[size=14pt]Calls to refer to God as a woman as female bishops take up posts
Support is growing within the Church of England to rewrite its official liturgy to refer to God as female following the selection of the first women bishops [/size]

Growing numbers of priests already insert words such as “she” and “mother” informally into traditional service texts as part of a move to make the language of worship more inclusive, it has been claimed.

But calls for a full overhaul of liturgy to recognise the equal status of women have already been discussed informally at a senior level.

It comes after the “Transformations Steering Group”, a body which meets in Lambeth Palace to examine the impact of women in ministry on the Church of England, issued a public call to the bishops to encourage more “expansive language and imagery about God”.

Hilary Cotton, chair of Women And The Church (Watch), the group which led the campaign for female bishops, said the shift away from the traditional patriarchal language of the Book of Common Prayer in already at an “advanced” stage in some quarters.

“The reality is that in many churches up and down the country something more than the almost default male language about God is already being used,” she said.

“Quietly clergy are just talking about God as ‘she’ every now and then.

“The response you often get at one end is ‘why does it matter because God is beyond all this?’

“At the other end the reaction is ‘you mustn’t because Jesus calls God father.”

Mrs Cotton said that while congregations were already experimenting with new terminology, it was time for the issue to be considered by the Liturgical Commission, the body which drafts official service books, as well as those drawing behind a planned new catechism.

“Until we shift considerably towards a more gender-full expression in our worship about God then we are failing God and we are missing something,” she said.

“We are [also] going to miss some of the opportunities that otherwise particularly women might feel themselves called to.”

Her comments came following a discussion at the Westminster Faith Debates on whether the consecration of women as bishops would “change” the Church of England.

The Church of England’s worship already includes some references to God as female, many of them centuries old.

• First woman bishop Libby Lane: a century of campaigning


Canticle 82, the song of Anselm, the 11th and 12th Century Archbishop of Canterbury, likens Jesus to a mother, while number 86, attributed to Julian of Norwich, speaks of God as “our mother in all things”.

“That gives an indication that the Church of England hasn’t set its face against this in any way and there is recognition from the Church of England that men and women are made in the image of God and therefore it is entirely appropriate to express our worship toward God as a female presence,” said Mrs Cotton.

“There is a thin thread of this throughout history but having women bishops makes it particularly obvious that … to continue to refer to God purely as male is just unhelpful to many people now.”

A spokesman for Lambeth Palace emphasised that the steering group is independent of the Archbishop of Canterbury and that any change in liturgy would have to be approved by the General Synod.

plaetton:
^^^
Even more pathetic is the fact that Africans, the most racially exploited people in human history, are the very last to realize this.

Empiree:
Op, why does this shocked you?. Christians already have women's Bible. All the places where 'he' are used for Jesus are changed to 'she'. This Bible was produced in America. Women claim they have been cheated for far too long was the reason for production of such Bible. And someone like ifeann said "Women's Bible is also 'inspired' by God. Majority of christians will end up being atheists. Thats for sure.

johnydon22:


So God can be a male but not a female. . . Whats wrong if God turns out to be a woman, you can't worship a female?. . . Gender supremacy has eaten deep into our society.

This just shows its all a blatant fabrication perpetuated by male dominated system and always places the male gender above the other.

No wonder Islam treats women like property that you acquire up to 4...

Empiree:
You just got it wrong. My post was basically in reference to christianity. There is no gender #god in Islam. My post only serves to taunt op and the likes.

Islam does not in anyway recognize God Almighty by gender. Thats why Muslims prefer using Allah, the proper name for Supreme Being and Creator of all.

Empiree:

But since many christians consider man-god as their spreme being, it denotes gender god. So leave Islam out of this. As for treatment of women you raised, You painted all muslims with one brush. Thats isnt nice

plaetton:
Lol.
How pathetic.
The worship of a male God is called religion.
The worship of a female God is called Satanism or idolatory.

Also, The worship of a white God is called religion.
The worship of a black or non white God is called idol worship or Satanism.

Therefore, it appears that religion is nothing but Racism and male chauvinism rolled into one.

Empiree:
You just got it wrong. My post was basically in reference to christianity. There is no gender #god in Islam. My post only serves to taunt op and the likes.

Islam does not in anyway recognize God Almighty by gender. Thats why Muslims prefer using Allah, the proper name for Supreme Being and Creator of all.

But since many christians consider man-god as their spreme being, it denotes gender god. So leave Islam out of this. As for treatment of women you raised, You painted all muslims with one brush. Thats isnt nice

hahn:


Its becoming more and more apparent that religion
christuanity doesn't have any real moral base. Its just a tool used to deceive and exploit the gullible

johnydon22:

So Allah is neither Masculine nor feminine, But can be portrayed with masculinity, my question, why can't he be portrayed with feministic attributes.

E.g i have seen where "Subhanahu wa Ta'ala" (SWT) is translated as (Praise to Him in His Highness),.. Here is the link
Allah, As He Described Himself in the Holy Quran By Hassan Ali El-Najjar - http://www.aljazeerah.info/Islamic%20Editorials/2010/October/Allah,%20As%20He%20Described%20Himself%20in%20the%20Holy%20Quran%20By%20Hassan%20Ali%20El-Najjar.htm

also is translated as ( "May he be glorified and exalted",) here http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/God_in_Islam.

