A campaign by the Catholic Youth Community (KjG) in Germany is likely to give new impetus to the gender debate in language and writing. Because the young Catholics now want to rename God. With “Gott+” the heavenly father should become gender neutral and “make it more inclusive”. There is encouragement from politicians.
When the Roman Catholic Church speaks of God, a clear male image is served. God as the heavenly Father of Jesus Christ, so it says in the Bible. But the debate about the gender (or no gender) of God has been going on for a number of years, and now the Catholic Youth Community has introduced a new spelling. Within the organization people want to speak and write about “God+” in the future.
“Breaking Out of Outdated Images”
Its aim is to “start an open discourse on diversity, show us diversity and break with outdated imagery,” according to a KjG press release. After all, the language and the way in which God is spoken of form the image of man. “One-sided male-patriarchal, white+images of God make it difficult for people to access God+.”
Encouragement comes from other Catholic lay organizations, as well as from politicians. The FDP, for example, applauded the move. That’s what the FDP’s LGBTI spokesperson, Jürgen Lenders (55), said to the “image” “Everyone is free to imagine God as he or she pleases. I have never identified God with a gender. If the KjG thinks it has an exemplary role, then that can be a good step towards raising awareness and awareness of the theme of gender.”
No “Ladies of God”
However, the KjG does not want to see a gendering of God in its initiative, rather it is about “not reproducing stereotypical role models in the descriptions”. In addition, they want to “point out that God+ will not allow himself to be used for sexist/patriarchal views”.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
