Should God be a woman? Members of the Church of England may change how they speak about God. Some think "He" should be replaced with "They" or even "She".
X
Next
Bishops debate use of 'he' for the Almighty
Should God be a woman? Members of the Church of England may change how they speak about God. Some think "He" should be replaced with "They" or even "She".
X
PreviousNext
<h2 class=" eplus-wrapper">What's happening?</h2>
"Our Father." "He." "Him." For hundreds of years, this is how ChristianA believer in Christianity, a religion based on the teachings of Jesus Christ. leaders have talked about GodThe name God is given to the spirit or being who is worshipped as the creator and ruler of the world, especially by Jews, Christians, and Muslims..
Now, this could change. The Church of EnglandThe main or official church in England, also known as the Anglican Church. The supreme head of the church is the monarch. has started a new project. The aim? To decide whether they should stop calling God "He" and start using gender neutralNot associated with any gender. language instead.
Instead of "He" or "Him", religious leaders may start saying "God" or "They". And instead of "Our Father", they could say "Our Father and Mother".
<h2 class=" eplus-wrapper">Find out more</h2>
It seems like a big change. But some priests think the change may not be as big as it seems. Even though God is often known as "He", in Christian teaching, God does not have a gender.
Now, some say the idea that God is a man is being used by some to argue that women should not be bishopsIn Christianity, a high ranking priest who supervises a group of churches. .
When pop singer Ariana Grande sang "you'll believe God is a woman" in 2018, some criticised her words. But others point out that many religions, over thousands of years, have included the idea of female creators of the world - long before the start of Christianity.
X
Previous
<h5 class=" eplus-wrapper">Should God be a woman?</h5>
Yes! The idea of a female God has existed for a very long time. It is not a big leap to say that God could or should be a woman.
No! Different people have different ideas of God or gods - or none at all. But many Christians say that actually, God does not have a gender. They are not and cannot be a man or a woman.
Christian - A believer in Christianity, a religion based on the teachings of Jesus Christ.
God - The name God is given to the spirit or being who is worshipped as the creator and ruler of the world, especially by Jews, Christians, and Muslims.
Church of England - The main or official church in England, also known as the Anglican Church. The supreme head of the church is the monarch.
Gender neutral - Not associated with any gender.
Bishops - In Christianity, a high ranking priest who supervises a group of churches.
Bishops debate use of ‘he’ for the Almighty
Our parent? The Eternal Father, a 1636 painting by Francisco de Zurbaran, shows God as imagined for centuries — a man. Glossary
Christian - A believer in Christianity, a religion based on the teachings of Jesus Christ.
God - The name God is given to the spirit or being who is worshipped as the creator and ruler of the world, especially by Jews, Christians, and Muslims.
Church of England - The main or official church in England, also known as the Anglican Church. The supreme head of the church is the monarch.
Gender neutral - Not associated with any gender.
Bishops - In Christianity, a high ranking priest who supervises a group of churches.