(Goddess Sheelah Na Gig, photo by Gareth Lloyd Hughes, http://www.powys.gov.uk/index.php?id=2150&L=0)
All that religious experts' fuzz about the religious fiction book of Dan Brown made more people even more curious about the worship of God as female. In some archeological books, the utter devotion of the Roman Catholic religious to the Virgin Mary is traced to Goddess worship of much older times, preceeding the worship of God as male.
Virgin Mary could have been part of the many transformation of the Goddess in many cultures, transforming partly as an adaption to the reign of male-dominated cultures-- She is Iambe or Baubo, Sheelagh/Sheila/Sheelah Na Gig, Quan Yin, Isis, Iris, Gaia, Bathaluman (Filipino Tagalog), and so on.
Some Goddess names are found in this site: http://www.angelfire.com/realm2/amethystbt/goddessnames.html
I am now curious what part of the Goddess that Mary Magdalene fills in. If Virgin Mary is the virgin/saint and Magdalene is the vamp/sinner, perhaps the two make up a personality of the Goddess, perhaps of every woman. Utilization of both personalities being important to women who desire a sane, wild and meaningful life.
Dan Brown's book actually points out an omission that makes much stronger the male story of humankind. The passive, supportive, innocent Virgin elevated to great heights while the knowing, experienced Magdalene was played down and referred to as the prostitute, a lumpen who reformed. Most of male society has always been afraid of the knowing woman. A knowing woman knows man-- his fears, wants and weaknesses.
Yet, what I do not like about the fiction book is that it insisted the Magdalene was of royal blood decent and covered up her being prostitute ( a knowing woman), to justify her right to be revered. In the chart of royal bloodlines, the royal blood line came from King David, then Christ, then the offspring of Christ and Magdalene, aside from Magdalene being royal blood also. Enough of that royal blood thing. Please. Royal bloodedness is a fiction created by people, by society. A label and privilege created to justify the rule and abundance of the few over vast lands with many starving and hardworking masses.
The woman, her importance, as always throughout history, is revered, respected or voted(!) for her royal lineage via her father, forefathers or husband(s).
The book missed the potentially powerful essence of the person of Magdalene. It is not scary to male-dominated society after all.
1 comment:
It never occured to me what you said about bloodlines - how such a label reinforces the present social order. That was an eye opener.
With regards your earlier post (SM and LGU doing their brand of censorship), I don't think kindly of people who think I'm not smart enough to think for myself and know what is good or not good for me.
It smells strongly of fascist gunk if you ask me.
I think people flocked to other cinemas out of spite for those who made an effort to ban the movie.
Heck, I didn't even like the book that much and was not really interested in the movie but ended up watching it anyway to show support and stick it up those who want to take my role of thinking for myself.
Geeez, where were these idiots crying foul when the cartoons about Mohammed came out eh?
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