I just completed my reading of “When God Was A Woman” by Merlin Stone. I literally could have posted at length about every single chapter in this book as it resonated profoundly with me. I however didn’t want to turn this blog into a dissertation on ancient Goddess worship, the proposed origin of patriarchy and the many fallacies found within the Christian Bible.
Suffice to say that I couldn’t have picked a better read after just completing a class on gender and patriarchy. If one agrees with Merlin Stone’s viewpoints then this book provides great validation for so many cultural, societal, and religious systems that have come to shape who we are today.
I have made no secret of my atheism so the writing put forth by Stone is so logical, so clearly correct for me, and was a reinforcement of fundamental personal beliefs about inaccuracies within so many of the teachings of Judaism, Islam, and Christianity.
I realize that my viewpoint differs from many. My personal beliefs and choices should not dictate or try to find fault with the process and ultimate decisions of anyone who chooses to believe in the basic tenets involved in any religious system which is another reason why I chose to curtail the page by page synopsis of this text.
So now I have the challenge of trying to decide what to read next. As I have at my disposal the vast collection of literature accumulated by my daughter sitting right upstairs, and oddly enough having this strange desire to re-read “A Tale of Two Cities, that was going to be my next choice. Why that particular title popped into my head I can’t begin to know, but unfortunately she loaned that book out long ago and it was never returned. My choice was to go to the library or just avail myself of an almost limitless choice from her personal stacks.
I’m having a really difficult time trying to decide. I also have many of my own books still waiting to be read. I almost feel like it’s been so long since I actually had the freedom to read something non-academic that I have lost the ability to exercise free will in choosing my own material.
Would anyone like to make any suggestions?
Jan 01, 2013 @ 00:03:37
Well, I look forward to hearing about whatever you get up to, but I suggest ‘The Alphabet Versus the Goddess,’ because it’s in keeping with your recent reading, and because I’ve meant to read it for years and still haven’t managed, so you could report to me whether or not I should bother
Happy new year!
Jan 01, 2013 @ 05:41:24
I thank you for the recommendation–I will check that one out.
A lovely and prosperous New Year to you!