Fwd: [acb-chat] We Shall Overcome...

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Carl Jarvis via acb-chat <acb-chat@acblists.org>
Date: Tue, 28 Aug 2018 15:28:02 +0000
Subject: Re: [acb-chat] We Shall Overcome...
To: "General discussion list for ACB members and friends where a wide
range of topics from blindness to politics, issues of the day or
whatever comes to mind are welcome. This is a free form discussion
list." <acb-chat@acblists.org>
Cc: Carl Jarvis <carjar82@gmail.com>

"It is probably best, then, for modern day Christians to heed the
words and warning of bishop Augustine, who once said, "
si comprehendis non est Deus
." If you have understood, then what you have understood is not God."

As an Agnostic, I take my place among those who do not understand.
As a person who observes the world around me, and hopefully learns
from experience, I see the Human Species as one more Life Form on this
Planet. We are linked to all other Life. We suffer from "Grandiose
Imagination!"
We have mistaken our ability to manipulate our environment as a sign
of our superiority. As the song warns, "Fools rush in Where Angels
Fear to Tread..."

Carl Jarvis



On 8/28/18, Demaya, Diego via acb-chat <acb-chat@acblists.org> wrote:
> What the early church thought about God's gender
> [https://cdn.theconversation.com/avatars/517571/width170/image-20180723-189319-1wcqno3.jpg]David
> Wheeler-Reed
> <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__theconversation.com_profiles_david-2Dwheeler-2Dreed-2D517571&d=DwMFaQ&c=cBOA5YEoZuz9KdLvh38YxdrPtfJt83ckXekfBgq5xB0&r=CK8oOj7-JYZnTDmB5orNTVZXar6NrsnGtGHfQ5m79Do&m=ICjU9CxHPcug0RJocin0cVVdZXZ7asiKfH92JngYzVU&s=T0iffRdVZqOOsDYnlRhcd7ZhiZrafQd8hLuiteiLhTg&e=>
> August 1, 2018 6.37am EDT
> [https://images.theconversation.com/files/230043/original/file-20180731-136673-128azg9.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip]
> All Saints Episcopal Church, Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Carolyn
> Fitzpatrick<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__en.wikipedia.org_wiki_All-5FSaints-5FEpiscopal-5FChurch-5F-28Fort-5FLauderdale-2C-5FFlorida-29-23_media_File-3ASanctuary.JPG&d=DwMFaQ&c=cBOA5YEoZuz9KdLvh38YxdrPtfJt83ckXekfBgq5xB0&r=CK8oOj7-JYZnTDmB5orNTVZXar6NrsnGtGHfQ5m79Do&m=ICjU9CxHPcug0RJocin0cVVdZXZ7asiKfH92JngYzVU&s=feZEua_BetzX_Kx90Cr8Fdx7TDGZJvHGWJREx7IJW9c&e=>
>
> The Episcopal
> Church<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.episcopalchurch.org&d=DwMFaQ&c=cBOA5YEoZuz9KdLvh38YxdrPtfJt83ckXekfBgq5xB0&r=CK8oOj7-JYZnTDmB5orNTVZXar6NrsnGtGHfQ5m79Do&m=ICjU9CxHPcug0RJocin0cVVdZXZ7asiKfH92JngYzVU&s=BBCncJUOjziQajz9c-gCps7urgGWH33nNdqhVsOpVjQ&e=>
> has decided to revise its 1979 prayer
> book<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.washingtonpost.com_news_acts-2Dof-2Dfaith_wp_2018_07_18_the-2Depiscopal-2Dchurch-2Dwill-2Drevise-2Dits-2Dbeloved-2Dprayer-2Dbook-2Dbut-2Ddoesnt-2Dknow-2Dwhen_-3Fnoredirect-3Don-26utm-5Fterm-3D.3e4113671ca0-26wpisrc-3Dnl-5Ffaith-26wpmm-3D1&d=DwMFaQ&c=cBOA5YEoZuz9KdLvh38YxdrPtfJt83ckXekfBgq5xB0&r=CK8oOj7-JYZnTDmB5orNTVZXar6NrsnGtGHfQ5m79Do&m=ICjU9CxHPcug0RJocin0cVVdZXZ7asiKfH92JngYzVU&s=piFZ8KOxYbki8Kw_hH9mHGdrp9ibWhi7jaFLP58R7pg&e=>,
> so that God is no longer referred to by masculine pronouns.
