Does anyone have a problem with IT? (beliefs, doctrine, church)

[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*]

Originally Posted by 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.

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]

Originally Posted by 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"?

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

[Aqualung]

Originally Posted by Buttons*

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*]

Originally Posted by Storm

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*]

Originally Posted by Aqualung

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]

Originally Posted by Buttons*

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*]

Originally Posted by 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.

How could ignoring their gender be disrespectful?

Do you think they'd be offended?