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{{Merge|goddess|date=May 2008}} {{Merge|goddess|date=May 2008}}
'''Goddess worship''' (also '''Goddess spirituality''', '''Goddess veneration''') is a general description for the veneration of a female ] or goddesses.
'''Goddess worship''' is a general description for the veneration of a female ] or goddesses. Many ] Goddess devotees prefer the term '''goddess spirituality,''' avoiding the term "worship" for a faith that does not distance the ] into a remote, hierarchical separation. '''Goddess veneration''' may be also used instead of "worship", as it can imply respect and intimacy without undue deference. In such contexts, "]" may be preferred to "]" because major organised religions do not recognize the concept of a goddess, or goddesses, with the notable exception of ].


Goddess worship was widespread in antiquity, notably with the cults of ] and ]. In ], goddess worship remains current in the branch of ], the worship of '']'' "Goddess" or '']'' "(female) energy".
Goddess worship can be anywhere from radically conservative, supporting male dominance in society, state control, and ]; or it can be feminist, challenging those patriarchal traditions. It usually supports women's ancient, natural spiritual authority. In ] goddess worship has developed into a distinct culture since the mid-]. Goddess worship is not necessarily ], though in Western societies the feminist version is probably the most articulate.


Goddess worship went into decline in European culture in ], with ] and the end of the ] in the 2nd century. In ], aspects survive in ], reinforced by the 1950 dogma of the ].
Modern day Goddess temples and churches in many forms are currently in operation all over the world. Some are small circles in practiced in the privacy of a member's home, and some are larger, federally registered non-profit churches that offer services like many other "traditional" churches. The first such modern church generally recognized is The Goddess Temple of Orange County, in Irvine, California. Usually, the services in such circles and churches is eclectic, and emphasizes a spirit of sharing of wisdom, rather than a leader lecturing a passive congregation.


In ] ] Goddess worship has re-emerged since the 19th century, specifically in the second half of the 20th century with ], and notably in the context of ] in the 1970s to 1980s.
Some goddess circles/churches/temples are "woman only" and others serve mixed groups. Women-only groups generally prefer to celebrate the Goddess in woman-only space for many reasons: 1) women hold a different frequency from men; 2) women cannot heal together from the ills of patriarchy while under the "male gaze." 3) goddess celebration is usually and naturally woman-centered, and the "blood mysteries" of females is an essential part of this form of spirituality; men, with different bodies, cannot truly share in this form of spirituality, so dependent upon "body knowing".


It is important to distinguish individual, ] ]es from claims of a "Great Goddess" or "Queen of Heaven". ] religion tends to describe polytheistic godesses as "aspects" of a single "]", mirroring the concept of a ] (e.g. ]). This tendency has historical precedents, as in the identification of ] with ], and in the Hindu '']'', but does not apply to "]" and is consequently rejected by ].
] and ] ]s or ] generally recognise goddess worship as one of their few areas of consensus.


==Prehistory==
The female deity may be referred to in all inclusive terms, such as "The Great Goddess" or "Queen of Heaven", or she may be referred to in more specific terms: ], ], or ]. Frequently, because of her many names, she is known as "She of Ten Thousand Names."
{{see|Venus figurines}}
⚫ Some authors, the most notable of whom is ], believe goddess worship started in ]. They believe that artifacts from that period, such as the "]", may be representations of power goddesses. However, it is difficult to prove the role of these artifacts conclusively as evidence surrounding their place in their society is scanty.<ref>] and others have asserted that the figurines in question were territorial markers, toys, sex aids, sex education models, and images of priestesses rather than goddesses. </ref>


⚫ Cave paintings and etchings from the Paleolithic Era seem to support{{fact}} the notion that Goddess worship/veneration began at that time in human history. At 30,000 years old, these markings, such as those found at Lascaux, France, are clearly evidence{{fact}} of a form of female oriented worship/celebration in the Upper Paleolithic.
⚫ Some authors, the most notable of whom is ], believe goddess worship started in prehistoric times. They believe that artifacts from that period, such as the "]", may be representations of power goddesses. However, it is difficult to prove the role of these artifacts conclusively as evidence surrounding their place in their society is scanty. Male scholars including ] have asserted that the figurines in question were territorial markers, toys, sex aids, sex education models, and images of priestesses rather than goddesses. Those who hold, as Gimbutas did, that these ancient images are of the Female Divine believe that archaeology is a patriarchal and male-dominated field, which tends to belittle and trivialize what was an ancient, worldwide general religion honoring the Female Principle.

⚫ Those who are of Goddess Spirituality generally believe that Goddess religion is the root of all other religions, since cave paintings and etchings from the Paleolithic Era seem to support the notion that Goddess worship/veneration began at that time in human history. At 30,000 years old, these markings, such as those found at Lascaux, France, are clearly evidence of a form of female oriented worship/celebration much older than all modern day religions, and philosophies such as Buddhism, most of which are less than two to three thousand years old.
==Antiquity==

== Examples of goddess worship ==

Examples of worship of a "great goddess" (see ] for other polytheistic goddesses)

;prehistory
*] may be examples of early ]es.
;antiquity
*] in ] *] in ]
*] and cognates in ] *] and cognates in ]
*], ] *], ]
*]
*Some early ] sects such as the ] venerated ] as a goddess. Later mystics such as the medieval ], and Joanna Southcott, referred to the divine Mother. *Some early ] sects such as the ] venerated ] as a goddess. Later mystics such as the medieval ], and Joanna Southcott, referred to the divine Mother.

