Men of patriarchal cultures have been committing heinous acts in the name of their God ever since they created a god for themselves. It seems that the earlier, goddess-oriented, nature-centered religions were far less cruel.
Interpretation
This quote critiques the violent tendencies of patriarchal religions compared to earlier goddess-based beliefs.
Barbara G. Walker's quote suggests that patriarchal religions have historically promoted violence and cruelty, often justifying heinous acts in the name of a male deity. In contrast, she posits that earlier, nature-centered religions that honored the feminine were less associated with such brutality, implying that the nature of the deity influences the moral implications of the beliefs.
In practice
During a panel discussion on gender and religion, this quote can illustrate the conversation about the role of women in spiritual narratives.
An honest man can feel no pleasure in the exercise of power over his fellow citizens . . . There has never been a moment of my life in which I should have relinquished for it the enjoyments of my family, my farm, my friends and books.
The belief in a political Utopia is especially dangerous. This is possibly connected with the fact that the search for a better world, like the investigation of our environment, is (if I am correct) one of the oldest and most important of all the instincts.
According to Greek mythology, humans were originally created with four arms, four legs and a head with two faces. Fearing their power, Zeus split them into two separate parts, condemning them to spend their lives in search of their other halves.
Day to day and doing the work and getting to that honest point - that, for me, is always about - and always will be as long as I do this - refining and refining and refining and refining the truth... constantly being as truthful and honest and raw and real as you can be.
There is no person without a world.
Morality arose largely as an empirical defence of the individual and society. Ever since intelligent beings began to be in contact, and consequently in friction, they have felt the need to guard themselves against each other's encroachments.
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