여성의 눈으로 다시 읽는 구약성서의 하나님

Abstract

The present article aims to examine biblical God of creation and salvation from feminist perspective and draw anti-patriarchal and inclusive images of God of life that may apply for modern Christian era. Although Christian tradition has been highlighting the male image of God, the Father, biblical description of creation and salvation is depicted based on feminie principle of life-bearing and compassionate love of womb. The examination of Mother Goddesses of Ancient times who played major role in creation of the world as life-bearer illustrates the feminine principles of life in creation. This principle of life in creation and the motifs of childbirth are applied in description of creation of the world and Israel in the Bible. The appearance of Goddess in the Bible shows the depreciation of Goddesses’ status from independent creative god to the spouse of male god. They are no longer shown as the creator but play role as one who brings fertility and prosperity. These Goddesses were worshiped among people, especially by women. The Israelite official religion that affirms one God alone for Israel, however, condemns the Goddess worship and supplies the absence of Goddess in their religion with alternative theological symbols such as woman Zion or woman wisdom. The image of God of salvation is then depicted based on feminine principle of compassionate love, rachamim. Thus this study suggests to apply the images of biblical God of creation and salvation, rooted in the feminine principle that embraces the value of life, for imagining the work of God in this time of life threat by nuclear weapons and ecological crisis.