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Conference turris::womannotes-v1

Title:ARCHIVE-- Topics of Interest to Women, Volume 1 --ARCHIVE
Notice:V1 is closed. TURRIS::WOMANNOTES-V5 is open.
Moderator:REGENT::BROOMHEAD
Created:Thu Jan 30 1986
Last Modified:Fri Jun 30 1995
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:873
Total number of notes:22329

257.0. "Feminist Thealogy" by BUFFER::LEEDBERG (Truth is Beauty, Beauty is Truth) Mon Mar 30 1987 03:19



For the past 10 weeks I have been leading a program of workshops for
women called "Cakes for the Queen of Heaven."  It is an adult education
program out of the UUA/Beacon Press.  It was developed by feminist
Thealogist Shirley A. Ranck.  The workshops are very powerful and the
material covers modern feminist Thealogy back to pre-history.

A couple of womannotes asked me to enter a note about it, it is where
my (-) came from - it is the double sided axe symbol of the Goddess
    |  who has come to mean a lot to me.

"It is not just changing the verb/noun God to Goddess it is a whole
different way of seeing the universe."

A number of UUA churches in the United States are offering this program,
actually, a large number of UUA churches will be offering it this fall
and winter. The program as offered by us in Central Massachusetts is
open to any woman who is interested in attending.

	_peggy	(-)
		 |   The Goddess is in all of us

T.RTitleUserPersonal
Name
DateLines
257.1Now where?NEXUS::MORGANWalk in Balance...Mon Mar 30 1987 04:496
    So Peggy,
    
    Where would you like to take this topic?
    Blessed Be           
    
      Mikie?   
257.3Please post this in UU too.SOFTY::HEFFELFINGERThe valient Spaceman Spiff!Mon Mar 30 1987 14:5410
    	Peggy,
    
    	Please take a look at the note file JUNIPR::UU and enter a note
    about this program in there.  I'm sure some of the UU readers would
    be imterested in this and not want to get into womannotes to find
    out about it.  
    
    	A new UU'er in South Carolina,
    
    		Tracey
257.4just trying to spead informationBUFFER::LEEDBERGTruth is Beauty, Beauty is TruthMon Mar 30 1987 16:1316
    
    
    I decided to enter this note after reading Suzanne's comments in
    the "Playgirl" note.  They way she expressed herself is very close
    to the way some of the material in the program is presented.
    
    re .-1  I tried accessing JUNIPR::UU to place this note but got
    a file not found error.  I will keep trying until I am able to get
    in to write the note.
    
    re .DOG WATER  HUH???????
    
    
    _peggy	(-)
    		 |
    
257.5SWSNOD::RPGDOCDennis (the Menace) Ahern 223-5882Mon Mar 30 1987 16:2415
    RE: .4  "access UU file"
    
    JUNIPR::UU works for me, though it's a bit sluggish today.  Check
    and see if you've entered it as JUNIPeR by mistake.
    

        
    Our UU Church, 1st Parish in Bedford (MA) is just finishing this
    curriculum in the Adult Religous Education, in conjunction with
    a group from the Follen Church in Lexington (the Follen Women?).
    
    The Religious Services Committee is interested in having a service
    result from this some Sunday next fall.  If I'm still around here
    then, I will post some info about it.
    
257.7and what does UUA stand for? I'm UCCCADSYS::SULLIVANKaren - 225-4096Wed Apr 01 1987 15:237
Would you mind explaining what feminist thealogy is?  I don't intend
to attend any workshops (no time), but I wouldn't mind knowing how this
is different from other theologies.  I'm one of the protestant christion
sects myself.  Or is it discussed in some other conference that I should
go to?

..Karen
257.8SOFTY::HEFFELFINGERThe valient Spaceman Spiff!Wed Apr 01 1987 15:4016
    	UUA is the Unitarian Universalist Association.
    
    	UU's tend to be VERY open minded.  We like hearing about everyone's
    experiences.  We gather traditions from all religions and philosophies.
    Our basic creed is if it works for you, great!  (At least that's
    the way I see UUism.  Ask another UU and you'll get a different
    answer.  As our minister said, "I don't why they refer to us
    [UU ministers] as Pastors 'cause if there's one thing UU's aren't, 
    it's sheep!"  
    
