Comparing different Sources
According to the Hebrew Bible, God created people in his “Imago Dei”(Latin for the image of God), therefore suggesting that God is above socially built conceptions of gender. The Book of Proverbs says, the feminine figure of Holy Wisdom assisted God in creating the universe, whereas Deuteronomy claims that God gave birth to Israel. In addition, Isaiah compares God to a mother consoling her children during childbirth, and Isaiah also claims that God gave birth to Israel. In Exodus 3, God replies, “I am who I am,” which is a combination of Hebrew “to be” verbs without any specific mention of gender. The personal name of God, Yahweh, is formed by grammatical endings, “yah” feminine and “weh” masculine.
Focus on the family brings up a good point in their article, asking, “If God is all genders – or contains all genders – shouldn’t people be free to choose their own gender identity?” Focus on the Family says that its views on gender identity are based on a Scripture verse that says, “God created man in His own image” and then goes on to explain that this “image” includes both “male and female.” They continue by explaining that this proves God to be androgynous, or having both masculine and female characteristics at once.
Then go on to explain that if this is accurate, it furthers the notion that people who were created “in His image” have the freedom to identify as either male or female, or perhaps both, depending on their own preferences. Christianity tells us that God makes no mistakes. Some people tend to use this statement as a rebuttal towards transgender and non-binary people. Saying that there are only two genders no more no less. So what gender is God?
What is Gender Neutrality?
Gender Neutrality means that a person resides from being claimed as a particular gender. A person who is gender neutral goes by “they” because they prefer not to be tied to a particular gender. This is mostly based on the idea that gender is a social construct. A social construct was built in the means of society and social involvement. Therefore meaning gender, or the characteristics of gender was formed by the community. So what is God’s gender?
Should God be Gender Neutral?
This ongoing debate has left many unsure. Is God a man or woman, or is God just an object in space? Certainly, God can’t have a gender being that God is not a man or woman. So why does the human race refer to God as a “he”?
The best answer would be Tradition. In fact, traditional Christian theology finds the idea of an “androgynous,” genderless, God offensive and strange, giving the ok of referring to God as “he.” Being that no one alive can remember a time when God was ever considered to be a gender other than male or even the idea of God being gender Neutral. This means that this normalization has become a tradition.
There are many Christian bibles that refer to God as male, subsequently affecting the world’s perception of God. The Christians reading those bibles assume God’s gender to be male and are adjusted to the fact. According to Genesis 1:27, God created both male and female humans “in His image,” emphasizing that we were all formed equally. Thus referring to God as “He” including that “He” made man in “His” image.
In all God has no gender, it can only be interpreted for specific religions and a specific person, meaning there is no worldwide decision regarding God’s gender.
Written by: Patricia Ezeanyim
Sources:
The Conversation: What the early church thought about God’s gender
Reuters: Church of England explores gender-neutral God
Focus on the Family: GOD AND MAN AS MALE AND FEMALE: IMPLICATIONS FOR GENDER IDENTITY
Top and Featured Image: Ken Sutton Creative Commons License
Inset image: Ralf Peter Reimann of Creative Commons License
