Does anyone have a problem with IT?

[Buttons*]

I'm wondering if people here have a problem with the possibility that their god/goddess/es/s aren't male or female... but "It" something without gender. Would it be painful for anyones' beliefs to refer to a diety as "it"?

 

[Aqualung]

It would be for me, since a lot doctrine in my church is based around the idea that God is male. For example, we recognise him as our "heavenly father", and attribute other male characteristics to him. A lot of this stuff, too, isn't taught in a way that indicates that it's metaphorical, either. So, it might be difficult to begin to view it as metaphorical.

 

[Buttons*]

It would be for me, since a lot doctrine in my church is based around the idea that God is male. For example, we recognise him as our "heavenly father", and attribute other male characteristics to him. A lot of this stuff, too, isn't taught in a way that indicates that it's metaphorical, either. So, it might be difficult to begin to view it as metaphorical.

yeah, I imagine if it's a basis of your faith that it would be hard to call God an It. If God did happen to be an "it" do you think it would be offended that people gave it gender?

 

[Storm]

I'm wondering if people here have a problem with the possibility that their god/goddess/es/s aren't male or female... but "It" something without gender. Would it be painful for anyones' beliefs to refer to a diety as "it"?

I usually refer to God as "it." I'd like it noted, however, that I don't believe God is a deity.

 

[Aqualung]

yeah, I imagine if it's a basis of your faith that it would be hard to call God an It. If God did happen to be an "it" do you think it would be offended that people gave it gender?

No. I don't think it would be, because I think it would therefore have given itself that gender in order to metaphorically describe itself to fallable, stupid humans.

 

[Buttons*]

I usually refer to God as "it." I'd like it noted, however, that I don't believe God is a deity.

So apparently it wouldn't offend you whatsoever

Let me ask you in reverse. What if God did happen to be a deity? Would s/he be offended that you didn't respect his/her gender?

 

[Buttons*]

No. I don't think it would be, because I think it would therefore have given itself that gender in order to metaphorically describe itself to fallable, stupid humans.

Thanks Aqua

 

[Storm]

So apparently it wouldn't offend you whatsoever

Let me ask you in reverse. What if God did happen to be a deity? Would s/he be offended that you didn't respect his/her gender?

If God is a deity, and petty enough to be offended by my poor attempts to understand Him/Her, I think S/He will have bigger issues than my terminology.

Besides, I tend to favor the theory that

God will understand. And if He does not, then He is not God, and we need not worry.

From Kingdom of Heaven.

 

[MaddLlama]

Well, my Gods actually do have gender, or at least they choose to appear to have gender, and I feel it would be very disrespectful to them to not address them that way.

 

[Buttons*]

Well, my Gods actually do have gender, or at least they choose to appear to have gender, and I feel it would be very disrespectful to them to not address them that way.

How could ignoring their gender be disrespectful?

Do you think they'd be offended?

 

[MaddLlama]

How could ignoring their gender be disrespectful?

Do you think they'd be offended?

Yes, they would.

 

[Buttons*]

Yes, they would.

may I ask why?

 

[MaddLlama]

may I ask why?

Probably for the same reason a woman would be upset if someone said "excuse me Mister"; or, the way someone would be offended if they asked you to call them "Jennifer" and instead you consistently call them "Samantha".

They choose to represent themselves to us in a particular way, so why address them differently?

It also is significant that polytheistic cosmology generally doesn't involve a formless, genderless, omniscient being.

 

[Buttons*]

Probably for the same reason a woman would be upset if someone said "excuse me Mister"; or, the way someone would be offended if they asked you to call them "Jennifer" and instead you consistently call them "Samantha".

so Gods have he human capacity to be able to feel offended?

They choose to represent themselves to us in a particular way, so why address them differently?

It also is significant that polytheistic cosmology generally doesn't involve a formless, genderless, omniscient being.

Could you expound on this for me? I think I know what you're saying, but I want to be absolutely sure

 

[YmirGF]

I'm wondering if people here have a problem with the possibility that their god/goddess/es/s aren't male or female... but "It" something without gender. Would it be painful for anyones' beliefs to refer to a diety as "it"?

Not in the slightest to me, O' Great Poowawa [may cupcakes always fill your larder]. I often use the term "IT" when referring to what other human animals call "god" or "gawd". The Big Kahuna or Whole Enchilada, take your pick, is a tad beyond our dwarfed concepts of male and female, imho.

 

[lunamoth]

This thread: it

 

[Buttons*]

This thread: it

very clever, i only hope you came prepared with your boomarang

 

[lunamoth]

I am always prepared for IT.

 

[CaptainXeroid]

IT is an impersonal pronoun reserved for desks, fences, trees, and the like.

I prefer to refer to God as my Father in Heaven, so I use the pronoun He.

I don't see it as painful when people refer to God however they deem necessary, but I do find it rude and insulting when someone corrects me when I say 'He':149: I respect the fact that different people relate to God in different ways, so I don't think it's unreasonable for others to extend me the same courtesy.:cross:

 

[Buttons*]

IT is an impersonal pronoun reserved for desks, fences, trees, and the like.

I prefer to refer to God as my Father in Heaven, so I use the pronoun He.

I don't see it as painful when people refer to God however they deem necessary, but I do find it rude and insulting when someone corrects me when I say 'He':149: I respect the fact that different people relate to God in different ways, so I don't think it's unreasonable for others to extend me the same courtesy.:cross:

I know that you may get angry at me, but I want you to know that I ask this with all the respect in the world. I'm not poking fun this time. *gasp*

What if He was a She? Would S/He be offended at the assumption that S/He is considered to be male all the time?

If this subject is too upsetting, I'll delete my post and say I'm sorry