For a few years now, I have struggled with what to call God. Well, I call God "God", but what kind of pronouns to use? I have always, even until now, primarily used masculine pronouns, not because I was stuck to it, but for lack of a better option. I tried the feminine for awhile, and while I have no problem with those who see the Abrahamic God as feminine, it wasn't comfortable for me. I felt that as the masculine robs God of the feminine side, the reverse is true, as well.
I have seen it written as S/He, which does work in written language, but not so much in spoken language.
Obviously, "It" seems irreverent and awkward, for God isn't an insignificant or inanimate object but is All and Alive.
Some have chosen to just use "God" without any pronouns. As in "God spoke to me today. God said I ought to pray to God more than I do." Also, I know many still use Yaweh or G-d out of profound respect. I do understand that, however, I have always felt, personally, and as Sonja says, that God doesn't really require such formality.
So, a few days ago, on a post at Sue's blog, she pointed out something I had said that I hadn't even realized; not consciously.
I had referred to God as "They".
Something changed in me when I read The Shack...and I don't want to be overselling that book, but seriously, for the first time I began thinking of God...umm...entirely differently. I have always seen the three distinct "personalities" of God (not to suggest God has MPD) and I have addressed each as an individual on different occasions. However, I had never carried that over into my perception of God as being wholly three. I had always seen God as wholly one (not to be confused with "holy" one). In my evangelical heyday, I had also always felt that actually recognizing God as three seemed, well, polytheistic.
However, in Genesis 1:26 God is quoted as saying "Let Us make" and "in Our image" when speaking about the creation of man. This has always mystified me, and I have looked into it, because I always suspected it might be a mistranslation or a translation of convenience for lack of a better option in English. I suppose there are arguments as to what the original language intended in who God was speaking to, but one thing seems clear to me: God was speaking in the first-person plural.
Obviously, I don't believe the concept of God as Trinity is conceivable for mere mortals. However, for this lifetime's purposes, we still require vocabulary with which to speak of God.
As much as God is One, God is also Three. Not only One, but also Three.
As such, I think "They" and "Them" are entirely appropriate.
23 comments:
Plural pronouns for God? Excellent!
We'll make a proper polytheist out of you yet! *grin, duck, run*
On a more serious note, you do make an interesting point there.
Not sure I agree - isn't referring to God as "them" pretty much the same as referring to "the gods"? Or at least, although I'm sure that's not somewhere you'd be intending to go, it could cause some confusion.
Jarred - Better be careful or I'll start casting demons out of ya! ;-)
I don't know, it seems like a solution for me...we'll see if it works.
Well, Barry, don't let Jarred scare you. ;-)
Seriously, I don't think it's the same. God referred to Himself in the plural...so not sure it can be all that bad. God is One in Three Persons; One requires a singular pronoun He She or It...not sure "He" still works for me, so I'm looking for an alternative.
Erin, on a bit different tangent, my daughter after being hurt by the portrayal of God being so fierce and mean decided the other day that she just cannot call this new God - full of grace and love - by the same name. It just didn't seem right. The old god had the old name of God - so what was this (real) new God to be called? She decided to call him Gregory....which totally wierds me out. I guess it is working though for her.
I find it really annoying, this what to call God thang. I do use s/he a bit when I think about it ... but then slip back into calling God 'he' again, and it's just not the whole story. I hadn't thought before about how s/he works well in 2D but not so good in 3D. I guess I write about God more than I talk about him/her, and when I do I tend to use 'him' for convenience sake, which is annoying.
It's so limiting.
Perhaps we need to invent a new pronoun that incorporates both genders at once :)
I loved it that you said "they". It really stuck out to me. I also love thinking of God as a Trinity because it opens up so many possibilities ... God doesn't need us for fellowship. He has his own. He just wants us for fellowship 'cause he wants to share the lurve. Happy Easter, Word dude
Gregory! HAHAHAHA! That is so cool, Barb :)
I'm sure Gregory doesn't mind what she calls him, really
i feel regionally compelled to point out that no one has yet suggested "y'all"
Barb - Giving God a nickname? That's a new one! I like it. If it works for her, I somehow don't think God minds.
