2007-03-12 13:14:24 · 13 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Ahh...so many possible responses to this.
I'm going to assume that you're refering to the typical visualization of the christian God. This is the monarchical model, and is the most abundant in the modern US (not sure about other countries). In this model, God is imagined as our typical version of an ancient king: male, old, white, all-powerful, all-knowing and thus judging. He is the distant lawgiver and judge. This creates a performance-based model of Christianity: Worshiping God becomes about meeting requirements that he sets down. It can also lead to domination systems, over nature, women, and in the political world. There's an interesting quote from Mary Daly: "When God is a male, the male is God." It's completely possible that one who believes in the monarchical model doesn't respect those who are in their own "image of God."
Is God really a white male? No. In fact, there is a completely different model of visualizing God, that is supported by the Bible. God is referred to as a caring mother, a lover, and a shepherd (which were also female in Biblical times) . God is a mother giving birth, a mother caring for her children, a companion and friend. The Hebrew word for Spirit (as in holy spirit) is Ruach, which also means wind or breath, and is a feminine word. In the Apocrypha, which is a part of most Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Bibles, God's wisdom is personified as Sophia, the Wise Woman. She is both a personification and image of God.
This spirit model makes HUGE differences in the understanding of Christian life. It doesn't justify domination systems. God isn't exclusively male, or a certain race. Rather, God is inclusive: an all encompassing reality, a part of us all. Sin remains, but it isn't concerning breaking a set of rules, rather it is about the absence of compassion and the betrayel of a relationship. With this model, you REALLY CAN respect other races and genders, as they are all a part of God.
That's not saying you can't respext everyone even if you believe in the monarchical model. God tells you to love your neighbor as yourself, regardless of their sins, or gender or race. And breaking that command would be a sin in itself. Like I said before, the monarchical model is about following God's rules, and to not respect others would break those rules. So yes, you can respect other races and genders.
2007-03-12 14:41:04 · answer #1 · answered by Megan 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The depictions of Jesus and God as a white male are misconceptions by people who take the meaning of man being made in God's image to mean He physically looks like them. Most serious Chrisitans realize the physical form of Jesus not white and God actually is spirit.
God also tells us He is no respector of person which means He doesn't favor one above the other so He can't be racist or sexist.
2007-03-12 20:21:41 · answer #2 · answered by kaehya2003 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Anyone who thinks God is a white male is simply misinformed. God is a power, without gender and certainly without race.
2007-03-12 20:21:15 · answer #3 · answered by MyPreshus 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Who told you that God is white and male? And what made you think that he has gender and an origin? Michaelangelo may painted him in the sistine ceiling of the Basilica in Vatican but his elementary imagination had made him that. The truth about God is that He has no physical form. If we are made in His image and likeness, that image of Him is his graciousness and righteousness which He put in our minds and hearts. We may choose to live in that way or we not choose to live according to His commands. Both choices have each own consequences so just be prepared for both.
2007-03-12 20:37:15 · answer #4 · answered by Rallie Florencio C 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Um, actually I have many Gods and Goddesses. And yes I do respect other races and genders.
2007-03-12 20:23:24 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Who said God is a white male?
For the record, Jesus, as a human, was a Jew.
2007-03-12 20:46:05 · answer #6 · answered by ? 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Interesting that Jesus was Middle Eastern.....he looks pretty caucasion in every drawing I've ever seen.
A little stretch of the truth to meet beliefs maybe?
2007-03-12 20:20:34 · answer #7 · answered by KJ 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I thought you couldn't see god?
Jesus on the other hand was Middle Eastern.
2007-03-12 20:17:26 · answer #8 · answered by Skeptic123 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
god isn't a white male. nobody knows what he/she looks like. for all we know, he/she could be a mix of everything.
2007-03-12 22:24:15 · answer #9 · answered by mags 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
God created all men (and women) equal
2007-03-12 20:22:30 · answer #10 · answered by son of God 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