Extracts from the episode:

When it comes to the ‘blend’ of Christianity and Goddessianism it is known as Christo-pagan: which stresses the importance of the individual effort to gain spiritual knowledge and realise the Divine within existence.

Some experience them side-by-side, attending church on Sunday and engaging in Goddess-related activities privately, or in group settings.

For those who the God/dess is seen as having both male and female qualities the comments included: the Creator God must encompass both masculine and feminine.

On practitioner admitted that she still prayed to a ‘male God’ some-times: ‘when I need male strength, when I need male energy’.

Many spoke of the need for more ‘balance’ in Christian notions of deity: male and female, Jesus and Mary/Mary Magdalene, God and Goddess: ‘Goddess Spirituality has a function as a more balanced way to understand who Christ is. I understand Christ as a cosmic presence, not just a male person’

If you want to attend an online service that blends Christianity with goddess-worship please explore: https://www.herchurch.org/

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The Goddess Movement, also known as the Divine Feminine, arose in the twentieth century through the interweaving of the women’s liberation movement with female-centred spirituality.

Pioneers like Z. Budapest and Starhawk played a crucial role in shaping the Goddess Movement by merging Wiccan principles with feminist ideology.

A study explored the healing values Goddess spirituality holds for the traumatised female psyche by researching a group of 25 women who were subjected to acts of male violence, including sexual assault, domestic violence, incest and psychological abuse.

To my surprise at Mount Athos or Agion Oros which is the greatest Orthodox monastery in Greece and where no women are allowed to enter, and is dedicated to the Virgin Mary, exists a plaque dedicated to the Goddess Artemis.

References:

Nicolae, T. (2023). The western revival of goddess worship. Feminist Theology, 31(2), 130-142.

Reid-Bowen, P. (2016). Goddess as nature: Towards a philosophical thealogy. Routledge.

Jacobs, J. L. (2021). The effects of ritual healing on female victims of abuse: A study of empowerment and transformation. In Gender and religion (pp. 127-141). Routledge.

Benko, S. (2004). The virgin goddess: studies in the pagan and Christian roots of Mariology (Vol. 59). Brill.

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Disenchanted by biblical religion women that led the first wave of feminism, namely, Margaret Fuller, had a more individualistic approach to religion, which challenged tradition and included both genders and all races of human beings as equal. But, it was also connected to occult practices!

References:

Cobb, C. (2024). Enslaved Women, Women Enslavers: Kyriarchy and Intersectionality in the New Testament. Journal of Feminist Studies in Religion, 40(1), 43-60.

Harris, Kylie & Rock, Adam & Clark, Gavin. (2020). Defining Spiritual Emergency: A Content Validity Study. 52. 113-141. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/348647627_Defining_Spiritual_Emergency_A_Content_Validity_Study

Robinson, D. M. (1982). Margaret Fuller and the Transcendental ethos: Woman in the nineteenth century. PMLA, 97(1), 83-98.

Ruether, R. R. (2011). Women and redemption: A theological history. Fortress Press.

Wilson, R. (2021). Occult Feminism: The Secret History of Women's Liberation.

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In this episode I explore the four waves of feminism and how through those feminist theology and subsequently eco-feminist theology came about and its significance for women's equality and ecology.

I end with a few themes feminist theologians are challenging. See which ones you can related with.

References:

Inspired introduction:

Duerk, J. (1989) Circle of Stones: Woman’s Journey to Herself.

Main Podcast:

Goettner-Abendroth, H. (2012). Matriarchal societies: Studies on indigenous cultures across the globe. Lang.

Larsen, Erika (2017) "Radical Words Then and Now: The Historical and Contemporary Impact of Elizabeth Cady Stanton's The Woman's Bible," Criterion: A Journal of Literary Criticism: Vol. 10 : Iss. 2 , Article 8. Available at: ⁠https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/criterion/vol10/iss2/8⁠

Mohajan, H. (2022). Four waves of feminism: A blessing for global humanity. https://mpra.ub.uni-muenchen.de/114328/1/MPRA_paper_114328.pdf

Nicolae, T. (2023). The western revival of goddess worship. Feminist Theology, 31(2), 130-142.

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In this first episode I introduce myself, outline the journey behind what inspired the podcast and who it is for!

I hope you enjoy the first episode.

Some sources of content inspiration:

1. Circle of Stones: Woman's Journey to Herself, by Judith Derek.

2. Eating in the Life of the Moon, by Anita Johnston PH.D

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Welcome to HERET.ica: HER Ecofeminist Theology educational podcast

Curious about I talk about? Listen to the trailer and begin to get to know the podcast.

If you have any suggestions or comments email me at: theologyofher@gmail.com.

Love and light

Elena

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