Human existence: the gender of God
- Thread starter CapAquaPis
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Apology means a speech in defense, and the Christian apology is to be given with ''gentleness and respect'' - 1 Pet. 3:15
leomoon
Well-known member
Very nice connections you made to "Love"...and "God".
I agree, love is gender neutral. So is God in my opinion. Energy is for all without conditions.
somewhere the bible states, "And he (she - it, whatever) makes it to rain on the just and unjust alike"
The writers of these works, whether accuracy counted or not, were patriarchal in their natures weren't they?
Regarding love your enemies: -= in Matthew 5:45 Jesus gives two practical examples. “He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.”
Waybread, I've never argued that God is strictly masculine. Furthermore I already mentioned the maternal imagery in Isaiah, and God's ''steadfast mercy, patience, love and compassion, which are qualities that we adore in exemplar women'' - https://www.astrologyweekly.com/forum/showpost.php?p=1033736&postcount=158
I have been thinking about corporeality of spirits the past few days, and I think it is safe to say that the living God doesn't have a body. We have to understand masculinity and feminity in purely mental terms.
I have been thinking about corporeality of spirits the past few days, and I think it is safe to say that the living God doesn't have a body. We have to understand masculinity and feminity in purely mental terms.
deleted on waybread's request - https://contramodalism.com/letter-of-auxentius-on-bishop-ulfilas/
He also says that Urphilas brought over as settlers to the Roman territory a large body of persons who had been driven out of their ancient abodes for the sake of their religion... This multitude of converts were located by the emperor in the different parts of Moesia, as he thought best, and he held Urphilas himself in such high honour, that he would often speak of him in conversation as the Moses of his day. Philostorgius is loud in his praises of this Urphilas ; and asserts that both he and the Goths who were under his spiritual rule, were followers of his own heretical opinions. - see 2.5 of the Epitome of Philostorgius's history http://www.tertullian.org/fathers/philostorgius.htm
This is verifiably true, since for centuries the Ostrogoths, Visigoths, Burgundians and Vandals were Homoian Christians, and parts of the Gothic Bible are still extant.
Now, if such massive migration and exodus of the people of Ulfilas is possible, why wouldn't it be possible with the people of Moses?
He also says that Urphilas brought over as settlers to the Roman territory a large body of persons who had been driven out of their ancient abodes for the sake of their religion... This multitude of converts were located by the emperor in the different parts of Moesia, as he thought best, and he held Urphilas himself in such high honour, that he would often speak of him in conversation as the Moses of his day. Philostorgius is loud in his praises of this Urphilas ; and asserts that both he and the Goths who were under his spiritual rule, were followers of his own heretical opinions. - see 2.5 of the Epitome of Philostorgius's history http://www.tertullian.org/fathers/philostorgius.htm
This is verifiably true, since for centuries the Ostrogoths, Visigoths, Burgundians and Vandals were Homoian Christians, and parts of the Gothic Bible are still extant.
Now, if such massive migration and exodus of the people of Ulfilas is possible, why wouldn't it be possible with the people of Moses?
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waybread
Well-known member
Major migrations are known throughout history. Archaeologists usually hope to find evidence of them, which sometimes just isn't there. Supposedly the Goths originated in Gotland (Gothland) of Sweden and were part of a larger movement of northern Europeans into the Roman empire during its waning years.
To classicists, this was the lamented fall of the Roman empire and beginning of the Dark Ages. Germanic history reads a lot differently, explaining that the Teutonic invasions were a population migration of noble forest folk, maintaining their independence from evil Roman colonialists.
While a migration of people out of Egypt seems entirely possible, there is the slight matter of them crossing the Red Sea without getting their feet wet.
Good thinking on the topic of the gender of God. I think that because ancient gods were typically modeled after human rulers long prior to the emergence of Judaism (like in Sumer), Jewish scribes had no problem in describing God in human terms.
But I think that humans are gendered beings, so we naturally think in these terms. I cannot imagine God being so circumscribed.
To classicists, this was the lamented fall of the Roman empire and beginning of the Dark Ages. Germanic history reads a lot differently, explaining that the Teutonic invasions were a population migration of noble forest folk, maintaining their independence from evil Roman colonialists.
