When my husband and I first started dating, he told me he wanted someone who would teach him more about his religion. I laughed and told him that he had the wrong girl because I steer as far away from organized religion as I can. After that we argued and debated for years about the ideas of mono-/polytheism. About divine rules. And ultimately about the power structures that are presented by the presence of the divine. Our relationship is pretty much the basics of eating, sleeping, working, kids, gym and debating divinity. However, more recently the debate has morphed into something more of a discovery. And together we share our findings with excitement and joy.
The ideas of masculine and feminine powers definitely influence the choices we make and the way we think about our world. Most organized religions have these constructs detailed as rules to follow. Some clearly label the hierarchy with men above women. Here are some questions we’ve asked over the years:
If the gods of monotheistic religions were female, how would the hierarchy of their societies be altered?
How would the recognition of female divinity and prophets adjust the way we make decisions in our daily life?
How do the images of your spirituality influence how you see yourself?
Do your images of the divine resemble the human form? If so, then what characteristics of that form do you identify within yourself?
These are just some of the topics we have covered together and battle with as we study, learn and listen to friends and family around us. Recently, Netflix dropped the Killer Mike episodes where he attempts to tackle his ideas similarly. His premise, however, takes a different angle. His show asks the viewer to consider the racial and social implications made on our world due to the projection of a white male god/ jesus. He asks: How can POC ever feel divine while instructed to believe there is always an omnipotent white male watching over us?
Lastly, we have wonderings about polytheistic religions that do include women and diversity. In native/polynesian religious beliefs, women are the considered the creators. We have mother earth, grandmother moon and often complementary male/female deities. It is also well known that matrilineal lines are followed through the generations in many native communities. In Apache tribes, it was customary for the male to marry into his new family and move in with them. He was taught to respect his mother in law and always make space for her by leaving the room or staying silent around her. In ancient Sumerian documents, the story of human knowledge is told in this way: “Eve” was a messenger god who delivered the truth of humanity to help save man from impending doom. It was the serpent god who entrusted her with this sacred message. It was a gift to help her save humanity and find their path back to the divine. So I often wonder why the story was changed in the Old Testament? When did Eve become disobedient? And why did her gift to us become forbidden? Why did the serpent become evil? And ultimately, who or what benefits from these changes?
Have questions? I would love to hear what you debate. What you know for sure and where you are in your journey. How do these ideas affect your home, marriage and parenting? What do you teach your children? How are you teaching your sons and daughters to recognize the divinity in their own bodies and minds?
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