reflections on embracing the feminine in God: does God have a penis?

 

I was recently asked to comment on my reference to God/-ess when writing and my fragmented attempts to speak of the divine in the feminine.

The beginning of 2007 I decided to speak of the “God” using feminine references – “She” and “Goddess” – rather than the masculine as is usual – “He” and “God”. I did so for the most part to see what came up for myself and secondarily to see what would come up as I did so.

This post includes some of reflections on embracing the feminine in God and includes some of my reasoning personal experiences having done so.

Textual and Contextual Engagement 

The biblical Hebrew reference in Genesis “God created man in his image: male and female he created them” speaks of men and women, male and female, individually and together as the image of God. The language here, though masculine, is inclusive. In my English context in South Africa the same usage of “he” is not inclusive.

The Old Testament and New Testament both make radical shifts from their cultural vantage point toward progressive validation of women and the feminine.

In retrospect those same OT and NT texts may sound sexist, but that’s just due to not valuing or understanding the context into which they speak. Hence, texts (e.g. Paul’s teachings) used to liberate women in his context have been used by some to suppress women in our context. This is akin to how Scripture was used in Apartheid era to support racism and racial suppression.

Additionally, our worship and language usage in churches and Christian environments is male-centred and male-focused.

In our civilisation we’re a bit more progressive (at least within the last 50 odd years or so) than both the OT and NT on this issue. Suffice it to say that the NT points toward the future kingdom as having a total breakdown of divisions – neither rich nor poor, neither slave nor master, neither male nor female, neither heaven nor earth. We get to bring and evidence that future in our present. I’d like to reflect that more and more in my life.

Oddly, despite the progressivenes of the OT and NT I find that a number of Churches – institutional and otherwise – relegate the feminine and the female to a secondary or subservient position. In many context women aren’t even allowed to preach. In some contexts women cannot be leaders or elders at all while in others only as attachments to their husbands. For me this aspect is not the one I’m primarily concerned with though it is of concern. Rather, there are theological implications that affect our relationship with Goddess.

Theological Implications

Theologically we teach that God includes masculine and feminine. This is logical as male and female are both indivdiually and collectively imago dei or the image of God. However, practically we are uncomfortable with references to God in the feminine or as female but are quite happy with masculine and male references.

Why?

The implication of this is lies in placing a higher value on the masculine and male in Godself and hence devaluing the feminine and female in Her. To truly honour Godself we must understand and value the feminine in her.

We’re comfortable with masculine references to “God” and hence lean toward being comfortable with validating the masculine and male in ourselves and our context. If we valued these in Godself surely we could value these in ourselves more?

I guess, as I’m commenting theologically here, I don’t buy into the notion of an androgenous God/-ess just as I don’t buy into the notion that Goddess is vague, impersonal and essentially unknowable. I believe that Goddess is more fully masculine and more fully feminine than we are. After all, we reflect the masculine and feminine in Godself.

Personal Experiences

I’ve found that a number of people feel that I’m somehow denigrating God by referring to “Her” and “Goddess” and that this is quite an emotive topic for many. This in itself means that there are issues worth exploring and uncovering as I hear a descripency between theological statements arising from Scripture, which should inform us and shape our praxis, and our personal feelings.

Additionally, I’ve literally seen a woman’s jaw drop when I referenced God in the feminine during a sermon. On another occassion I was asked to not do so again when preaching in quite a progressive church with strong postmodernist leanings which is actually quite inclusive of women. Ironically, I’ve found the most vehement opponents of my practice this year (and in previous years when I made small ventures into this territory) to be women themselves rather than men. One would think it would be the other way around. I’d love to hear some insights into this if anyone else has encountered the same.

 On a more personal note, I’ve found it hard in some contexts and quite hard in others to be faithful to my commitment. When speaking in Christian contexts I find I lean toward the masculine. This is largely due to all the tension and stress that arises from speaking in the feminine. When speaking in non-Christian contexts I find it easier to lean toward the feminine. This is equally due in small part to the tension around speaking in the masculine with reference to Godself. This is largely due to how doing so leads toward greater openness in dialogue and leanings toward experiencing Godself through doing so.

After a year of doing so I think I have to pursue the commitment a bit longer, perhaps another 6 or even 12 months in order to break through toward a new and deeper understanding of and relationship with Godself.