The image of God as the dispenser of rewards and punishments comes from our experience of our own earthly fathers.
So the modern prohibition on smacking your children will break the cycle of violence and fear which feeds the image of God as an abusive parent.
We owe much of this to feminism which reversed the roles and opposed the patriarchy.
In the future children will not grow up with the fear of God which past generations have suffered.
It will be interesting to see what effect this has on religion.
Gentle hippy fathers and sensitive new age guys will change the image of fathers for ever.
Our image of God will change with it.
No longer will God be feared and we may be able to love God as we have been taught.
Good thoughts. I hope our perspective does change as you suggest.
ReplyDeleteThank you Tim.
DeleteJesus' love for the Father led to his experience of God's love.
I always wonder what Joseph was like?
That is a good question!
ReplyDelete