Refering to the Gods as Mom and Dad?

[Meritmut]

I've read the HON before off and on, and one thing I can't quite get right with in my head is referring to the Gods as "Mom" or "Dad". Does anyone here do this, too? I haven't seen it anywhere else but the HON, so I'm curious. I would tend to see myself, in any relationship to any God, as a servant and not kin or an offspring so I'm very curious about this. Any info is appreciated!

I personally do not refer to any of the Netjeru as Mom or Dad. My worship focuses on Amun, Mut, Khonsu and Montu. I may once and a while refer to Amun as heavenly father but it is always done with a sense of respect. For me calling the Gods Mom or Dad is to informal.

[Setnakht]

I may once and a while refer to Amun as heavenly father but it is always done with a sense of respect. For me calling the Gods Mom or Dad is to informal.

I do agree with you. I personally find it much too informal to refer to a Netjer by such diminutives as Mom and Dad. It's like calling the president,
'Prez." The Netjeru, it seems to me, are too big and too awesome for such speech. Others may have a very different take on it. So I suppose it's ultimately about one's intention. If it's to put the god on the same level as
our natal parents, that strikes me as not such a good idea. If, however,
it reflects one individual's way of relating in love and respect, then who can criticize that?

[Vaalea]

I may once and a while refer to Amun as heavenly father but it is always done with a sense of respect. For me calling the Gods Mom or Dad is to informal.

Heh, I get the 'too informal' point. However I wouldn't personally consider it *disrespectful*. Respect and formality aren't imho necessarily related. Certain level of formalness does imply also respect, yet the lack of it doesn't imply automatically disrespect.

[Darkhawk]

Heh, I get the 'too informal' point. However I wouldn't personally consider it *disrespectful*. Respect and formality aren't imho necessarily related. Certain level of formalness does imply also respect, yet the lack of it doesn't imply automatically disrespect.

I don't think they're even that closely linked. I know rather a few people who use highly formal precision to convey "You are too stupid to live."

[Meritmut]

Heh, I get the 'too informal' point. However I wouldn't personally consider it *disrespectful*. Respect and formality aren't imho necessarily related. Certain level of formalness does imply also respect, yet the lack of it doesn't imply automatically disrespect.

I didn't mean to imply that it was disrespectful just personally it's to informal for me.

[Nehet]

Heh, I get the 'too informal' point. However I wouldn't personally consider it *disrespectful*. Respect and formality aren't imho necessarily related. Certain level of formalness does imply also respect, yet the lack of it doesn't imply automatically disrespect.

I respect my Mom and Dad, who I call "Mom" and Dad".

That type of respect is qualitatively different from the respect I have for the Gods. Calling a God by that sort of name seems like using a cute pet name for a mountain, or an ocean. When I'm relating to the Gods, I try to remember that I can't really fathom everything that They are. Too much anthromorphization seems to limit my experience of Them, so I try to avoid it. I don't see it as disrespectful. It's just not how I roll.

Besides, "Mom" and "Dad" are very specific terms for two very specific beings in my life. I can't use those terms without thinking of my biological parents. That would make interacting with the Gods a little weird, to say the least.

[Bastemhet]

Does anyone here do this, too?

Even before I was an HoN member, I did not refer to Bast as mother (I had been worshiping her for at least 4 yrs. before this). Later she was divined as my (only) Parent deity, and I still don't call her mother. The relationship I have with her is more like "bow down to this ancient warrior goddess lest you get smacked," not really anything overtly "motherly." When I want to refer to her, I just call her by her name, or refer to her by her epithets.

[Vaalea]

I didn't mean to imply that it was disrespectful just personally it's to informal for me.

I understand that, Meritmut. Not taking any offense to it (or seeing that view as a personal hurt). Just rather pointed out as I wasn't sure this your view *is* what is implied in the preceeding post. Clarification helps me.

[Meritmut]

I understand that, Meritmut. Not taking any offense to it (or seeing that view as a personal hurt). Just rather pointed out as I wasn't sure this your view *is* what is implied in the preceeding post. Clarification helps me.

of course. If I need to clarify anything let me know ^^

[Darkhawk]

Besides, "Mom" and "Dad" are very specific terms for two very specific beings in my life. I can't use those terms without thinking of my biological parents. That would make interacting with the Gods a little weird, to say the least.

Been trying to compose a reply to this for a bit.

One of the reasons I occasionally refer to Hetharu as "Mum" is in order to affirm that I do, in fact, have a healthy mother-child relationship with Someone.