Do you think the behavior of your own father affects your perception of what God might be like?

Question

If yes, and you feel comfortable answering, how so?

newman that's exactly how I feel too

Answer 1

This study has been done. Yes is my answer.
My Dad worked night shift and was nearly as absentee as a Dad could be while in the home.
I felt as if God never had me on His mind and was too busy to care about me. Now well in my 40's I still have to remind myself that I'm always on His mind.

Answer 2

My father is a rabid atheist who would make Richard Dawkins cringe. Other than that, he's quite a likeable guy (he may be a little TOO enthralled with Isaac Asimov and Ayn Rand, though ...). So I grew up hearing him rant about Christians: "who the h*** in their right mind could ever believe in that !" I love my father, and respect him (although he and I don't have the best of relationships).

So you can understand how difficult it was for me to finally realize he's wrong. Surprisingly, though, he took it rather well when I informed him I'm a fundamentalist, evangelical Christian. ; )

I suppose some critics would say I became a believer just to anger my father, but that's not the case.

Answer 3

I'm a Christian. I generally perceive God as being far more merciful than my abusive, alcoholic father was. I was taught as a kid that God the Father was a loving figure who wasn't subject to human failings. So unlike my actual dad, I wasn't expecting God to break my nose for no reason, or torture and kill my pets for fun. But my image of the punitive side of God (the Judgment and so forth) may indeed have carryovers from my perception of my own father.

Answer 4

Some people would let their perception of what God might be like be based on their own father but not me. I have studied His Word and know that He is nothing like my father.

Answer 5

Absolutely. I was blessed with a loving father that tried to protect me from harm, gave me good advice, and forgave me when I made mistakes. This allowed me to understand what it meant when God called himself my heavenly father.

...and my father wasn't perfect...he didn't always protect me and he didn't always give me the best advice. He got angry sometimes and it's clear that while he forgave me for my mistakes, he didn't forget about them...some of those mistakes still affect our relationship today. ...and that too was a good thing...because it allowed me to see that, as good as my father was (and is), my heavenly father is better. He does always protect me and gives me the best advice...he forgives and forgets all of my mistakes.

I was blessed with an earthly example of a good father...that made is so much easier for me to accept the idea of a perfect father in God. Without my dad's example, I'm sure I would have had a much harder time believing that God could really love me.

Answer 6

I never felt that way. My father was in no way a perfect father, however, I was always taught that God is perfect, all powerful and all knowing. My earthly father may not have given me everything I needed, but I believe that my heavenly father will.

Answer 7

i absolutely agree with this. if ones dad is harsh and mean than u will see god as being like this, if your dad was gentle and loving and more of a forgiving dad u would see god as such. we often see and relate to god according to our father's behavior towards us. but its not a good thing and sometimes our fathers were not good father's. my dad was good, and patient and strict but loving so i have a good perception of god.

Answer 8

I have worked on a similar theory. If one looks at famous people especially atheists one finds a problematic relationship with their fathers.

Answer 9

There is a school of thought that says that God is a manifestation of our father images.

Answer 10

Wow that's really cool. I never thought about that. I can only give you a maybe for now without really really going into deep reflection. And i've got dinner in the oven so no reflection for me.