It seems to me the Goddess, if we are to attempt to be monotheists, simply does not substitute in for the God. It suggests the very concept of gender, which implies something dualist, not monotheist. Don't we necessarily need both God and Goddess at a minimum, if gender is a factor at the very top? Or is a monotheist's God not male, but above the very idea of gender?
P.S. Gave up on monotheism myself years ago, but I applaud the effort in those who can make it work. It works only in abstraction for me. (B.A. in Philosophy, U. of Michigan, 1974.)
2006-12-01 00:47:24 · 11 answers · asked by auntb93again 7 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Dukalink, tell me what "allow your mind to accept" means. I was hoping we'd stick to reason and logic to the extent possible. You can edit your answer to include a definition of your term, if you like.
2006-12-01 02:56:16 · update #1
Darwin, a BA in philosophy is basically only useful as pre-law. I went to law school, but dropped out when I ran out of financial aid. Luckiest thing: I would have been a lousy lawyer, but made a darn good legal secretary for many years.
2006-12-01 02:58:29 · update #2
The Ultimate Divinity has no gender - most say God or Allah, just generic names given for something they themselves (who use the name) admit is Nameless.
But we are human and have an easier time relating to one gender or the other, some like a Divine Father and others a Divine Mother. The trick is to still know that "God" has no gender and this is just your preferred view for relation.
Paramahansa Yoganands, for example, spoke of the Ultimate Divinity as being genderless - but he personally connected better with the Divine Mother idea. So when he referred to God, he usually said Divine Mother.
So, in answering your question - Yes, you can be monotheist and still see Divinity in the feminne sense.
Paramahansa Yogananda (my example) was monotheist - he taught there was only one God, but he revered the Divine Mother.
~ Eric
2006-12-01 01:14:02 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
If, as you say, gender is a factor at the very top (whatever that's supposed to mean) I guess, but why does god need to have a gender? Gods and goddesses were created by people, not the other way around, which is why genders are attributed to them.
How's that B.A. in philosophy treating you? Can I get fries with that?
P.S. there is no god
2006-12-01 01:00:18 · answer #2 · answered by hot carl sagan: ninja for hire 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I imagine that some people can and do worship the Goddess in a monotheist manner. After all, many people worship a male God--and get all bent out of shape over any attempts at gender inclusiveness, too.
But I'm not monotheist myself.
2006-12-01 00:51:59 · answer #3 · answered by GreenEyedLilo 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, the gender thing is something, isn't it?
What do you believe nowadays, then? Polytheism?
By the way, did you ever study the ancient Vedic Hindu Concept of "Deiveyhah nirguna, nirakara"? The state of God is beyond physical and intellectual perception? It's very intricate and needs calculations accurate to 16 decimal points!?
It concludes that Mankind will never be able to perceive the State known as God as long as they are bound in the physical and intellectual plane. Because the Absolute is not possible for the Relative to perceive. Interestingly, it's the genderless form they speak about.
In common parlance, give it up, you don't have a chance.
[M.Phil, Comparative Religion, Rome, 1973]
2006-12-01 01:01:06 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
If you are a monotheist, your god may have no gender (or potentially, both)
But why cannot a goddess rule supreme? I don't think the two concepts are mutually exclusive (monotheism and goddess worship), but it depends on what you will allow your mind to accept
2006-12-01 00:52:10 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Christianity, Judaism, and Islam are the three Monotheists. They all follow their roots back to Abraham and to One God. Professor Peters has an Audio book with 17 lectures on the Monotheists. I got it at my local library. It is fascinating.
2006-12-01 00:56:56 · answer #6 · answered by cathyhewed1946 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
No, some place the goddess as more important than the god, but the divine masculine and the divine feminine are seen as two sides of the same coin.
2006-12-01 00:51:23 · answer #7 · answered by enslavementality 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
The Word says there are Powers and Principalities, and that means there
is a government structure in the "spirit" world. They aren't all evil. It says
there are gods many!
We are supposed to show honor and respect to all Life. But there is a thin
line between showing respect, and worshipping!
2006-12-01 00:52:21 · answer #8 · answered by THE NEXT LEVEL 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The Lord said that we shall have no other Gods but Him.
To me, saying Him works better than saying It, even though I believe that God has no specific gender, since we were all made in His image.
2006-12-01 00:51:06 · answer #9 · answered by jinenglish68 5 · 2⤊ 3⤋
mono means one...if you have no god, and just the goddess...sure, why not =)
if she lives alone, shes all ya got...mono it is
2006-12-01 00:49:59 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