>
> The prayer
> book<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.bcponline.org&d=DwMFaQ&c=cBOA5YEoZuz9KdLvh38YxdrPtfJt83ckXekfBgq5xB0&r=CK8oOj7-JYZnTDmB5orNTVZXar6NrsnGtGHfQ5m79Do&m=ICjU9CxHPcug0RJocin0cVVdZXZ7asiKfH92JngYzVU&s=xtoC1oxCktpP0qy7jsus4P2kE3WCR-W-BjprVyu4w5w&e=>,
> first published in 1549 and now in its fourth edition, is the symbol of
> unity for the Anglican
> Communion<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.anglicancommunion.org_identity_about.aspx&d=DwMFaQ&c=cBOA5YEoZuz9KdLvh38YxdrPtfJt83ckXekfBgq5xB0&r=CK8oOj7-JYZnTDmB5orNTVZXar6NrsnGtGHfQ5m79Do&m=ICjU9CxHPcug0RJocin0cVVdZXZ7asiKfH92JngYzVU&s=3JEGYwYd9j2Rfj8fiK_Ba1o-6N0MVpg5ybwJMBI2Uhw&e=>.
> The Anglican Communion is the third largest Christian communion founded in
> 1867. While there is no clear timeline for the changes, religious leaders at
> the denomination's recent triennial conference in Austin have agreed to a
> demand to replace the masculine terms for God such as "He" and "King" and
> "Father."
>
> Indeed, early Christian writings and texts, all refer to God in feminine
> terms.
>
> God of the Hebrew Bible
> [https://images.theconversation.com/files/230044/original/file-20180731-136646-qtite4.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip]Hebrew
> Bible. Stock
> Catalog<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.flickr.com_photos_stockcatalog_25547697457&d=DwMFaQ&c=cBOA5YEoZuz9KdLvh38YxdrPtfJt83ckXekfBgq5xB0&r=CK8oOj7-JYZnTDmB5orNTVZXar6NrsnGtGHfQ5m79Do&m=ICjU9CxHPcug0RJocin0cVVdZXZ7asiKfH92JngYzVU&s=sqRWcuFy0IBTYJcvszDeprmAaJoFErdBeooUpbTzJoM&e=>,
> CC
> BY<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__creativecommons.org_licenses_by_4.0_&d=DwMFaQ&c=cBOA5YEoZuz9KdLvh38YxdrPtfJt83ckXekfBgq5xB0&r=CK8oOj7-JYZnTDmB5orNTVZXar6NrsnGtGHfQ5m79Do&m=ICjU9CxHPcug0RJocin0cVVdZXZ7asiKfH92JngYzVU&s=k-fypL6SCahw5adL6KitSKvcAWZmJhSQVgVKaQ93Euo&e=>
>
> As a scholar of Christian origins and gender
> theory<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__scholar.google.com_scholar-3Fhl-3Den-26as-5Fsdt-3D0-252C7-26q-3Ddavid-2Bwheeler-2Dreed-26btnG-3D&d=DwMFaQ&c=cBOA5YEoZuz9KdLvh38YxdrPtfJt83ckXekfBgq5xB0&r=CK8oOj7-JYZnTDmB5orNTVZXar6NrsnGtGHfQ5m79Do&m=ICjU9CxHPcug0RJocin0cVVdZXZ7asiKfH92JngYzVU&s=Rp0HSUHyAcgD_ATCjBBTwc2PbH5Jhnneb0CYlGSDtRc&e=>,
> I've studied the early references to God.
