time for the Goddess

[Guest guest]

Hi,

 

I haven't posted in a very long time. I've been practically

overwhelmed with work and life. I've even fallen behind on reading

the posts, but today I tried to catch up on recent writings.

 

I get overwhelmed by the vitriol of what I see as the anti-Goddess

factions in this world. The link on Mariolotry was no surprise. I've

said myself that the Catholics build on Pagan foundations, as we all

build on the foundations of the past, in one way or another. Also, it

does not surprise me that there is such vigor in the defamation of

the Goddess.

 

I recently read a book on the alleged "Pope Joan" who was said to

have disguised her sex and risen to the highest post in the Catholic

hierarchy under the title of John VII, only to have her contributions

erased after her deception was uncovered, and the title "John VII"

was recycled to another pontiff. At one point the book mentioned a

certain "femininity" to Catholicism and the "masculinity" of

Protestantism. Sometimes that does seem accurate.

 

I ask myself why it seems (to me) that masculinity polarizes itself

to femininity? I think of the violence against women and the way that

in my own culture it is debasing to say that a man is like a woman.

 

I may have the opportunity to travel to the Middle East on business

in the months to come. I love travel! I love anything that involves a

new outfit! Put together a new outfit with a foreign language and a

distant country and I'm very happy. It's exactly the kind of

challenge I enjoy. I'm already doing the research I need to do to

move comfortably and safely in the country where our customers do

business and where I may need to train people.

 

However, I do feel a little concerned about the adventure. Maybe it's

just because I'm an American, and not very worldly, but I feel

concerned about the way women are percieved in these countries. It

makes me feel...less safe. Less safe, even than traveling to India,

and I was pretty nervous about that trip. But there I had the happy

hope of meeting Goddess worshippers and well...I don't know. I loved

my trip to India. I may love my trip to the Middle East as well...if

I actually get to go there.

 

I was reading the Devi Mahatmya a couple of weeks ago and came across

a reference to "hell" and the torments of hell. I was too tired to

sort out what I was reading but I was surprised.

 

Does the faith of the followers of the Goddess in India include a

hell? I thought there was just reincarnation until a soul reached

enlightenment. I'm obviously very confused an appreciate your

guidance.

 

Namaste,

 

prainbow

[Guest guest]

Hi Prainbow!

 

Nice to hear from you again! For some reason, I thought you might

find the Mariolatry link interesting. I've recently been reading an

incredible book, recommended to me by Usha, a deeply knowledgeable

(and deeply devoted) new member here -- and Moderator of the

"Divinely Female" Group -- it's called "The Myth of the Goddess"

(I've added to my Amazon list in "Bookmarks"), a lengthy (700-page)

scholarly survey that traces the Goddess religions from the Ice Age

to the present, over a geographic sweep from England to the Indus

Valley. In it, there is a lot on your ishtadevata, Inanna; and also a

tremendous amount on the complex absorption of old European goddess

ritual into the unlikely matrix of Roman Catholicism. Just a

recommendation, if you've not already read it.

 

Your thoughts on the "vitriol of the anti-Goddess factions in this

world," the Pope Joan, etc., were very interesting. India is a rare

exception to the obliteration of goddess religions elsewhere in the

geographic area I mentioned; the land's famously "absorptive"

character ensures that very little of its history is lost. Instead

the influences pile layer upon layer, blending and exchanging.

Although all Hindus recognize the Goddess, Shaktism is obviously the

school of Hinduism that honors Her most completely -- and Tantric

approaches to Devi, through the Mahavidyas and so on, are probably

the purest surving threads of the old religion.

 

*** I may have the opportunity to travel to the Middle East on

business ... but I feel concerned about the way women are percieved

in these countries. ***

 

There are obviously problems about women and Islam; but I'd caution

against too completely buying into the easy "oh, they're oppressed"

model. I've had the privilege of discussing the issue with very

intelligent Muslim women on both sides of the issue -- I would even

dare say both *extremes* of the issue -- and the issue is far more

complex than the average Westerner comes anywhere close to

appreciating. A good start that you might find very engaging is

"Beyond the Veil: Male-Female Dynamics in a Modern Muslim Society,"

by Fatima Mernissi. In fact, anything by Mernissi is well-nigh

indispensible to persons interested in this issue. The fundies hate

her, yeah -- but they are foiled by the fact that both her

interpretations and her lifestyle are quintessentially Muslim.

 

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0253204232/qid=1027737535/sr=8-

2/ref=sr_8_2/002-2918928-4391221

 

*** Does the faith of the followers of the Goddess in India include a

hell? I thought there was just reincarnation until a soul reached

enlightenment. I'm obviously very confused an appreciate your

guidance. ***

 

You're not confused at all. It's a good question, although one that I

suspect could yield many answers. Basically, we believe in both

heaven and hell, but that neither is eternal as in the Abramic

religions -- no eternal fire and damnation, etc. Instead, we say that

there is an interval between death and rebirth, which can serve as a

sort of layover on the soul's long journey to full absorption into

the Divine. These layovers can be very short or very long, but

eventually the soul must continue on its journey.

 

In Shaktism, "heaven" is often conceived of as the Jeweled Island --

the home of the Goddess, where Her devotees are rewarded with a

period of blissful basking in Her presence. The Devi Mahatmyam

suggests that all souls must take female form on this Island. Even

the mighty Gods Shiva, Vishnu and Brahma are transformed into maidens

as they set foot in Devi's abode. And basically, the bliss consists

in worshiping Devi 24/7 and enjoying the warmth of Her proximity. But

obviously, the soul cannot maintain this separation from Her and must

eventually be reborn to continue its evolution. In modern psycho-

babble, think of heaven as a kind of positive reinforcement -- the

soul is reborn with a knowledge that its on the right track. Hell is

another possibility -- a kind of kick in the butt before you're

reborn a few rungs lower than last time, to remind you that you'd

better straighten out your act.

 

Neither are oft-discussed topics in Hinduism. Could any of our

members add to (or correct, if necessary) my explanation? Thanks

again, prainbow -- nice to have you back!

 

Aum Maatangyai Namahe