On March 25, 2026, the course “The Female Face of God” officially began as part of the FER (Feminism and Religion) program. The opening lecture was delivered by Prof. Dr. Zilka Spahić Šiljak, who raised a number of important questions about language, symbols, and the ways in which God is represented in monotheistic religions.

In her lecture, Professor Spahić Šiljak discussed the importance of gender-sensitive language, emphasizing that the way we speak about God is not neutral, but deeply shaped by historical, cultural, and social contexts. She particularly highlighted the fact that, although God is understood as being beyond all human comprehension, identity, and categories, in religious language and practice God is most often represented and addressed in the masculine form.

Through an analysis of religious texts, traditions, and symbolism, she pointed to the dominance of male metaphors and images of God, opening space for critical reflection: is such language merely a grammatical convention, or does it carry deeper implications for how believers understand the divine, authority, and power?

One of the key questions raised during the lecture was: what would change if God were addressed in the feminine form? Would such a shift influence religious experience, the perception of God, as well as social relations and gender roles?

The course “The Female Face of God” will continue through a series of lectures and discussions aimed at fostering interdisciplinary reflection on the relationship between religion, language, and gender, while offering new perspectives on understanding spirituality in a contemporary context.