>
> In
> Genesis<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.biblegateway.com_passage_-3Fsearch-3DGenesis-2B1-253A27-26version-3DNRSV&d=DwMFaQ&c=cBOA5YEoZuz9KdLvh38YxdrPtfJt83ckXekfBgq5xB0&r=CK8oOj7-JYZnTDmB5orNTVZXar6NrsnGtGHfQ5m79Do&m=ICjU9CxHPcug0RJocin0cVVdZXZ7asiKfH92JngYzVU&s=19RqPfjlyQ4FuvCD5c26H04qUfko9G9kPag0JT7-GyE&e=>,
> for example, women and men are created in the "Imago Dei," image of God,
> which suggests that God transcends socially constructed notions of gender.
> Furthermore,
> Deuteronomy<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.biblegateway.com_passage_-3Fsearch-3DDeuteronomy-2B32-253A18-26version-3DNRSV&d=DwMFaQ&c=cBOA5YEoZuz9KdLvh38YxdrPtfJt83ckXekfBgq5xB0&r=CK8oOj7-JYZnTDmB5orNTVZXar6NrsnGtGHfQ5m79Do&m=ICjU9CxHPcug0RJocin0cVVdZXZ7asiKfH92JngYzVU&s=C7gsWMoMTCDuYlJk27dQfxlGJHsY8qLtOos_w5ulI-c&e=>,
> the fifth book of the Hebrew Bible written in the seventh century
> B.C.<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.oxfordscholarship.com_view_10.1093_0195133242.001.0001_acprof-2D9780195133240&d=DwMFaQ&c=cBOA5YEoZuz9KdLvh38YxdrPtfJt83ckXekfBgq5xB0&r=CK8oOj7-JYZnTDmB5orNTVZXar6NrsnGtGHfQ5m79Do&m=ICjU9CxHPcug0RJocin0cVVdZXZ7asiKfH92JngYzVU&s=c4LnFYnPs97rhVGsP5XwC8kaFWCrV7mlolkLy4HzOsE&e=>,
> states that God gave birth to Israel.
>
> In the oracles of the eighth century prophet
> Isaiah<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.biblegateway.com_passage_-3Fsearch-3DIsaiah-2B42-253A14-26version-3DNRSV&d=DwMFaQ&c=cBOA5YEoZuz9KdLvh38YxdrPtfJt83ckXekfBgq5xB0&r=CK8oOj7-JYZnTDmB5orNTVZXar6NrsnGtGHfQ5m79Do&m=ICjU9CxHPcug0RJocin0cVVdZXZ7asiKfH92JngYzVU&s=egkHSYy9Xs8qm77GV1Kb_tZdoVNSkIeBYqqhJzE4qfM&e=>,
> God is described as a woman in labor and a mother comforting her children.
>
> And the Book of
> Proverbs<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.biblegateway.com_passage_-3Fsearch-3Dproverbs-2B8-253A22-2D23-26version-3DNRSV&d=DwMFaQ&c=cBOA5YEoZuz9KdLvh38YxdrPtfJt83ckXekfBgq5xB0&r=CK8oOj7-JYZnTDmB5orNTVZXar6NrsnGtGHfQ5m79Do&m=ICjU9CxHPcug0RJocin0cVVdZXZ7asiKfH92JngYzVU&s=DC7yqSDgViXEmXCGhKFevx9mqX9CyYQPKal14jYXsK0&e=>
> maintains that the feminine figure of Holy Wisdom,
> Sophia<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__cac.org_sophia-2Dwisdom-2Dof-2Dgod-2D2017-2D11-2D07_&d=DwMFaQ&c=cBOA5YEoZuz9KdLvh38YxdrPtfJt83ckXekfBgq5xB0&r=CK8oOj7-JYZnTDmB5orNTVZXar6NrsnGtGHfQ5m79Do&m=ICjU9CxHPcug0RJocin0cVVdZXZ7asiKfH92JngYzVU&s=ueuFBusO1bEMerLmh6f1NBzj_jnMa2G-dHkM7DPNCTU&e=>,
> assisted God during the creation of the world.
