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It seems to have been shown that belief in Goddesses does not necessarily better the position of women in society. This seems surprising to most people in the west who have a very patriarchal religion which is often blamed for the dominance/misogyny/chauvinism of men. The church doesn't let women take leadership roles, and considers women to be inferior, and needing to take a subservient role. However this can be said of almost all religions. Religion, even seemingly more egalitarian religions like Buddhism, still rely mainly on male priests and spiritual leaders. Men seem to have totally dominated religious thought on the planet for millennia.
However I was just struck while reading about Japanese oracles, when they mentioned how women were frequently the mediums in past times. Spirit possession and mediumship seems to be a more cross-cultural feminine centered form of religious experience. Women acting as direct links between the people and the other world or the gods. In ancient China this was true, in modern Hong Kong this is true. In Japan, and Europe and every time I can think of I've seen it mentioned it has been said, this has traditionally been a female role. Now I don't know everywhere so I can't say how true it is.
But in the case of China the state and integrated religion were always very negative about the shamans, or mediums, and eventually they were taken over by male dominated formal religious figures.
But what I want to know is this, is mediumship/ spirit possession, a natural part of women's religious experience? Is this more natural and equal for women than other organized religion? Is it a reaction against male dominated religions? Does it arise as a form of protest against such religions? Are religions a reaction to it? Or are female mediums too successfully quelled? Can gender have such a great influence on a person's beliefs? Or is it supplying a different societal need, reclaiming power over lives with a direct link to the divine, and having access to unknown knowledge that is empowering to the medium? Who has done research in these areas? And what have they found out? I want to know!
However I was just struck while reading about Japanese oracles, when they mentioned how women were frequently the mediums in past times. Spirit possession and mediumship seems to be a more cross-cultural feminine centered form of religious experience. Women acting as direct links between the people and the other world or the gods. In ancient China this was true, in modern Hong Kong this is true. In Japan, and Europe and every time I can think of I've seen it mentioned it has been said, this has traditionally been a female role. Now I don't know everywhere so I can't say how true it is.
But in the case of China the state and integrated religion were always very negative about the shamans, or mediums, and eventually they were taken over by male dominated formal religious figures.
But what I want to know is this, is mediumship/ spirit possession, a natural part of women's religious experience? Is this more natural and equal for women than other organized religion? Is it a reaction against male dominated religions? Does it arise as a form of protest against such religions? Are religions a reaction to it? Or are female mediums too successfully quelled? Can gender have such a great influence on a person's beliefs? Or is it supplying a different societal need, reclaiming power over lives with a direct link to the divine, and having access to unknown knowledge that is empowering to the medium? Who has done research in these areas? And what have they found out? I want to know!