Open AccessWomen, monotheism and the gender of God
Author(s) -
Frances Klopper
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
in die skriflig/in die skriflig
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2305-0853
pISSN - 1018-6441
DOI - 10.4102/ids.v36i3.516
Subject(s) - monotheism , character (mathematics) , old testament , new testament , natural (archaeology) , people of god , image of god , philosophy , reflection (computer programming) , religious studies , theology , sociology , history , literature , art , islam , geometry , mathematics , archaeology , computer science , programming language
God is experienced in heightened awareness that can only be represented in images and symbols. According to the Old Testament there was one male God, Yahweh, imaged as a father, king, judge, shepherd and more. Since God-images are cultural creations related to the time and place in which they were conceived, the male character of God is a natural reflection of the patriarchal culture of the ancient Near East. Twenty-first century women have difficulty relating to the male God-image and patriarchal church language, both of which justify the subordinate position of women in church and society. Investigation into Old Testament religion reveals that the way Israelite women dealt with the single male God opens the way for contemporary women to do likewise and create images of God with which they can identify