>
> Indeed, The Church Fathers and Mothers understood Sophia to be the
> "Logos,"<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.britannica.com_topic_logos&d=DwMFaQ&c=cBOA5YEoZuz9KdLvh38YxdrPtfJt83ckXekfBgq5xB0&r=CK8oOj7-JYZnTDmB5orNTVZXar6NrsnGtGHfQ5m79Do&m=ICjU9CxHPcug0RJocin0cVVdZXZ7asiKfH92JngYzVU&s=Aq3zofPI-WoUtPiWau0ByaGFMmxb312yadixn2NIdUg&e=>
> or Word of
> God<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.biblegateway.com_passage_-3Fsearch-3DJohn-2B1-253A1-2D18-26version-3DNIV&d=DwMFaQ&c=cBOA5YEoZuz9KdLvh38YxdrPtfJt83ckXekfBgq5xB0&r=CK8oOj7-JYZnTDmB5orNTVZXar6NrsnGtGHfQ5m79Do&m=ICjU9CxHPcug0RJocin0cVVdZXZ7asiKfH92JngYzVU&s=RsScTkHmeZjHZJDGwq4_n5IrzY9w0ammhRzGLgdpdeY&e=>.
> Additionally, Jewish rabbis equated the Torah, the law of God, with Sophia,
> which means that feminine wisdom was with God from the very beginning of
> time.
>
> Perhaps one of the most remarkable things ever said about God in the Hebrew
> Bible occurs in Exodus
> 3<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.biblegateway.com_passage_-3Fsearch-3DExodus-2B3-26version-3DNRSV&d=DwMFaQ&c=cBOA5YEoZuz9KdLvh38YxdrPtfJt83ckXekfBgq5xB0&r=CK8oOj7-JYZnTDmB5orNTVZXar6NrsnGtGHfQ5m79Do&m=ICjU9CxHPcug0RJocin0cVVdZXZ7asiKfH92JngYzVU&s=gXrYDmdrL2du2u4RVc_epjdUH0CE58iihq3R5oJbD5o&e=>
> when Moses first encounters the deity and asks for its name. In verse 14,
> God responds, "I am who I am," which is simply a mixture of "to be"
> verbs<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.desiringgod.org_articles_10-2Dthings-2Dyahweh-2Dmeans&d=DwMFaQ&c=cBOA5YEoZuz9KdLvh38YxdrPtfJt83ckXekfBgq5xB0&r=CK8oOj7-JYZnTDmB5orNTVZXar6NrsnGtGHfQ5m79Do&m=ICjU9CxHPcug0RJocin0cVVdZXZ7asiKfH92JngYzVU&s=c-hY2t7ZLMWyQPlyOFZ601N-zzXVclKARL7KBlMUdpY&e=>
> in Hebrew without any specific reference to gender. If anything, the book of
> Exodus is clear that God is simply "being," which echoes later Christian
> doctrine that God is
> spirit<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.rep.routledge.com_articles_thematic_pneuma_v-2D1&d=DwMFaQ&c=cBOA5YEoZuz9KdLvh38YxdrPtfJt83ckXekfBgq5xB0&r=CK8oOj7-JYZnTDmB5orNTVZXar6NrsnGtGHfQ5m79Do&m=ICjU9CxHPcug0RJocin0cVVdZXZ7asiKfH92JngYzVU&s=molK5FRZrQwQbmeOq5JV7BFwm4g6q9ogFKT-zeDLDWk&e=>.
>
> In fact, the personal name of God,
> Yahweh<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.jewishencyclopedia.com_articles_11305-2Dnames-2Dof-2Dgod&d=DwMFaQ&c=cBOA5YEoZuz9KdLvh38YxdrPtfJt83ckXekfBgq5xB0&r=CK8oOj7-JYZnTDmB5orNTVZXar6NrsnGtGHfQ5m79Do&m=ICjU9CxHPcug0RJocin0cVVdZXZ7asiKfH92JngYzVU&s=86Flbz-ih9ByRUhZfQFHY_4FK8n7IzfwEGm-N0GwLo4&e=>,
> which is revealed to Moses in Exodus 3, is a remarkable combination of both
> female and male grammatical endings. The first part of God's name in Hebrew,
> "Yah," is feminine, and the last part, "weh," is masculine. In light of
> Exodus 3, the feminist theologian Mary
> Daly<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.feministes-2Dradicales.org_wp-2Dcontent_uploads_2010_11_Mary-2DDaly-2DBeyond-2DGod-2Dthe-2DFather-2DToward-2Da-2DPhilosophy-2Dof-2DWomens-2DLiberation.pdf&d=DwMFaQ&c=cBOA5YEoZuz9KdLvh38YxdrPtfJt83ckXekfBgq5xB0&r=CK8oOj7-JYZnTDmB5orNTVZXar6NrsnGtGHfQ5m79Do&m=ICjU9CxHPcug0RJocin0cVVdZXZ7asiKfH92JngYzVU&s=J_iTO39ZTmEpa1amXz3Ny2CzVbtoxVy5EDBpSoHs3pA&e=>
> asks, "Why must 'God' be a noun? Why not a verb – the most active and
> dynamic of all."
