The Softer Side of God

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The Softer Side of God

January 10, 2011 by Gerard M. Nadal

When I was in college back in the early 80’s (a million years ago), pitched battles raged among some of my friends about the nature of God, who reveals Himself as Father. My feminist friends insisted that He has a feminine side, that God could also be addressed as Mother. I’m too old, too jaded, too exhausted to fight those battles again.

However, I’ve been thinking of those long-ago friends, thinking of their perspective, thinking of my own fatherhood and its more tender side (not the dad of thunder).

As I ponder it all, this song from one of my all-time favorite female vocalists, Sade, keeps running through my mind. I hear the Father all throughout it, not the God of thunder, but Abba, Daddy.

Thoughts???

10 Responses

on January 10, 2011 at 4:29 AM L.

Thoughts on Sade, or on God?

I’ve always thought that if there is indeed a benevolent supreme being, He would be gender-neutral — and yet it seems so…..IMPOLITE, to call Him “It.” Like the little hairy cousin on “The Addams Family.”
on January 10, 2011 at 4:31 AM Gerard M. Nadal

L.,

Thoughts on God. Sade’s close…
on January 10, 2011 at 11:14 AM Mary Catherine

God has always been a Father to me. I have been especially blessed to have a wonderful father. Many of my friends have not had the wonderful experiences I have had with my dad – and this is something I’ve only recently understood in talking with them. The dad who loved me and still does, who worries about me and my children and still does. The dad who came with me one time to help me with my field work for an entire week, who taught me one summer how to throw a baseball properly and hit home runs so I wouldn’t be chosen last for school teams. The dad who took me fishing, taught me how to drive.

When you have THAT experience of fatherhood, it’s hard not to believe in the love of God the father – a love infinitely more than a human father’s love.

What a beautiful Sade song – I too love her music but somehow never heard this one!

Made my day!
on January 10, 2011 at 8:46 PM Sue Widemark

I explain it as God wants us to call him “Father” to designate a position and a relationship, not a gender.
on January 10, 2011 at 10:38 PM Mary Catherine

God is neither male nor female but he has the qualities best exemplified in a true father. And our relationship with God is best described as that between a father and a child.
on January 10, 2011 at 10:47 PM L.

Perhaps some people’s relationship with God is best described as between a father and child, but surely this cannot be a general statement for every soul on earth? Surely, there is nothing more personal than one’s own relationship with God?
on January 11, 2011 at 9:37 AM Rebecca Curtis

Beautiful… Beautiful…Just like our Abba Father.
on January 11, 2011 at 10:17 PM Mary Catherine

L a father’s relationship with his child is a very personal one.
on January 11, 2011 at 10:32 PM L.

Mary Catherine, you are free to believe whatever you like, but let me assure you, God is no father of mine!

God is an “it,” in my book. 😉
on January 14, 2011 at 5:11 PM Wendyllyn

Thanks for sharing this beautiful piece of music. I have a young niece, a newlywed bride, and she has been asking me for recommendations to popular music, aside from chant and Latin, that “sings to the soul.” This definitely fills the bill. Any other suggestions?

If Jesus called God His Father, and his Abba “Daddy”, it’s good enough for me. Took me awhile to appreciate it in reality, though. Especially the love part. But I definitely believe He loves me now. Gets me through the day.

Thanks again! So sorry I couldn’t get to Monday night’s meeting. Too much going on. Appreciate the report.
(We met at the CWofLI meeting at SAHS last month – Covenant House connection.)