Do you think female Christians would of reduced the gender inequality if the Bible had goddesses?

[Ronald_25]

Yes, why?

No, why?

[abc3643]

Fascinating question! Kudos!

You should consider reading the best seller "The Power" by Naomi Alderman because, in part of that novel, there is a transition of religions to becoming female-dominant. For instance, worship Mary the mother instead of the son. Worship Miriam instead of Moses. Worship Fatima instead of Mohammed... That book is being filmed as a 10-part series for Amazon.

[Ronald_25]

Thank you and excellent book, just read the blurb, though I don't think your opinion is very popular with many guys here, which is a shame, as guys are about 50 percent of the population, we should be helping them resolve gender inequality how we can.

[handsomelad70]

Yes. Many religions are patriarchies which reduce women to cooking, cleaning and baby machines.

[SupremeWarlord]

No, this does not make much sense to me, at least in the modern world, most of what people would consider misogyny in the Bible are some rules in Paul's letters about what women should do or not do in the church, or that the husband is the head of the wife just like Jesus is the head of the church, which supposedly gives him a free pass to demand obedience from his wife. There are some laws that punish heavily women in the Old Testament, particularly in the book of Leviticus, but most people don't even know about them, so they have little influence today.

It's true that God in the Bible is narrated mostly with a male persona, and Jesus was a man, but this isn't used to justify any gender roles in Christianity.

And there were cultures that had lots of goddesses, but treated women like shit, ancient Athens for example.

[Ronald_25]

Very true considering the Greeks, but also the Indians too, despite having Hindu goddesses, gender equality was poor, but we used the goddesses to explain to the simple minded, the issues surrounding women and how we treat them. Hel from Norse mythology is a good example of it working.

[SupremeWarlord]

Same goes to Japan.

Hell, even the Israelites had females goddesses, only after some religious reformations they started worshiping YHWH alone.

[Ronald_25]

Damn, I didn't know this, was just reading about Asherah, interesting stuff here

[CountessSarah]

@Andres77 blocked me. He wanted the last word, but is too intellectually vacant to have anything to say to defend himself.

[Ronald_25]

I'll second that, I knew this question would attract someone of the likes of him, don't take it to heart Sarah, karma is a vindictive goddess and she comes for people like him, sooner or later. Just ignore him, otherwise it'll cause negative feelings

[Ronald_25]

Now I got the last word in and blocked him, hope he enjoys a taste of his own medicine, when I go to hell, I'll be taking people like him with me 😈😄

[loves2learn]

I do. I really do. Fair point. But it was written by men, so…

[Ronald_25]

So what? The Bhagavad Gita was written by a man, Vyasa, and in the Mahabharata, it contains the Goddess Ganga for example.

Ganga (Sanskrit: गङ्गा or गंगा, romanized: Gaṅgā) is the personification of the river Ganga and is worshiped by Hindus as the goddess of purification and forgiveness. Known by many names, Ganga is often depicted as a beautiful fair woman, riding a divine creature called Makara.

Having a male author does not exempt the Bible from having goddesses, or Christianity.

[loves2learn]

Cool. Accurate. I have read the Bhagavad Gita. 🤷🏻‍♀️ Too bad western religion didn’t play out like that.

[Ronald_25]

True, much of the Gita is used today my women to push for equality, religion is something the small minded in India understand.

[OddBeMe]

Right, Hindu doesn’t have any problems with women…

[Ronald_25]

I never said that, no religion or people are perfect, you have to work hard to strive for equality. Hindus were probably one of the worst for gender equality, similar to Christianity and Judaism, it was not the case historically. Also, the religion is called Hinduism, not Hindu, be respectful, even if you don't believe in it.

[Kaneki05]

I mean depends how she is portrayed. Worked for the Vikings with Hel, and her been a good reason they respected women and had equal rights before most places. But didn't really work for the roman's, but they had dicks for gods like what happened to medusa.

[Ronald_25]

Damn, didn't know about Hel, thank you for that 👍🏼

[Kaneki05]

No problem it's intresting thing for sure, Vikings allowed women to own houses and divorce if they wanted too and had there own say when it came it to arrangments of marriage rather than a father or something and other equal rights. Meanwhile the rest of the world was pretty much women cannot own things, cannot divorce on there own behalf, women had no say in there arrangments of been married.
Woman could even fight but tbf they would have to prove themselves quite a bit first. And vikings still had traditional roles ideals of women cook, men fight. But it was more respectful than just that has to be the way 100%.
Hel, who rules hel cause her name is the same name as the place. Basically the goddess of death but highly respected unlike hades or the devil she is not seen in a negative light. More of just the keeper of the dead, mostly those who didn't die a warrior cause they would go to valhalla, or the field Fólkvangr. So hel wasn't really a punishment or a bad place. Just another place to go if you didn't die in combat.
Then hel herself is portayed strong, and sorta a good persona and will be one of the ones to start Ragnarok because she has a problem with odin and some other's (which is pretty fair to say all that happened with lot of stuff). Which will be all out death battle.