Am sure you and i know the masculine weight in the pronoun "He" ..So why don't any ever portray him in a little feministic way.. since Allah has no gender then it should also be okay if someone says She Just like many use "He"


Am not painting all muslims with one brush, actually the muslim holy book "Quran" asserted this up to 4wives Marriage... So unless you think the Quran is wrong in this, i think you should think it is very good because the quran said it is.

Quran (4:3) - "Marry of the women, who seem good to you, two or three or four;

vedaxcool:


Let's be on topic. Thanks.

hahn:


I actually am. You don't expect everyone to share your point of view that all of a sudden the church of England is satanic just because the have decided to refer to god as a woman. Afterall, women are responsible for pro creating and producing babies therefore it is safe to assume that god is a woman since god is responsible for creation..

I guess we'll now have to refer to nature as "father nature" instead. Personally, the whole idea is more appealing because now, men can now stop referring to women degoratively by calling them biatch, LovePeddler, slut etc because you'd also referring to god in those terms.

And what exactly makes you feel that your opinion matters anyway. The mafia behind the church can decide to do whatever suits them and all they have to do is convince your "daddy GO" to convince you that its right. The only contribution they want from you is your offering. As long as gullible people believe everything you're told, its business as usual

hahn:


I actually am. You don't expect everyone to share your point of view that all of a sudden the church of England is satanic just because the have decided to refer to god as a woman. Afterall, women are responsible for pro creating and producing babies therefore it is safe to assume that god is a woman since god is responsible for creation..

I guess we'll now have to refer to nature as "father nature" instead. Personally, the whole idea is more appealing because now, men can now stop referring to women degoratively by calling them biatch, LovePeddler, slut etc because you'd also referring to god in those terms.

And what exactly makes you feel that your opinion matters anyway. The mafia behind the church can decide to do whatever suits them and all they have to do is convince your "daddy GO" to convince you that its right. The only contribution they want from you is your offering. As long as gullible people believe everything you're told, its business as usual

Empiree:
Ogbeni mr Atheist, you want to start teaching me my religion now?. If you are so much interested in this you gonna have to open your thread on this subject. Dont derail

vedaxcool:


Please where did I call the church satanic for this?

My point stop invoking islam or religion in general The op clearly is about xtianity.

And feminist when do u plan calling satan general

johnydon22:

Mr Atheist...hahahahahaha i like that bro

Lmao. . Am not teaching you your religion, not at all... We are still on the matter which is Gender supremacy, cus the Op is a gender discriminator thats why he think it bad if they refer to go in a feminine tilt.

I ask you a question..:
Why is ok that god can be portrayed in a masculine nature but not the feminine?

vedaxcool:


But it is ok protraying the devil as masculine?

KingEbukasBlog:


Explain @ bolded text

johnydon22:

Mr Atheist...hahahahahaha i like that bro

Lmao. . Am not teaching you your religion, not at all... We are still on the matter which is Gender supremacy, cus the Op is a gender discriminator thats why he think it bad if they refer to go in a feminine tilt.

I ask you a question..:
Why is ok that god can be portrayed in a masculine nature but not the feminine?

21 On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived.

31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus.

"I and the Father are one.”

There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

KingEbukasBlog:


Will it be ok to call you a homosexual when you are clearly not one?

Luke 2:21
Jesus was male and the passage proves so(males are circumcised on the eight day)
A quick look at another verse
John 10:30
Father - male . This clearly shows that God is a "He"
...and another
Luke 1:31
'son' clearly portrays Jesus as a male
But who says Christianity is so misogynistic?

Galatians 3:28
Understand God and Christianity before you spew trash next time . Thanks

hahn:


The whole idea of religion is to exploit the gullible masses. They sell "salvation" in exchange for "tithes" the exact same way iya nkechi sells akara for N10. "Salvation, blessings, eternal life etc" are the products, "hell fire, eternal damnation etc" are the motivating factors to buy, the "church" is the office, "evangelism, preaching, tracts(flyers) etc" are marketing strategies and you pay in form of tithes.

Business as usual

KingEbukasBlog:

Anyways , most atheists get religious when they are much older or on their deathbeds ... incase

KingEbukasBlog:


Will it be ok to call you a homosexual when you are clearly not one?

Luke 2:21



Jesus was male and the passage proves so(males are circumcised on the eight day)

A quick look at another verse

Luke 1:31



'son' clearly portrays Jesus as a male


...and another

John 10:30



Father - male . This clearly shows that God is a "He" and they are one

But who says Christianity is so misogynistic as you guys claim?

Galatians 3:28


Understand God and Christianity before you spew trash next time . Thanks

KingEbukasBlog:


Wow ... not in my church - the Lords Chosen . . You need to stop visiting roadside and street churches and visit bible believing ones . My church preaches against social vices and tells us to live right . Its left for you to follow . Plus the miracles , healings , just name it

plaetton:
Lol.
How pathetic.
The worship of a male God is called religion.
The worship of a female God is called Satanism or idolatory.

Also, The worship of a white God is called religion.
The worship of a black or non white God is called idol worship or Satanism.

Therefore, it appears that religion is nothing but Racism and male chauvinism rolled into one.

johnydon22:


Lmao... So it is a Male then, Brilliant.

So if Jesus was female then god would automatically be female...?

And

We know surely has a Joystick when he made that statement "the father and i are one" and since you deducted they must be both male since jesus is male, The father has a joystick then?

plaetton:
^^^
Even more pathetic is the fact that Africans, the most racially exploited people in human history, are the very last to realize this.