Note to Self: Things not to say at Christian Conferences
When teaching a session on missional church at, say, Generous Orthodoxy East, avoid using the term “goddess.” As in: I can’t wait to go to the Solstice Feast this Winter because I’m going to get to be a blessing goddess.
This does not go over well.
At least one person is bound to be slightly shaky with concern. “Would you actually be a goddess? Would people understand that the blessing was coming from GOD or would they think it was coming from a goddess? Aren’t you worried about misrepresenting yourself? ”
It will be very difficult to extricate yourself from this situation, and you will most likely not realize in time that all you really need to do is clarify your definition and reassure said person that you are not, in fact, representing a diety, but are instead talking about the more colloquial regional definition of the term goddess which goes something like:
“Any woman who is moving in confidence – any one who is fully engaged with the wonder of her womanhood; certain in her rightful role as equal in the created order; and (perhaps) connected to the feminine aspects of the divine.”
In another goddess-related note, here’s a clever and funny passage from Going Postal by Terry Pratchett (‘cuz you do know how I do love clever!):
“Anioa, a minor goddess of Things that Stick in Drawers. Often, but not uniquely, a ladle, but sometimes a metal spatula, or rarely, a mechanical egg-whisk that nobody in the house admits to ever buying. The desperate, mad rattling and cries of “How can it close on the damn thing but not open with it? Who bought this? Do we ever use it?” is as praise unto Anoia. She also eats corkscrews.”
Oh the cleverness of you!
Ha ha ha!! Hurrah for being integrated enough to use the name godess without thinking about it before hand. That’s awesome!
LOL…Oh Rahcelle
Perhaps the objector at your seminar would prefer that, as a rule, you have people sign a disclaimer before you bless them…you know, just some standard legal language about how they understand exactly where this blessing is coming from. And, if they wont sign, then you could withhold the blessing. Because, after all, who knows what this world would come to if there were any kind of feminine presence involved in the blessing of God. Rolling eyes…
I don’t know about the godess thing, but…
Recently, I’ve been reading a little about Anne Hutchinson and I’m impressed. She didn’t call herself a godess, but she did move in an authority that threatened the status quo…
She sounds totally zealous and with not much wisdom. I would have loved to hear her prophesy.
Of course, it cost her family and her life. It seems to suggest that walking closely with the Lord is something that cost a lot. I wonder if she blogged what would she say…………
Oh good lord.
Love the quote. Totally love it.
Ah, the slipperiness of language… And Biblical literalists wonder why the rest of us as so picky about things!
ha! that’s what i appreciate about you, rachelle!
peace!