    	See JUNIPR::UU especially the note on the definition of UU'ism
    for more details.
    
    tlh
    
    
257.9feminist thealogy in a nutshellRANGER::IANNUZZOCatherine T.Wed Apr 01 1987 16:1428
    Feminist thealogy (thea for goddess, theo for god) is an attempt
    to integrate the pre-patriarchal Mother Goddess into a modern
    world view. In neolithic times throughout the Middle East the
    Goddess was the primary expression of divinity.  She had many
    names and roles as the giver, nurturer, and taker of life.
    She was the Earth, as well as the Queen of Heaven.  You will
    recognize scraps of her story in the myths of Babylonian Ishtar,
    Egyptian Isis, and a number of the Greek godesses: Demeter,
    Hera, Artemis.  The popularity of the Virgin Mary in the
    Mediterranean area is largely due to this pagan heritage.
    The Goddess religion, the dominant one in most agrarian societies,
    was gradually supplanted by a sky god religion imposed by 
    nomadic, patriarchal tribes from the north and east.  The 
    myths about the rape and/or marriage of the local goddess
    by the invading god reflect these social changes, and a
    consequent reduction in the social/religious/political
    status of women.  The biblical record provides a classic
    image of a sky god-worshipping, nomadic people overcoming
    a more settled, goddess-worshipping people.  Many feminists
    feel a religious view focussing on the Mother Goddess is
    more suited to them than the Father God promoted by
    our patriarchal society.  
    
    For books on the subject, I suggest Merlin Stone's 
    "When God Was a Woman" for a good historical thesis,
    and Rosemary Radford's "Sexism and God-talk" for a
    good attempt at integrating the Goddess into 
    Judeo-Christian theology.
257.10SWSNOD::RPGDOCDennis (the Menace) Ahern 223-5882Wed Apr 01 1987 19:106
    RE:  .9  "nutshell"
    
    Thanks for enlightening me as to what I had mistakenly perceived as
    a typographic error in the note title.
                                  
    
257.11TheulogyJUNIPR::DMCLURESat Apr 04 1987 18:4110
	Also, see note 30 of the JUNIPR::UU conference for a combination
    of Theology, and Thealogy: Theulogy.  This belief system is based on
    the most ancient of all beliefs systems and, in addition, all which
    have occured since.

	It is based on the balanced unity of man and woman.  Press KP7 and
    read note 30 of the Unitarian/Universalist conference for more details.

							-davo
257.12Summer conference plannedJUNIPR::DMCLUREThu May 21 1987 13:149
Peggy,

	I was wondering if you were involved with the "Cakes for the Queen
    of Heaven" conference this summer at Ferry Beach in Maine?  I was entering
    the summer conference schedule and noticed a week-long conference devoted
    in part to this topic.  Anyway, if anyone is interested, please see note
    42.3 of the JUNIPR::UU conference for more details.

							-davo
257.13etymology of "thea"?BANDIT::MARSHALLhunting the snarkFri May 22 1987 15:3115
    I've just been reprimanded because I thought that "thealogy" was
    a misspelling for "theology".
    
    As I understand it "theology" comes from "Theo" - a god or gods
    and "logy" - the science, theory or study of.
    
    Now, is "Thea" an artificial construction because "god" is considered
    to be male and not female? 
        
                                                   
                  /
                 (  ___
                  ) ///
                 /
    
257.14References to females in the dictionary?BUFFER::LEEDBERGTruth is Beauty, Beauty is TruthFri May 22 1987 15:487
    
    Thea is greek for female god theo is Greek for male god.  It is
    no more "artificial" than biology or horology.
    
    _peggy	(-)
    		 |    The Goddess was first
    
257.15not in American Heritage DictionaryBANDIT::MARSHALLhunting the snarkTue May 26 1987 21:298
    Guess I should have used an unabridged dictionary.
    
                                                   
                  /
                 (  ___
                  ) ///
                 /
     
257.16Spurious derivationTLE::FAIMANNeil FaimanWed May 27 1987 02:5313
    I raised this question with a classical Greek scholar of my
    acquaintance.  He reports that the derivation for "thealogy" is
    spurious:  that "-ology" is the universal Greek suffix meaning
    "study of" or "science of".  Thus, the derivation of "theology" is
    not "theo(s)" + "logy", but "the(os)" (or "the(a)" or "the(on)") +
    "ology". 
    
    There simply is no gender content in these -ology" words. As a
    specific example, he mentioned "psychology", which has the "-ology"
    form, even though the root is "Psyche", a feminine proper noun.
    Thus, there is no justification for "thealogy". 
    
