Comments on: Venus Creations http://kevinbasil.com/2004/06/02/venus-creations/ Decimation & Reconstruction: a weblog Wed, 30 Mar 2011 01:38:21 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.3 By: alana http://kevinbasil.com/2004/06/02/venus-creations/comment-page-1/#comment-409 alana Sun, 06 Jun 2004 01:03:45 +0000 http://blog.kevinbasil.com/2004/06/02/venus-creations/#comment-409 In languages that have masculine, feminine and neuter pronouns given to nouns, like table, chair, fork, etc., there is not this idea that this equates with gender, per se... Great post, Basil. This stuff has been rattling around in my head for so long I've forgotten it. In languages that have masculine, feminine and neuter pronouns given to nouns, like table, chair, fork, etc., there is not this idea that this equates with gender, per se…

Great post, Basil. This stuff has been rattling around in my head for so long I’ve forgotten it.

]]> By: basil http://kevinbasil.com/2004/06/02/venus-creations/comment-page-1/#comment-407 basil Thu, 03 Jun 2004 20:03:11 +0000 http://blog.kevinbasil.com/2004/06/02/venus-creations/#comment-407 BTW, which of the Hebrew references for God is feminine? BTW, which of the Hebrew references for God is feminine?

]]> By: pete http://kevinbasil.com/2004/06/02/venus-creations/comment-page-1/#comment-406 pete Thu, 03 Jun 2004 16:15:37 +0000 http://blog.kevinbasil.com/2004/06/02/venus-creations/#comment-406 the point you're making is fine, and i'm not disputing it. it's your evidential statements that were problematic, which is what i was taking issue with. the point you’re making is fine, and i’m not disputing it. it’s your evidential statements that were problematic, which is what i was taking issue with.

]]> By: basil http://kevinbasil.com/2004/06/02/venus-creations/comment-page-1/#comment-405 basil Thu, 03 Jun 2004 15:31:09 +0000 http://blog.kevinbasil.com/2004/06/02/venus-creations/#comment-405 Pete, I will defer to your knowledge of Hebrew on the gender of <span class="foreign" lang="he">YHWH</span>, <span class="foreign" lang="he">elohim</span>, et al. However, my point was that the creation is never portrayed as coming from the substance of God --- there is no divine substance in humanity or in any other part of creation. Christian orthodoxy of all varieties is absolutelyconsistent in holding that creation <span class="foreign" lang="la">ex nihilo</span> --- out of nothing --- is essential. (I seem to remember Judaism holding a similar view, but maybe I'm wrong.) We were not created out of God-stuff; we are not demi-gods. Our existence is <strong>entirely</strong> dependent upon God's willing us into existence. That is the main point in examining the gendering differences between fertility religions and Christian monotheism. Pete, I will defer to your knowledge of Hebrew on the gender of YHWH, elohim, et al. However, my point was that the creation is never portrayed as coming from the substance of God — there is no divine substance in humanity or in any other part of creation. Christian orthodoxy of all varieties is absolutelyconsistent in holding that creation ex nihilo — out of nothing — is essential. (I seem to remember Judaism holding a similar view, but maybe I’m wrong.) We were not created out of God-stuff; we are not demi-gods. Our existence is entirely dependent upon God’s willing us into existence. That is the main point in examining the gendering differences between fertility religions and Christian monotheism.

]]> By: pete http://kevinbasil.com/2004/06/02/venus-creations/comment-page-1/#comment-404 pete Thu, 03 Jun 2004 14:00:51 +0000 http://blog.kevinbasil.com/2004/06/02/venus-creations/#comment-404 and while God may not be portrayed as feminine in the creation story, he is portrayed as such in other places. for example, Hosea 13:8 portrays God as a mother bear. No animal in all of nature is as dangerous as a mother bear defending her cubs. while this image may not seem especially "feminine" in a western sense, there it is. i've broken my promise to not comment on theological issues. i apologize. i have no doubt, though, that my statement will meet disagreement anyway. when people are predisposed to believe certain things, they are unlikely to change their minds, i think. and while God may not be portrayed as feminine in the creation story, he is portrayed as such in other places. for example, Hosea 13:8 portrays God as a mother bear. No animal in all of nature is as dangerous as a mother bear defending her cubs. while this image may not seem especially “feminine” in a western sense, there it is.

i’ve broken my promise to not comment on theological issues. i apologize. i have no doubt, though, that my statement will meet disagreement anyway. when people are predisposed to believe certain things, they are unlikely to change their minds, i think.

]]> By: pete http://kevinbasil.com/2004/06/02/venus-creations/comment-page-1/#comment-403 pete Thu, 03 Jun 2004 13:49:53 +0000 http://blog.kevinbasil.com/2004/06/02/venus-creations/#comment-403 isn't the name for "God" in the feminine in Hebrew? isn’t the name for “God” in the feminine in Hebrew?

]]> By: Karl Thienes http://kevinbasil.com/2004/06/02/venus-creations/comment-page-1/#comment-402 Karl Thienes Thu, 03 Jun 2004 05:48:49 +0000 http://blog.kevinbasil.com/2004/06/02/venus-creations/#comment-402 Great post. While studying ancient Greek mythology as an Inquirer, I gained a much deeper appreciation of certain aspects of Orthodoxy...much along these lines. Great post. While studying ancient Greek mythology as an Inquirer, I gained a much deeper appreciation of
certain aspects of Orthodoxy…much along these lines.

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