Recorded February 7, 2013: Marcus Borg and Charles Holt discuss Jesus’ resurrection.
pastordawn BEYOND CHURCH
progressive visions of christianity beyond church
Recorded February 7, 2013: Marcus Borg and Charles Holt discuss Jesus’ resurrection.
I wish he would stop referring to God as ‘ he ‘ ‘him’ ‘his’
I think his wife agrees with you! As a scholar who knows the importance of language Borg should make better choices. I have on occasion heard him refer to ‘Her’.
He’s not perfect, and I think he may be swayed by the company he keeps,
but he also is using anthropomorphic language in a metaphorical sense……
no way would he think of God as “he” literally!
I agree Ross, Borg is using anthropomorphic language. However, anthropomorphic is all too often without including female as a possibility. When anthropomorphic images and metaphors are used together with exclusively male pronouns, it contributes to the notion that “she” is not part of the equation. God is not a being. God is beyond being; the ground of being. Ideally, our metaphors should point us beyond the words. But as you say Mr. Borg is not perfect.
Well said, Dawn. I recently heard Borg live and we have studied his book “Speaking Christian” in our adult book group at Belleville Church, Newburyport, MA. I recall that he speaks about God being beyond all personified words and images, yet that he is comfortable using anthropomorphisms in liturgy and prayer for sake of the power of the symbol or metaphor (my paraphrase). I also wish he would use both male and female imagery when addressing “God” with personal metaphors. I’m glad they had this “dialogue” with much civility and respect. Ross