EARLY GODDESS CULTURES

The shift from “Goddess” to “God”:

n Most Western religions picture “God” as a male figure

n Recent research reveals that the female diety, in the form of the Goddess, was worshipped ancient times

n Goddess cultures developed before the discovery of writing

THE QUEST TO FIND GODDESS CULTURES

Archaeological Findings:

n Burial grounds provide clues to a civilization’s thoughts about life

n In Paleolithic times (around 7000 bce) figures depicting the goddess out number male figures 20 to 1.

n Architecture of ancient shrines indicate the predominance of “Woman” as the central religious figure

ORAL TRADTION AND MYTHS

n Myths = sacred stories; paradigm-laden narratives

n Since concepts of the deity are beyond immediate human experience, they ideas are interpreted or expressed through myths

n Myths make use of metaphors and illustrate truths about reality

Myth and History

n History is the interpretative attempt to accurately describe past events and people.

n Myth is more intimately involved in identity formation.

n Myths describe human beings in ways that engender self-esteem and empower individuals or groups within a given culture.

n Myths are involved in the process of social construction; and are equally powerful in social deconstruction.

The Myth of Matriarchal Prehistory

In a time before written records, society was centered around women who were:

n Revered for their mysterious life-giving powers

n Honored as incarnations and priestesses of the great goddess

n Created art and technology

n Were leaders in their communities

The Myth of Matriarchy Prehistory

The great transformation occurred:

• It may have been a sudden cataclysm or a long, drawn-out change

• Society was thereafter dominated by men

• This is the culture and mindset known as patriarchy in which we live today

Recovery of the Goddess and the Future

n Awareness of women’s true history

n The future depends on the actions taken now; patriarchy must be dismantled

n The future will be:

n A time of peace, ecological balance, and harmony between the sexes

n A truly egalitarian society under the goddess will be established

ANCIENT GODDESS CULTURES

Cultures of Europe & the ancient Mediterranean World

n matrilinear societies trace their heritage through the mother’s line

n matrilocal societies = the man left his place to make his home with his wife in her locale

n matrilinear & matrilocal societies appeared to be very peaceful

PALEOLITHIC:
35,000 - 8,000 BCE

n Livelihood = hunting and gathering

n Status of women = female figures predominate in art; women provide most of the food by gathering

n Society = tribal, egalitarian, communal; all aspects of life are integrated; art in deep caves indicates a “return to the womb” as quest for sacred space

NEOLITHIC:
8,000-3,000 BCE

n Livelihood = gathering, hunting, trade, agriculture, animal raising

n Status of Women = Catal Huyuk (Anatolia, Turkey 6,500-5,650 bce): statues of women and goddesses abound

n Society = equality between women and men; integration of all aspects of life = economics, religion, survival, etc.

PRECLASSICAL:
2,900 - 1,000 BCE

n Livelihood = agriculture, trade, fishing, animal raising

n Status of Women = Minoan (Crete); pottery and sculptures of women predominate

n Society = Minoan palaces are used by all as working and living areas; peace for 1000 years; high level of technology

CLASSICAL GREECE AND ROME: 1,000-100 BCE

n Livelihood = trade, conquest by war

n Status of Women = men dominate; remnants of “Amazon” tribes led by women

n Society = slave society specialized and stratified; the goddess is divided into “weaker” goddesses under male-god domination; warfare between city states

n development of ontological dualism

PATRIARCHY: The Shift from Female to Male Deities

n The preeminence of the goddess disappeared with the arrival of the patriarchal period during the 3rd millennium bce.

n Patrilinear replaced matrilinear descent

n Patrilocality supplanted matrilocality

n More evidence of patriarchal cultures exists because they are more recent

FROM GODDESS TO GOD

Archaeological findings:

n James Mellaart uses dendrochronology (tracing time through rings on trees)

n Establishes a pattern of disruption, invasion, and natural catastrophes of the Neolithic cultures of the Near East

n Older goddess cultures suffered cultural regression, stagnation, dislocation

FROM GODDESS TO GOD

Reasons for the change:

n Nomadic herding societies (Proto-Indo-Europeans) migrate from the geographical fringes of established goddess cultures

n Nomadic hordes used metals such as copper and bronze for weapons rather than jewelry or art

FROM GODDESS TO GOD

n Kurgans, Indo-Aryans, Greeks, Celts, Semetic Hebrews used force and implements of war to conquer the goddess-worshippers

n The goddess is replaced with gods who glorified war

n Peaceful equalitarian societies are replaced with stratified hierarchical divisions; women & slaves at the bottom

FROM GODDESS TO GOD

Evidence from burial grounds:

n warrior/chiefs are buried in elaborate tombs with an abundance of weapons, ornaments, and wealth

n The afterlife is ruled by male Gods

n Wives, concubines, and slaves are sacrificed and buried with important male warrior figures

FROM GODDESS TO GOD

Oral Traditions and Myths:

n Patriarchal cultures created myths that supported the ascendancy of patriarchal beliefs and practices

n roots of ontological dualism

n alienation myths explain the separation of the divine from the human

n God becomes creator/warrior/father

HIERARCHICAL CULTURES DEVELOP

Reasons for the Change:

n marauding warriors caused smaller groups to unite for protection

n strong centralized authority under a king develops = new gods are “sacred kings”

n military elite and priestly class develops

n patriarchy dominates the economic, political, social, and family life

ARCHAIC STATES:
Characteristics

n A King’s power and wealth was measured by the size of his harem

n Men control the sexuality of women by making them slaves and concubines

n Men dominate society by controlling women’s sexuality

n Women are divided into acceptable and unacceptable classes; prevents bonding

ARCHAIC STATES:
Characteristics

n Religious roles are transferred from women to men

n Priestesses were stripped of rank

n Ritual practices passed into the hands of the priests when male gods replaced the goddess

n Only male scribes were allowed to write the sacred history (myth)= androcentric!

GODDESS DEMYTHOLOGIZED

Creation myths:

n reflect the origin of power and order in society

n reflect the source and power of creation

n patriarchal cultures emphasized their males gods at the expense of the goddess

n males scribes document male gods in their written creation myths

GODDESS DEMYTHOLOGIZED

n Defeat of the Goddess by the destruction of Her symbols

n Snakes were associated with rebirth and regeneration, life, and wisdom, water

n Patriarchal written accounts of creation myths turn the snake into an evil symbol

n The Goddess, by association, becomes evil - Asherath/Astarte in Hebrew myth

GODDESS DEMYTHOLOGIZED

n Alienation myths: answer the fundamental question - how did evil and human suffering originate?

n Patriarchal cultures develop myths that implicate women in evil and suffering

n The story of Adam and Eve, the snake, and Yahweh’s anger = Hebrew scripture

n See 1 Timothy 2:9-15 = patriarchal oppression of women