Why is God always perceived as a man?

[CaptainF]

Why not a woman? If God is all loving, it seems easier to make God a woman, due to the whole motherly instinct. Also, I'd feel better having a woman love me instead of a dude.

Woman are more into the loving thing than men are. Men are more into spanking your ass and teaching you a lesson.

What do you think?

 

[covok48]

Ever cracked open a Bible?

When it says HE, HIS, HIM, LORD..... that kinda gives it away.

 

[Birdjaguar]

There are other religions besides christiantiy and not all of them see god as a man or even as a human.

 

[Mathilda]

Patriarchal societies.
They just couldn't fathom the idea of female above everything.

About the christian god specifically this brings about an excellent point though.
The christian god is a father and not mother.
Mother would love her child unconditionally, farther always demands things to earn his love.
Might do kind things (like funding your education) but if you don't meet the expectations...

 

[Stylesjl]

Because god was made in man's image.

 

[Birdjaguar]

God must have an infinite amount of testosterone in his system. So look out.

 

[Erik Mesoy]

For the same reason that the default pronoun has been "he" until the last ten years or so.

 

[MobBoss]

Patriarchal societies.
They just couldn't fathom the idea of female above everything.

About the christian god specifically this brings about an excellent point though.
The christian god is a father and not mother.
Mother would love her child unconditionally, farther always demands things to earn his love.
Might do kind things (like funding your education) but if you don't meet the expectations...

As a father, you dont think I love my daughters unconditionally? I agree with you, that God is indeed a father figure and thus that is why he is referred to in the masculine...but I disagree with you about the unconditional love. I do think he loves us all unconditionally, just like I love my kids...that doesnt mean he has to approve of all the bad things we do. Fathers can love unconditionally just as much as mothers can. In fact...my wife is constantly telling me how a fathers love is far more important than a mothers love. Mothers love = nuturing. Fathers love = defining.

 

[CaptainF]

As a father, you dont think I love my daughters unconditionally? I agree with you, that God is indeed a father figure and thus that is why he is referred to in the masculine...but I disagree with you about the unconditional love. I do think he loves us all unconditionally, just like I love my kids...that doesnt mean he has to approve of all the bad things we do. Fathers can love unconditionally just as much as mothers can. In fact...my wife is constantly telling me how a fathers love is far more important than a mothers love. Mothers love = nuturing. Fathers love = defining.

What about single mothers?

 

[MobBoss]

What about single mothers?

Kids without dads (or defining father figures) often have issues. Just like kids raised only by dads can have issues as well.

Personally, I think there is more than just a biological reason that it takes both a man and a woman to have a kid. Developmentally, a kid needs both paternal and maternal nurturing for development. Take away one or the other and something somewhere will be lacking.

 

[Mathilda]

In fact...my wife is constantly telling me how a fathers love is far more important than a mothers love. Mothers love = nuturing. Fathers love = defining.

Your wife is very clever.
Mother's love is obvious, not under question.
Father's love is more uncertain.

No, I'm not saying that there are no fathers in existance who don't love their children unconditionally, and if you do - good for you.
What I'm saying that traditionally a mother would love her children unconditionally, a father's love would have to be earned.
A mother would focus on the child as a person, the father would focus on the actions.
Father's love would come from what you do, mother's love from who you are.
I believe christianity is a father religion.

 

[CaptainF]

Kids without dads (or defining father figures) often have issues. Just like kids raised only by dads can have issues as well.

Personally, I think there is more than just a biological reason that it takes both a man and a woman to have a kid. Developmentally, a kid needs both paternal and maternal nurturing for development. Take away one or the other and something somewhere will be lacking.

In my family it seems as though my mom runs the show. My dad wins the vast majority of the bread, but is quite distant emotionally. He is a good man, and will go out of his way for us, but is quite aloof.

My mother on the other hand has always been the nurturer, the loving figure and the emotion in raising us.

From what I have seen amongst my friends and acquaintances and me, most fathers seem to be like this, and most mothers seem to be like this.

 

[Pyrite]

"Your wife is very clever.
Mother's love is obvious, not under question.
Father's love is more uncertain.

No, I'm not saying that there are no fathers in existance who don't love their children unconditionally, and if you do - good for you.
What I'm saying that traditionally a mother would love her children unconditionally, a father's love would have to be earned.
A mother would focus on the child as a person, the father would focus on the actions.
Father's love would come from what you do, mother's love from who you are.
I believe christianity is a father religion"

This is crap. The role was put in place by society itself, it's not some fundamental characteristic.

 

[Mathilda]

This is crap. The role was put in place by society itself, it's not some fundamental characteristic.

Who knows. Maybe it is indeed societal, stemming from hunter-gatherer days.
Maybe it's more biological due to giving birth, breast feeding, hormones and such.
Still seems rather fundamental to me.

 

[Pyrite]

That a mother's love comes simply from being a child and a father's is conditional upon your actions is ludicrous. The type of relationships I see around me constantly deny that completely, I found both renties to be equally supporting of me personally, regardless of my (admittedly odd) actions, and I KNOW all the hippies/scum punks/ crusties do the same with their kids. No way.

 

[Mathilda]

That would be a difference in opinon then.

 

[MobBoss]

Your wife is very clever.
Mother's love is obvious, not under question.
Father's love is more uncertain.

No, I'm not saying that there are no fathers in existance who don't love their children unconditionally, and if you do - good for you.
What I'm saying that traditionally a mother would love her children unconditionally, a father's love would have to be earned.
A mother would focus on the child as a person, the father would focus on the actions.
Father's love would come from what you do, mother's love from who you are.
I believe christianity is a father religion.

Well, as a father, I am here to tell you...my kids dont have to "earn" my love. My love just "is". Period.

EDIT: Perhaps this is why my kids have turned out so much better than those of my peers maybe?

 

[Perfection]

Well, the big white beard kinda gives it away.

Besides, if God was female, then it would make Jesus the child of a homosexual relationship.

 

[Narz]

Besides, if God was female, then it would make Jesus the child of a homosexual relationship.

Not really, with immaculate conception there doesn't have to be ANY relationship.

 

[Perfection]

Not really, with immaculate conception there doesn't have to be ANY relationship.

Well, if we know anything from the whole Zues-Herecules thing, it's that gods get to screw around and make semigod versions of themselves with humans. I think we can go on this precedent for Jesus.