The Nature of God (2A) Flashcards
To what gender is God consistently referred to in the bible?
Male. he is the “Father”, traditional masculine pronouns are used, jesus is the son of Man and the son of God. He is likened to a human father, providing for his children, disciplining and loving them. However, this does not mean he is biologically male.
Was Jesus always male?
Although clearly a man when he became flesh, before the incarnation, he was “with God and God”, therefore being neither male or female
What two distinct ideas does Gods portrayal as Father in the bible emphasise.
God as the creator and the provider for ther world.
The relationship between God and Jesus being a pternal one. e.g. jesus referred to God as father.
What are some biblical passages that refer to God in female terms
The hebrew term “Ruach”, used to refer to the breath of God is feminine. God is also referred to, in Isaiah, as a Mother comforting her children.
What is the name of Sallie Mcfague, an American ecofeminists book.
Metaphorical Theology(1982)
What are Sallie Mcfagues replacements for the traditional metaphors of God(Father, Son and Spirit)
Mother, Lover and Friend
what did McFague believe about all language surrounding God
It is all metaphorical and only represents what we think about God, not the actual nature of God. By calling God mother, McFague is only characterizing the relationship she feels she has with God to replace the outdated metaphors in the Bible.
What is the belief that to harm the world is to harm God?
Panentheism.
What does McFague claim that a masculine interpretation of Gods image has lead to
Abuse of the natural world and the domination of women.
Why does McFague claim that using maternal images of God leads to
a view of a nursing, comforting, caring God that humanity is reliant on. However, it is female, not feminine terms to avoid traditional gender roles etc.
What are some criticisms of McFague
Appears to go against what Jesus said (calling God father)
To Jesus, father and mother are not interchangeable as jesus’ mother was Mary.
It is unbiblical and goes against tradition.
Define Impassibility and Immutability
Impassibility-cannot suffer
Immutability cannot change.
What is the name of Jurgen Moltmanns book and when was it published?
The Crucified God(1972)
What is Moltmanns issue with the traditional view of God?
The idea that God cannot suffer removes various important ideas from christian theology. After two world wars, the holocaust, and continuing conflict, it is no long theologically possible to believe in a God detatched from his subjects suffering.
What is Moltmanns view of the crooss in Christian theology.
Chrsitianity is an act of “identification” with Jesus upon the cross. Moltmann maintains that Jesus genuinely died upon the cross, and when christians acknowledge that they are acknowledging solidarity with the poor, the marginalised, the oppressed etc.
What is Moltmanns example of God suffering alongside humans.
The Jewish boy hanged at Auschwitz.
What is Moltmanns issue with catholic mass.
It denies the finality of Gods sacrifice, demeaning the seperation of Son and Father, which in turn weakens the reunition of the Son of Man and God with the resurrection, Jesus’ greatest miracle.
What does Moltmann believe about Jesus at the time of crucifixion
That he was God and God was no greater or more magnificent than when humbled or helpless upon the cross.
What does Moltmann dismiss as Docetism?
The idea that only the human part of Jesus suffered on the cross, not the divine part.
How does moltmann resolve protest atheism?
Protest atheism, or atheism based on the idea that a God that would let such suffering happen to the world is not one worth believing in. Moltmann resolves this by saying that God protested by allowing his Son to die on the cross.
Validity of referring to God as mother
Yes-McFagues arguements, its all metaphorical annd mother may more accurately portray Gods character.Masculine view of God has lead to suffering and oppression. there are biblical reference to God as a women.
No-Good doesnt “have a gender” so theres no point in splitting hairs when what has traditionally been used works fine. Using metaphor of mother can result in harmful sterotypes for women, e.g. seeing the female side of God as only caring and loving with the male side as dominant and militant.
