Have you read Circe? I am not that into Greek mythology but my kids all were. I really enjoyed Circe and its focus on a female character and the female experience.
Hey, fun fact: there are TONS of audacious (in a good way) women in the Bible that the patriarchy has just erased or ignored. The fact that the stories you’ve mentioned are the biblical stories of women that are remembered is more an indictment on the patriarchal (and unbiblical) tradition of western Christianity than it is on the actual tenets of the faith.
Deborah was a badass warrior judge who fearlessly indicted evil. Jael drove a tent peg through a villain’s head. Miriam was a leader of Israel as much as Moses. Rahab was a prostitute who used her influence to shelter and guide others. Priscilla, Chloe, Phoebe, Nympha and more were powerful leaders of the early church. Lydia was an independently wealthy patron of the early church. All these women are celebrated for their curiosity, passion, ambition, and leadership.
I love your writing and your perspective, and I hope this doesn’t come across as argumentative. I truly mean it to be something that expands your understanding of the biblical stories as they truly are, not as powerful men want us to see them.
Hi, Annica. Thank you for your comment and for reading. My indictment is of the patriarchal Christian culture and not of biblical lessons. I'm aware of the stories of the biblical women you mentioned, and I appreciate your commentary.
And I wholeheartedly agree with you in your indictment of that patriarchal culture!! There’s just a distinction between “this is the Bible” and “this is the patriarchy’s understanding of the Bible,” and I would be remiss if I didn’t stick up for my girls, ya know?
Being a natural redhead and loving Greek mythology as a child, I quickly made the correlation that redheads are “bad women”, and throughout historical texts, redheads are seen as “bad”. I now embrace me :)
Have you read Circe? I am not that into Greek mythology but my kids all were. I really enjoyed Circe and its focus on a female character and the female experience.
Yes! I loved it. Have you read any of her other books?
Song of Achilles is one of my daughter’s favorite books so it’s next on my list!
Hey, fun fact: there are TONS of audacious (in a good way) women in the Bible that the patriarchy has just erased or ignored. The fact that the stories you’ve mentioned are the biblical stories of women that are remembered is more an indictment on the patriarchal (and unbiblical) tradition of western Christianity than it is on the actual tenets of the faith.
Deborah was a badass warrior judge who fearlessly indicted evil. Jael drove a tent peg through a villain’s head. Miriam was a leader of Israel as much as Moses. Rahab was a prostitute who used her influence to shelter and guide others. Priscilla, Chloe, Phoebe, Nympha and more were powerful leaders of the early church. Lydia was an independently wealthy patron of the early church. All these women are celebrated for their curiosity, passion, ambition, and leadership.
I love your writing and your perspective, and I hope this doesn’t come across as argumentative. I truly mean it to be something that expands your understanding of the biblical stories as they truly are, not as powerful men want us to see them.
Hi, Annica. Thank you for your comment and for reading. My indictment is of the patriarchal Christian culture and not of biblical lessons. I'm aware of the stories of the biblical women you mentioned, and I appreciate your commentary.
And I wholeheartedly agree with you in your indictment of that patriarchal culture!! There’s just a distinction between “this is the Bible” and “this is the patriarchy’s understanding of the Bible,” and I would be remiss if I didn’t stick up for my girls, ya know?
Being a natural redhead and loving Greek mythology as a child, I quickly made the correlation that redheads are “bad women”, and throughout historical texts, redheads are seen as “bad”. I now embrace me :)
Beautiful post!
I never made that connection. I’m so glad you see past it 🖤
Loved this!!!