	-Neil
257.17HUMAN::BURROWSJim BurrowsWed May 27 1987 03:357
        What of "genealogy" from "genea" and "logy" according to my
        American Heritage Dictionary? (Of course the same dictionary
        derives "theology" from "theo" and "logy", which you say is
        wrong, so it could be suspect.) Couldn't this at least provide
        the precedent for thealogy as a neologism?
        
        JimB. 
257.18Genderless!SEDSWS::KORMANWed May 27 1987 10:357
        Why does God need a Gender anyway???  
    
         If God is a complete and perfect being, then any concept of
    gender has no meaning!
    
    Dave
257.19genderless = goalMOSAIC::TARBETMargaret MairhiWed May 27 1987 13:309
    <--(.18)
    
    In an ideal sense you are of course right, Dave.  But in practice,
    judeo-christian doctrinal writings have characterised God as a male
    ("God the Father", not "God the Parent").  If this is not to stand by
    default, an equal opposing force must be applied to bring about
    balance.
    
    						=maggie
257.20QUARK::LIONELWe all live in a yellow subroutineWed May 27 1987 13:358
    Re: .19
    
    I'm sure someone better informed will amplify (or correct) this,
    but my understanding is that the traditional use of the male gender
    for "God" is an artifact of the early English translations and that
    the distinction is not generally made in the original Bible texts.
    Maybe this has been discussed in the BIBLE conference?
    						Steve
257.21Re "genealogy"TLE::FAIMANNeil FaimanWed May 27 1987 14:129
    We did discuss the question of "genealogy", and Mike's observation
    was that the derivation here is different from that of "theology"
    or "psychology".  While theology is the subject/science/study
    of god, genealogy is a discourse about a particular family ("genea",
    which happens to be neuter plural).  Thus, it makes sense that
    the combining form in theology and psychology should be -ology,
    but the combining form in genealogy should be -logy.
    
    	-Neil
257.22God as "male"CSC32::JOHNSGod is real, unless declared integerWed May 27 1987 19:358
    re: .20
    
    It is my understanding that the Bible in its original languages
    usually referred to God as "parent".  However, Jesus used the word
    "Abba" which means (no, not a singing group) "Daddy".  Of course,
    if he had used "Mommy" they would have thought he meant Mary.
    
                      Carol
257.24?MOSAIC::TARBETMargaret MairhiThu May 28 1987 15:015
    <--(.23)
    
    um, I'm not sure I quite follow.  Could you explain a bit more?
    
    						=maggie
257.26MUNICH::CLINCHDon't just do something, be there.Tue Jun 09 1987 18:3919
	The fact that there is a God the Father does not preclude
	a God the unspecified - I understand that God can assume
	various personas,  we can be sure that He is not limited
	to the Father,  the Son and the Holy Ghost.  Do you think that
	God would appear in the sky as a God the Mother just to satisfy a load
	of feminists?  Perhaps he would come down in this form
	just for that?  I rather think not.

	The objecting to God being male to me shows an inability to
	accept such inequality of outcome concerning opposite sex,  i.e. men.
	This seems similar in approach to the "equality of outcome" of
    	socialism i.e. to appoint a female God in retaliation to the
        male personas rather than accept that there need only be
	(and in this case is) be equality of opportunity 
	(None of us can be God!) as per capitalism.  Perhaps this is why
    	most of the feminists (all but one in fact) that I have met so
    	far are socialists?

	Simon.  
257.27God is not maleVINO::EVANSTue Jun 09 1987 21:0620
    RE:.26
    
    What does the objecting to God's being FEMALE show you?
    
    That "there is a God the Father" is not fact. Is is *your* belief.
    The Christian Science Church (for one) has always referred to the
    Deity as Father/Mother.
    
    The reference to the maleness/femaleness of a Deity reflects the
    society doing the referring-to. It is only natural that a patriarchal
    society refers to God as male. MY objection to referring to God
    as male comes from the knowledge that such reference comes from
    the idea of female-as-less.
    
    That God is neither, cannot be derived from God-as-male. Referring
    to God(dess)-as-female may be a way to push the G-a-m idea off-center
    so God-as-God can be experienced.
    
    Dawn
    
257.29ThealogyCSC32::JOHNSGod is real, unless declared integerWed Jun 10 1987 14:439
    re: .26
    
    Smooth how one can insult people's religion and sneak in what could
    be considered a jibe against feminists all in the same small note.
    
