Important Theological Question of the Day

 

I don’t care how many angels can dance on the head of a pin. I just want to know what gender (or, preferably, sex) they are!

As I was putting up my nativity set last night and placing the angel overlooking the crib, it occurred to me how feminized angels appear in our popular art. It’s always bothered me that the angel in my set has huge hands(!) and is wearing a dress. And a shiny stole, and, well, lookie there! She/he/it appears to have bosoms!

I was under the impression angels are male. Certainly, all the named ones are (Michael, Gabriel, Raphael). What’s up with all the pretty gal angels adorning our art?

Published in General
This post was promoted to the Main Feed by a Ricochet Editor at the recommendation of Ricochet members. Like this post? Want to comment? Join Ricochet’s community of conservatives and be part of the conversation. Join Ricochet for Free.

There are 73 comments.

Become a member to join the conversation. Or sign in if you're already a member.
  1. Kevin Schulte Member
    Kevin Schulte
    @KevinSchulte

    I share your displeasure. Looked for years for a masculine angle tree topper. Told the kids once I was going to convert a GI Joe and got voted down. 

    So, as to your question on why Femy angles. My 2 cents. We live in a pagan world. Many pagan’s like to take what God has set in motion and turn it upside down. Femy angles are now set in stone for our fallen world. sigh….. 

    • #1
  2. Scott Wilmot Member
    Scott Wilmot
    @ScottWilmot

    Western Chauvinist: What’s up with all the pretty gal angels adorning our art?

    Vatican II ruined everything ( I couldn’t think of anything clever so I’m using this as my stock answer from now on when I’m in this situation).

    Can angels be male or female?

    • #2
  3. Andrew Miller Member
    Andrew Miller
    @AndrewMiller

    Because sometimes a man looks into a woman’s eyes and catches a glimpse of her soul. 

    • #3
  4. EJHill Podcaster
    EJHill
    @EJHill

    All of the Angels I remember were male. Nolan Ryan, Rod Carew, Jim Fregosi…

    • #4
  5. RightAngles Member
    RightAngles
    @RightAngles

    I don’t know, but that nativity scene looks beautiful!

    • #5
  6. Western Chauvinist Member
    Western Chauvinist
    @WesternChauvinist

    Andrew Miller (View Comment):

    Because sometimes a man looks into a woman’s eyes and catches a glimpse of her soul.

    ?? Are you sucking up to the Rico-women, Andrew? I don’t take this as a theologically serious answer…

    • #6
  7. Andrew Miller Member
    Andrew Miller
    @AndrewMiller

    Western Chauvinist (View Comment):

    Andrew Miller (View Comment):

    Because sometimes a man looks into a woman’s eyes and catches a glimpse of her soul.

    ?? Are you sucking up to the Rico-women, Andrew? I don’t take this as a theologically serious answer…

    Perish the thought. Just speaking slightly sentimentally from experience …

    • #7
  8. Gary McVey Contributor
    Gary McVey
    @GaryMcVey

    There are female angels. The Victoria’s Secret TV special proves it. 

    • #8
  9. Vance Richards Inactive
    Vance Richards
    @VanceRichards

    Guess it depends on how the identify.

    One thing I notice in the Bible is that they are often saying, “Do not be afraid” which makes me think they are more scary than cute.

    • #9
  10. Misthiocracy, Joke Pending Member
    Misthiocracy, Joke Pending
    @Misthiocracy

    Gender is only a thing in the material universe.  Beings in nonentropic planes of existence who don’t reproduce sexually have no need for gender.

    Also, Adam and Eve didn’t have bellybuttons.

    • #10
  11. Misthiocracy, Joke Pending Member
    Misthiocracy, Joke Pending
    @Misthiocracy

    Vance Richards (View Comment):

    One thing I notice in the Bible is that they are often saying, “Do not be afraid” which makes me think they are more scary than cute.

    That says absolutely nothing about their gender identity.

    Many beings who identify as female are SCARY AS F!!!

    • #11
  12. OkieSailor Member
    OkieSailor
    @OkieSailor

    Mark 12:25 For when they shall rise from the dead, they neither marry, nor are given in marriage; but are as the angels which are in heaven.

    Angels do not reproduce so are not of either sex, though most Biblical accounts seem to present them as appearing as masculine to the observer. 

    • #12
  13. Misthiocracy, Joke Pending Member
    Misthiocracy, Joke Pending
    @Misthiocracy

    OkieSailor (View Comment):

    Mark 12:25 For when they shall rise from the dead, they neither marry, nor are given in marriage; but are as the angels which are in heaven.

