Analysis Of Christ's Article Why Women Need The Goddess
In Christ’s article, Why Women Need the Goddess, she explains the deep roots religious symbols and rituals have in people, religious or not. Even those unaligned with a religion, still take part in daily religious rituals, such as finding themselves in a church for a wedding or a funeral (WSIR, 164). Christ discusses how these symbols have derived from a patriarchal perspective in religion. It is not as easy as to merely reject these symbols; women must create their own and replace the standing religious symbols. One way Christ suggests to do so is with the symbol of the Goddess. Both Daly and Ruether have similar perspectives in respect to Christ’s reasons for the Goddess, and also offer insight as to why patriarchal religious symbols, including
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Whether a woman needs the Goddess as a religious symbol may be dependent upon her experiences. Christ, Daly, and Ruether were all women writing primarily in the 1970s and 80s. Historical context is important, because during this time is when women’s issues really began to come out publicly, as women sought educational, sexual, career, and pay equality. Since the 70s and 80s, women, primarily Western women, have gained more equality among men. This is not to say that Western women have completely eradicated inequality in their society, but they have significantly gained more political and social equality than they previously had. For women living in stringent culture or society focused on patriarchal views, these women may benefit more from the Goddess as a symbol than women who have grown up in a society that respects and equalizes both sexes.
Ruether suggests that in order to validate women, the poor, and the working, we must do more than simply adding in women; for example, referring to God as Father and Mother in church. Instead, Ruether uses the term “God/dess.” This term not only neutralizes the thought of God as the Father, but it also forces readers to stop and think. Because God has consistently been presumed synonymous with “male,” God/dess creates a discomfort in most readers. Using God/dess rids people of the notion of God equals male while not merely adding in feminine pronouns or titles. It
Whether a woman needs the Goddess as a religious symbol may be dependent upon her experiences. Christ, Daly, and Ruether were all women writing primarily in the 1970s and 80s. Historical context is important, because during this time is when women’s issues really began to come out publicly, as women sought educational, sexual, career, and pay equality. Since the 70s and 80s, women, primarily Western women, have gained more equality among men. This is not to say that Western women have completely eradicated inequality in their society, but they have significantly gained more political and social equality than they previously had. For women living in stringent culture or society focused on patriarchal views, these women may benefit more from the Goddess as a symbol than women who have grown up in a society that respects and equalizes both sexes.
Ruether suggests that in order to validate women, the poor, and the working, we must do more than simply adding in women; for example, referring to God as Father and Mother in church. Instead, Ruether uses the term “God/dess.” This term not only neutralizes the thought of God as the Father, but it also forces readers to stop and think. Because God has consistently been presumed synonymous with “male,” God/dess creates a discomfort in most readers. Using God/dess rids people of the notion of God equals male while not merely adding in feminine pronouns or titles. It