Rosemary Reuther

[Mithrea]

I snagged this quote from the Amazon.com review of this (http://http://www.amazon.com/Goddesses-Divine-Feminine-Western-Religious/dp/0520231465/ref=wl_it_dp?ie=UTF8&coliid=I3AOL4DM7XANQB&colid=2U5JJSGBHJVCJ) book:


It is possible, Ruether says, to support ecofeminism and beliefs in the divine feminine "without embracing theories about gender in human social evolution that are not historically tenable. One can affirm the validity of alternative Goddess spirituality in the contemporary context without insisting that everyone accept the thesis of a literal 'feminist Eden' in prehistoric human existence."

I found that in a simple and eloquent way it expressed something that I've always deeply believed: that it does not matter at all to me whether society was originally matriarchal or whether the ideas that have been expressed by the foremothers of our movement are just mythologies to guide us toward our future.

I have found that some people use arguments against Gimbutas to try to invalidate my path, which has always seemed quite strange to me.

My question to you (the Dianics and all Goddess-centric paths) is this: Do you think the assertion from the quote is correct? Does it fit into your belief system? Do you need to believe in a prehistoric matriarchal utopia in order to follow your current path? Why do we place so much importance on the history?

[Philosophia]

My question to you (the Dianics and all Goddess-centric paths) is this: Do you think the assertion from the quote is correct? Does it fit into your belief system? Do you need to believe in a prehistoric matriarchal utopia in order to follow your current path? Why do we place so much importance on the history?

Yep, it fits into my belief system. I don't believe in any utopia but I do believe there are villages who are (or have been) matriarchal (I remember watching a Discovery channel documentary about a village in Vietnam or China where women are essentially the leaders who control everything). However, history is very important in my path. I try to remain as historically accurate as possible within the context of my spirituality.

[RainInanna]

I found that in a simple and eloquent way it expressed something that I've always deeply believed: that it does not matter at all to me whether society was originally matriarchal or whether the ideas that have been expressed by the foremothers of our movement are just mythologies to guide us toward our future.

I quite agree with you. Why people accept other mythologies as metaphorical and inspirational rather than literal, but get angry about women's mythologies such as the one you mentioned and try to claim they're invalid if they aren't "true", is beyond me.

I actually have no interest in history whatsoever. If people want to base their beliefs in historical "facts" and research, more power to them, but it has nothing to do with my interests.