Is God bald?

I heard from a relative today a story about a younger child in our
family who asked her parent if God has hair. The parent had at least
enough theological sophistication to recognize that it is inappropriate
to say “yes” in response to such a question, and so answered “No.”

The child looked puzzled, and said “So God is bald, then?”

It occurred to me that this story illustrates the simplistic
character of many discussions about God. If God is not literally like
certain childish or anthropomorphic depictions, then that simply leads
to the conclusion that God is literally like the opposite of those depictions, or simply literally does not exist at all, disappearing completely along with his receding hairline.

But sometimes the discussions and depictions themselves are
problematic at a more basic level, and attributes are off target both
when affirmed and when denied. Theologians have acknowledged this for
millennia, and yet popular discussion of deities very often seems to
continue as though such cautions had never been voiced.

Yet I was struck as well by the fact that, at least up until a
certain age, it probably would not be possible to discuss an abstract
concept with a child. And so we have no choice but to use pictures and
metaphors and images to illustrate ideas and values.

I wonder whether those reading this post think that growing out of
childish thinking happens naturally, or requires a concerted effort.
There clearly are people and groups that think it is appropriate to
remain with childish ways of thinking. But I wonder whether it is their
advocacy of that stance that leads people to fail to mature in their
thinking, or whether it is conversely immature thinking that leads to
the adoption of such a religious perspective. Or maybe it is both, at
least some of the time.

What do you think? Is God bald?

Originally posted at Exploring Our Matrix.