Lot's of people get confused that Hel is like Hell. But in reailty no. However there is a lowest level of hel which yes is more like hell were Evil men go upon death. Called niflhel. As you can tell i like norse mythology lol. But anyway all this and her been a strong female role and having such a important part in there mythology. It for sure seems woman favoured a lot due to this.

[Ronald_25]

Damn, this is some good stuff Kaneki, I believe I chose the MHO too soon. I'm a fan of Norse mythology too but not as much as you. Being a Hindu we have Yam (his name) Raja (king), Yam Raja is similar to Hel and is the Hindu god of death and justice. Also similarly, hell has different levels of severity.

But a female equivalent to Hel is Kali Ma (dark goddess) Kali (/ˈkɑːliː/; Sanskrit: काली, IAST: Kālī, ISO: Kālī), also known as Kalika (Sanskrit: कालिका, Kālikā, ISO: Kālikā), is a Hindu goddess. Kali is the chief of the Mahavidyas, a group of ten Tantric goddesses who each form a different aspect of the mother goddess Parvati.

Kali's earliest appearance is that of a destroyer of evil forces. She is the most powerful form of Shakti and the goddess of one of the four subcategories of the Kulamārga, a category of Tantric Saivism

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kali

[Ronald_25]

Also, Kali is the most feared by demons and one of the most loved by gods and goddesses. In spite of her seemingly terrible form, Kali Ma is often considered the kindest and most loving of all the Hindu goddesses, as she is regarded by her devotees...

[Kaneki05]

No worries haha. Hmm quite similar tbf. Another common thing between the both, hel is also depicted not in a appealing form. In fact the other gods sent her to hel because of her appearance. -half blue and half flesh-colored and further as having a gloomy, downcast appearance. One half of her body is a corpse the other half a maiden. She's not seen as a image of beauty but she has her own beauty within her in my opinion.
I've never looked into hindu gods tbh. There is a lot of them and all kinds of paths there that are interesting but would take a lot of learning, no doubt i will learn about them at some point tho. Often you will find a lot of common things to appear in all religions and there beliefs and connotations, but still interesting to see. Gods really are powered by the way there portrayed they can be used to promote toxic views, they can be used to promote good views.
Then there are those who can twist the stories or just the stories get lost. It's a very complex thing but no doubt they effected all sorts and just changing the gender of one god can change a lot but again it has more variables.

[JackSmy]

I reject ANY belief system, that makes women, or any others, somehow less, or property, or submissive to men! I think those "religions" are just reasons for men to dominate and control, and it is BULLSHIT!!

[Ronald_25]

👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽 Don't be surprised if a medal for feminism gets delivered to you 🏅

[JackSmy]

@Ronald_25 And I would be PROUD to WEAR it!! What's so fcked up with you, that you think there is something wrong in loving women as EQUALS?

[Ronald_25]

I think you misunderstood my comment for sarcasm, I was being serious and agreeing with you as I feel the same way. Women are our equals, we just have different personalities in my opinion.

[JackSmy]

@Ronald_25 It was not obvious, to me, that you were responding, sarcastically, with so many HATING TROLLS on here!!
Please accept my apology, for the misunderstanding, Good Sir!

[Ronald_25]

I whole heartedly accept your apology, it is always a shame when the few ruin it for the many 🤷🏽‍♂️

[Anonymous]

If you look at the original bible.. Not the one that the church wants you to see, you will see that Jesus viewed women as very much equal

But in 349 AD in the first council of Nicaea, The pope stripped the bible of 40ish books, Including the Gospel of Mary.

It was the church that lowered women's status...

[Ronald_25]

Very interesting stuff, I didn't know this.

[Opinion Owner]

It's not well known, the church prefers to hide things like that. They called the gospels heretical.

[Ronald_25]

This is why Christianity always makes me uneasy.

[Opinion Owner]

It's part of why I'm not Christian.

[Ronald_25]

I like Christianity and especially scripture around Mary and Lilith

[Opinion Owner]

I like some of it. But when I was a kid, I was in foster care, and scripture was used as an excuse to beat me til I'm bleeding and bruised and drug me..

[Ronald_25]

Damn, well if you ever need someone to talk to about this, we can take this convo offline into private chat.

[Opinion Owner]

I will follow you, I am @worldscolide.