==Hinduism==
{{see|God and gender in Hinduism}}
*], worshipped in ], which remains one of the three major traditions of modern ] (see also ]) *], worshipped in ], which remains one of the three major traditions of modern ] (see also ])
*]


==New Age and Neopaganism==
;neopaganism
{{main|Goddess movement}}
*] (popularly, witchcraft) founded 1951, Britain, is a major tradition within Western ] which venerates both Goddess and God in a dynamic polarity reminiscent of ]. Its best known type is ], though there are others.
*] is a Craft variant that exclusively worships the Goddess, founded ] by Zsuzsanna Budapest, drawing on her native Hungarian folk magic and USA feminism. *], particularly ] centers on Goddess worship. Dianic Wicca was founded ] by Zsuzsanna Budapest, drawing on her native Hungarian folk magic and US ].


== Further reading == == Further reading ==

Revision as of 09:30, 19 May 2008

It has been suggested that this article be merged with goddess. (Discuss) Proposed since May 2008.

Goddess worship (also Goddess spirituality, Goddess veneration) is a general description for the veneration of a female goddess or goddesses.

Goddess worship was widespread in antiquity, notably with the cults of Cybele and Demeter. In Hinduism, goddess worship remains current in the branch of Shaktism, the worship of Devi "Goddess" or Shakti "(female) energy".

Goddess worship went into decline in European culture in Late Antiquity, with decline of Hellenistic paganism and the end of the Eleusinian Mysteries in the 2nd century. In folk Catholicism, aspects survive in veneration of the Blessed Virgin, reinforced by the 1950 dogma of the Assumption of Mary.

In western Neopaganism Goddess worship has re-emerged since the 19th century, specifically in the second half of the 20th century with Wicca, and notably in the context of second wave feminism in the 1970s to 1980s.

It is important to distinguish individual, polytheistic goddesses from claims of a "Great Goddess" or "Queen of Heaven". New Age religion tends to describe polytheistic godesses as "aspects" of a single "Great Goddess", mirroring the concept of a Singular God (e.g. Dion Fortune). This tendency has historical precedents, as in the identification of Holy Wisdom with Virgin Mary, and in the Hindu Mahadevi, but does not apply to "hard polytheism" and is consequently rejected by polytheistic reconstructionism.

Prehistory

Further information: Venus figurines

Some authors, the most notable of whom is Marija Gimbutas, believe goddess worship started in prehistoric religion. They believe that artifacts from that period, such as the "Venus of Willendorf", may be representations of power goddesses. However, it is difficult to prove the role of these artifacts conclusively as evidence surrounding their place in their society is scanty.

Cave paintings and etchings from the Paleolithic Era seem to support the notion that Goddess worship/veneration began at that time in human history. At 30,000 years old, these markings, such as those found at Lascaux, France, are clearly evidence of a form of female oriented worship/celebration in the Upper Paleolithic.


Antiquity

Hinduism

Further information: God and gender in Hinduism

New Age and Neopaganism

Main article: Goddess movement

Further reading

  • Bailey, Douglass. (2005). Prehistoric Figurines: Representation and Corporeality in the Neolithic. Routledge Publishers. ISBN 0-415-33152-8
  • Balter, Michael. (2005). The Goddess and the Bull: Catalhoyuk, An Archaeological Journey to the Dawn of Civilization. Free Press. New York. ISBN 0-7432-4360-9
  • Daly, Mary. Beyond God The Father. Beacon Press, 1978.
  • Eisler, Riane. The Chalice and the Blade. Harper, 1987.
  • Eller, Cynthia. Living in the Lap of the Goddess: The Feminist Spirituality Movement in America. Boston: Beacon Press, 1993.
  • Gimbutas, Marija. The Gods and Goddesses of Old Europe. Thames and Hudson 1974 .
  • _____________. The Language of the Goddess. (Foreword by Joseph Campbell), HarperCollins 1991 .
  • L. Goodison and C. Morris (1998). Ancient Goddesses. The Myths and the Evidence. London: British Museum Press ISBN 0-7141-1761-7
  • Monaghan, Patricia. The Book of Goddesses and Heroines. E.P.Dutton, 1981. The New Book of Goddesses and Heroines. Llewellyn Worldwide, 1990, 1995.
  • Newman, Barbara. (2003) God and the Goddesses, Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press
  • Stone, Merlin. When God Was a Woman. New York: Harcourt Brace, 1976.
  • Peter Ucko, Anthropomorphic Figurines of Predynastic Egypt and Neolithic Crete 1968 (countering the more extreme versions of the Neolithic Goddess theory)
  • Ucko, Peter "Mother, are you there?" Cambridge Archaeological Journal, 6, (1996), pp 300-4.
  • Walker, Barbara G. The Skeptical Feminist: Discovering the Virgin, Mother & Crone. San Francisco: Harper & Row, 1987.

See also

External links

Paganism (and modern paganism)
Historical
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(existing and
extinct)
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European
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  1. Peter Ucko and others have asserted that the figurines in question were territorial markers, toys, sex aids, sex education models, and images of priestesses rather than goddesses.
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