Female Divine Characteristics

Female Divine Characteristics

Introduction

Divine femininity has diverse associations within a variety of cultures (Goodison & Morris, 1998). Feminine deity is most often referred to the term goddess, both as a theoretical concept of the divine and in orientation to a particular divinity. Goddesses were important in ancient religions in various parts of the world and have sustained to play a significant role in Asian religions, especially Hinduism (Goodison & Morris, 1998). The rise of monotheism universally, as expressed by Islam, Christianity, and Judaism, dislodged the worship of goddesses in support of masculine god images in much of Americas, Africa, and the Europe (Goodison & Morris, 1998). Though, the rise of feminism has brought about a rebirth of goddess religion in the West too.

Discussion

Worship of the “goddess,” described variously as a divine figure or deity, a spirit, an idol or supernatural being (Hiltebeitel & Erndl, 2000), has existed all through recorded history in a variety of forms. Earlier than the era of patriarchal dominance, there was a goddess centered religion that continued further than the arrival of Judaism, Christianity, Islam and other religions that were focused on a male God as the ultimate creator (Hiltebeitel & Erndl, 2000). However, the powerful goddesses represented in a number of prehistoric cultures were a universal symbol, considered the single source of all life (Gimbutas, 1999). The following table shows some distinctive characteristics of the well known female deities.

Name of Goddess

Characteristics

Venus of Willendorf

Generally considered the representative of the innovative birth goddess sign, the Venus of Willendorf is a statue of a female figure with prominent breasts, abdomen and vulva, estimated to have been created between 24,000 and 22,000 B.C.E. (Goodison & Morris, 1998). The figurine, which is almost 5 inches high, was explored in 1908 by archaeologist Josef Szombathy at a location of Paleolithic ...