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Abstract
Feminists and others note that humanity's felicity is diminished by hierarchical thought and social structure and a transcendent male deity. Many therefore valorize instead an immanent, Goddess of peace and social justice. Such writers, attempting to trace the origins of "hierarchy" (or "patriarchy"), often blame the "Old Testament" (i.e., the Hebrew Scriptures). Since neither the society portrayed in these Scriptures, nor the ideals valorized therein, present an ideal egalitarian model, many writers conclude that the Hebrew Scriptures originated, encouraged, or valorized, the development of "patriarchy" which has now reigned for thousands of years.
"Goddess-centered" religion is admirable in advocating peace instead of war, and egalitarianism instead of hierarchy, racism, and hatred. Blaming the Hebrew Bible for humanity's ills, however, scapegoats the people of that Bible, re-creates the deicide myth in the form, "the Jews killed the Goddess," and promotes hatred and oppression. Such blame is particularly "off" since war and hierarchy existed long before the historical emergence of the Jews as a people; their Bible records a rear-guard effort to slow hierarchy's advance.