While a migration of people out of Egypt seems entirely possible, there is the slight matter of them crossing the Red Sea without getting their feet wet.
Good thinking on the topic of the gender of God. I think that because ancient gods were typically modeled after human rulers long prior to the emergence of Judaism (like in Sumer), Jewish scribes had no problem in describing God in human terms.
But I think that humans are gendered beings, so we naturally think in these terms. I cannot imagine God being so circumscribed.
david starling
Well-known member
Who did the surgery on God? And, was it about changing from female to male, or vice versa?
david starling
Well-known member
david starling
Well-known member
Maybe God is a "Hermaphrodite" !
Both a "He" AND a "She", all in One!
Both a "He" AND a "She", all in One!
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''For some declare him [the Ogdoad] to be without a consort, and neither male nor female, and, in fact, nothing at all; while others affirm him to be masculo-feminine, assigning to him the nature of a hermaphrodite; others, again, allot Sige to him as a spouse, that thus may be formed the first conjunction.''... - http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/0103111.htm
That is not a new idea. Brother Irenaeus gives the possibility that the Gnostics' god is a cucumber.
''There is a certain Proarche, royal, surpassing all thought, a power existing before every other substance, and extended into space in every direction. But along with it there exists a power which I term a Gourd; and along with this Gourd there exists a power which again I term Utter-Emptiness. This Gourd and Emptiness, since they are one, produced (and yet did not simply produce, so as to be apart from themselves) a fruit, everywhere visible, eatable, and delicious, which fruit-language calls a Cucumber. Along with this Cucumber exists a power of the same essence, which again I call a Melon. These powers, the Gourd, Utter-Emptiness, the Cucumber, and the Melon, brought forth the remaining multitude of the delirious melons of Valentinus...'' - ibid.
Waybread, Christ was crucified on the date two days ago. I follow neither the eastern nor the western computus.
I wouldn't use that word for the Pascha, because apparently it might be related to a foreign goddess.
I don't really follow days - Col. 2:16, but if I were to, I would be a Quartodeciman.
''All these observed the fourteenth day of the passover according to the Gospel, deviating in no respect, but following the rule of faith. And I also, Polycrates, the least of you all, do according to the tradition of my relatives, some of whom I have closely followed. For seven of my relatives were bishops; and I am the eighth. And my relatives always observed the day when the people put away the leaven.'' - http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/250105.htm
I hope that the quarantine preserves your health as the Scripture preserves your soul.
waybread
Well-known member
Thank you.
Then is April 12 Easter Sunday for you?
Easter does seem to be a modification of earlier pagan equinox holidays. The name does sound like Ishtar, the Near Eastern planetary goddess Venus. (Cf. the biblical book of Esther.)
Eostre (Ostara) was a pagan Germanic goddess associated with spring.
Then is April 12 Easter Sunday for you?
Easter does seem to be a modification of earlier pagan equinox holidays. The name does sound like Ishtar, the Near Eastern planetary goddess Venus. (Cf. the biblical book of Esther.)
Eostre (Ostara) was a pagan Germanic goddess associated with spring.
david starling
Well-known member
waybread
Well-known member
Peto is probably busy painting Easter eggs!
A fertility symbol of pagan origin.
Maybe not.
david starling
Well-known member
The mystery of the resurrection in the ancient eastern churches was always observed on the date of the crucifixion/date when the leaven is put away/date when the lambs were slaughtered before sunset regardless of the day of the week - see the above quote from Polycarp. (This is why the resurrection is still called ''Pascha'' in Catholic and Orthodox tradition.) They communicated with Jews for the calendar well into the 4th century, because John ''Chrysostom'' wrote against Christians who join the Jews in their festivals, incorrectly associating them with the ''Judaizers'' of the NT.
Christ died for the sins of the world, but if he wasn't raised on the third day and if he didn't enter the heavenly temple made without hands as a high priest after 40 days, we would still be in our sins - 1 Cor. 15; Hebr. 9. Because of his obedience to God and servitude of man even to death on a cross, God highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father - Phil 2. We can observe, therefore, that the death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus are related and not as distinct in meaning as for example the baptism by fire on the day of the Pentecost/Shavuot.
I highly doubt that the apostles and their disciples invented new festivals, rather than observing the festivals of the Law in light of their fulfilled symbolic and prophetic meaning.
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