THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, September 3, 1994 TAG: 9409020029
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A12 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Short : 32 lines
Dennis Prager is to be commended for his thoughtful Another View, ``Our father figure who art in heaven'' (Aug. 29). Two corrections, however: one ecclesiastical, the other theological.
The re-imagining conference referred to was not a Presbyterian conference as the writer reported it to be. Rather it was an ecumenical conference in which many other denominations were represented.
Theologically, the point was made that ``God the Father'' is a necessity as an authoritarian figure and model for boys or males. It is more important to recognize that the Bible is the revealed word of God by which he has made himself known to all mankind.
In the Old Testament, God has made himself known as Creator and Lord, our strength and our Redeemer, and God of our salvation. In the New Testament God has made himself known in the person of his son, Jesus Christ, who by his life, death and resurrection is Saviour. This does not mean that God is ``male'' or that God has given more power and greater glory to males. Rather, it is the way by which God has revealed himself.
It is by faith that one believes in God, our heavenly Father.
RICHARD S. RUGGLES
Currituck, N.C., Aug. 29, 1994 by CNB