    Seems to me that if God wants to flash across the sky as a female
    figure then God could.  Who are we to presume to know what God would 
    or would not do?
                               Carol
257.30It takes two to tangoVLNVAX::DMCLUREGear up for DECworld-87!Wed Jun 10 1987 16:4419
	Let's face it, if you want to believe in Christian theology,
    you must be willing to accept the fact that God was intended to
    represent a *male* figure.  How was God supposed to have impregnated
    Mary if God were female (or neuter for that matter).

	What I see is an attempt to bend Christianity to meet the needs
    of modern culture (i.e. the need for a balanced diety), when Christianity
    was never intended to be bent in such a way.  Thealogy, as someone already
    mentioned, is a proper reaction to a paternal belief system such as is
    found in Christianity, but seems to be only the maternal complement to it
    (complete with a new set of gender imbalances).

    	I suggest instead that people consider the idea of both a Sky Father
    and an Earth Mother as was the belief system of prediluvian Atlantis
    which spawned all others.  These ideas have been repackaged for your
    consumption under the name "theulogy" (no applause, just throw hugs),
    but the basis for this belief system is older than any.

							-davo
257.31Atheism is gender-neutral :-)ARMORY::CHARBONNDWed Jun 10 1987 16:501
    
257.32sorry...STAR::BECKPaul BeckWed Jun 10 1987 19:464
    RE .30 (i.e. the need for a balanced diety)

    A reference, perhaps, to the need for whole grains, veggies,
    and fresh fruits to go along with that Big Mac?
257.33Diety: the tendancy to diet oftenVLNVAX::DMCLUREGear up for DECworld-87!Wed Jun 10 1987 21:316
re: .32,

	Yes, a balanced deit is important too.  I think I must've overdosed
    on Big Macs for that last typo.  ;^)

							-davo
257.34a poem I recallLEZAH::BOBBITTFestina Lente - Hasten SlowlyThu Jun 11 1987 14:5517
    I remember a poem, with a time-lapsed evening picture of trees and
    stars, that I got when I was younger.  It had on it a Tewa Indian
    Poem - song of the sky loom.
    
    Oh our mother the earth, oh our father the sky
    Weave for us a garment of brightness
    May the warp be the gray light of morning
    May the weft be the red light of evening
    May the fringes be the falling rain
    May the border be the standing rainbow
    That we may walk where birds sing - where grass is green.
    
    
    two genders - no genders - all genders - any of these suits me.
    
    -Jody
    
257.35For those who enjoy cosmic revelations...VLNVAX::DMCLUREGear up for DECworld-87!Thu Jun 11 1987 15:4419
	Another thing I like about the Mother Earth - Father Sky philosophy
    is that it is similar in symbolism to the biology of procreation itself.
    Picture the shape of the ovum from a woman (similar in shape to the round
    earth), and the sperm from a man (similar in shape to a comet or meteor
    which might have once been interpreted as a magical force from outer space).
    Together, these images symbolically merge to form the essence of being
    itself.

	An egg is not really female, and a sperm is not really male (aside from
    the fact that it may or may not have the Y chromozome, etc.), however, they
    are complementary products of the two genders which together form the
    complete whole being.  Similarly, the earth is not female, and neither is
    the sky male, but they represent the symbolic spiritual products of both
    genders which together, create a whole consciousness.

	To recognize (i.e. worship) one without the other is not only
    incomplete, but is also symbolically non-productive.  Just my opinion.

								-davo
257.36a light and timely religious noteLEZAH::BOBBITTFestina Lente - Hasten SlowlyFri Jun 12 1987 15:2339
    Into this topic I wish to shed some light humor I recently read:
    
    ***************************************************************
    
    A tribute to legalese: the 23rd Psalm.
    
    The Lord and I are in a sheep-shepherd relationship, and I am in
      a position of negative need.
    He prostrates me in a green-belt grazine area,
    He conducts me directionally parallel to non-torrential aqueous
      liquid.
    He returns to original satisfaction levels my psychological makeup,
    He switches me on to a positive behavioral format for maximal prestige
      of His identity.
    
    It should indeed be said that notwithstanding the fact that I make
      ambulatory progress through the umbragious inter-hill mortality
      slot, Terror sensations will no be initiated in me, due to para-etical
      phenomena,
    Your pastoral walking aid and quadrupic pickup unit introduce me
      into a pleasurific mood state.
    
    You design and produce a nutriment-bearing furniture-type structure
      in the context of non-cooperative elements,
    You act out a head-related folk ritual employing vegetable extract,
    My beverage utensil experiences a volume crisis.
    