    Angels do not reproduce so are not of either sex, though most Biblical accounts seem to present them as appearing as masculine to the observer.

    I think that is close enough to my answer that it should qualify as a “Drink!” moment.

    ;-)

    • #13
  14. SkipSul Inactive
    SkipSul
    @skipsul

    Gary McVey (View Comment):

    There are female angels. The Victoria’s Secret TV special proves it.

    They object to being stuck atop trees, prferring pedestals or runways.

    • #14
  15. EJHill Podcaster
    EJHill
    @EJHill

    Misthiocracy, Joke Pending: Gender is only a thing in the material universe. Beings in nonentropic planes of existence who don’t reproduce sexually have no need for gender.

    I’m not sure anyone has ever made a definitive study on the sex life of angels. If God truly turned to the angels and said “Let us make man in our image, after our own likeness…” (Gen. 1:26) I’d say that’s a pretty bold statement.

    • #15
  16. Nanda Panjandrum Member
    Nanda Panjandrum
    @

    Western Chauvinist (View Comment):

    Andrew Miller (View Comment):

    Because sometimes a man looks into a woman’s eyes and catches a glimpse of her soul.

    ?? Are you sucking up to the Rico-women, Andrew? I don’t take this as a theologically serious answer…

    Chauvie, tsk…tsk…

    • #16
  17. danys Thatcher
    danys
    @danys

    Depends on which angel you’re looking for.

    St. Michael the Archangel.

    • #17
  18. SkipSul Inactive
    SkipSul
    @skipsul

    • #18
  19. Vance Richards Inactive
    Vance Richards
    @VanceRichards

    Gary McVey (View Comment):

    There are female angels. The Victoria’s Secret TV special proves it.

    I can see why people would go with the female ones over the male. . .

    • #19
  20. SkipSul Inactive
    SkipSul
    @skipsul

    • #20
  21. SkipSul Inactive
    SkipSul
    @skipsul

    Really, they ought to be accurate and have six wings with lotsa eyes

     

    • #21
  22. Basil Fawlty Member
    Basil Fawlty
    @BasilFawlty

    I’m pretty happy with the idea that Satan is a woman.

    • #22
  23. Kevin Schulte Member
    Kevin Schulte
    @KevinSchulte

    danys (View Comment):

    Depends on which angel you’re looking for.

    St. Michael the Archangel.

    Tree topper most definitely!!!

     

     

     

    SkipSul (View Comment):

    Sorry Skip, no go for my tree. ;)
    .

    • #23
  24. Nanda Panjandrum Member
    Nanda Panjandrum
    @

    Perhaps those messengers tasked with the singing of “Peace on Earth…goodwill to those who enjoy God’s favor.” needed to be of a less-fearsome aspect?

    • #24
  25. danys Thatcher
    danys
    @danys

    Kevin Schulte (View Comment):

    danys (View Comment):

    Depends on which angel you’re looking for.

    St. Michael the Archangel.

    Tree topper most definitely!!!

    I would love to have this angel on my tree. I to have the vapid angel tree-topper. Sigh.

     

    • #25
  26. Vance Richards Inactive
    Vance Richards
    @VanceRichards

    No angel on top of our tree, but my son did let one his pets climb to the top . . . 

    • #26
  27. Western Chauvinist Member
    Western Chauvinist
    @WesternChauvinist

    Vance Richards (View Comment):

    No angel on top of our tree, but my son did let one his pets climb to the top . . .

    That’s just not right, Vance. It needs wings.

    • #27
  28. Western Chauvinist Member
    Western Chauvinist
    @WesternChauvinist

    Nanda Panjandrum (View Comment):

    Western Chauvinist (View Comment):

    Andrew Miller (View Comment):

    Because sometimes a man looks into a woman’s eyes and catches a glimpse of her soul.

    ?? Are you sucking up to the Rico-women, Andrew? I don’t take this as a theologically serious answer…

    Chauvie, tsk…tsk…

    I’m pretty sure Andrew knows this is not a theologically serious post. My title was a bit of, um, misdirection. 

    • #28
  29. Mike Rapkoch Member
    Mike Rapkoch
    @MikeRapkoch

    I’m partial to this:

    Image result for st michael

    • #29
  30. Western Chauvinist Member
    Western Chauvinist
    @WesternChauvinist

    Mike Rapkoch (View Comment):

    I’m partial to this:

    Image result for st michael

    Now we’re talkin’. 

    • #30
Become a member to join the conversation. Or sign in if you're already a member.