>
> God in the New Testament
> [https://images.theconversation.com/files/230050/original/file-20180731-136673-hjxnss.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip]New
> Testament.
> kolosser417<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__pixabay.com_en_bible-2Dthe-2Dgospel-2Dof-2Djohn-2D3520556_&d=DwMFaQ&c=cBOA5YEoZuz9KdLvh38YxdrPtfJt83ckXekfBgq5xB0&r=CK8oOj7-JYZnTDmB5orNTVZXar6NrsnGtGHfQ5m79Do&m=ICjU9CxHPcug0RJocin0cVVdZXZ7asiKfH92JngYzVU&s=yROTYUsSEkn-GCXCOfkFx6ZeBA-_BcbUcZhCemPk95k&e=>,
> CC
> BY<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__creativecommons.org_licenses_by_4.0_&d=DwMFaQ&c=cBOA5YEoZuz9KdLvh38YxdrPtfJt83ckXekfBgq5xB0&r=CK8oOj7-JYZnTDmB5orNTVZXar6NrsnGtGHfQ5m79Do&m=ICjU9CxHPcug0RJocin0cVVdZXZ7asiKfH92JngYzVU&s=k-fypL6SCahw5adL6KitSKvcAWZmJhSQVgVKaQ93Euo&e=>
>
> In the New Testament, Jesus also presents himself in feminine language. In
> Matthew's
> Gospel<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__biblehub.com_matthew_23-2D37.htm&d=DwMFaQ&c=cBOA5YEoZuz9KdLvh38YxdrPtfJt83ckXekfBgq5xB0&r=CK8oOj7-JYZnTDmB5orNTVZXar6NrsnGtGHfQ5m79Do&m=ICjU9CxHPcug0RJocin0cVVdZXZ7asiKfH92JngYzVU&s=B8iVOd0Wl-4hJkcoTVtd4lEs4QhBh8AOogonoQQEdHo&e=>,
> Jesus stands over Jerusalem and weeps, saying, "Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you
> who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed
> to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her
> wings, and you were not willing."
>
> Furthermore, the author of Matthew equates Jesus with the feminine Sophia
> (wisdom), when he writes, "Yet wisdom is vindicated by her deeds." In
> Matthew's mind, it seems that Jesus is the feminine Wisdom of Proverbs, who
> was with God from the beginning of creation. In my opinion, I think it is
> very likely that Matthew is suggesting that there is a spark of the feminine
> in Jesus' nature.
>
> Additionally, in his letter to the
> Galatians<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.usccb.org_bible_galatians_0&d=DwMFaQ&c=cBOA5YEoZuz9KdLvh38YxdrPtfJt83ckXekfBgq5xB0&r=CK8oOj7-JYZnTDmB5orNTVZXar6NrsnGtGHfQ5m79Do&m=ICjU9CxHPcug0RJocin0cVVdZXZ7asiKfH92JngYzVU&s=zygn0fQvDFHEiRUqEvHAfnGijqTudym2HHCXPvOAxvI&e=>,
> written around 54 or 55 A.D., Paul says that he will continue "in the pain
> of childbirth until Christ is formed in you."
>
> Clearly, feminine imagery was acceptable among the first followers of
> Jesus.