[jshm2]

There is only one God in the bible. Hence the notion of "goddess" doesn't exist.

[Ronald_25]

It's a hypothetical scenario that concerns the impact of an alternative Christianity with Goddesses. Use your imagination.

We engineers call it optioneering and physicists call it alternative realities.

[Alejandro3000]

I don't know why I pressed yes I just thought the 2nd picture was so hottt I like long thick thighs

[Ronald_25]

They are some good legs, alternatively I've seen women appreciating a cut Jesus 🤷🏽‍♂️

[Alejandro3000]

What is a cut Jesus?

[Ronald_25]

www.google.com/search

[Alejandro3000]

Ohh a six pack, they do

[Ronald_25]

Exactly, don't get me wrong, if I was a woman, Jesus can be quite hot 🤷🏽‍♂️

[OddBeMe]

I’d be more for it. But honestly no. Greek goddesses didn’t reduce the sexism back then either.

[Ronald_25]

True, but the gods were very incestuous and rapy, all in all dicks 🤷🏽‍♂️ I'd rather use the example of Norse mythology and Hel

[Ronald_25]

Consult @Kaneki05 for further information

[Andres77]

God is not male nor female.
Mortals are male and female so they can reproduce.
God is eternal.
He is not a gender, He is God.
He gave us roles.
We'll be judged, in part, by how we lived within those given roles.

[CountessSarah]

And yet you called it 'He'.

[Andres77]

@CountessSarah
He calls Himself He, He's God.
He can do what He wants.
Take it up with Him.

[Kaneki05]

God is a he, otherwise he wouldn't refer himself as a he. That's like me referring myself as a she when i don't identify with been so. Wouldn't make much sense.

[CountessSarah]

Neither of you think it's potentially a mistranslation or a mistake on the parts of those that wrote the bible?
You've never had your god call itself 'He', only people apparently speaking on its behalf.

[Kaneki05]

@CountessSarah If were going by the bible, he has never been stated to by anything but a he. So doubtly a mistranslation otherwise he would of been refered to as her at some point or at the original translation. But since we have no proof it has been. And just seems to always be a he. Safe to assume the father is a he. And also the prophets mention how they are told by god whatever pretty sure he would of corrected them if He was a she. Or if he was just a IT.

[Andres77]

@CountessSarah
It doesn't matter what we say.
When your dead you will know the truth and it will be too late.
You can attempt to browbeat me with your pretentious attitude but we know you're terrified of death. Thinking you"bested" anyone in a debate when no one really knows what happens when we die... is really pointless.
I hope you find the truth before it's too late.
I hope you find peace while you yet can.

[CountessSarah]

Where the hell is this coming from? All I did was lightly question you on how you gender a being you admitted has no use for it.
Alright, I won't bother, then. If this is all it takes for you to get all defensive.

[Andres77]

@CountessSarah I'm not defensive.
I just wished you peace and truth.
That's all.

[CountessSarah]

"You can attempt to browbeat me with your pretentious attitude"
What attitude?

"we know you're terrified of death."
Weird projection.

"Thinking you"bested" anyone in a debate"
I asked you some simple questions about your position.

"I hope you find the truth before it's too late."
And you ended with a threat.

You clearly have your hackles up.

[Andres77]

@CountessSarah 🥱🥱🥱
See you on the other side Sara...😉

[Ronald_25]

@Andres77 @CountessSarah @Kaneki05 great discussion this, exactly what I was hoping when I posted the question, logic Vs religion, Sarah, thank you for upholding logic against the extremely sensitive Andres.

Andres, a couple of things, please refer to God as Christian God, as you are not talking about my god and we Hindus do not part-take in your assignment that there is only one God/ Goddesses and that it's a "he".

Also, do not use religion to threaten @CountessSarah, do not forget that your God will judge you for your actions, and uncompassionate behaviour towards one of his children will lead to punishment, as we are all accountable for out actions, sooner or later.

[CountessSarah]

You threw accusations and threats around then ran away when called out. Alright.

[Andres77]

It's a threat to say we're all going to die?
It's a simple fact.
There is a God.
Who is right we'll find out.
This is all pointless.
We'll find out when we die.
He will judge us.
Yeah, He didn't make a goddess.
Oh well.
Stop tagging me.
I'll stop responding.

[CountessSarah]

"It's a threat to say we're all going to die?"
Partly.
For starters it wasn't relevant to what we were talking about. Secondly, you just say 'Oh, death is inevitable' in a context where it would make sense, your sentiment was 'Muahaha, you'll die and then you'll know I'm right! My devil will be jabbing you in the butt all day with his pitchfork!'
It's like a child gloating as he runs off to tell a teacher that another kid swore. It's pathetic and everyone knows exactly what you were doing.

