In the history of religion, one is quick to notice that many of the deities are feminine. In fact, the earliest practices of religion and icons of god are fertility cults that depect the god(s) as feminine.
Something that many Protestant Christians, Jews, and Muslims take for granted is our masculine language for God. Within our sacred texts God is often portrayed as husband and/or Father. While feminine attributes are used and traditionally feminine qualities uplifted, the language of God is most often masculine in our texts. In the mid-20th century, the masculine language of God was called to the carpet.
What is taken for granted is that throughout history this masculine dominance of the Abrahamic faiths has been challenged. Textual and extra-textual evidence clearly demonstrates that priests and common folk alike wanted to give the LORD a female consort. Yet, the text resists this.Despite the numerous cultural pressures: the Canaanites, the Babylonians, the Greeks, the Romans, all have pantheons including feminine deities. Time and time again we see these outside pressures affecting beliefs. Yet, the text resisted these pressures. There are no female names for the LORD; furthermore, the LORD has no female consort.
Why? Why were the Abrahamic faiths, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, so resistant to the feminine divine? Each of these faiths presented rights to women...often above that of the surrounding cultures. Yet, they resisted.
Why? I'd love to hear your thoughts. What about this faith of the LORD (all worship the God named the LORD even if quite differently)? Why has it been so resistant to the feminine divine? Should our masculine language of God be viewed as an anachronism to be left behind? Or, is it possible that this masculine language of God is something unique to be treasured? What do you think?
