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Does anyone have a problem with IT?

MaddLlama

MaddLlama

Obstructor of justice
Buttons* said:
so Gods have he human capacity to be able to feel offended?


Could you expound on this for me? I think I know what you're saying, but I want to be absolutely sure :)
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The Gods, for people who are polytheists, are closer to humans in their attitudes, appearance and other things than what Monotheists would consider God (though, they often appear as animals as well). They exist in a spirit realm close to ours (and in some cases overlaps). They are individual beings with their own personalities and responsibilities.
 
doppelganger

doppelganger

Through the Looking Glass
Buttons* said:
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"?
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Paraphrasing Spinoza, "God" is paradoxically the anti-"It".
 
Willamena

Willamena

Just me
Premium Member
Buttons* said:
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?
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I suspect that if there was a problem to be had, it would be with the person for whom others are utilizing their least favourite pronoun for God.
 
Hema

Hema

Sweet n Spicy
Buttons* said:
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"?
Click to expand...

In Hinduism God is neither male nor female but has male and female qualities...these are also represented in the Deities which are manifestations of that one God but represent different attributes. Basically, the male aspect is Shiva or the cosmic consciousness and Shakti is the female aspect or energy and creative force of the universe. So, to us, although God has no gender because God is limitless...God can be considered as both Mother and Father. :)
 
ayani

ayani

member
i tend to call God "He" in writing and speaking, but don't see Him as male or as a 'man', but as beyond gender, and also as present in both men and women. yet "It" sounds disrespectful to me, so i stick with "Him".
 
Buttons*

Buttons*

Glass half Panda'd
ayani said:
i tend to call God "He" in writing and speaking, but don't see Him as male or as a 'man', but as beyond gender, and also as present in both men and women. yet "It" sounds disrespectful to me, so i stick with "Him".
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Why is "it" so disrespectful, though?

It's just a word... same as "he" or "she"
 
Aqualung

Aqualung

Tasty
Buttons* said:
Why is "it" so disrespectful, though?

It's just a word... same as "he" or "she"
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"it" just carries a lot of "baggage" (Yes, I hate myself for saying baggage, but I couldn't think of anything else). It's reserved for inanimate objects or children you don't like and want to make fun of.
 
CaptainXeroid

CaptainXeroid

Following Christ
Buttons* said:
...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? ...
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No worries by me, as I know many people, including including quite a few in our Disciples of Christ Church, who refer to God as a Mother Spirit. :)

As long as we are good to each other, I don't think God would be offended over which pronoun we choose.
 
Buttons*

Buttons*

Glass half Panda'd
Aqualung said:
"it" just carries a lot of "baggage" (Yes, I hate myself for saying baggage, but I couldn't think of anything else). It's reserved for inanimate objects or children you don't like and want to make fun of.
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Yes, but instead of "it" perhaps ... "the one" would suffice and not be so baggageful? :D
 
Quagmire

Quagmire

Imaginary talking monkey
Staff member
Premium Member
I like to call It; The Great WhatEver (WE for short :D)

Anyway IT's been covered, we've already discussed IT.

Ok, I'll say it... ( 1 2 3 ... Last Page)
Quagmire

(hey, that was supposed to show up as a link to a thread. Oh well, forget IT)
 
lunamoth

lunamoth

Will to love
Quagmire said:
I like to call It; The Great WhatEver (WE for short :D)

Anyway IT's been covered, we've already discussed IT.

Ok, I'll say it... ( 1 2 3 ... Last Page)
Quagmire

(hey, that was supposed to show up as a link to a thread. Oh well, forget IT)
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I gave her the link to IT in post #16, where IT has been discussed in excruciating detail.
 
Buttons*

Buttons*

Glass half Panda'd
Storm said:
I do use "the One" from time to time, but pronouns are good.
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If I dont say "the One" my tendency is to say "He" moreso than "She." (Unless, of course, I'm referring to Sophia or Barbelo - or Miriam, naturally.) I think it has to do with my Anglican roots. In either case, I would refer to it as "Tao" ... but I dont want people to get the wrong idea about my faith. The trouble is, I dont understand what I'm meant to fully. Until I do, "Tao" "He" and "She" are on my list of things to avoid when addressing my heart.
 
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