God as parent (summary)

God as father

God as father is probably the most commonly known metaphor for God; an integral part of Christianity and Judaism

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God as patriarchal and authoritarian father

Some focus on the patriarchal and authoritarian aspects of God as father, a father God we must obey.
God as patriarch is a God of rules, control and order.
God as patriarch is a God of tough love, a God that regularly disciplines His children for our own good, all part of keeping order and control.
God as patriarch has its limitations as a metaphor.
Most of all, belief in a patriarchal God upholds patriarchy in society.

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God as a merciful but sometimes stern father

Some focus more on the merciful aspects of God, the father, a father always ready to forgive us if we repent and mend our ways

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God as loving, nurturing parent

Some focus most on God as a loving, nurturing parent, a parent with whom we can have an intimate and loving relationship, a parent who always has our back and is there to support and encourage, a helicopter parent, swooping in to help us when we need it but who also provides us with a great deal of freedom.

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Masculine verse feminine metaphors for God

Traditionally in Abrahamic religions, God has been seen as masculine.
A major reason for this is that women had no real power in the societies where these religions first emerged.
The gender we assign to God has an impact.
Solely masculine metaphors greatly limit our conception of God.
Feminine metaphors for God are just as valid.
In various ways, feminine metaphors for God can have advantages over masculine metaphors.
Whether we think of God as masculine or feminine does not really matter.
Some may continue to prefer masculine metaphors while others may prefer an experience of God as feminine.
The truth is we need a balance of male and female metaphors for God while keeping in mind the ultimate truth that God is neither male or female.

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God as mother

In some parts of the bible, God is seen as mother.
To some Christians, God was seen as father and the church or world was seen as mother.
In eastern religions, God is often seen as mother.
Some resonate with the God as mother metaphor.
God as mother can create a more nurturing image of God.
God as mother better denotes the process of birthing the world.

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Implications of God as parent

God as parent is more personal than God as monarch.
One of the shortcomings of the God as father metaphor is that it is often literalised and in so doing, can greatly limit our conception of God.
God as parent taps into primal parent-child archetypes.
For example, God as parent can tap into our primal need for approval and the fear of disappointing.
God as parent is a metaphor that is powerful and helpful to many.
God as parent indicates we are all part of God’s family and should therefore respect and love each other.
God as parent means we are all children of God, made in the image and likeness of God and this, for many, creates a sense of great comfort and self-worth.
God as parent indicates we can ask God for what we want, not that we’ll always get it.
The effectiveness of the “God as parent” metaphor can be influenced by our relationships with our own parents.
The God as parent metaphor can affect how we perceive and relate to our human parents as well as the kind of parent we will be
The metaphor of God as loving parent has some limitations. Ultimately, this metaphor continues to imagine God’s will as directing. At the same time, because God’s power is not fully in charge, it leaves God’s will too vague. God is expected to be a good parent, meeting the needs of his/her children. What happens then if God does not seem to be coming through? Does it mean God does not care or that God is not able? If God is leaving things up to us, what is the source of our power?