ABSTRACT
Even now it is perhaps easier to get away with making a pagan god a rapist as Yeats does than it is to render the Christian God in that part. But many Christian thinkers have portrayed, and indeed experienced, God in possessive terms that are highly erotic. This is from Mary Doria Russell’s powerful and award-winning 1996 novel, The Sparrow :
‘You know what’s the most terrifying thing about admitting you’re in love?’ she asked him. ‘You are just naked. You put yourself in harm’s way and you lay down all your defenses. No clothes, no weapons. Nowhere to hide. Completely vulnerable. The only thing that makes it tolerable is to believe the other person loves you back and that you can trust him not to hurt you.’
He looked at her, astounded. ‘Yes. Exactly. That’s how it feels, when I let myself believe. Like I am falling in love and like I am naked before God. And it is terrifying, as you say. But it has started to feel like I am being rude and ungrateful, do you understand? To keep on doubting. That God loves me. Personally.’ 1
