Wordsmith.org: the magic of words

Wordsmith Talk

About Us | What's New | Search | Site Map | Contact Us  

Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Page 1 of 2 1 2
#186793 09/11/09 02:01 PM
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 16
Sparkle Offline OP
stranger
OP Offline
stranger
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 16
"'Did God have a mother?'" Children, when told that God made the heavens and the earth, innocently ask whether God had a mother. This deceptively simple question has stumped the elders of the church and embarrassed the finest theologians, precipitating some of the thorniest theological debates over the centuries. All the great religions have elaborate mythologies surrounding the divine act of Creation, but none of them adequately confronts the logical paradoxes inherent in the question that even children ask."

I wonder why the author of the quote put God having a mother in the past participle.

I think that the answer to this question is simple, I find it interesting to read that church fathers and theologians would be stumped by it, if that is true. Why would God have anything, as he (using language that we mere humans can make sense of here - calling God a "he" as though he were a person) has been self-sufficient from the beginning. This is the greatness of God, and why followers of the Abrahamic God strive to obtain the Holy Spirit - so that we may too might become immortal in our self-sustainability.

Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,526
veteran
Offline
veteran
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,526
"I wonder why the author of the quote put God having a mother in the past participle."

My guess: because the author has the children posing the question in past tense.

The author is using a rhetorical technique and not presenting a reasonable argument, though he may disagree.

Probably we should avoid too much discussion of religion except insofar as it directly pertains to words and language.

Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 16
Sparkle Offline OP
stranger
OP Offline
stranger
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 16
If adults cannot rationally discuss religion, then it truly is the end of the world! Just joking. I do not believe in the rapture.

Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 16
Sparkle Offline OP
stranger
OP Offline
stranger
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 16
Not to mention that it relates directly to today's (9/11) word.a.day, as it is the thought of the day. So I'm putting it out there to think about.

Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,773
D
Pooh-Bah
Offline
Pooh-Bah
D
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,773
Pantheist: God [b]is[/b] a mother


dalehileman
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 16
Sparkle Offline OP
stranger
OP Offline
stranger
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 16
I think you meant that a mother is God, and I also think that it is safe to say that the author was speaking of Abraham's God, ergo, pantheism is nothing short of blasphemy.

Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 7,210
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 7,210
religion is something we choose not to discuss on this board, regardless of how much Latin is thrown in.


formerly known as etaoin...
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 9,916
Likes: 2
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 9,916
Likes: 2
Yes, please, no religion.


----please, draw me a sheep----
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 7,210
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 7,210
imagine


formerly known as etaoin...
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 956
old hand
Offline
old hand
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 956
..all the pepoool

Page 1 of 2 1 2

Moderated by  Jackie 

Link Copied to Clipboard
Forum Statistics
Forums16
Topics13,912
Posts229,283
Members9,179
Most Online3,341
Dec 9th, 2011
Newest Members
TRIALNERRA, befuddledmind, KILL_YOUR_SUV, Heather_Turey, Standy
9,179 Registered Users
Who's Online Now
0 members (), 444 guests, and 3 robots.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Top Posters(30 Days)
Top Posters
wwh 13,858
Faldage 13,803
Jackie 11,613
tsuwm 10,542
wofahulicodoc 10,510
LukeJavan8 9,916
AnnaStrophic 6,511
Wordwind 6,296
of troy 5,400
Disclaimer: Wordsmith.org is not responsible for views expressed on this site. Use of this forum is at your own risk and liability - you agree to hold Wordsmith.org and its associates harmless as a condition of using it.

Home | Today's Word | Yesterday's Word | Subscribe | FAQ | Archives | Search | Feedback
Wordsmith Talk | Wordsmith Chat

© 1994-2024 Wordsmith

Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5