Are we there yet (I)?

There are drawbacks to bestowing God with feminine qualities:

• God is still masculine (but possesses feminine characteristics)
• God is still 'Him' (but with an integrated feminine side)
• the patriarchy of God is still present
• men gain their feminine side but women do not gain their masculine side
• real women are only seen as capable of representing the feminine element of God, not God in all divine fullness
• inequality is still (subtly) present

Why are strength, sovereignty and rationality exclusive to the masculine?

With what right are compassionate love, reverence and nurturing seen as feminine characteristics, rather than human ones?

• Feminine is a patriarchal creation, an 'ideal projected onto women by men and vigorously defended because it functions so well to keep men in positions of power and women out of public roles' (Johnson)
• Masculine and feminine are among the most culturally stereotyped words and they do not serve us well 'for the re-envisionment of God in a more inclusive direction' (Johnson)

Rather than assign stereotypical, patriarchal feminine qualities to a male God, we could seek the feminine in God and deepen our awareness of the fullness of God's power.

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