Female?

[dark angel]

I recently came across this idea with one of my friends while we were surfing the net....

Why are most drawings of God and the Devil, feature them as well men?

I've got nothing against guys and their roles in religion, but i just want to know why their always drawn or painted as men?
I'm not saying that it's sexist and all that but it just made me think...

[DragoonKain]

God and the Devil are painted as male entities because it was around the time of their inception that a patriarchal movement formed. Throughout most early history, from Sumerians to the Egyptians, Goddesses were most often the supreme beings, and this matriarchal footing lost its ground eventually.

The role of women in religion is still found in some cultures such as Japan's Shinto religion. However, you would be right in assuming that God and Satan being portrayed as men is largely sexist -- It is.

[Argo]

That and the bible says God made Adam, who is a man, in the image of himself...(Ok...please dont argue with me over weather or not Adam and Eve existed...its my opinion so just dont start...i dont wanna get banned..lol)

I dont think its all that sexist though...i wont say why...i dont need every female on this site hunting me down..lol

[Terminal Est]

Despite that many Christian beliefs or organizations claim that God treats all as equals, this was not always so. (If it is more true today.=Sarcasm.)
Women were certainly not regarded as equals, they were inferior to men for ages. It has not even been this long ago that women were accepted at the same standards as men.
Even today, in many places women are still viewed as inferior beings, suitable for only the obvious. That this today still happens, weather in religion or not, we can then see how easy it was for humans to interpret God or Jesus as men, in respects to the biggest religion and range of beliefs the world has ever known.

Just a few days ago, some preachers came to my door, anouncing that the end of ''False Religion'' is nigh. This means that all religions (In regards to god.) which accept ''inproper'' or ''immoral'' sexual practices, such as homosexuality are to see an end, making way for the true belief of God.
In the way which they have explained it to me, religion would once again see its facist and ass backwards morality, therefore once again putting women under the feet of men. (I would assume. But I suppose it is relative to people's interpretations of God, and their beliefs.). This is supposed to be a ''global announcement''..so I guess Stephen Harper or George Bush had nothing to do with this... (Because they also state that false religion is allied with politics..)

Well..those few examples only to suggest that for the most part of humanity, women were seen as nothing but sperm bags, so to speak, so therefore, centuries ago until not so long ago, portraying God or Jesus as a women would have been deemed blasphemy, herecy, a sin.

But then, if DragoonKain is right, then women were regarded in a much higher status before Jesus Christ..am I to assume then, that Christianity (And other White Light religions, because Jews, as far as I know, treat their women like utter crap.) is responsible for belitling us?
Maybe it has something to do with it, but somehow I doubt it is completely responsible, becauese throughout the world and centuries, many countries or cultures have done and still do the same.

[DragoonKain]

First of all, your preachers you got a visit from: Crackpots.

Religion itself, historically, is probably the tool that male leaders used in order to achieve a social sexist order, yes. It worked in the Islamic religion, the Jewish religion, and the Christian religion. No other tool has as much power to change the beliefs and way of life of a group of people as a religion does.

There are other tools at work, however. After women have been oppressed long enough, they actually get used to the idea of being oppressed. Any women given ANY opportunities will then become even harsher on her fellow women, thus keeping women down in the face of possible uprise. This is a very simple and predictable Oppressor<->Oppressee relationship. Religion started the ball rolling and human nature took it the rest of the way.

[Snaggle_Tongue]

God and the devil are men because at the time that the bible was written, men believed they were superior to women in every way (except cooking, rofl) and this came across in the writing.
Also, see genesis: Lilith, first wife of Adam, was demonised because she refused to be submissve during sex. No, not sexist at all, huh? ^_~
And look at the various Mary's portrayals in the bible: The Da Vnci code had SOME fact, you know. The Mary who loved Jesus and was loved by Jesus wasn't the same as the prostitute Mary.

[end game]

is cus people are dumb and there well alwasy be dumb people, but is not the dumb people you sould be afried of, is the ones that are smarter then you.
one more thing for most people, they are able to live happy kowning that there are worsts off people then themself, or that there is a form of evil on this earth, if its form blacks to woman, or whatever it might be. it fells verygood to be better then someone eles.

[Terminal Est]

Religion started the ball rolling and human nature took it the rest of the way.

I agree with that, and such was a part of my post.
But at the same time, if it is indeed human nature, (Which spawned religion to begin with, or at least this I believe.) then Christian religions may not be the only avenue. On the other hand, these religions started many unique things, so it may very well have been them. But once again I stress, other cultures have done and do the same things, and many of them have naught to do with God. Well, I suppose many religions, if not all, are more or less the same, in concept and idea.

First of all, your preachers you got a visit from: Crackpots.

Crackpots you say? But, you know not the half of it...I will not give too many examples, as not every one of them would be on track with this topic, but see this..I will translate it from French to the best of my abilities.

The book La Politique de l'Holocauste (Published in English in 2001) declares that if more people would have put to practice the teachings and ways of life of Jehova's Wintesses, the massacre done to the Jewish people never would have taken place, (Refering to the second World War of course.) and humanity would not be plagued by genocide.

Uh..I shall let anyone imagine what they meant by that, and conclude by saying what a load of horse shit. I mean people actually BELIEVE this?!

Not to mention the pamphlet they gave me today, stating that scientists have dug deep into the planet, and opened a portal to Hell, which is why now we all suffer. They would say the middle of the earth is empty, and that human screams could be heard from within.
I swear, they really say this in the pamphlet I was given..maybe it is just me, but it looks like a story I would have written in grade two or something.
The point is, many today would suggest that Heaven or Hell, that is should they even exist, are a different state of being, or mind, or at the very least another dimention, for lack of a better word. (Point being that these ''places'' should not be so easily accesible by man.)
Even with the raw traits that is human nature with religion, that Hell should be litteraly right under our feet is a rather primitive belief.
But, obviously, with the aproach of these people, and the desires etched within the beliefs of religion, evolution is in no way part of the game, and that is very understanble of course.

Yesh..rambling...in any case, the same people preached to me that a man must love his wife like he would his body, and a women must learn to show the utmost respect for her husband. (Taken from The Bible.)
So, if DragoonKain is correct about the cycle of oppression between man and women being started by religion, then these people, as I have said before, would seek to keep this basis of religion going, if it ever had changed to begin with...

[Keyblade_master uk]

Well, Its always the thing. Women always treat differently, just because they aren't respected enough in religion, especially when it comes to stricter religion.

I'm also a man, but I do agree that women should get treated the same as men, I had agruements with my Dad based on that subject, saying that women should stay at home and look after the kids, blahblahblah, you get the picture.

So, I believe in equal rights, So I help them with cooking, cleaning and stuff, or do it myself when they want a lie-down when they tired. I ain't bothered, probably because when you are in a relationship or marrage, you both have responsibility.

Meh, don't pay attention to religion on Men/Women, that is the past, this is the 21st century