran name. It happens in the Catholic Church also. I remember in the 70’s when the feminist movement was doing their best to feminize the Scriptures and the liturgy, or at least make them gender neutral. Sadly, they made some progress for awhile. I still see remnants of this in some Catholic songs.

I am Lutheran and this does upset me. But I am LCMS and what is happening in the ELCA in general troubles me. Could have predicted this…If Gay and Lesbian ministers are OK, then why not a transgender God. Ugh.

Feminists really missed the point here. Just because there are different roles in the church for Men and Women…doesn’t mean that women aren’t important. We are more important then most feminists can see. I am the first person that introduces faith to my children…It doesn’t matter what my male pastor says on Sunday if my kids aren’t in the pew to hear it. Women do play a spiritual leadership role that is almost more important than that of a Pastor or a Priest, they shepherd their children. (This is of course with Daddies helping too, not to minimize the role of fathers at all )

Also I think the ultimate expression of how important women are to Christanity and God is seen in Mary. God didn’t need a man to bring his son to earth…he needed a human woman. She was the one trusted with his son, to bear him, raise him, and teach him about being human. (Again I’m sure that Joeseph helped a lot). You don’t get a savior who is both very God and very Man without a human mother. Also many times during the gospel, Christ made some of his most profound preachings to women, especially less than perfect women…the woman at the well, the prostitute about to be stoned, etc.

I wish modern feminists could see that by trying to gender neutralize everything, they actually cheapen the beautiful differences that make women unique and special.

 

[Dale_M]

I am Lutheran and this does upset me. But I am LCMS and what is happening in the ELCA in general troubles me. Could have predicted this…If Gay and Lesbian ministers are OK, then why not a transgender God. Ugh.

Does the LCMS believe that God has a gender? I know Mormons believe that God literally is male.

I think the question is important because if the use of male pronouns is simply customary and reflective of culture, is there any reason to cling to the use of such pronouns? The ELCA page on language (which I mentioned earlier) seemed to indicate a preference for non-gender specific identifiers. And if we accept that God does not have a gender, then I wonder if the appropriateness of male or female pronouns depends on one’s culture or background.

Yes, I know Jesus prayed “Father”, but was it because God is male or because the role of father (Head of the Household, protector, provider etc) was culturally resonant?

Also I think the ultimate expression of how important women are to Christanity and God is seen in Mary. God didn’t need a man to bring his son to earth…he needed a human woman. She was the one trusted with his son, to bear him, raise him, and teach him about being human. (Again I’m sure that Joeseph helped a lot). You don’t get a savior who is both very God and very Man without a human mother. Also many times during the gospel, Christ made some of his most profound preachings to women, especially less than perfect women…the woman at the well, the prostitute about to be stoned, etc.

I think Christian feminists would agree with you. For that matter, I am not sure who wouldn’t. However, (and I apologize if I am misunderstanding you) I don’t think that the leadership of Ebenzer Lutheran would agree that the Incarnation depends on God being male. I am not sure that I do, either.

 

[StrawberryJam]

Somehow I just don’t think there is enough information behind this to comment.

Can we get some citations?

 

[meltzerboy]

Probably it is, as others say, a feminist perspective. However, the female reference to G-d may have also been borrowed from Judaism, which, on occasion, refers to G-d in the feminine form.