    It is an ongoing deductible fact that your inter-relational
      empathetical and non-ventious capabilities
    Will retain me as their target-focus for the duration of my non-death
      period, and I will possess tenant rights in the housing unit of
      the Lord on a permanent, open-ended time basis.
       
   -author unknown

    
    
    -Jody
    
257.37Electro-conferencing behavior formsHPSCAD::WALLI see the middle kingdom...Fri Jun 12 1987 15:324
    
    Sounds more socological than legal, but I get the point...
    
    DFW
257.38MUNICH::CLINCHInvented by a publisher in the `60sSun Jun 14 1987 16:4917
re .27
> What does the objecting to God's being FEMALE show you?

	Depends on the method of knowledge of this "being" so and who
    	is objecting.  But I am sure God is capable of being female or
    	male as He chooses.

> MY objection to referring to God as male comes from the knowledge that
> such reference comes from the idea of female-as-less.

	Knowledge?  Sounds like you're pretty convinced.  Perhaps you could
	provide some further information?

re .29
	Smoothness normal.  But "Insult"?? - What tipped you off?

Simon.
257.39He can be female???VINO::EVANSTue Jun 16 1987 16:3015
    re:.-1
    
    your 1st remark: huh?
    
    Female-as-less
    
    The socitey is based on this premise. The economy depends on it.
    Public education fosters it. It is only natural, as I said, that
    patricarcal religions ("God is capable of being female of male as
    *HE* chooses") follow the society. If female is treated as the lesser
    of two types, patriarchal religion cannot possibly view a lesser
    being as the "highest" of all.
    
    --DE
    
257.40In my view of the universeBUFFER::LEEDBERGTruth is Beauty, Beauty is TruthTue Jun 16 1987 17:2818
    
    
    I guess I should acknowledge that I am a female and that I have
    created The Goddess in my image.  If anyone wants to create their
    deity in their image or any other image that is their right.
    
    But society sees "the chief" deity as male and not as female.  It
    is this concept that Feminist Thealogy explores, reveals and is
    trying to alter.
    
    The more workshops I lead and the more I speak to other women on
    this topic the more I realize why men are frightened by it.  As
    on woman in one of my workshops said :^) "Down with the Missionary
    position."
    
    _peggy		(-)
    			 |   Who said elderly women are not radical...
    
257.41GOJIRA::PHILPOTTIan F. ('The Colonel') PhilpottTue Jun 16 1987 20:0325
   <Tangent alert>
   
   In the early years of the Christian era the Church was trying hard to
   defeat The Old Religion.
   
   One of the primary festivals of The Old Religion was Lugnasa, which honored
   Lug, the chief (female) member of the Pantheon, who ranked equal with
   the chief male member. [They had four such major religious festivals
   - the one dedicated to minor gods became Hallowe'en - dedicated to "all
   souls", and that dedicated to the harvest god became the Christian Church's
   "harvest Festival" - That dedicated to the male deity was May day, and
   that was combated by Easter]
   
   So the church had a problem - there was a major cult associated with
   a popular female God, with a festival that had no comparable Christian
   festival. The answer was to invent a Christian female worship figure,
   and hence the Virgin Mary was actively promoted after several centuries
   of being ignored and the date in February on which Lugnasa was celebrated
   was dedicated to the Virgin (Lady Day, also known in America as Ground
   Hog Day - the animalistic associations are a vestige of the naturistic
   Old Religion). 
   
   /. Ian .\ 
   [In the fellowship of Wic'ca]
257.42thanks, IanVINO::EVANSWed Jun 17 1987 17:477
    RE: .41
    
    Thank you, Ian - I always learn a lot from you, both here and in
    DEJAVU.
    
    Dawn
    
257.43Could you list DEJAVU?BRUTWO::MTHOMSONThu Jun 18 1987 17:373
    Please post location of DEJAVU on the Net..Thanks
    
    Maggie
257.44ALIEN::MELVIN10 zero, 11 zero zero by zero 2Thu Jun 18 1987 18:317
>    Please post location of DEJAVU on the Net..Thanks

 DMATE2::DEJAVU


-Joe

257.45I can't shake the feeling I've seen this note before...STAR::BECKPaul BeckFri Jun 19 1987 00:351
    
257.46Here is the reading list, part IBUFFER::LEEDBERGTruth is Beauty, Beauty is TruthSat Jun 27 1987 18:52125

