1 00:05:01,540 --> 00:05:08,060 We have too many absent fathers on Earth to begin to even entertain the thought of having 2 00:04:55,070 --> 00:05:01,540 Because if their goal is achieved, it is women who will suffer most from lawless males. 3 00:04:53,250 --> 00:04:55,070 morality less masculine. 4 00:04:48,220 --> 00:04:53,250 It is therefore ironic that some women are attempting to render the God of Western religious 5 00:04:41,820 --> 00:04:48,220 inmates, more than half came from a father-absent home.” 6 00:04:35,940 --> 00:04:41,820 A report released by the Minnesota Psychological Association concluded: “In a study of female 7 00:04:28,900 --> 00:04:35,940 And, like boys, girls are more likely to obey a male authority figure. 8 00:04:23,580 --> 00:04:28,900 Of course, girls need female role models, but not to avoid violence. 9 00:04:17,760 --> 00:04:23,580 not true—because the problem of mayhem and violence is overwhelmingly a male one. 10 00:04:13,100 --> 00:04:17,760 The argument that girls equally need female role models to avoid violence is objectively 11 00:04:10,870 --> 00:04:13,100 and to be emulated. 12 00:04:03,410 --> 00:04:10,870 for the poor and loves justice, mercy, and kindness, then these traits are also masculine 13 00:03:57,960 --> 00:04:03,400 But if God, their Father in Heaven, who is strong—on occasion, even a warrior—cares 14 00:03:52,270 --> 00:03:57,960 and care for the downtrodden as feminine and would not identify with them. 15 00:03:48,200 --> 00:03:52,270 If God were depicted as female, young men would deem traits such as compassion, mercy, 16 00:03:43,800 --> 00:03:48,200 humans, especially males, to emulate. 17 00:03:37,460 --> 00:03:43,800 the widow, it is not so much interested in describing God as in providing a model for 18 00:03:33,220 --> 00:03:37,460 So, when the Bible depicts God as merciful, compassionate, and caring for the poor and 19 00:03:25,790 --> 00:03:30,980 To transform a wild boy into a good man, a male role model is as necessary 20 00:03:30,980 --> 00:03:33,220 as a male rule-giver. 21 00:03:14,260 --> 00:03:19,600 Any discomfort you might feel with a masculine depiction of God is not comparable to the 22 00:03:19,600 --> 00:03:25,790 pain we will all feel if boys are not civilized into good men. 23 00:03:09,670 --> 00:03:14,260 masculine God can serve as an effective substitute. 24 00:03:02,819 --> 00:03:09,670 If the father figure/rule-giver that boys need is not on Earth, a morally authoritative 25 00:02:58,840 --> 00:03:02,819 as “Do not murder” and “Do not steal.” 26 00:02:43,670 --> 00:02:51,650 far less murder, child abuse, theft, and rape—a God depicted in masculine terms (a Father 27 00:02:51,650 --> 00:02:58,840 in Heaven), not a goddess (a Mother in Heaven), must be the source of moral commands such 28 00:02:37,560 --> 00:02:43,670 In other words, if one’s primary goal is a good world—specifically, a world with 29 00:02:31,840 --> 00:02:37,560 ills, including dropping out of school and serving time in jail.” 30 00:02:25,560 --> 00:02:31,840 confirmed these statistics: “The absence of fathers corresponds with a host of social 31 00:02:06,550 --> 00:02:12,280 father are five times more likely to live in poverty and commit crime, nine times more 32 00:02:12,280 --> 00:02:19,330 likely to drop out of school, and twenty times more likely to end up in prison.” 33 00:02:19,330 --> 00:02:25,560 Commenting on that speech, Dr. Alvin Poussaint, a psychiatrist with Harvard Medical School, 34 00:01:57,500 --> 00:02:00,880 for him to control his wilder impulses. 35 00:02:00,880 --> 00:02:06,540 As President Barack Obama told an audience in 2008, “Children who grow up without a 36 00:01:52,340 --> 00:01:57,500 If there is no male authority figure to give a growing boy rules, it is very difficult 37 00:01:46,520 --> 00:01:52,340 Without a father or some other male rule-giver, young men are likely to do great harm. 38 00:01:45,340 --> 00:01:46,520 Here’s why: 39 00:01:38,440 --> 00:01:45,340 Therefore, it is in both men’s and women’s interests to depict God in the masculine. 40 00:01:22,900 --> 00:01:27,920 One: The Hebrew Bible’s primary concern is making a good world. 41 00:01:27,920 --> 00:01:32,940 Two: A good world can only be achieved by making good people. 42 00:01:18,020 --> 00:01:22,900 Aside from the language issue, the Bible depicts God in masculine terms because: 43 00:00:55,960 --> 00:00:57,649 We can readily rule out neuter. 44 00:01:02,680 --> 00:01:06,200 after all, first introduced this God to us. 45 00:01:06,200 --> 00:01:13,220 For another, the biblical God is a personal God to whom we can—and must—relate. 46 00:01:13,220 --> 00:01:18,020 And we cannot relate to, let alone obey or love, an “It.” 47 00:00:57,649 --> 00:01:02,680 For one thing, neuter nouns don't exist in Hebrew, the language of the Old Testament—which, 48 00:00:42,820 --> 00:00:49,220 What I’m talking about here is why God is depicted in male terms in the Bible. 49 00:00:53,899 --> 00:00:55,960 or neuter—“it.” 50 00:00:49,220 --> 00:00:53,899 Gender-wise, the Bible had three choices: masculine—“he”; feminine—“she”; 51 00:00:39,510 --> 00:00:40,740 nor female. 52 00:00:29,930 --> 00:00:31,580 made the right decision. 53 00:00:40,740 --> 00:00:42,820 God transcends gender. 54 00:00:31,580 --> 00:00:39,510 Before I explain, I need to add an obvious caveat: The God of the Bible is neither male 55 00:00:24,760 --> 00:00:29,920 If you share these goals—and I suspect you do—then you’ll have to agree the Bible 56 00:00:16,080 --> 00:00:21,960 Well, here’s the answer: Because the Bible is preoccupied with making a kinder, less 57 00:00:14,140 --> 00:00:16,080 Why did the Bible do this? 58 00:01:32,940 --> 00:01:38,440 And three: The people who commit nearly all the world’s violence are males. 59 00:00:02,120 --> 00:00:09,500 One of the criticisms many people make against the Bible is that it depicts God in male terms. 60 00:00:21,960 --> 00:00:24,760 violent, more just world. 61 00:00:09,500 --> 00:00:14,140 The most obvious example is God is referred to as “He.” 62 00:05:10,820 --> 00:05:12,600 I’m Dennis Prager. 63 00:05:08,060 --> 00:05:10,820 no Father in Heaven.