The Phenomenology of Oppression : The Experience of Evil in Contemporary Goddess Religion

Abstract

The author explores the definition of evil in contemporary Goddess religion. Using the analysis of evil in Paul Ricoeur's book, The Symbolism of Evil, as three discrete experiences in Christianity--defilement, sin, and guilt--the author sees the equivalent experience of oppression in Goddess religion as "estrangement," "injustice," and "physical harm." A primary focus of the contemporary Goddess tradition, then, is to transform society by creating alternative power structures that do not oppress women, that overcome estrangement and injustice.

Publicly available at the request of the author, 10/24/2011 (SN).