Early Christian Thoughts on a Feminine Creator

Though it is still largely rejected by most Christians today, a massive number of scrolls concerning some of the earliest Christian thought was discovered in the 1940's which, collectively, has been called "The Nag Hammadi Library." Contained in this library are a number of scrolls which differ from, and sometimes outright contradict, the accepted Gospel as known through the New King James version of the Bible. In it, there are some pretty amazing revelations, notably, that Jesus was married to Mary Magdelena, that salvation comes through personal revelation and not faith, that women should hold leadership positions in the church, and, my personal favorite, that the creator god was not in fact male, rather the god who created us was female and that she was a reflection of the original god, who was simply pure, omniscient existence.

This feminine version of god was known as "Pistis Sophia" and many of the early Christians sought out her wisdom through a process akin to the kind of meditation performed by magical cults of today. Poems like the one included in this text would have prompted early worshippers to try to wrap their minds around the grandness of Sophia and that she is everything in existence, good and evil. She was seen as the beginning and end of all things, and her femininity granted early Christian women special status amongst members.

I'm not entirely sure from which text this poem is taken, but it sounds typical of the early Christians' mantras and chants. It clearly embraces the feminine nature of Sophia.

The purpose of writing this is just to bring some perspective to a site upon which many of its members may not have known, or have forgotten, that women were once "on top" of human civilization. This poem is in no way anti male. Rather, it serves as a reminder of the divinity that resides within women everywhere, regardless of status, and despite how profane we may get from time to time.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8LJW_9XTycg

Published by lilith10

4 years ago

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-Snap-Crotch-Beaver- 4 years ago

our daughter with her Masters of Divinity would concur

to tenebra_umbra : But on a personal note, if there were such a thing as a god, I doubt it would have any gender at all.

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Interesting indeed. No doubt the texts in our bible have been chosen and (re)written to fit in and favor a patriarchal society.

windinpines 4 years ago

I'd let you be on top!

John Paul firtst said : "God is the Mom.", then he dies, anyway even the jews are not sure abou God, Gods or Goddess, because they write without vowels and, anyway, to save ink and paper, since the '60ies some jews were debating about this matter and despite the "image" of their society, they are matriarchal, just the woman has the right to say :"My son is a jew." not the man, they have a moon based calendar, the whole Bible is managed by the women, men are there just because they have to fightor to talk about "tactics" for policy and trade, anyway all the men are "pushed" by the women, wives, sisters, mothers and God is not there when women act, God let them free to manage the history, God trusts women meanwhile He has to suggest the men, God gives orders at the men but "He" never says nothing at the women of the Bible, even Mary talks with an angel, for some reasons God let the women free to do what they prefer.

biorgium 4 years ago

"salvation comes through personal revelation and not faith". Reading that line made me realize that my Christian mom and my atheist self remained good lifelong friends because that was her belief. She came to her faith from revelation, and always said I shouldn't be a believer unless I'd had a revelation too. Mom was a cool feminist intellectual who treated my own atheist beliefs with respect.

Asmodane 4 years ago

to lilith10 : I have to correct myself here. I don't believe in sins or such thing in a religious way, because someone would have to decide which of the religions is the right one in the first place. The point with "burn later" was meant in sarcastic way (sorry, English is not my first language). Feeling guilty is a strange thing on it's own. Based on which measurement do we feel guilty? Who taught us to feel guilty? Have we been taught to feel guilty at all or is it somehow given by nature?

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lilith10 Publisher 4 years ago

to Asmodane : The only burning that will occur from sin is that of guilt, and I think they only times we should feel guilty is if we harm someone needless and against their will. i think there are many things we can do that are sinful and taboo, but which we shouldn't feel guilty about.