Sue - There actually have been many attempts to start a gender-neutral pronoun in English, but nothing has stuck.
A few examples: Xe, Ve, Ze.
I like what you said about God having company and not needing us but choosing us. Cool.
Happy Easter to you, too!
Cindy - Y'all could be a very good alternative. Didn't think of that one!
Cindy - y'all sounds cool :)
I might, however, translate it into Australian. Next time I address the Trinity I'm gonna call them "youse". Which makes me feel like I should be scratching my bum and picking my nose while I"m doing it, but I"ll let you know how it goes :)
L'Engle refers to God as "El" (although I can't remember her reasoning). Maybe someone else will enlighten you. And I have wondered if I spent the next 30 years of my life calling God "she" if it would help balance my view. But I like the thought of "they" and "them." And "Y'all" made me belly laugh. I reckon God agrees.
Very nice to meet you, Bethany! Not too many other Oregonians frequent my blog. I'll actually be driving by your burg (wine country!) tomorrow on our way to L.C.
I hadn't heard that about Madeline L'Engle...I'll have to look into it. I like what you said about calling God She for the next 30 years balancing things out.
There are a number of alternatives, I just know that "He" doesn't work so well for me anymore.
Sue - Youse is a good one! Cracked me up!
hey erin, i also wrestle with the "he" default, it is just more familiar...i love that in genesis we have "let US make man in OUR image..." pretty big reminder that there's more to it all...well i am almost done with the shack. yeah, it is has been interesting, the weird little stirrings it has created in me. it's made me think and it's made me feel. this is the part i liked the most--the relationship between the 3 and the lack of typical hierarchy...well, just rambling. i need to go to bed but i am wasting time online. have a great trip! enjoy!
Kathy - The Shack is an infectious book. I'm glad you're reading it.
Finally something we disagree on. Check out this post.
Yeah I remember that post, Nate. But in the comments you said this:
"Jesus cried out on the cross, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me." Meaning that there must be a separate entity that can forsake the other."
Which is exactly my point...God is s THEY, not an IT (and I'm not really believing God is s HE either).
It wasn't so much about who has the most power, but about the fact that God actually refers to "himself" in the plural in Genesis 1:26. I did some research on that...and regardless of who the "Us and Our" is in that verse, the fact is there was someone else God was talking to who was a partner with God in the creating process.
Awesome response.
John 1:1 "In the beginning was the word, and the word was with God, and the word was God."
Proof that God was not alone at the founding of the world.
Also proof that God and Jesus are separate entities. Why?
My Grandfathers deep greek studies have led to this translation of the greek for modern understanding.
In the beginning was the word, and the word was facing God, and the word was "just like God," Or "a representation of God." So goes with the saying, those two boys are just alike. They are different, but the same. Like twins.
So as God using the plural to say that more than one person was there at the beginning was an accurate statement. It was Jesus, as was clarified by John 1:1, if there were others, who knows?
But as always, the disclaimer when discussing God. No matter what we think, the only assurance the bible has for us, is that we are wrong about God.
PS-God has many names, Jesus does too, the word, is one of them, But the Holy Spirit has (to my limited knowledge) always been referred to as the truth.
Nate - Forgive the time it has taken me to respond...was on vacation.
I absolutely agree that we see through a glass darkly...and I'm not asserting that referring to God in the plural is in any way more correct than He or Him, just that it's a viable alternative for me.
I love your Grandfather's translation...that makes so much sense to me.
I also believe God to be a spirit, therefore sexless. But, what do I really know of spirits. Maybe they have great sex lives.
LOL you crack me up Nate. God invented sex, didn't He (They)?
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