The Power and Problem of Religious Symbols: A Need for Change

The Power and Problem of Religious Symbols: A Need for Change

What it is a symbol? A symbol is most understandably defined by The American Heritage New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy as “something that represents or suggests something else… often takes the form of words, visual images, or gestures that are used to convey ideas and beliefs”. This definition is pretty self explanatory, it not only emphasizes the functional purpose of a symbol, that of being solely representative of something else, but also suggests that a symbol is not complete in itself - it makes a comparison by pointing to something else. Symbols are metaphors; they help us to better understand those things that humans can quite put into words, in doing this they serve as life guides, as they help us to express and shape world views (Christ 139).

Individuals in modern society often treat symbols - religious, cultural and otherwise - as absolute, often ignoring or forgetting the representative aspect of them. When combined with the patriarchy dominating and influencing our society, this is where the primary problem with symbols starts. In feminist theology, religious symbols and their respective associations, pose a great problem not only to the advancement of women’s right, but to the struggle for the equal representation of their voice, and rightly so, their experience. The role of feminist theologians in the recovery of an authentic God-language can only be achieved if there is a significant change from the male dominated religious symbolisms.

Jung believed that essential to the meaning of a symbol is the “ability to express more than could be put into words” (Christ 136). Religious symbols are probably the most powerful of all symbols. According to Jung ...

... middle of paper ...

...isco, 1989. 128-38.

Gross, Rita. "Female God language in a Jewish context." Womanspirit rising: a feminist reader in religion. Ed. Carol P. Christ and Judith Plaskow. New York: HarperOne, 1992. 167-73. 1976.

Isasi-Diaz, Ada Maria. "Defining our Proyecto Historico: Mujerista Strategies for Liberation." Journal of Feminist Studies in Religion 9 (1993): 17-28.

Mcfague, Sallie. "God as mother." Weaving the visions: New patterns in feminist spirituality. Ed. Judith Plaskow and Carol P. Christ. San Francisco: HarperSan Francisco, 1989. 139-50.

"Naming the Sacred." Weaving the visions: new patterns in feminist spirituality. Ed. Judith Plaskow and Carol P. Christ. San Francisco: HarperSan Francisco, 1989. 95-96.

Plaskow, Judith. "The right question is theological." On being a Jewish feminist: a reader. Ed. Susannah Heschel. New York: Schocken Books, 1983. 223-33.