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Asmodane 4 years ago

Well, I'm not sure I agree to that for 100%. I can confirm that when I discovered my dark desires and found a way to express and experience them, it made my high for a long time. Unfortunately the years wore off this feeling. Anyway, there are certain lines I wouldn't cross. Even if desire would kill me (e.g. necrophilia - doesn't harm or exploit?). Nevertheless, if the sin is worth it, I go for it - I can burn later (if you are catholic like me *g*). For me self revelation was more a thing of philosophy and experience in live. Not many things matter to me anymore, but focus on these few things. I borrowed that idea from the Hagakure.

lilith10 Publisher 4 years ago

Self revelation IS self salvation, a point I've always tried to make here on xhamster. Sexual revelation reveals parts to our soul we may never see if we don't explore and often times what we discover isn't even sexual in nature. As such, it's important for us to explore all avenues of sexuality, all of our potential sexuality. I say this as long as nobody is harmed or exploited in the process.

Asmodane 4 years ago

to lilith10 : Yes, absolutely. These "heretic" directions of Christianity are imho a reaction/counter measurement of the common people to what they had to witness in their daily live. Those where the days when the foundation of this religion was still close. Obviously those who had the power wanted to keep it. Which means that they had to maintain their sovereignty of interpretation of the holy intention. Among other things (e.g. equality of females, certain medical treatments and sciences) Gnostic texts didn't fit in the picture. So I don't think there is/was a continuous organization behind that. Since human mankind started to think, it created various gods and demons. It seems to be an inner demand to do so. Self revelation is close to self salvation, isn't it?

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lilith10 Publisher 4 years ago

to Asmodane : That's interesting. I didn't know that the Yesides were rooted in Gnosticism and I've never heard of the Druze. I'll have to read up on those two. Your point about the Cathars is an interesting one considering they were just one of a plethora of Gnostic-like groups which have sprung up throughout history. These groups tend to always cause upheaval in their respected societies or are, at any rate, considered a threat to the status quo, just like the early Gnostic Christians. I've always wondered if all these various groups are connected through a continuous organization or if they get totally oppressed and then manifest again in one form or another. I lean towards the latter considering their reliance on self revelation. It just seems to me that the idea of inward reflection as the means of salvation is somehow universal to human kind. Okay I'm beginning to rant, but I hope that satisfies your question a bit.

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lilith10 Publisher 4 years ago

to montuhotep : It is a shame that their work was lost, but I'm heartened to see their ideas popping up throughout history. They now manifest in some of these mystery cults like Aleistor Crowley's Ordo Templi Orientalis and other such groups. Gnostic philosophy just seems to be integral to humanity in my view.

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Asmodane 4 years ago

Not sure about Gnostics. In German it relates somehow to religious intellectuals who have the taste of philosophers like the freemansons. So not that much of an own religion. Like the Cathars, often close to heretics and, as you say, in opposition of the ruling church and to some extend to the ruling aristocratic class. Nevertheless, these "late" Gnostics already adopted the roman dominance of males in their society. I guess it is an irony that the last "living" Gnostics can be found in islam (Yesides, Druze). What do you think about that?

montuhotep 4 years ago

The Gnostics were a very curious group of people. Whatever their origins, they had a strong affinity and influence on many Christian and Jewish communities. Most of their work survive in Egypt. It's a pity several of the texts were burnt before their true significance were discovered.

lilith10 Publisher 4 years ago

to Asmodane : You're largely right, but the Gnostic Christians to which I was referring were underground cults which had no protection or status from Rome for their first two to three hundred year existence. They existed far outside the Roman political realm, still being persecuted by being thrown to the lions and crucified. It wasn't until Constantine's request upon his death bed that the empire convert to Christianity, which thereafter was changed from a feminine worshipping religion to one that was dominated by males. So I agree with you that religion is shaped by a culture's political structure, but in the case of the early Christians that influence did not exist while it remained an underground and, largely, anti-government organization.

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Asmodane 4 years ago

Well, Christianity as we know it today has not much in common with the original idea. Scrolls have been manipulated to fit the political intention. e.g. virginity for catholic priests can't be found in any scroll. Therefore the relation with Maria Magdalena had to disappear from the script. Other rite has been adopted from Celts, Germanic and Salvic tribes. Some influence came from the cult of Zarathustra. In one word, religion is what political powers made it.