>
> The church fathers
>
> This trend continues with the writings of the Church fathers. In his book
> "Salvation to the Rich
> Man,"<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__st-2Dtakla.org_books_en_ecf_002_0020442.html&d=DwMFaQ&c=cBOA5YEoZuz9KdLvh38YxdrPtfJt83ckXekfBgq5xB0&r=CK8oOj7-JYZnTDmB5orNTVZXar6NrsnGtGHfQ5m79Do&m=ICjU9CxHPcug0RJocin0cVVdZXZ7asiKfH92JngYzVU&s=-GbsdUj_hAhUu0aAgaB06dIIAY20LGrhMcY7OjzVkeQ&e=>
> Clement<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.christianitytoday.com_history_people_evangelistsandapologists_clement-2Dof-2Dalexandria.html&d=DwMFaQ&c=cBOA5YEoZuz9KdLvh38YxdrPtfJt83ckXekfBgq5xB0&r=CK8oOj7-JYZnTDmB5orNTVZXar6NrsnGtGHfQ5m79Do&m=ICjU9CxHPcug0RJocin0cVVdZXZ7asiKfH92JngYzVU&s=vauq0p7YYdfSCWhqMRPizX9CEb2JlLGOofspc6lO7YE&e=>,
> the bishop of Alexandria who lived around 150-215 A.D., states, "In his
> ineffable essence he is father; in his compassion to us he became mother.
> The father by loving becomes feminine." It's important to remember that
> Alexandria was one of the most important Christian cities in the second and
> third centuries along with Rome and Jerusalem. It was also the hub for
> Christian intellectual activity.
>
> Additionally, in another book, "Christ the
> Educator<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.newadvent.org_fathers_02091.htm&d=DwMFaQ&c=cBOA5YEoZuz9KdLvh38YxdrPtfJt83ckXekfBgq5xB0&r=CK8oOj7-JYZnTDmB5orNTVZXar6NrsnGtGHfQ5m79Do&m=ICjU9CxHPcug0RJocin0cVVdZXZ7asiKfH92JngYzVU&s=VdBkKifm4Mzy62epsf0zGcByhnTgOlqsnjrKvLiLeS8&e=>,"
> he writes, "The Word [Christ] is everything to his little ones, both father
> and mother."
> Augustine<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.christianitytoday.com_history_people_theologians_augustine-2Dof-2Dhippo.html&d=DwMFaQ&c=cBOA5YEoZuz9KdLvh38YxdrPtfJt83ckXekfBgq5xB0&r=CK8oOj7-JYZnTDmB5orNTVZXar6NrsnGtGHfQ5m79Do&m=ICjU9CxHPcug0RJocin0cVVdZXZ7asiKfH92JngYzVU&s=eQ4jPH3wbUbl4lNvBrZm-EbbFU29fKcMV-p7o7O8tZI&e=>,
> the fourth-century bishop of Hippo in North Africa, uses the image of God as
> mother to demonstrate that God nurses and cares for the faithful. He
> writes<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__faculty.gordon.edu_hu_bi_ted-5Fhildebrandt_otesources_19-2Dpsalms_text_books_augustine-2Dpsalms_augustine-2Dpsalms.pdf&d=DwMFaQ&c=cBOA5YEoZuz9KdLvh38YxdrPtfJt83ckXekfBgq5xB0&r=CK8oOj7-JYZnTDmB5orNTVZXar6NrsnGtGHfQ5m79Do&m=ICjU9CxHPcug0RJocin0cVVdZXZ7asiKfH92JngYzVU&s=awspPHjMSy-_auUWDpv-2Z29pqyhFAmtwBOHjDK0xWk&e=>,
> "He who has promised us heavenly food has nourished us on milk, having
> recourse to a mother's tenderness."