                                      Suggested Readings

                   The following reading list was taken from "Cakes for
                   the Queen of Heaven" and various suggestions from
                   individuals who have participated in the workshops.
                   There are many more good books that I have not included
                   due to space.  If you have a favorite and it is not
                   listed let me know what it is.  (This Suggested Reading
                   list will be extended sometime this summer.)


                   o  PSYCHOLOGY


                      o  Bolen, Jean Shinoda. "Goddess in Everywoman:
                         A New Psychology of Women." New York: Harper &
                         Row, 1985.

                      o  Dinnerstein, Dorothy. "The Mermaid and the
                         Minotaur." New York: Harper & Row, 1976.

                      o  Gilligan, Carol. "In a Different Voice:
                         Psychological Theory and Women's Development."
                         Cambridge, Mass., and London: Harvard University
                         Press, 1982.

                      o  Goldberg, Naomi. "Changing of the Gods: Feminism
                         and the End of Traditional Religions." Boston:
                         Beacon Press 1979.

                      o  Miller, Jean Baker. "Toward a New Psychology of
                         Women." Boston: Beacon Press, 1976.

                      o  Morgan, Elaine. "The Descent of Woman." New
                         York: Stein & Day, 1972.


                   o  JUDEO-CHRISTIAN


                      o  Daly, Mary. "Beyond God the Father." Boston:
                         Beacon Press, 1973.

                      o  Pagels, Elaine. "The Gnostic Gospels." New York:
                         Random House, 1979.

                      o  Patai, Raphael. "The Hebrew Goddess." Hoboken,
                         N.J.: KTAV Publishing House, Inc. 1967. Reprint
                         New York: Avon Books, 1978.

                      o  Patai, Raphael. "Sarah the Priestess." Boston:
                         Beacon Press.

                      o  Stanton, Elizabeth Cady. "The Original Feminist
                         Attack on the Bible." New York: Arno Press.
                         1974.

                      o  Warner, Marina. "Alone of All Her Sex: The Myth
                         and the Cult of the Virgin Mary." New York:
                         Random House, Vintage Books, 1983, Alfred A.
                         Knopf, Inc., 1976.


                   o  WICCA and the GODDESS


                      o  Adler, Margot. "Drawing Down the Moon." Boston:
                         Beacon Press, 1979.

                      o  Christ, Carol P. and Plaskow, Judith, ed.
                         "Womanspirit Rising: A Feminist Reader in
                         Religion." San Francisco: Harper & Row, 1979.

                      o  Spretnak, Charlene. "Lost Goddess of Early
                         Greece." Boston: Beacon Press, 1981.

                      o  Starhawk. "The Spiral Dance: A Rebirth of the
                         Ancient Religion of the Great Goddess." New
                         York: Harper & Row, 1979.

                      o  Stone, Merlin. "When God Was a Woman." New York:
                         Dial Press, 1976.

                      o  Stone, Merlin. "Ancient Mirrors of Womanhood:
                         A Treasury of Goddess and Heroine Love from
                         Around the World." Boston: Beacon Press, 1984,
                         Sibylline Books, Inc. 1979.


                   o  FEMINISM and WOMEN'S STORY


                      o  Alic, Margaret. "Hypatia's Heritage: A History
                         of Women in Science from Antiquity through the
                         Nineteenth Century." Boston: Beacon Press, 1986.

                      o  Brownmiller, Susan. "Against Our Will: Men,
                         Women and Rape." New York: Simon and Schuster,
                         1975.

                      o  Daly, Mary. "Gyn Ecology: The Metaethics of
                         Radical Feminism." Boston: Beacon Press, 1978.

                      o  Gray, Elizabeth Dodson. "Patricarchy as a
                         Conceptual Rap." Wellesley, Mass.:Roundtable
                         Press, 1982.

                      o  Tompson, Mary Lou, ed. "Voices of the New
                         Feminism." Boston: Beacon Press, 1970.


                   o  FICTION


                      o  Atwood, Margaret. "Surfacing." New York: Popular
                         Library, 1976.

                      o  Bradley, Marion Zimmer. "The Mists of Avalon."
                         New York: A Del Rey Book, Ballantine, 1984.

                      o  French, Marilyn. "The Woman's Room." New York:
                         Summit Books, 1977.

257.47But what about ....BUFFER::LEEDBERGTruth is Beauty, Beauty is TruthSat Jun 27 1987 18:5610
    
    
    re. 46
    
    	A lot of the "Feminist" books of the 60's and 70's are not on
    	this list - it is assumed that one already knows of them.
    
