The Divine Feminine: The Biblical Imagery of God as Female

This text is a classic in its arguments to reclaim Biblical images of God as female. The author believes that understanding feminine image of God ultimately empowers both men and women. "I want to delve deeper into just one way in which the Bible supports human sexual equality and mutuality: the images of God as female that sprinkle the sacred writings of Judaism and Christianity" (7). After surveying the history of what has happened to female imagery of God in Scripture, Mollenkott focuses on a series of Scriptural images and their implications for 20th century society. These feminine images found in scripture include God as a nursing mother, a mid-wife, a mother pelican, a female homemaker, a bakerwoman, female beloved, mother eagle, and Dame Wisdom. Mollenkott concludes the tome with suggestions for how the understanding of the divine feminine might be included in contemporary worship. "If our goal is pointed inclusion of females in the feminine in the language of worship, we may find ourselves utilizing female god-images and pronouns as frequently as possible" (115). She also urges for Christians to refer to God in terms of the language of love. Because love has traditionally entailed characteristics more commonly assumed to be feminine, referring to God as love in Christian theology would be helpful in reclaiming the images and language association with femininity found in the Christian Bible. I recommend this book. Thomas Jay Oord