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From: tim@cmu-cs-k.ARPA (Tim Maroney)
Newsgroups: net.religion
Subject: Re: Why Witchcraft is valid for men and women
Message-ID: <42@cmu-cs-k.ARPA>
Date: Mon, 12-Nov-84 18:35:37 EST
Article-I.D.: cmu-cs-k.42
Posted: Mon Nov 12 18:35:37 1984
Date-Received: Tue, 13-Nov-84 06:07:47 EST
References: <2089@ucla-cs.ARPA>
Organization: Carnegie-Mellon University, CS/RI
Lines: 48

Equilibrium is vital.  To replace a patriarchal religion with a matriarchal
religion is to make just the error Starhawk warns of, that of failing to
examine the underlying assumptions.  In this case, the assumption is that
there must be a single being of a single gender conceived of as the ultimate
truth of the cosmos.  One gains nothing but more sexism by calling the
feminine conception of deity inherently superior to the masculine.

The reason that matriarchal forms of religion are experiencing a resurgence
is that the usual reaction to the release from an oppressive Restriction is
to swing to the other extreme.  The validity of feminine conceptions of
deity has been suppressed by Christians (although the Catholics wisely
attempted to counteract this) for centuries; now that you will not be thrown
in jail for non-patriarchal religious views, the pendulum has swung to
matriarchy.  It is difficult for many to separate the idea of a masculine
deity from the corrupt institutions of patriarchal religion, and indeed many
do not even make the effort.

Fortunately, most Wiccan groups, and all Thelemites, recognize the validity
of masculine as well as feminine conceptions of deity, although even those
Wiccans who recognize Cernunnos, Pan, and so on, usually over-emphasize the
Great Mother under whatever name.  This is due to the reaction to the
release from Restriction, and may be expected to equilibrate itself given
time.  There are also some Wiccan groups that recognize only the feminine,
or claim that the masculine is merely an inferior subset thereof; to my
mind these are no better than the patriarchalists they abhor.

Buddhists and Hindus also have a rich store of equilibrated masculine and
feminine symbols to choose from in their religions.  Unfortunately,
patriarchal Buddhist and Hindu societies have often emphasized the masculine
over the feminine; but it is easy enough to restore them to their proper
balance.

The true aspirant strives, through invocation of an equilibrated set of
deities, chosen with particular reference to the aspirant's imbalances, to
incorporate all virtues appropriate to both sexes.  One must incorporate
both maternity and paternity, creation and destruction, nurturing and
attack, reception and action, fertility and virility, and all other pairs of
opposites usually considered "feminine" or  "masculine", in order to know
and do the Will, to follow one's own "true orbit".
-- 
Tim Maroney, Carnegie-Mellon University Computation Center
ARPA:	Tim.Maroney@CMU-CS-K
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"Remember all ye that existence is pure joy; that all the sorrows are
but as shadows; they pass & are done; but there is that which remains."
Liber AL, II:9.