    	_peggy		(-)
    			 |	Inspired by the Goddess
    
257.48The Oldest Recorded MythsREGENT::BROOMHEADDon't panic -- yet.Mon Jun 29 1987 21:0311
    Sigh.  I have read only four of the books on that list.  However,
    because I did read _When_God_Was_a_Woman_, when I noticed the
    following book, I read it cover to cover:
    
    	Inanna: Queen of Heaven and Earth by Diane Wolkstein and
    	Samuel Noah Kramer.  ISBN-0-06-014713-X  (Harper & Row $16.95)
    	Remaindered by Daedalus Books for about $6.98.  Lyric
    	translations of the original Sumerian stories and hymns, with
    	pictures of the rolled-out cylindrical seals of the time.
    
    							Ann B.
257.49Loaning and Sharing?STUBBI::B_REINKEthe fire and the rose are oneTue Jun 30 1987 03:213
    Is anyone willing to start a lending library?
    Perhaps we should start a converstation on the idea by e-mail?
    Bonnie
257.50books to lendBUFFER::LEEDBERGTruth is Beauty, Beauty is TruthTue Jun 30 1987 19:378
    
    
    I have copies of most of the books on the list and under the
    right conditions I am willing to lend them out.
    
    _peggy		(-)
    			 |	Share with your sisters
    
257.51name that goddessLEZAH::BOBBITTFestina Lente - Hasten SlowlyTue Jun 30 1987 21:057
    I have a question.  I am designing a needlepoint, based on a picture
    I found of a goddess named Freyja.  Can anyone tell me who she is?
    I believe she might be Norse, or perhaps of some other pantheon,
    but as depicted she seemed similar to Idun.
    
    -Jody
    
257.52on FreyjaCOLORS::IANNUZZOCatherine T.Tue Jun 30 1987 21:097
	Freyja is Norse, the goddess of love and beauty.
	She was probably a more potent fertility deity in earlier
	times.  She had a brother Frey who gradually usurped
	some of that function.

	Idun was the keeper of the apples of immortality.

257.53more on FreyjaCREDIT::RANDALLI'm no ladyWed Jul 01 1987 20:3712
    Freyja means "The Lady."  
    
    She was definitely more of a fertility goddess than a goddess of
    love and beauty.  It was in part her entrenched popularity in the
    northern parts of Europe that led to the wide acceptance of the
    cult of Mary during medieval times.
    
    I have some books at home that detail the Norse pantheon; I'll try
    to look her up in the next couple of days and enter more detail
    later. 
    
    --bonnie
257.54Barbara WalkerSSDEVO::YOUNGERI haven't lost my mind - it's Backed-up on tape somewhereWed Jul 01 1987 21:3211
    For a more complete list of Goddesses available, read Barbara Walker's
    Encyclopedia of Women's Myths and Secrets.
     
    It costs about $20 in paperback, but worth it.  
    
    Unfortunatly, sometimes her scholarship is lacking, when she is
    trying to demonstrate a point, it seems like she makes things up
    where the facts leave off.
    
    Elizabeth
    
257.55It is all in the point of viewBUFFER::LEEDBERGTruth is Beauty, Beauty is TruthThu Jul 02 1987 15:0214
    re -1
    
    	As a trained Historian, making up history is really what it
    is all about.  One can only view the past from the future based
    on someone elses or ones own perceptions.  History is a science
    based on points of view - example - Where was the battle of Bunker
    Hill really fought?  
    
    BTW:  Most of the "accepted" his story was written by and about
    what Western European Males have done - to the rest of the world.
    
    _peggy	(-)
    		 |	Her story is a great one
    
257.56Hopeless Trivia Question AnswererHPSCAD::WALLI see the middle kingdom...Thu Jul 02 1987 15:038
    
    re: .55
    
    I can't resist.  Breed's Hill?
    
    DFW
    One of the five top accumulations of garbage knowledge in the Universe
    
257.57Off the subjectBUFFER::LEEDBERGTruth is Beauty, Beauty is TruthThu Jul 02 1987 15:217
    re: .56
    
    but it is considered history and taught as fact in school (or was
    up until a few years ago).
    
    _peggy
    
257.58still of the point, but...HARRY::HIGGINSradical humoristThu Jul 02 1987 15:4017
    re .57
    
    Nonsense.
    
    I went to school in Boston more than a few years ago and was always
    taught where the location of the Bunker hill battle actually was.
    
    Further, I was taught that the insurgents lost that battle.
    
