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Father

A father is traditionally the male Malé

Mal , population 81,647 , is the capital [i] of the Republic of Maldives [i]. ... 

 parent Parent

A parent is a father or mother; one who begets or one who gives birth to or nurtures and raises a child ... 

 of a child. Like mothers, fathers may be categorised according to their biological, social or legal relationship with the child. Historically, the biological relationship paternity has been determinative of fatherhood. However, proof of paternity has been intrinsically problematic and so social rules often determined who would be regarded as a father e.g. the husband of the mother Mother

In the case of a mammal [i] such as a human [i], the biological mother gestates [i] her child in the ... 

. This method of the determination of fatherhood has persisted since Roman times in the famous sentence: Mater semper certa; pater est quem nuptiae demonstrant .

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A father is traditionally the male Malé

Mal , population 81,647 , is the capital [i] of the Republic of Maldives [i]. ... 

 parent Parent

A parent is a father or mother; one who begets or one who gives birth to or nurtures and raises a child ... 

 of a child. Like mothers, fathers may be categorised according to their biological, social or legal relationship with the child. Historically, the biological relationship paternity has been determinative of fatherhood. However, proof of paternity has been intrinsically problematic and so social rules often determined who would be regarded as a father e.g. the husband of the mother Mother

In the case of a mammal [i] such as a human [i], the biological mother gestates [i] her child in the ... 

. This method of the determination of fatherhood has persisted since Roman times in the famous sentence: Mater semper certa; pater est quem nuptiae demonstrant . The historical approach has been destabilised with the recent emergence of accurate scientific testing, particularly DNA testing Genetic fingerprinting

Genetic fingers, DNA testing, DNA typing, and DNA profiling are techniques used to dis... 

. As a result, the law on fatherhood is undergoing rapid changes. In the United States, the Uniform Parentage Act essentially defines a father as a man who conceives a child through sexual intercourse.

The most familiar English terms for father include dad, daddy, papa, pop and pa. Other colloquial expressions include my old man.

Categories


Biological


  • Natural father - the most common category: child product of man and woman
  • Surprise father - where the men did not know that there was a child until possibly years afterwards
  • Posthumous father - father died before children were born
  • Teenage father/youthful father - may be associated with premarital sexual intercourse Sexual intercourse

    Sexual intercourse, also called coitus, is the human form of copulation [i]. ... 

  • Non-parental father - unmarried father whose name does not appear on child's birth certificate: does not have legal responsibility but continues to have financial responsibility
  • Sperm donor father - a genetic connection but man does not have legal or financial responsibility if conducted through licensed clinics

Non-biological


  • Step-father - wife/partner has child from previous relationship
  • Father-in-law - the father of one's spouse
  • Adoptive father - child is adopted
  • Foster father - child is raised by a man who is not the biological or adoptive father usually as part of a couple.
  • Cuckolded father - where child is the product of the mother's adulterous relationship
  • Social father - where man takes de facto responsibility for a child
  • Mothers's partner - assumption that current partner fills father role
  • Mothers's husband - under some jurisdictions , if the mother is married to another man, the latter will be defined as the father
  • DI Dad - social / legal father of children produced via Donor Insemination where a donor's sperm were used to impregnate the DI Dad's spouse.

Fatherhood defined by contact level with child


  • Weekend/holiday father - where child only stay with father at weekends, holidays, etc.
  • Absent father - father reluctant to spend time with the child
  • Second father - a non-parent whose contact and support is robust enough that near parental bond occurs .
  • Stay at home dad Stay at home dad



A stay at home dad is an occupation of a male [i] parent [i] who is the primary caregiver [i] of his children [i] ... 

 - the male equivalent of a housewife with child

Legally fatherless children


  • Where man in couple originally seeking IVF In vitro fertilisation

    In vitro fertilisation is a technique in which egg cells [i] are fertilised [i] ... 

     treatment withdraws consent before fertilisation


  • Where the apparently male partner in an IVF In vitro fertilisation

    In vitro fertilisation is a technique in which egg cells [i] are fertilised [i] ... 

     arrangement turns out to be legally a female at the time of the treatment


A biological child of a man who, for the special reason above, is not their legal father, has no automatic right to financial support or inheritance. Legal fatherlessness refers to a legal status and not to the issue of whether the father is now dead or alive.

Religion


The word Father is, by followers of the Christian religion, applied to God God

God is the deity [i] believed by monotheists [i] to be the supreme reality.... 

, whom they believe is creator of the universe Universe

The term universe has a variety of meanings, based on the context in which it is used.... 

 and humanity and who, according to them, is also the Father of Jesus Jesus

Jesus,Some of the historians and Biblical scholars who place the birth and death of Jesus within this ra... 

 Christ.

Father is also the title used almost universally for a priest Priest Priest

A priest or priestess is a person having the authority, or power , to perform and administer relig... 

s in the Roman Catholic Roman Catholic Church

The Roman Catholic Church or Catholic Church is the Christian [i] Church [i] ... 

 and Orthodox Christian Churches. While not as widespread, it also had wide use in the Church of England Church of England

The Church of England is the officially established [i] Christian [i] church [i] ... 

, other churches in the Anglican Communion Anglican Communion

The Anglican Communion is a world-wide affiliation of Anglican [i] Churches. ... 

, as well as for ministers in several other denominations, such as some Lutheran Lutheranism

Lutheranism is a movement within Christianity [i] that began with the theological [i] insights ... 

 denominations. The term "Padre" is used for military chaplains, being Spanish and Italian for "Father". The terms "Abbot" and "Pope Pope

The Pope is the Bishop of Rome [i], and, as Successor [i] of Saint Peter [i], is t ... 

" also mean "Father." Some Protestants believe priests should not be called "Father" because Jesus said, "And do not call anyone on earth 'father,' for you have one Father, and he is in heaven" .

Catholic & Orthodox Christians give this title to their clergy because they believe that all Christian believers make up the Body of Christ . They believe that the clergy who receive this title are spiritual fathers because as one is a member of the Body, so there are also "elders,", "rabbis," and other leaders. Father can be translated as an elder because it presumes that one has, because of age or study, wisdom and knowledge of the doctrines of the Church. St. Paul also refers to himself as having spiritually begotten his fellow Christians in Christ due to their "new birth" as in 1 Cor 2:15, 2 Tim 1:2, 2 Tim 2:1, 1 Tim 5:1, Titus 1:4, 1 Pet 1:18, 2 Pet 3:4, 1 Jn 2:13, etc.

The title father is also applied to certain influential early Christian figures: church father and apostolic fathers.

Philosophical fatherhood


Father can also refer metaphorically to a person who is considered the founder of a body of knowledge or of an institution. In such context the meaning of "father" is similar to that of "founder". See List of people known as the father or mother of something.

See also

  • Mother Mother

    In the case of a mammal [i] such as a human [i], the biological mother gestates [i] her child in the ... 

  • Paternal bond Paternal bond

    The paternal bond is typically the relationship [i] between a father [i] and his c ... 

  • Sociology of fatherhood
  • Non-human fatherhood
  • Marriage strike
  • Fathers' rights