God as a Parent (Jesus, ritual, evolution, America, theist)

[Guitar's Cry]

I was inspired by the "Argument from Need" thread to start this one, since I've been wondering lately about the parent/child relationship with God.

If we look at our relationship with God through this parent/child paradigm, could we also not look at the evolution of this relationship? In other words, does our historical relationship with God undergo the same changes that the human parent/child relationship undergoes?

For instance, the story of Eden. God set some rules about being in the garden, they were broken, and God's children were punished - and were laded with original sin. Then Jesus, came (who could take many symbolic familial roles, including that of the older brother, since he was also God's son), and told us that we could be forgivin by God if we wish to be and abide the rules. Almost like a parent sending a child to his or her room and saying later, "I still love you, but you have to obey the rules. If you can do that, you can come out."

Does anyone have any examples from other religions? What about the shifting of one theistic faith to another in a culture: could this have bearing on the evolution of a parental relationship with God? Looked at objectively (as in, not as a criticism, but as an observation) could atheism be rebellion against the parent figure?

What do you guys think?

[Wandered Off]

Originally Posted by Guitar's Cry

Looked at objectively (as in, not as a criticism, but as an observation) could atheism be rebellion against the parent figure?

I don't think so. Satanism would more fit that description. An athiest would, in effect, say there never was a parent. I don't see how you can rebel against that which you do not believe exists.

[Hema]

Hinduism states that God is mother, father, brother, friend etc. The realtionship will change depending on how much we open up to God. When we take one step towards him, he will take ten towards us. We believe that we suffer for own wrongdoings through karma. When all our karma is offset and we are spiritual enough, we become one with God and break free of the cycle of birth and death. In this way, God gives us many chances to offset our bad karma instead of sending us to an eternity of suffering.

[Guitar's Cry]

Originally Posted by Wandered Off

I don't think so. Satanism would more fit that description. An athiest would, in effect, say there never was a parent. I don't see how you can rebel against that which you do not believe exists.

Well, I was thinking culturally more so than individually. But, that is a good point.

Could we still apply the rebellion stage of the relationship to a societal view of God? For example, if we look at the American view of God as it is now as opposed to earlier in history, I would say that God's power is more in question than it was. Perhaps that could be compared to a teenager questioning a parent's power over him or her...?

[Gentoo]

Originally Posted by Guitar's Cry

Well, I was thinking culturally more so than individually. But, that is a good point.

Could we still apply the rebellion stage of the relationship to a societal view of God? For example, if we look at the American view of God as it is now as opposed to earlier in history, I would say that God's power is more in question than it was. Perhaps that could be compared to a teenager questioning a parent's power over him or her...?

What is the American view of God? And what was it earlier in history?

[Wandered Off]

Originally Posted by Guitar's Cry

Could we still apply the rebellion stage of the relationship to a societal view of God? For example, if we look at the American view of God as it is now as opposed to earlier in history, I would say that God's power is more in question than it was. Perhaps that could be compared to a teenager questioning a parent's power over him or her...?

Yeah, that is more like it, but I think a better analogy is 'maturing' over rebelling. The maturing child wants to be more independent and reduce parental influence - which I guess you could call rebellion, although it's a more healthy process than I normally view rebellion.

[jonny]

What you described is the LDS view of God. We refer to God as Heavenly Father because we believe he is the literal father of our spirits. Since we are all spirit brothers and sisters, we believe that Christ is our brother. We consider him our older brother because we believe he was the first spirit created.

[Guitar's Cry]

Originally Posted by Gentoo

What is the American view of God? And what was it earlier in history?

I think the American view of God today is varied, but progressive in that God is being questioned and analyzed substantially. Earlier, I assume that the view was rather narrow (in the overall sense, not in the individual).

Where God was once the unquestioned lawgiver, God is now openly questioned and is seen as more of a flexible authority (I think).

[Guitar's Cry]

Originally Posted by Wandered Off

Yeah, that is more like it, but I think a better analogy is 'maturing' over rebelling. The maturing child wants to be more independent and reduce parental influence - which I guess you could call rebellion, although it's a more healthy process than I normally view rebellion.

Sounds good.