All Hail the Goddess!

Carol Christ states that “religions centered on the worship of a male God create ‘moods’ and ‘motivations’ keep women in a state of psychological dependence on men and male authority” (275). There is a much needed movement away from the patriarchal standards of society. It is engrained in many of us, as westerners, to think of God as male. This affects how we think of God and how we expect our interactions with “him” to be. Would having a female deity be more suitable and even applicable to assisting our needs? This brings into question what kind of God we as humans desire to have in our live. Is it one of authority and discipline or one of tender nurture; or is this dichotomy of male and female societal characteristics inhibiting individuals from seeing God as androgenous?
The author suggests that worshipping the Goddess provides the “legitimacy of female power as beneficient and independent power” (277). To honor and worship the Goddess makes the statement that male and female deities are both worthy of praise. This female Goddess is the empowering factor that humans should rely on to gain fulfillment. This change of mindset about the sex of God would inevitably affect the male-female dynamic. If the holiest of holies is seen as a woman, then this gives hope and admiration to all women. Will it be the end of patriarchy? Only time will tell…