Why Do Men Need the Goddess?
Male Creation of Female Religious Symbols

Author: Radford Ruether, Rosemary

Source: Dialog, Volume 44, Number 3, September 2005 , pp. 234-236(3)

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Abstract:

Abstract:

It is not safe to assume that feminine religious symbols are intrinsically empowering to women. Indeed, it is often the case that the explicit use of divine female imagery in religious traditions such as Judaism and Christianity serves to reinforce the restrictive structures of patriarchy. In light of this we must seek ways to theologically and socially reconstruct such systems of religious symbolism so that neither gender is valued above the other.

Keywords: Goddess; patriarchy; feminism; Divine Feminine

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.0012-2033.2005.00262.x

Publication date: 2005-09-01