by Megan Buff

Created on: November 29, 2008

"If God is man, than man is god." Mary Daly

Strictly speaking, God is neither male nor female. God is transcendent, above everything we know or can understand. God is not restricted by sex or gender roles. However, we as humans must find a way to relate to God. Because we are so caught up in gender as an example, consider that nearly every poll you will ever take asks as its first question, "what is your sex? male or female?" we assign a gender to God in our struggle to understand God. This does not make it right, but I believe the construct is necessary.

Traditionally, God is viewed as being male. There are many examples in the Bible which support this view. Jesus refers to God as the "Father." The book of Hosea presents an extended metaphor of God as the husband of errant Israel. The masculine title "Lord" is used frequently, especially in the Old Testament, in reference to God's
authority. These are all legitimate and important ways to approach God, but they should not be taken independently of other considerations of God's
character.

God also has many feminine aspects that have been overlooked by the modern church. God experiences the pain of a woman in childbirth, in anguish over the sins of creation. God, in Jesus, expressed a longing to "gather [Jerusalem's] children together, just as a hen gathers her brood under her wings" (Luke 13:34). These and other instances show the motherly, womanly side of God.

A male-centric view of God has been prevalent in the church since its early days. In some cases, this theology leads to the exclusion of women from ministry and the religious support of a patriarchal system. In other cases, it can be as subtle as the usage of the male pronoun in reference to God. (Admittedly, it is difficult to avoid using a gendered pronoun for God, but it is possible.) The theology of a masculine God has created more problems than it has solved, however. Leaving aside both historical and modern instances of blatantly patriarchal religion, a masculine theology can very easily isolate women. It is often harder for a woman to relate to a man than to another woman, and the same is true of God's perceived gender. I have seen many women turned away from God
or at least from the church because they did not feel they could connect with a male deity. And I have seen even more Christian women exercise a tendency to speak to female friends about their problems before they ever consider praying to a "masculine" God.

On the flip side, however, it is equally important not to ignore or undervalue the masculine elements of God. God is an entire being, beyond any of our constructs of gender. In order to more fully understand God's nature, therefore, we must be open to seeing God for more than just male or female. Our human natures force us to see God within the framework of gender. Because God is neither male nor female, then, we must see God as both.

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