The Goddess; women as spiritual leaders what is your view?

Question

Has the role of women in spirituality generally and historically been dumbed down since the lessoning of goddess religions?
( Pease remember that goddess whorship still is practiced by millions of people in India and many elswhere.)

Is the world ready for greater leadership from women? What are the forces that are trying to suppress the spiritual leadership of women to your mind? I want to now what you think.

Thanks!

Thank you for your sense of humour Paladin, I did mean worship. I also appreciate your statement, very interesting contribution.

Answer 1

I had to chuckle at your spelling of worship in the second sentence of your question. I'm sure it was an innocent error.

I believe that ancient Jewish patriarchal attitudes, which had already strongly influenced their religion, naturally entered its spin-off religion, Christianity, and then overshadowed all of the goddesses worshiped by the Romans when Christianity became the state religion of the principate (empire). Since then, women have been looked upon with suspicion and disdain by many in the West, and it's a terrible shame.

We're finally beginning to grow up in the West, but it will take time to fully overcome millennia of bad press for women.

Two of the finest spiritual leaders I've ever known personally are women. The world needs more like them, regardless of gender.

Answer 2

Well, I have never heard of any particular religion being centered mainly on a Goddess. There have always been major Goddesses in almost all religions, or if not than very important women. So I can't say there has been a dumbing down, but there is a disregard for the feminine aspect of spirituality. Yes, I think the world has always been ready for greater leadership of women. Are we finally able to cast aside sexist and biased views of women as weak willed, subservient, less intelligent people? People are closer than they have ever been to realizing this.The forces that have always suppressed spiritual leadership of women is women themselves who have accepted this role of being inferior to men. When women everywhere learn that they are equal than the advancement of women can truly begin. This is evident is history (suffrage movement) and is still happening.

Answer 3

Well, it's an act that's been going on for centuries,but I see it coming to an end soon! Too many people are gaining awareness about so many things regarding religion and the role of women. The DaVinci Code started a tidal wave that's been brewing for a very long time. More and more facts are being uncovered that indicate many mainstream religious beliefs are not exactly as portrayed in the Bible. Now another discovery has just been made in Jerusalem, where they uncovered what is strongly likely to be, the actual tomb of Jesus and his family. And you guessed it? Mary Magdalene was his wife! They did DNA tests on the bones from ossuaries marked with the names of Jesus and Mary, and the two were not genetically related! And someone outside the family would not be placed in the same tomb, by ancient Jewish tradition, unless they were related to one another through marriage. It's like all these skeletons are coming out of the closet, and the Church higher-ups, especially the Roman Catholics, are becoming increasingly more and more up-tight. Their reactions to all this is very interesting, because if they had nothing to hide, why would they care about a silly little storybook by Dan Brown? Why would they feel the need to become defensive against an American writer of fiction? I think it's because the truth really is hidden in some Vatican documents somewhere, that Mary was Jesus' wife, that they did have children, so the conspiracy was begun, centuries ago, and women were written out of the Holy Book and banned from participating in religious ceremony and from holding any positions of power within the Church. Mary Magdalene had to have had some extreme power, for such strict exclusion of women in the Church, to have been enacted. It gets more interesting as time goes on. More and more biblical records are coming into the public domain and we're all beginning to learn what really happened in ancient times. I always thought it hypocritical for women to have such low participation in the Church. Why can't a woman be a priest, or a bishop, or a cardinal? To be relegated to only being nuns just never sat right with me. This division in the Church has worked its' way down through time and history, to effect the over-all suppression of women, until minor breakthroughs, like finally achieving the right to vote in the 1900's. Women have had to chip their way out of the cement casket we've been imprisoned in, for eons and eons. What sense does it really make, to hold back one sex, whilst allowing the other sex, full rein on controlling and shaping the world that both sexes must live in? No, women are not identical to men, but each sex has their unique gifts and abilities, that should be respected and honored by the other. Segregation of any type, against anyone, should be considered a crime! No one should have to endure suppression and oppression! We all were created equally! The one cannot truly exist without the other! Men would not be here, were it not for women who bring the entire world into this Earth. And women would not be able to become that way, without the contribution of the males of our species. So this compartementalization, regarding men here, women there, is a massive campaign by one part of society fearing the power and the input of the other! There would be less disrespect for women, and less disrespect for people of color, or those of differing religions. One prejudice in one area, will always lead to increasing prejudice in other areas. Our much-adhered to, religious ideals and doctrines, have done more to cause world division, than to creating greater world-wide peace. And it's all beginning to change, in so many small ways. Women in some faiths, can now actually become priests, finally! It'll happen, bit by bit! Equality must become the rule, not the exception!

Answer 4

As most men became more and more insecure, they have done all they can to marginalize women.

I have no problem with women leaders of any kind, business, religious or political. Let the best person for the job get the job.

The patriarchy will not so easily give up it's power, it has been a long fight to get this close to equality, there are miles yet to go.

As long as there are women who are willing to strive to be treated as equals, they will always find that there are some of us guys who like equals and will be in the thick of it with them.

Answer 5

Radha,Radha means peace unto you.she is the mother of the universe,we have to come to her in pray to help the world .not many people would like to accept that because of the chauvinistic men who are full of themselves blinded by there greed and power to rule everyone especially woman woman were made from a rib not a foot we are equal in all rights and even more .if there was no woman how would a man be delivered from stone"just like there hearts women worship is done in all religions not only Hinduisms also in Greece Rome the Catholics worship the mother of Jesus MARY queen of queens and all the female saints to nameless to count my dear the worship of all of beloved Goddesses have not dimmed down just moved under ground the true pray to a goddesses is your pray in your heart to your goddess's she does not want fame and glory she just your heart when the time is right all will be out have Patience good things come to those who wait pray as i do for our liberation for them but ask your self is that what they would want they duty in life is ti help and protect their follows but always pay homage to them never forget to offer your prayers with fruits sweets incensed most importantly a pure heart and soul at the end you bow 3 times at there feet and surround the incenses 3times from head to too hope that i was help full to you thank for your time Candice

Answer 6

I sure hope so - The first trinity was man woman and child but the west had a problem with the woman and replaced the woman with the holy ghost. I wish it would come back because woman are our equals which is vital to build the family unit!!! I am ready for sure!!!!! I love my strong woman from which life comes through!!!!

Answer 7

I see nothing wrong with women being spiritual leaders in this world and although the world is not ready for women to be leaders, it is still okay in some partsof the world.

Answer 8

i think that only Jehovah God should be our leader and offer us spiritual leadership. when it comes to people like us, i see what the bible tell us, and from what i've read it's only been men who have guided congregations. not to be sexist or anything, but the bible says that women did help, just not as much as men. for example, abranham's wife gave him advice to follow God.

Answer 9

i believe the appearance of guadalupe or other females is a sign that there is some goddess out there, not just a god

Answer 10

It is equal,

BUT many men have forgotten how to be creative on the outside like many woman have forgotten how to be creative on the inside.

The first to remember will expose the other.

you make me smile :)