— “In my opinion, the problem with Christianity (and the Old Testament writings before Jesus) is that we have neglected our Mother Spirit, Sophia. She is clearly identified and discussed in the Bible but the writers and founders of Christianity (all men) have neglected to identify her as a centrical figure in our faith. Why were the early writers, the early Christian founders, and Christians of this day so offended by the idea of God being female? First, Western thinkers struggle with both/and. We like to compartmentalize everything into this box OR that box. We have a hard time understanding that God could be BOTH male and female. Ohhhh doesn't that come a little too close to identifying God as "gender fluid" and we don't like that one! But Eastern thinkers (Jesus, being one) easily embrace the idea of both/and. They easily recognize the yin and yang of most concepts in all things. This is called non-duality. They embrace the idea that two or more things can be true at the same time. Christians today like to think in the dualistic terms of either/or. Everything is either holy or evil. Right or wrong. Bad or good. Unfortunately for them, the Bible is a collection of non-dualistic concepts.
Second, early canon collectors saw women as weak. Let's face it. Men throughout history have seen women as weak. The fragile, too-emotional sex that must be dominated and ruled with a firm hand. Left to our own devices, we are too permissible, too mouthy, too inconsistent, too weak. I don't know about you but I often heard these words spoken about me or my sisters. So, God is described as a strong, male warrior. He provides for and protects his family. Great. But the problem with describing God as only male is that he too often jumps over to the toxic/extreme attributes of masculinity without the much-needed female characteristics.
Look around you. A lot of men are so deeply offended by the idea of balanced anima/animus energy. They cannot tolerate the idea that the softer, female characteristics of nurturing, protecting, and emotional attunement could possibly describe them or their God. So, we have an epidemic of toxically masculine men who refuse to recognize the female attributes of God and refuse to grow their own emotional intelligence.
Now, in fairness, I have noticed women taking this concept to the other extreme (remember, we are either/or thinkers). Some women have run with this concept and yelling out in the streets, "GOD IS FEMALE! THE FUTURE IS FEMALE!" without recognizing that God is both/and. Ladies, toxic femininity is also a thing.
So, how is all of this sitting with you? Do you find yourself angry or resistant to the idea of God being also female? Why? What do you think might happen if Christians began to embrace Mother God? Notice feelings that surface: anger, fear, dismissiveness?
What might happen to you if you became more receptive of the feminine attributes of God? How might this understanding of Scripture change you for the better?” ~ Brittney
Valeria interviews Dr. Brittney Doll — She is a Licensed Clinical Marriage and Family Therapist.
Her doctorate research centered on rebuilding self-agency after experiencing religious trauma. In her private practice, Dr. Brittney primarily works with women who have experienced trauma in childhood, relationships, or religious/cult experiences.
To learn more about Dr. Brittney Doll and her work, please visit: https://www.brittneydoll.com/
and https://christinsanity.podia.com
— This podcast is a quest for well-being, a quest for a meaningful life through the exploration of fundamental truths, enlightening ideas, insights on physical, mental, and spiritual health. The inspiration is Love. The aspiration is to awaken new ways of thinking that can lead us to a new way of being, being well.
