Question for Pagans only re: Mists of Avalon?

Question

I just read the book by Marion Zimmer Bradley "The Mists of Avalon" and was intrigued at the end by how the worship of the Godess evolved into the worship Mary mother of Jesus at the end of the book.

Any opinions about this? Do you agree with that idea?

Thank-you so much for all your answers, & no offense glitterkitty, I just wanted to know the Pagans' opinion without starting a Catholic debate on Mary worship.

Answer 1

Never read the book, but it is clear the Mary resembles many pagan Goddesses. The depictions of Mary with baby Jesus looks just like pictures of Isis and her child .
BB

Answer 2

I wouldn't take anything the book says, religiously, as factual. There's no evidence that the Britons at that time worshipped a singular Goddess at that point. (The Celts, the non-Christian Romans, and the Saxons were all polytheistic.)

While goddess worship may have influenced (and perhaps even lead to) venerating Mary, I don't think that there's a true evolution into Mary worship, per se. Some elements of goddess worship likely went underground, under the guise of Mary worship, but I hesitate to consider that to be the sole (or even primary) reason for it.

As someone else said, it's a good story, but it's fiction.

Edit: Oh, yeah, Boar's Heart - Actually, MZB's not Wiccan any more (hasn't been for a while), and Diana Paxson's more into seidhr (I know someone who teaches with her).

Answer 3

It's an intriguing notion . . . MZB, btw, is either Wiccan herself or at the very least, lifelong friends with one (Diana Paxson).

I mention this because the "Three Marys" at the crucifixion scene in at least one of the xian gospels line up *exactly* with the "Maiden, Mother, Crone" in Wicca and are widely thought to have been influenced by the pagan Roman tradition of the "Matronae," which ALSO do.

So . . . she may have a point. :-)

Answer 4

Well, christianity stole an awful lot of everything from pagan beliefs - christmas, easter, helloween, bonfire night, all these things existed long before christianity.
As of worship of some sort of a goddess mother (earth), it dates back to around 6000 b.c.

Answer 5

I don't think we can prove it, but the idea that Christianity took on some scraps from earlier Pagan cultures makes a great deal of sense.

Answer 6

Unfortunately, that is merely a conjecture of the author. Nevertheless, the book is a good read and I recommend it to all who enjoy good literature.

Some evidence supports her conjecture, I must admit...but that doesn't make it true.

Personally, I agree.

Answer 7

It would make sense but I don't think there is anything to prove that it happened.

I love that book btw.

Answer 8

Hey, why is this for pagans only? I loved that book!!

Answer 9

yes