Posted on 07/25/2005 6:40:47 AM PDT by Pyro7480
Goddess Rosary
Joining scholars like Elisabeth Schussler Fiorenza and Letty Russell and a growing number of feminist theologians in reconceptualizing the canon and biblical authority ... connect with the Holy Other in holy writings and sacred rites.
The banner on the outside of Ebenezer Lutheran Church boldly proclaims “Goddess Rosary Every Wednesday 7 p.m.” Doubtless this precipitates questions in the minds of passers-by: a rosary at a Lutheran church? A feminist take on a ritual indigenous to a denomination with an especially strong patriarchal foundation? I was eager to experience this new phenomenon, and it was with open mind and heart that I entered Ebenezer on my first Wednesday evening in the City. Thought the church was empty, I felt that I had stepped into a Presence, like a mother’s warm embrace....
From the basket of rosaries, I took into my hand a strand of vibrantly-colored beads with a silver goddess icon in place of the traditional cross. The goddesses came in a variety of shapes and sizes, celebrating the beauty of the feminine form; I found reflections of my own figure in the full hips and Rubenesque curves of my goddess. Once gathered, we began to recite together the “Our Mother” and “Hail Goddess” prayers. At first, it was awkward as we broke the silence together, yet as our lips became accustomed to the shape and rhythm of the words, a lyrical and rhythmic unison chant emerged. I felt my own voice fortified, made fuller by the others. As we made our way around the rosary, the words flowed easily, and the text itself receded into the background, becoming a gently murmuring accompaniment to our silent prayers and meditations....
(Excerpt) Read more at herchurch.org ...
19And men shall go into the caves of the rocks, and into the holes of the earth, from before the terror of Jehovah, and from the glory of his majesty, when he ariseth to shake mightily the earth.
20In that day men shall cast away their idols of silver, and their idols of gold, which have been made for them to worship, to the moles and to the bats;
21to go into the caverns of the rocks, and into the clefts of the ragged rocks, from before the terror of Jehovah, and from the glory of his majesty, when he ariseth to shake mightily the earth.
22Cease ye from man, whose breath is in his nostrils; for wherein is he to be accounted of?
Seems apropos.
http://www.sldrck.org "Solid Rock Lutherans"
There is no hope for the ELCA and no room in it for traditional Lutheran thinking.
This stuff seems tied very closely with paganism, Wiccan & Gaia worship. It's eerie & one reason why female priests would be a BAADDDD idea.
What's next: "temple" prostitutes?
Thanks, you got the ones I had remembered as well as a couple more. They're all bookmarked now.
"Visions and Expectations" is generally agreed to be only an ideal to which rostered leaders aspire. Its parallel document, "Definitions and Guidelines for Discipline"(DGD) is what is to be applied by a Synodical Bishop against an errant Pastor.
Unfortunately, even the most conservative Synod's Assemblies are unwilling to take a public stance affirming DGD as a normative standard. They don't want to be perceived as dictating to a Bishop how to fufill the office of the Episcopacy.
Now you know the frustration behind my tagline.
Here's the link to the earlier discussion (already posted above as well).
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/1354695/posts
The article originally came from the "Lutheran Forum Letter" (American Lutheran Publicity Bureau) and the ALPB Online site.
This tiny San Francisco "church" is getting a lot more publicity than it deserves. Unfortunately, the feminazi goddess worship that claims to be in the Christian tradition has spread far beyond such an insignificant venue. Besides, these miscreants invariably insult the Theotokos (God Birthgiver) and Mother of God, Mary. Jesus doesn't like it when people insult his mother!!!!
In one of the most popular types of Orthodox icons of the Theotokos, Mary holds her Son with one hand and points to him with the other. Unlike the false feminazi "goddess", the Theotokos points us to her Son!
August 15 is the day that celebrates Mary in the Orthodox, Roman Catholic, and Lutheran traditions. (Any Lutheran who doesn't believe that, take a look at the section of the Lutheran Book of Worship that lists the Sundays and festivals of the church year. And Luther and the Confessions call her the Theotokos, too!) In the Orthodox Church, that day is called the Dormition (falling asleep) of the Theotokos. Let's all celebrate that day, and say a big NO to feminazi "theology" and feminazi liturgical corruption!!!!
To me she's dear, the worthy maid,
And I cannot forget her;
Praise, honor, virtue her are said,
Then all will lover her better.
I seek her good,
And if I should
Right evil fare,
I do not care,
She'll make up for it to me
With love and truth that will not tire,
Which she will ever show me,
And do all my desire.
She wears of purest gold a crown
Twelve stars their rays are twining,
Her rainment, glorious as the sun,
And bright from far is shining.
Her feet the moon
Are set upon
She is the bride
With the Lord to hide.
Sore travail is upon her;
She bringest forth a noble Son
Whom all the world must honor,
Their king, the only one.
That makes the dragon rage and roar,
He will the child upswallow;
His raging comes to nothing more;
No jot of gain will follow.
The infant high
Up to the sky
Away is heft
And he is left
On earth,all mad with murder.
The mother now alone is she,
But God will watchful guard her.
And the right Father he.
The goddess movement is very big in the Bay area. I remember things from back in the 90s. This is a logical progression which I predict shows no signs of slowing down.
Blessed be is a Wiccan greeting. "Merry meet and blessed be." I'm sure they dropped the first part for fear they can't get away with it, yet.
Actually, they do believe in the goddess. In Christian settings, specifically Catholic, they worship Sophia as a manifestation of God. The New American Bible names the feminine attribute Sophia, which the goddess crowd interpreted as a goddess. It grew from there, that small kernel of Scripture.
Wisdom as a feminine attribute ironically emanates from Christ. I went looking in my Douay-Rheims not long ago to see if Wisdom is identified as Sophia. I can't find it, but I distinctly remember seeing it in the NAB translation.
I had to read it a few times before my brain registered "Goddess". It kept reading "Godless" to me.
Oh dear, I was really hoping this was some sort of joke. The ELCA won't do anything about it. They never do.
This sort of baloney doesn't represent the beliefs of a lot of ELCA members. But it doesn't matter, it taints us all when the church as a whole won't do anything to stop these things.
Still hunting for a Lutheran church that we can call home. We visited the local LCMS congregation and were not welcomed at all, unfortunately. We have one more to visit.
Sometimes the small parishes get really insular. With all the stuff going on in the ELCA, I know of a few pastor who will regard anyone from the "other side" with suspicion. Keep looking though! I will have you guys in my prayers.
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