"It's a simple fact.
There is a God."
I never even contested that in this thread.

"This is all pointless.
We'll find out when we die."
Unfortunately for you, this is a public forum. You're not obligated to respond, but the fact all it took was a few light questions to get you into this worked up state tells me you're very insecure in your beliefs.

"Stop tagging me.
I'll stop responding."
You've been trying to run away for like, 3 posts now. You can't both run away and get the last word.

[Ronald_25]

Oh, I can wait for your God to judge you @Andres77, I'll ask my god/goddesses to attend your judgement day with popcorn for, learning purposes of course, I'm sure Hell grants day passes.

[Andres77]

We'll see.

[marc94]

Fact: there is nothing you (or anyone) can solve based on mysticism. To imagine new gods or goddesses is useless and it cannot help a human being in any way.

[Ronald_25]

That's an opinion not a fact.

By presenting it as a fact your blinding yourself from the possibility that your fact is wrong, which it is. In Norse mythology the goddess Hel was the cause of gender equality in Vikings, look it up. Or just disagree with me if you can't be bothered to actually do research before presenting your opinion as a fact.

[marc94]

Whatever makes you feel right, Mr. Mystic.

[strateguy632]

new testament allowed lady leader in book romans.

[Alexandrubaschet08]

because God is only one and only and God is not a man or a woman.

[Ronald_25]

Are you speaking generally or about Christianity?

[Alexandrubaschet08]

God is only in Christianity

[Ronald_25]

Please see the message thread by @CountessSarah above.

[Alexandrubaschet08]

So what you want me to see, that somebody block her?

[Alexandrubaschet08]

Olso ther is no karma in life.
Life is a bitch made for human by God in order to test theyr soulds.

[Ronald_25]

There's a brighter side to life than just being a bitch, let me know if you want to join this side 😄 quite a miserable outlook on life mate, the grass is greener where we are, has been for a while

[Alexandrubaschet08]

The grass is alwase dieing and is not alwase green.
Life is made of povertis.

[Ronald_25]

Negativity is a poison best treated with isolation so it does not detrimentally impact the rest of us.

[Alexandrubaschet08]

Positivity is a phiho problem as well, best treatment is crazy people hospital.
When you are positiv the world heat you even harder and painful

[Hispanic-Cool-Guy]

I don't understand the question. What exactly you mean?

[Ronald_25]

Does the belief in goddesses decrease the gender inequality?

[Hispanic-Cool-Guy]

No...

[Ronald_25]

Thank you for your opinion.

[Anonymous]

What does "would of reduced the gender inequality" mean?

[Ronald_25]

I can't break it down for you any further, you're 30-35 years of age, I'm sure you'll figure it out.

[red_knight]

You choose violence today didn't you lol

[red_knight]

You know the answer to this. We all do.

[Ronald_25]

Yes, let the people on here share their opinions and discussions.

I am a Hindu and it pisses me off that there are no powerful goddesses in Christianity to serve as a female role model. I'm looking for the equivalent of Partvati

Parvati (Sanskrit: पार्वती, IAST: Pārvatī), Uma (Sanskrit: उमा, IAST: Umā) or Gauri (Sanskrit: गौरी, IAST: Gaurī) is the Hindu goddess of fertility, love, beauty, harmony, marriage, children, and devotion; as well as of divine strength and power. ... Parvati is the mother of Hindu deities Ganesha and Kartikeya

[Ronald_25]

Aye, I know the answer, but I want to see the justification Christians have and why we should believe them.

[red_knight]

Goddesses no. Powerful women yes.

The mother of jesus is the best example I can give. Who begotten a son without the touch of a man.

[Ronald_25]

Religion is always an interesting topic to argue over as there is less logic than most other discussions.

[Andres77]

@Ronald_25
You should not "have to" believe anyone.
Believe what you want and when you die you get your prize.
It's going to happen. Doesn't matter what anyone says or does. We're all going to die and find out.
We each Hope we're right.
Some are, many aren't.
It's not our place to force our beliefs on anyone, only offer access to what we believe is truth and each individual decides.

[Ronald_25]

@Andres77 what are you on about? This question is not about beliefs, it's about the impact goddesses have on gender inequality. I'm more spiritual than Hindu, believe what you want, just don't use religion to justify bad behaviour.

[Andres77]

Bad behavior?

[Ronald_25]

Your faith blinds you from the truth of your behaviour, be sure make penance.

[Dargil]

Nonsense.

[Anonymous]

wow you are an idiot lol

[888theGreat]

There is not