Rediscovering God’s Feminine Side: Part Eight — I became a Christian within the charismatic tradition, where much store was set on the experience of being ‘filled with the Holy Spirit.’ This was seen, in my church, as something to seek after and desire. Apparently, the right order to do things was to be baptised and then pray…

Rediscovering God’s Feminine Side: Part Seven — When Moses wanted to see God’s glory, God hid him in a cleft in the rock and passed in front of him, declaring: Yahweh! The Lord! The God of compassion and mercy… Exodus 34:6 Interesting isn’t it, that compassion is almost the very first thing God chooses to declare about…

Rediscovering God’s feminine side: Part six — Among the rich feminine imagery of the Old Testament, Isaiah brings us God the midwife. Here, talking about the future of Jerusalem: Do I bring to the moment of birth and not give delivery?” says the Lord. “Do I close up the womb when I bring to delivery?” …

Over the last few weeks, I have frequently found myself wishing we hadn’t had a “smart meter” installed. I wince every time I walk past it. A few weeks ago, I got a letter from some council department I didn’t know existed telling me that the energy efficiency rating…

Rediscovering God’s feminine side: Part five — El Shaddai, one of the names for God in the Hebrew Bible, is generally translated as God Almighty. But it turns out this was a misunderstanding by early translators. In fact, the meaning of El Shaddai, while not entirely clear, is most likely to mean ‘God, the breasted one.’ …

Rediscovering God’s feminine side: Part Four — Gather your burdens in a basket in your heart. Set them at the feet of the Mother. Say, “Take this, Great Mama, because I cannot carry all this shit for another minute.” And then crawl into her broad lap and nestle against her ample bosom and take a nap… Mirabai…

Rediscovering God’s feminine side: Part Three — In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And She was hovering over the face of the waters… Now there is a beginning full of tender promise. When I heard a womanist…

Rediscovering God’s feminine side: Part Two — Often people are willing to countenance the fact that God might have feminine characteristics but stop short of calling God ‘She’. Does it make any difference? I have been thinking about pronouns. I know. I lead an exciting life. This is the second in a series of articles exploring the feminine character of God. I don’t know what your experience of God and Christianity and things spiritual in general is. It may be that you have…

Rediscovering God’s Feminine side: Part One — God is He. This has been true for nearly every Christian everywhere. Forever. In songs and hymns and stories and books and scripture, God is He. Almost every theologian and preacher and priest and pope and organist and author and mega-church leader, and televangelist are also a he. And for…