tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16714549.post7736357426457901315..comments2008-03-31T20:18:50.001-07:00Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01067954787472463337noreply@blogger.comBlogger23125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16714549.post-15801622940777739152008-03-31T20:18:00.000-07:002008-03-31T20:18:00.000-07:00LOL you crack me up Nate. God invented sex, didn't He (They)?Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01067954787472463337noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16714549.post-91559439285651785302008-03-31T16:09:00.000-07:002008-03-31T16:09:00.000-07:00I also believe God to be a spirit, therefore sexless. But, what do I really know of spirits. Maybe they have great sex lives.Natehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11286219824281974297noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16714549.post-75748618050115874022008-03-27T22:25:00.000-07:002008-03-27T22:25:00.000-07:00Nate - Forgive the time it has taken me to respond...was on vacation.<BR/><BR/>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.<BR/><BR/>I love your Grandfather's translation...that makes so much sense to me.Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01067954787472463337noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16714549.post-29445932469182382132008-03-25T19:18:00.000-07:002008-03-25T19:18:00.000-07:00Awesome response. <BR/><BR/>John 1:1 "In the beginning was the word, and the word was with God, and the word was God."<BR/><BR/>Proof that God was not alone at the founding of the world.<BR/><BR/>Also proof that God and Jesus are separate entities. Why?<BR/><BR/>My Grandfathers deep greek studies have led to this translation of the greek for modern understanding. <BR/><BR/>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.<BR/><BR/>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?<BR/><BR/>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.<BR/><BR/>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.Natehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11286219824281974297noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16714549.post-37744081881043079292008-03-22T08:45:00.000-07:002008-03-22T08:45:00.000-07:00Yeah I remember that post, Nate. But in the comments you said this:<BR/><BR/><I>"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."</I><BR/><BR/>Which is exactly my point...God is s THEY, not an IT (and I'm not really believing God is s HE either).<BR/><BR/>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.Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01067954787472463337noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16714549.post-90364160612207957332008-03-22T07:57:00.000-07:002008-03-22T07:57:00.000-07:00Finally something we disagree on. Check out <A HREF="http://myfaithdefined.blogspot.com/2007/08/no-trinity-either.html" REL="nofollow"> this post. </A>Natehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11286219824281974297noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16714549.post-3700859387839334802008-03-21T09:04:00.000-07:002008-03-21T09:04:00.000-07:00Kathy - The Shack is an infectious book. I'm glad you're reading it.Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01067954787472463337noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16714549.post-69071904709808233232008-03-20T22:25:00.000-07:002008-03-20T22:25:00.000-07:00hey 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!kathyescobarhttp://www.kathyescobar.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16714549.post-49671859810047630362008-03-20T11:01:00.000-07:002008-03-20T11:01:00.000-07:00Sue - Youse is a good one! Cracked me up!Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01067954787472463337noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16714549.post-88548215728848916262008-03-20T10:53:00.000-07:002008-03-20T10:53:00.000-07:00Very 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.<BR/><BR/>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. <BR/><BR/>There are a number of alternatives, I just know that "He" doesn't work so well for me anymore.Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01067954787472463337noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16714549.post-26875128294088355282008-03-20T10:33:00.000-07:002008-03-20T10:33:00.000-07:00L'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.Bethanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12210832326614048600noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16714549.post-2202797587274785412008-03-20T06:04:00.000-07:002008-03-20T06:04:00.000-07:00Cindy - y'all sounds cool :) <BR/><BR/>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 :)Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01122659239039900398noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16714549.post-57354844385443026702008-03-19T20:54:00.001-07:002008-03-19T20:54:00.001-07:00Cindy - Y'all could be a very good alternative. Didn't think of that one!Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01067954787472463337noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16714549.post-6071037506389709172008-03-19T20:54:00.000-07:002008-03-19T20:54:00.000-07:00Sue - There actually have been many attempts to start a gender-neutral pronoun in English, but nothing has stuck. <BR/><BR/>A few examples: Xe, Ve, Ze.<BR/><BR/>I like what you said about God having company and not needing us but choosing us. Cool. <BR/><BR/>Happy Easter to you, too!Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01067954787472463337noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16714549.post-58951321258663000382008-03-19T20:43:00.000-07:002008-03-19T20:43:00.000-07:00Barb - Giving God a nickname? That's a new one! I like it. If it works for her, I somehow don't think God minds.Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01067954787472463337noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16714549.post-31428940158595605312008-03-19T19:19:00.000-07:002008-03-19T19:19:00.000-07:00i feel regionally compelled to point out that no one has yet suggested "y'all"Cindyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16015836604614281485noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16714549.post-18168551909816609142008-03-19T15:51:00.000-07:002008-03-19T15:51:00.000-07:00Gregory! HAHAHAHA! That is so cool, Barb :)<BR/><BR/>I'm sure Gregory doesn't mind what she calls him, reallySuehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01122659239039900398noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16714549.post-67465748296470835082008-03-19T15:49:00.000-07:002008-03-19T15:49:00.000-07:00I 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. <BR/><BR/>It's so limiting.<BR/><BR/>Perhaps we need to invent a new pronoun that incorporates both genders at once :)<BR/><BR/>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 dudeSuehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01122659239039900398noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16714549.post-5657768125610433842008-03-19T13:26:00.000-07:002008-03-19T13:26:00.000-07:00Erin, 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.Barbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04357293290630832549noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16714549.post-61877557041857438732008-03-19T12:07:00.000-07:002008-03-19T12:07:00.000-07:00Well, Barry, don't let Jarred scare you. ;-)<BR/><BR/>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 <I>One</I> in <I>Three</I> Persons; One requires a singular pronoun He She or It...not sure "He" still works for me, so I'm looking for an alternative.Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01067954787472463337noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16714549.post-19484073989176997912008-03-19T12:01:00.000-07:002008-03-19T12:01:00.000-07:00Jarred - Better be careful or I'll start casting demons out of ya! ;-)<BR/><BR/>I don't know, it seems like a solution for me...we'll see if it works.Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01067954787472463337noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16714549.post-59571991101220465482008-03-19T11:47:00.000-07:002008-03-19T11:47:00.000-07:00Not 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.Barryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18344399473884127122noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16714549.post-31462076684826563292008-03-19T10:59:00.000-07:002008-03-19T10:59:00.000-07:00Plural pronouns for God? Excellent!<BR/><BR/>We'll make a proper polytheist out of you yet! *grin, duck, run*<BR/><BR/>On a more serious note, you do make an interesting point there.seithmanhttp://profile.typekey.com/seithman/noreply@blogger.com