    I always found it a point of amusement.
    
    re.56
    
    Does Mr Wall know how this myth came about?  Good PR by bunker or
    what???  :-)
    
    
257.59You got meHPSCAD::WALLI see the middle kingdom...Thu Jul 02 1987 16:2212
    
    re: .58
    
    For sure?  I have no idea.  I suspect that by the time someone decided
    to memorialize the battle, Breed's Hill had something already
    standing on it.
    
    "History, sir, will lie."
    	- British General John "Gentleman Johnny" Burgoyne, after getting
    	  beaten at some battle or another.
    
    DFW
257.60I've ratholed again. *sigh*REGENT::BROOMHEADDon't panic -- yet.Thu Jul 02 1987 16:397
    The battle was fought ON Breed's Hill, but it was FOR the control
    of Bunker Hill.
    
    Was that Burgoyne who said it, or G. B. Shaw in "The Devil's
    Disciple"?
    
    							Ann B.
257.61ShrugHPSCAD::WALLI see the middle kingdom...Thu Jul 02 1987 17:375
    
    I'm almost sure it was Burgoyne.  I don't have Mr. Bartlett with
    me at the moment.  I've never read much of Shaw.
    
    DFW
257.62*for* Bunker HillAKOV04::WILLIAMSTue Jul 07 1987 13:4615
    	The battle of Bunker Hill is so named because the British referred
    to the area, which included both hills, as Bunker.  Also, the militia
    leader (name escapes me) was suppose to set up the defences on Bunker
    Hill but determined Breeds Hill, with existing redoubt, would be
    easier to defend.  Therefore, as noted earlier, it was a battle
    for Bunker Hill.  (Interesting point, I had relatives on the losing
    side and my wife had relatives on the winning side - both families
    had the surname of Williams and were related.)
    
    	As a student in the Boston schools in the 40's and 50's the
    battle was always explained to me as detailed above.  As a student
    in British schools during the same period, the battle was never
    mentioned to my wife.
    
    Douglas
257.63back to the basenoteTWEED::B_REINKElaughter of children in the treesTue Jul 07 1987 13:528
    Now that we have established the historical facts of the case :-)
    :-)
    
    may we please return this note to its originally schedulled topic?
    
    thankyou
    
    yourmoderator
257.64Quick close the rat hole.BUFFER::LEEDBERGTruth is Beauty, Beauty is TruthThu Jul 09 1987 00:546
    
    
    I fear I openned a rathole I hope it has been closed. Sorry.
    
    _peggy
    
257.65I second the book...YODA::BARANSKIRemember, this only a mask...Thu Jul 30 1987 16:284
"Drawing Down the Moon" is quite a good book...  It's very informative, yet
aware of it's and it's sources limitations...

Jim.
257.66But there is a list of resources in the backSSDEVO::YOUNGERThis statement is falseThu Jul 30 1987 18:2712
    Re .65: 
    
    >"Drawing Down the Moon" is quite a good book...  It's very
    >informative, yet aware of it's and it's sources limitations... 
     
    It only touches upon quite a number of subjects.  Yet, if you read
    the appendices, there is a list of other places you can look if
    you are interested in more detailed explainations of anything
    mentioned.
    
    Elizabeth
    
257.67Cakes in Westford, MassBUFFER::LEEDBERGTruth is Beauty, Beauty is TruthTue Oct 06 1987 21:1017
    
    
    
    The feminist Thealogy seminar "Cakes for the Queen of Heaven"
    is being offered at the First Parish Church United of Westford
    starting Monday 12 October at 7:30.  This program is open to 
    any woman and there is no fee.
    
    I will be leading the group, so if you are interested you could
    send me mail and I will give directions and stuff.
    
    _peggy
    		(-)
    		 |	How many women in this conference have
    			heard about this program or have taken it?
    
    	
257.68Another chance to take "Cakes"BUFFER::LEEDBERGAn Ancient Multi-hued DragonThu Mar 03 1988 14:5520
    Another session of "Cakes" is going to start.
    
    
    	The First Parish Church (Unitarian Univerisalist)
    	of Stow, Ma. is going to be offering the feminist
    	thealogy workshops called "Cakes for the Queen of
    	Heaven" starting next Thrusday, 10 March, 1988 at
    	7:30.
    
    	Anyone interested in attending can call me to get
    	more information - DTN 276-8620 or home 251-9747.
    
    _peggy
    		(-)
    		 |
    			In order to imagine the future one has
    			to know what was possible in the past.
    			Women have a very rich and varied past
    			and we should be proud of it.