Feminism and God

07 Oct 2010 2 Comments

by mands in Life Stuff

I am currently in school taking my Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies.  Right now I’m doing a course on Women and Religion.  It has been an interesting course so far, and has been challenging me to reflect on my faith and why I believe the things that I do. 

A year ago I read a book by Sue Monk Kidd entitled “Dance of the Dissident Daughter”.  I read it at a time in life that I really needed to.  My life and belief system were at a crossroads, and I knew I needed to figure out my path.  My life has continued to shift and morph since then and  into something that I can stand firm behind because what I had then was something that I wasn’t entirely comfortable with. 

As I relfect on where I am now, I realize I’m not where I was a year ago when i read “the book”.  The book introduced me to the idea of the sacred feminine.  For all my life I was taught that God was male: father, son, spirit.  All male.  That never sat right with me, and it still doesn’t today.  The book opened my eyes to a new way of thinking, a new way of looking at my faith and a new way of looking at God.

Steve and I were having a conversation and I said that i was a feminist.  He actually argued with me, and said that I wasn’t because I wasn’t angry.  Somehow in our society, feminists are seen as these flaming fanatics who scream and yell.  But what about the people, both men and women, who fight for the equality of women.  Here’s the definition of feminism: the doctrine advocating social, political, and all other rights of women equal to those of men.  I am and always will be a feminist.

So what does this have to do with God?  I desire to empower other women to see that God, the God who transcends gender and embodies both the masucline and feminine forms, the God of the bible, is someone who is attainable, and one whom we’re made in the image of.  Not just the masculine, but the feminine as well.  That we have a place in creation and that it isn’t underneath a male.  It’s along side.  I don’t believe we are inferior to men, but I don’t believe we’re superior to men either. 

My mother raised me in a way that I will always appreciate her for, that there was no reason for me to feel inferior to men.  That my voice had meaning, quality, and a place in the world.   That as a woman, I was powerful.  That knowledge made who I am today, and I will always love her for it. 

My hope is to inspire other women, old and young alike that they are powerful.  God’s creation to stand along side other people, male and female, and work together for the equality of all.  I know that it won’t be an easy task, but it’s one that I believe is worth the effort!

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