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Changing the Duality Mentality:A challenge to patriarchal religion by Tamis Renteria |
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Feminists can challenge the duality mentality... |
I've been wrestling with the patriarchal religion question again: is it possible to be a feminist, a woman true to herself as Woman, and still participate in traditional, often misogynist religions like Judaism, Christianity, and Islam? As we all know, these majority religions were founded in patriarchy and violence, and while some sub-sects show concern about feminist issues, they as yet have made little progress in the direction of feminist insight, sexual equality, and the embrace of the Feminine. The logic of Feminism, not to mention our own frustrating personal experiences with traditional religion, screams out for complete rejection. But Logic may not be what is needed to assess this problem. Logic is an intrinsically western and patriarchal way to view the world. It is rooted in dualism and dichotomy; i.e. something is either black or white, good or bad, male or female, right or wrong. You're either for us or against us. You're a friend or an enemy. I propose a post-patriarchal feminist tactic of dealing with oldtime religion. In fact, many of us are already using this strategy, however unconsciously. I call it "syncretism." Syncretism is the blending and harmonizing of two or more religions which may appear to conflict by logical standards. It is also what naturally happens to religions when practiced by real people in real life situations; they mix and mingle things from different traditions to suit themselves and their own lives. Historically, religions have always changed in response to surrounding pressures and influences. Colonized peoples across the world have never simply adopted or rejected the religions imposed on them by their oppressors. They have adapted and blended them with their own belief systems, producing syncretized versions of the dominant religion. A classic example of this is what happened in Mexico after the Spanish Conquest. The legend tells how the Indian, Juan Diego, saw a vision of the Virgin Mary on the sacred site of the goddess Tonantzin. Of course, Catholic authorities seized on this story to legitimize their own authority, claiming that the Mother of Jesus was to replace Tonanztin. However, Mexican peasants, particularly the women, have taken this Virgin and made her their own Goddess, the uniquely Mexican "Virgen de Guadalupe," worshipped on every home altar and called on for daily assistance, often outside the structure of the patriarchal Church. Wherever dominant religions try to impose themselves, syncretized practices spring up. Syncretized religion is actually the natural way that people express their spirituality when not controlled by a dominant religious paradigm. You can see this spiritual diversity and vitality in the Goddess movement: various branches draw elements from Romantic Paganism, Sixties radicalism, Buddhism, Native American and African religions, Jungian thought, feminist scholarship, and even Judaism and Christianity. At a Winter Solstice ritual you may dance a pagan spiral dance, chant an African song, and watch Starhawk light a menorah and recite Hebrew prayers. On Brigid you might dance to a Caribbean drum beat, smudge each other with sage, and call on Brede, a Catholic/pagan saint/goddess to help you develop your personal empowerment and individuation. In goddess rituals we mix and stir elements from many traditions, whipping them up into something unique to express our own political and spiritual intents and longings. We are not concerned with traditions approved and passed down by a (usually male) authority figure; we value experiential vitality, and the power of creative expression. Religious syncretism like that of the Goddess Movement is a form of cultural resistance, the most powerful vehicle for radical social and political change. It may not be as exciting as the Sixties notion of "revolution," (and it need not preclude social activism in the streets) but, the simple power of people creating their own lives and giving them their own meanings, should not be underestimated. Syncretism is also a subtly revolutionary tactic because it refuses the patriarchal mind set that insists we be either this or that. Patriarchal, western logic insists that you are black or you're white, you are a heterosexual or you are a homosexual, you are a woman or you are a man, you are a Jew or you are a pagan, you are with us or against us. Feminists can challenge the duality mentality that is the foundation of western logic by refusing to label themselves in patriarchal terms. What I'm suggesting is that violent rejection may not be the most effective strategy for, "conquering" patriarchy; in fact, by using patriarchal methods of dichotomization, we may spoil our feminist ends by using patriarchal means. Many of us participate in patriarchal religions because they at some level are still meaningful to us. And as we participate, we chip away at the patriarchal structure. We bring our feminized, goddess-charged, pagan-empowered selves to the discussion groups, the women's retreats, the Rosh Hodesh groups, the worship services and gradually we erode and transform these patriarchal structures from within. Meanwhile, we practice our spirituality the syncretistic way we want to: I observe Shabbat every Friday night with my family, and we welcome in the Shekinah (Feminine spirit) into our home with the prayers in the feminine. I celebrate Passover with feminist/pagan friends, put an orange on the seder plate, recite the names of the matriarchs. I dance under the moon and celebrate the Goddess at pagan seasonal rituals, I read every book I can about the Hebrew goddesses, compose songs to Asherah, and sing "We all come from the goddess" and the shema with my boys every night before they go to bed. It isn't logical, but it's mine. Let's refuse the dualistic paradigm. We can select from the elements of our culture the combination that works for us and the ones we love. Syncretistic spirituality may not be logical, but who cares? Spirituality is like a living plant, growing the way it will, toward the light. Life is the ultimate Feminist solution to a rigid, power-hungry, dominating patriarchal world. |