>
> And,
> Gregory<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.franciscanmedia.org_saint-2Dgregory-2Dof-2Dnyssa_&d=DwMFaQ&c=cBOA5YEoZuz9KdLvh38YxdrPtfJt83ckXekfBgq5xB0&r=CK8oOj7-JYZnTDmB5orNTVZXar6NrsnGtGHfQ5m79Do&m=ICjU9CxHPcug0RJocin0cVVdZXZ7asiKfH92JngYzVU&s=t8xLCkTweXOsGsR8rSlfFC_ty-OcnoajumDpIyMd-ZQ&e=>,
> the bishop of Nyssa, one of the early Greek church
> fathers<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.5minutesinchurchhistory.com_the-2Dthree-2Dcappadocians_&d=DwMFaQ&c=cBOA5YEoZuz9KdLvh38YxdrPtfJt83ckXekfBgq5xB0&r=CK8oOj7-JYZnTDmB5orNTVZXar6NrsnGtGHfQ5m79Do&m=ICjU9CxHPcug0RJocin0cVVdZXZ7asiKfH92JngYzVU&s=cZSkZHf8QvliT9Rr1ZeByjDXbezfnX2ELJhOGcZ9kBA&e=>
> who lived from 335-395 A.D., speaks of God's unknowable essence – God's
> transcendence – in feminine
> terms.<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__books.google.com_books-3Fid-3DE2NStO5kLqkC-26pg-3DPA292-26lpg-3DPA292-26dq-3DThe-2Bdivine-2Bpower-2C-2Bthough-2Bexalted-2Bfar-2Babove-2Bour-2Bnature-2Band-2Binaccessible-2Bto-2Ball-2Bapproach-2C-2Blike-2Ba-2Btender-2Bmother-2Bwho-2Bjoins-2Bin-2Bthe-2Binarticulate-2Butterances-2Bof-2Bher-2Bbabe-2C-2Bgives-2Bto-2Bour-2Bhuman-2Bnature-2Bwhat-2Bit-2Bis-2Bcapable-2Bof-2Breceiving-2Bnyssa-26source-3Dbl-26ots-3DmoBVMhAlyo-26sig-3DfsWjDAO2cr1mBog6pvIuy8DUPVE-26hl-3Den-26sa-3DX-26ved-3D0ahUKEwi-5F1OTSpLjcAhVkg-2DAKHewqDQIQ6AEILjAC-23v-3Donepage-26q-26f-3Dfalse&d=DwMFaQ&c=cBOA5YEoZuz9KdLvh38YxdrPtfJt83ckXekfBgq5xB0&r=CK8oOj7-JYZnTDmB5orNTVZXar6NrsnGtGHfQ5m79Do&m=ICjU9CxHPcug0RJocin0cVVdZXZ7asiKfH92JngYzVU&s=rFLb2xYCXW3CEWj4oFE5ubTcm_dfiBs4o2KC8q_6BaQ&e=>
> He says,
>
> "The divine power, though exalted far above our nature and inaccessible to
> all approach, like a tender mother who joins in the inarticulate utterances
> of her babe, gives to our human nature what it is capable of receiving."
>
> What is God's gender?
> [https://images.theconversation.com/files/230051/original/file-20180731-136655-437c3z.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip]Do
> images limit our religious experience? Saint-Petersburg Theological
> Academy<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.flickr.com_photos_spbpda_14168383736_in_photolist-2DnA1ESd-2DdbhTWL-2Db6fKUV-2DdvP12P-2DiA2fs9-2D6xCQfA-2DWrcVkg-2DaabhnB-2DDTP354-2Da9sem3-2DcUmDRy-2DbH6GGH-2D4JEdMT-2DeaujPx-2DeEKdMv-2DfcLrs8-2DaaijXb-2D9pJERP-2DdQEGMa-2DZhMSaC-2D67iAmy-2D4PP32o-2Daa9yxM-2DdBsy8B-2D67ixL3-2Do96QZo-2D67izg1-2Dc9NnNQ-2D8sNUMg-2Dcty7iC-2D8CqH3f-2D5HM1fi-2DWRBLpk-2D9EBApX-2DSQTTW8-2Da9hwe9-2D8vRUWH-2DBe3puZ-2Da9i7sE-2Dec1NAW-2DezMxga-2Db6fK3F-2D5qKRPx-2DdQ79LW-2Di9jSBX-2D5Qzj2V-2D4nWZHg-2Djw2Fu9-2Daa9pDg-2D8zYZUN&d=DwMFaQ&c=cBOA5YEoZuz9KdLvh38YxdrPtfJt83ckXekfBgq5xB0&r=CK8oOj7-JYZnTDmB5orNTVZXar6NrsnGtGHfQ5m79Do&m=ICjU9CxHPcug0RJocin0cVVdZXZ7asiKfH92JngYzVU&s=EtMXo9STN6jDc2uzX711f1IzDSV0rn5A-CyJe8u3FX4&e=>,
