Feminism in Religion

Feminism in Religion

Throughout history, women in most cultures have been suppressed and are unable to obtain equal authority over religious rites and social structure. Christianity is infamous for its male dominated and male authoritative dictations and structure. Not every religion hinders feminism; some faiths promote female leadership. Many Pagan religions equally acknowledge women and men. Feminism in Christianity VS feminism in Pagan religions is very different and the inclusion or suppression of women is most apparent through the portrayal of deities, holy trinities, and leadership.

Christianity portrays its deity as a masculine being. In the flesh, he is male and some sects know him to be Jesus. The Christian religion portrays their deity as masculine. Doing so uplifts the male's status and ensures that males are looked upon as higher beings than women. Man uplifts his ego by manipulating the terminology and gender referral of his God. When referring to the Christian God, he is always referred to as "he" and never "she." This may be because men do not wish to reflect power and divinity upon females. By referring to a God as "she", it creates an automatic connection to feminism. Because women lacked equal social status at Christianity's inception, men had no intention of granting women equal status, nor did men want to empower women by referring to their deity as "she." In the second passage of the Bible, the Christian God is instantly referred to as masculine and the glory of man is further expressed: "The Lord God planted a garden in Eden…there He placed the man He formed" (Genesis 2:8).

In Pagan religions, feminism is promoted and is very different from Christianity. In Wicca and all its facets, both females and males have equal importance. The duo deity structure in Wicca consists of a feminine and masculine like being, providing women and men with a connection to the deity. Although Wicca acknowledges both feminine and masculine entities as their Goddess and God, often times, the Goddess is the deity of focus. Some Wiccan faiths, such as Dianic Wiccans, only concentrate on the female deity and do not worship a masculine God. The goddess may gain more recognition do to the common belief that she is the creator or came first "In the beginning was the Mother" (The Witches Goddess, Janet & Stewart Farar). In Stregeria, an Italian Pagan religion, the main deity is Diana; she too, is believed to be the creator of life "Diana was the first…in her were all things; out of herself, the first darkness, she divided herself; into darkness and light she was divided" (Aradia or the Gospel of the Witches, Charles G. Leland). Unlike Christianity, many Pagan religions promote women and uphold an equal treatment of men and women, an example, is the Pagan Holy Trinity.

Like a deity, sacred concepts like the Trinity, are even masculine induced in Christianity. In the Christian trinity, women are disregarded: "Make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit" (Matthew 28:19). The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, reflect both divine and masculine expressions, with the complete and total absence of female inclusion. Even though a "father" and a "son" can not exist without a woman, the religion forces out the female aspect of creation. In both the Christian deity and holy trinity, females have been cut off, thus further suppressing their role and importance in society and life. The absence of female figures playing vital and/or equally important roles as a deity or aspect of the trinity further contributes to the implication of women being inferior to men.

The presence and dominion of the Goddess throughout many Pagan religions influenced a Holy Trinity similar to that of Christianity. The Trinity most commonly referred to throughout Pagan religions, is that of the Wicca religion, which encompasses the "Maiden, Mother, and Crone." The entire trinity in Wicca is female based and reflects the stages of life: youth, middle age, and old age. The feministic characteristics that describe each phase of life further empower women and give them authority in the Pagan Trinity. The life skills, wisdom, and leadership the Maiden, Mother, and Crone represent are projected upon women and enables them with confidence and power instead of shunning them out, like the Christian Trinity. The power of woman is projected into the Pagan Trinity because it is believed that the feministic authority of the Goddess is divine: "The Goddess is everything to all Her creations, and especially to both women and men. She is the beginning and ending" (Maiden, Mother, Crone. D.J. Conway. Pg 4). Although females are highly promoted throughout Pagan religions through both Deity and Holy Trinities, a balance between women and men in most Pagan religions is highly stressed and the authority and power reflected upon women is also carried out within the religion through leadership.

Most leadership in Christian faiths allow only male leadership. Some congregations allow only males to serve as pastors and preachers or roles of headship. Christian's actions imply that women are in debt to men for their creation and the religion's lack of female leadership further allows the male to serve as supreme. During the creation of the world and of life, women are viewed as coming from man, implying women owe their creation to men: "This one at last, is bone of my bone, and flesh of my flesh; this one will be called woman, for she was taken from me"(Genesiss 2:23). Even when married, women are not equally in control "Your desire will be for your husband, yet he will dominate you" (Genesis 3:16). Like the dominance Christianity allows a man to have over his wife, the faith also implies the same rule of thumb to their general leadership and to the relationships men have with women. Although Christianity suppresses the women of their religion and does not grant equal treatment and authority to the two sexes, the religion's structure, in many denominations has come a long way. Some Christian groups now allow female pastors and preachers, such as the Cross Roads Church, a Southern Baptist faith in Fremont, California.

Although women entering leadership roles in Christianity is a new trend, women having positions of authority in Pagan religions has always been prevalent. Many Pagan religions though, believe that women have an equal opportunity to lead religious rites, ceremonies, and groups of followers. In Wicca, the female leaders are usually referred to as a High Priestess: "The High Priestess is the female leader of most circles, clans, covens, and groves that contain men and women" (Witches Craft: A multidenominational Wicca Bible, Bruce K. Wilborn, pg 71). The high Priestess is equally respected as a Wiccan High Priest is. Unlike Christian sects, many Pagan groups usually have both a male and female leader who perform sacred ceremonies, lead rites, and teach. Rarely, is there a time when religious gatherings in Pagan denominations do not have a female and male coordinating and leading a group together. Many, if not all sacred ceremonies in many Pagan sects require members from both genders. Through this equilibrium, women are guaranteed equal status throughout Pagan religions, which than, is naturally carried over other areas of life. Both women and men rule over all aspects of life as partners. No one person, because of their gender, is viewed as having more authority than the other.

The struggle of Feminism in Christianity continues for Christian women. It is obvious though that Feminism is alive and strong throughout Pagan religions. Regardless of the social progressions of Christian and Pagan faiths, the dramatic difference of each religion's Deities, Holy Trinities, and leadership, continue to be apparent and will continue to grow in its feministic evolution

-Liberal Daniel
www.myspace.com/liberaldaniel