G-d's Gender

I have been troubled for some time about the patriarchal orientations of the faith paths that have meant the most to me in my life path thus far (Judaism and Christianity). I remember hearing a woman speak at a men's chapel when I attended Multnomah Bible College years ago who suggested that the many ways in which men have oppressed and suppressed women through the ages is one of the greatest evils and atrocities in human history... she is right.

Recently a good friend of mine (in a workplace Black History Month Workgroup) suggested we do something different this year... "Why not focus our initiative on honoring and celebrating black women?". We all loved this idea.

This event, along with recent readings in Psalms in particular, have got me thinking on this topic. Over and over in the Bible I read the words (in reference to G-d): He, Him, His...

Rav Yeshua suggested that G-d is neither male nor female, G-d is spirit. For me, G-d is male and female... male and female merged.

The Hindus worship a god by the name of Ardhanarishvara...

"Ardhanarishvara is an androgynous deity composed of Shiva and his consort Shakti. He/She represents the synthesis of masculine and feminine energies. The Ardhanari form also illustrates how the female principle of God, Shakti, is inseparable from the male principle of God, Shiva. Ardhanari in iconography is depicted as half-male and half-female, split down the middle."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ardhanari

While this concept and image at first took me some time to get used to... it now warms my heart and resolves many ethical problems for me as I sojourn in patriarchal faith paths...

For me, no doubt about it, when we think of G-d's gender, G-d is male and female in union.