Matriarchal religion: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Content deleted Content added
Dbachmann (talk | contribs)
No edit summary
Lorynote (talk | contribs)
bachoffen evans, campbell, burkert are the primary sources of all these studies; they are not feminist; you are trying very hard to push a personal view; and you didn´t read any of these books
Line 13: Line 13:
This idea was taken up in 1970s feminism, by authors such as [[Merlin Stone]], who took the Paleolithic [[Venus figurines]] as evidence of prehistorical matriachal religion.<ref>[[Merlin Stone]] (1976) ''[[When God Was a Woman]]''</ref>
This idea was taken up in 1970s feminism, by authors such as [[Merlin Stone]], who took the Paleolithic [[Venus figurines]] as evidence of prehistorical matriachal religion.<ref>[[Merlin Stone]] (1976) ''[[When God Was a Woman]]''</ref>


[[Merlin Stone]], from ''[[When God Was a Woman]]'', [[Marija Gimbutas]] introduced the field of [[feminist archaeology]] in the 1970s. Her ''The Civilization of the Goddess'' (1989) became a standard work for the theory that partiarchic or "androcratic" culture originated in the [[Bronze Age]], replacing a Neolithic Goddess-centered worldview.
[[Sir Arthur Evans]], [[Walter Burkert]], [[James Mellaart]], along with the brithish historian [[Merlin Stone]], from ''[[When God Was a Woman]]'', [[Marija Gimbutas]] introduced the field of [[feminist archaeology]] in the 1970s. Her ''The Civilization of the Goddess'' (1989) became a standard work for the theory that partiarchic or "androcratic" culture originated in the [[Bronze Age]], replacing a Neolithic Goddess-centered worldview.


These theories were presented as scholarly hypotheses, albeit ostensibly from an ideological feminist viewpoint{{citation needed}}, in the 1970s, but they also influenced [[feminist spirituality]] and especially feminist branches of [[Neopaganism]] that also arose during the 1970s (see [[Dianic Wicca]]), so that Matriarchal religion is also a contemporary [[new religious movement]] within the larger field of Neopaganism, generally known as the [[Goddess movement]].
These theories were presented as scholarly hypotheses, albeit ostensibly from an ideological feminist viewpoint{{citation needed}}, in the 1970s, but they also influenced [[feminist spirituality]] and especially feminist branches of [[Neopaganism]] that also arose during the 1970s (see [[Dianic Wicca]]), so that Matriarchal religion is also a contemporary [[new religious movement]] within the larger field of Neopaganism, generally known as the [[Goddess movement]].
Line 19: Line 19:
The scholarly merit of the concept of the "Matriarchal religion" hypothesis has been de-emphasized {{citation needed}} since the 1990s {{citation needed}}, and the detrimental effect of using questionable scholarship to support political aims of feminism has been discussed in ''[[The Myth of Matriarchal Prehistory]]'' (2000).
The scholarly merit of the concept of the "Matriarchal religion" hypothesis has been de-emphasized {{citation needed}} since the 1990s {{citation needed}}, and the detrimental effect of using questionable scholarship to support political aims of feminism has been discussed in ''[[The Myth of Matriarchal Prehistory]]'' (2000).


== Merlin Stone ==
== Symbols ==
In matriarchal religions the cult of [[Serpent (symbolism)|serpents]] is a major symbol of spiritual wisdom , ferility, life, strenght <ref> [http://www.amazon.com/When-God-Woman-Merlin-Stone/dp/015696158X When God Was a Woman p. 201, 204 210 211] </ref>. The cult of snakes has been claimed to be the oldest religious ritual of humankind.<ref>[http://www.apollon.uio.no/vis/art/2006_4/Artikler/python_english Apollon, Python]</ref>
{{main|When God Was A Woman}}
[[Merlin Stone]] presents matriarchal religions as involving a "cult of [[Serpent (symbolism)|serpents]]" as a major symbol of spiritual wisdom , ferility, life, strength.<ref> [http://www.amazon.com/When-God-Woman-Merlin-Stone/dp/015696158X When God Was a Woman p. 201, 204 210 211] </ref>. The cult of snakes has been claimed to be the oldest religious ritual of humankind.<ref>[http://www.apollon.uio.no/vis/art/2006_4/Artikler/python_english Apollon, Python]</ref>


== References ==
== References ==

Revision as of 12:46, 1 December 2010

The concept of a Matriarchal religion is a concept forwarded in second-wave feminism since the 1970s, based on the notion of a historical matriarchy first developed in the 19th century by J. J. Bachofen. A "matriarchal religion" is supposedly centered around Goddess worship, fertility rites, and sacred traits attributed to female sexuality.

While Matriarchal religion has the focus of prehistoric religion and ancient civilizations, the field of feminist theology is mostly associated with the introduction of feminist ideology into Christianity, Judaism, and to a lesser extent Islam [citation needed].

History

The Minoan "Snake Goddess" features frequently in literature postulating Matriarchal religion
Pythia, the serpent, Priestess of Delphi

The Mother Goddess is a widely recognized archetype in psychoanalysis,[1] and worship of Mother or Earth goddesses is known from numerous traditions of historical polytheism, even in classical patriarchic societies.

J. J. Bachofen postulated that the historical patriarchates were a comparatively recent development, having replaced an earlier state of primeval matriarchy.[2]. This idea was taken up in 1970s feminism, by authors such as Merlin Stone, who took the Paleolithic Venus figurines as evidence of prehistorical matriachal religion.[3]

Sir Arthur Evans, Walter Burkert, James Mellaart, along with the brithish historian Merlin Stone, from When God Was a Woman, Marija Gimbutas introduced the field of feminist archaeology in the 1970s. Her The Civilization of the Goddess (1989) became a standard work for the theory that partiarchic or "androcratic" culture originated in the Bronze Age, replacing a Neolithic Goddess-centered worldview.

These theories were presented as scholarly hypotheses, albeit ostensibly from an ideological feminist viewpoint[citation needed], in the 1970s, but they also influenced feminist spirituality and especially feminist branches of Neopaganism that also arose during the 1970s (see Dianic Wicca), so that Matriarchal religion is also a contemporary new religious movement within the larger field of Neopaganism, generally known as the Goddess movement.

The scholarly merit of the concept of the "Matriarchal religion" hypothesis has been de-emphasized [citation needed] since the 1990s [citation needed], and the detrimental effect of using questionable scholarship to support political aims of feminism has been discussed in The Myth of Matriarchal Prehistory (2000).

Symbols

In matriarchal religions the cult of serpents is a major symbol of spiritual wisdom , ferility, life, strenght [4]. The cult of snakes has been claimed to be the oldest religious ritual of humankind.[5]

References

  1. ^ Erich Neumann The Great Mother
  2. ^ J.J. Bachofen, Myth religion and motherhood
  3. ^ Merlin Stone (1976) When God Was a Woman
  4. ^ When God Was a Woman p. 201, 204 210 211
  5. ^ Apollon, Python

See also