Although G-d is often referred to in the Hebrew Bible in masculine language and sometimes in feminine terms-- such as the Shekinah, for example–G-d, as a spiritual being, ultimately transcends what we regard as masculine and feminine traits. The fact we are created in G-d’s image refers to the internal qualities of G-d: love, compassion, mercy, justice, honesty, rather than any gender-specific characteristics.
There just seems to me a minimalization of what God is when people say he is BEYOND. BEYOND to me means it “INCLUDES” and is EVEN MORE than we can understand … not a sexuality of Penis and Vagina, but rather a relationship of love between persons … a Giver, a Receiver, a Reciprocater. The love of God between the Father and Son is even MORE INTENSE than that of a man and woman in marriage. My gut just tells me that …
In Judaism, the curious thing is that despite the “beyond” nature of G-d, there is a very personal relationship between G-d and Man, in which the latter not only speaks directly to G-d but can even be critical of Him.
Could not contain Himself? I hope you are not suggesting that God’s creation of the universe was not a free choice, or was somehow necessary for God to do…
I was thinking the same thing…
Absolutely not. God needs nothing. God could have continued in BEING for all eternity and never have created anything or anyone. GRACE is that God’s life and love overflowed and spilled out - willfully
Ok, good. The way you worded it before seemed as if you were suggesting otherwise.Absolutely not. God needs nothing. God could have continued in BEING for all eternity and never have created anything or anyone. GRACE is that God’s life and love overflowed and spilled out - willfully
thanks for helping me to clarify that … God willfully created the Universe - LOVE is what “moved” God to do so.
Did you look at the link I posted?
What has your experience of God been like? Would you acknowlege that God’s heart is also like that of a Mother (although I know you would not refer to God as Mother).Call me simple. Since it is “Our Father who art in heaven…” as related by Our Lord, I am simply going to state that God is to be thought of in the masculine sense.
No amount of Feminist outrage is going to deter me from this concept.
I sense that you are WAY too centered on “feelings.” We are commissioned by God to obey and follow His law and direction, not to do it if we “feel” like it is right or good.
You are right that we cannot allow our emotions to control our will necessarily - but emotions can help the will too. When your heart is in the right place, emotions are a part of being fully human. And to me being human or becoming fully human is what “WHOLE-E-NESS” is all about. I think 2 of the most powerful words in the Gospels is at the tomb of Lazarus - “JESUS WEPT”. Please don’t let Christ’s divinity engulf his humanity.
This idea is in keeping with Judaism: that of following the Law even when we don’t feel like doing so or may think it trivial. Sometimes appropriate behavior can change one’s thoughts and feelings.
I agree that we cannot allow our emotions to control our will. That is precisely what I am rather concerned you are allowing to occur in yourself. Sure, you can consider God with motherly qualities, but He is our Father, as Christ commanded us to call him.
Don’t you think that if your heart is in the right place, that emotions can “aide” or guide the will? Therefore emotions are not a liability, but a God given gift to also help us be fully human.
This is very true. A person can command their will to act in a certain way, pushing aside their emotions, and in the process the emotions can be changed to face the same direction as the will.