When God Was a Woman (Harvest/Hbj Book)

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Summary: Ancient Conspiracy to Suppress Female Role in Religion
Review: I found this book enlightening and educational. Ms. Stone has done extensive research to reveal the conspiracy by the ancient Hebrews and Christians to eradicate the once primary role of women in religion and society. The middle of the book is slow going at times, since it is so dense with scholarly facts, but the last third is fascinating as it builds to its conclusion. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in learning more about women's role in religion and society in pre-Biblical times, the ancient practice of Goddess worship, or modern religions in a historical context.

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Summary: A good one
Review: I recommend this book to anyone who is looking for the Divine Feminine. This book shows the historical effects of a Divine Feminine upon the social status of females.

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Summary: Deadly dull, and deadly to the reader believing this
Review: I was assured that this book wasn't just pure feminism, but to my disappointment, that's all it is. The conclusions are based on "facts" that lack clear documentation. Examples drawn from scripture are taken out of context. With prayerful consideration, I decided that this book could best help society at large by going to the landfill.

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Summary: Haven't read it but....
Review: I'm getting a kick out of the reviewers who decry the assumptions that God was a man, all the while assuming that Merlin Stone is a woman

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Summary: "And The Truth Shall Set You Free"
Review: If only I had found this book during my Christian indoctrination period, how different my experience of life would have been! Merlin Stone's research is appropos to this day. She provides the historical information that explains the delusions we have been laboring under for 2000 years: That a woman is responsible for the sufferings of humanity and that because of it, women are rightfully subjugated and dominated by wiser men. This book also helps us understand that Judeo-Christian philosophies and practices are merely a glitch in the tens of thousands of years-long progress of humanity. Although many people view religion as at worst a plague on humanity and at best a very bad joke, we all still suffer from effects of the progenitors of the Adam and Eve myth. This book will give you perspective, help you to spot the stinking-thinking when it affects you, change the wrongness when you are able, and to more cheerfully endure the horror when you can't.

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Summary: Portrayed as researched but obviously a FICTION novel.
Review: If you realize that this is a book of fiction and have time to waste on a story with no plot, go ahead. I found it a complete waste of paper. Stone apparently did no research at all or else expected her audience to be extremely naive.

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Summary: an excellent guide to the goddess
Review: if you want to know about the goddess and her role in ancient history you should read this, it talks about how before men and women were treating in history and it the end it explains before we can be truly civilized creatures we have to learn how to respect each others opinions and ideas.

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Summary: This is an eye opener, it opens you eyes to the Goddess!
Review: If you wonder what was before Christianity, this book gives well documented proof of the Goddess religions. It opens your eyes to an ancient lost and hidden belief.

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Summary: A great introduction to the history of goddess worship
Review: If you, like me, are female (or female-sympathetic) and find Christianity repressive, then you may find this book empowering and enlightening. I am not an anthropologist, but a woman interested in the history of the goddess and goddess worship. As others have mentioned, there are other, more scholarly works available. But this one is a pretty easy read and, in my humble opinion, an excellent introduction to viewing predominant-culture theology from a different perspective.

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Summary: There was history before the Bible?
Review: In light of the recent decision by the board of education in Kansas, I now know that we truly live in a society of ignorance. The historical evidence presented in this book is well-researched and I don't feel as though any is taken out of context. I can see why Christians and Jews would take offense to this book because it threatens their supposed one true god. Stone goes point by point taking apart the origin of their religion through the destruction of what had existed as a belief system for eons. Could something had existed before Adam & Eve? Perish the thought! I feel closer to the Goddess now and how things used to be thousands of years ago than I ever did in 10 years of Luthern Sunday School and confirmation class. As for the state of Kansas, I pity the students for they will make ignorant adults when evolution ceases to be taught. Its just another example of "accidental or intentional censorship" of ideas outside of Christian thought. I am truly disgusted with those who are in positions of power nowadays. It is so reminiscent of those long ago patriarchal invaders who propagate their own opinions by making people think its how "its always been."