> CC
> BY-ND<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__creativecommons.org_licenses_by-2Dnd_4.0_&d=DwMFaQ&c=cBOA5YEoZuz9KdLvh38YxdrPtfJt83ckXekfBgq5xB0&r=CK8oOj7-JYZnTDmB5orNTVZXar6NrsnGtGHfQ5m79Do&m=ICjU9CxHPcug0RJocin0cVVdZXZ7asiKfH92JngYzVU&s=ax67a1xHwciCFV_2_H8niuRPTJuRZbE_nlyvY2jf4Z4&e=>
>
> Modern followers of Jesus live in a world where images risk becoming
> socially, politically or morally inadequate. When this happens, as the
> feminist theologian Judith
> Plaskow<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__jwa.org_encyclopedia_article_plaskow-2Djudith&d=DwMFaQ&c=cBOA5YEoZuz9KdLvh38YxdrPtfJt83ckXekfBgq5xB0&r=CK8oOj7-JYZnTDmB5orNTVZXar6NrsnGtGHfQ5m79Do&m=ICjU9CxHPcug0RJocin0cVVdZXZ7asiKfH92JngYzVU&s=xk9R2opCAuXQjc4Dq1DYRpIAICg1nG7nlNpKUqTnIas&e=>
> notes<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__books.google.com_books_about_Standing-5FAgain-5Fat-5FSinai.html-3Fid-3DmJX78S4ejiAC-26printsec-3Dfrontcover-26source-3Dkp-5Fread-5Fbutton-23v-3Donepage-26q-26f-3Dfalse&d=DwMFaQ&c=cBOA5YEoZuz9KdLvh38YxdrPtfJt83ckXekfBgq5xB0&r=CK8oOj7-JYZnTDmB5orNTVZXar6NrsnGtGHfQ5m79Do&m=ICjU9CxHPcug0RJocin0cVVdZXZ7asiKfH92JngYzVU&s=QzzmDB9lGXRlI5q0f4iuB8S1U755XqQ2TRqwbio7J1g&e=>,
> "Instead of pointing to and evoking the reality of God, [our images] block
> the possibility of religious experience." In other words, limiting God to
> masculine pronouns and imagery limits the countless religious experiences of
> billions of Christians throughout the world.
>
> It is probably best, then, for modern day Christians to heed the words and
> warning of bishop Augustine, who once said, "si comprehendis non est
> Deus<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.thinkingfaith.org_articles_20080828-5F1.htm&d=DwMFaQ&c=cBOA5YEoZuz9KdLvh38YxdrPtfJt83ckXekfBgq5xB0&r=CK8oOj7-JYZnTDmB5orNTVZXar6NrsnGtGHfQ5m79Do&m=ICjU9CxHPcug0RJocin0cVVdZXZ7asiKfH92JngYzVU&s=cNkbohH8-t8tAWkyRyYX7ebEp5HaehYdZO3JZrwoYe4&e=>."
> If you have understood, then what you have understood is not God.
>
>
>
>
>
> This article was republished on the Houston Chronicle from:
>
> https://theconversation.com/what-the-early-church-thought-about-gods-gender-100077<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__theconversation.com_what-2Dthe-2Dearly-2Dchurch-2Dthought-2Dabout-2Dgods-2Dgender-2D100077&d=DwMFaQ&c=cBOA5YEoZuz9KdLvh38YxdrPtfJt83ckXekfBgq5xB0&r=CK8oOj7-JYZnTDmB5orNTVZXar6NrsnGtGHfQ5m79Do&m=ICjU9CxHPcug0RJocin0cVVdZXZ7asiKfH92JngYzVU&s=KK96a1TOz2ARDcKMj40U6AcV5INqFY-sPUBBKchB4vQ&e=>
>
>
>
>
>
>
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