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Changing of the Gods: Feminism and the End of Traditional Religions
Feminism and the End of Traditional Religions
160 pages, Paperback
First published April 28, 1979
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
September 24, 2022
i'm pretty sure that God was dying before the feminists got to him but regardless this was actually a really awesome and nuanced criticism of jung and the mystical (silly) side of freud pushing toward a "new mysticism" ??? come on ???
i bought this book largely because it looked cool and sounded kinda funny when i was 17 but this woman is actually so insanely and remarkably tapped in and i feel that this is a just a book that i really really needed right now
i bought this book largely because it looked cool and sounded kinda funny when i was 17 but this woman is actually so insanely and remarkably tapped in and i feel that this is a just a book that i really really needed right now
April 14, 2026
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2.5 Stars
Feelings about the book:
- 2.5 stars was generous; this book started of decently, but it quickly descended into madness as the book went on.
Premise/Plot:
- Goldenberg critiques the feminist revisionists and reformists who don’t want to imagine and execute a non-patriarchal world.
- She also touches upon other ways people can express themselves outside of Christianity and Judaism.
- Naturally, given the book title, traditional religions are criticised. Goldenberg argues that many established religious systems are deeply rooted in patriarchal structures. And that we have now moved on from them, thanks to a mix of feminism and psychology.
Themes:
- Psychology vs religion, oppression, revisionism, spirituality vs. organised religion, Myths, symbolism, and gender representation
Pros:
- Chapter 3 which saw Goldenberg analysing some of Freud’s thoughts on religion and gender were interesting. I appreciated the nuance, even though it was a short chapter.
- This book had a fairly decent bibliography section.
- Goldenberg's writing is accessible.
Cons:
- The chapter on witches and tarots cards was insane.
- This book is nowhere near long to fully explore all the important things Goldenberg touches on this book.
- Additionally, within the short run time - Goldenberg isn't persuasive in any of her arguments. And she provides no clear direction for a better world.
- Goldenberg did the stereotypical feminist thing where she believes women, by the virtue of being women, can automatically make things better.
- This is quite outdated, it seems as though Goldenberg was caught up in the hype of the late 20th century. Her writing displays a naive euphoria.
- This book doesn't balance the interpretive and empirical very well.
- It is also very lacking historically and doesn't engage with non-Western religions. Or even Islam for that matter.
Quotes:
‘To progress toward religions in which new images of women live and thrive we have to make a philosophical leap entirely out of patriarchal structures.’
‘Freud was certain that Judaism and Christianity stunted the intellectual maturity of men. It is probable, however, that these religions are even more damaging to the intellectual growth of women.’
‘Freud had hoped that psychoanalysis would eliminate father-gods through scientific reasoning. But, in fact, feminism may prove to be more effective.’
‘The women’s movement is destined to spread religious revolution in levels of popular culture that psychoanalysis could never reach.’
‘What then is a living religion? It is a religion that satisfies a person’s need for mythic reflection and understanding.’
‘Theologians are ignorant of what every anthropologist knows – i.e., that forms of our thought derive from the forms of our culture.’
2.5 Stars
Feelings about the book:
- 2.5 stars was generous; this book started of decently, but it quickly descended into madness as the book went on.
Premise/Plot:
- Goldenberg critiques the feminist revisionists and reformists who don’t want to imagine and execute a non-patriarchal world.
- She also touches upon other ways people can express themselves outside of Christianity and Judaism.
- Naturally, given the book title, traditional religions are criticised. Goldenberg argues that many established religious systems are deeply rooted in patriarchal structures. And that we have now moved on from them, thanks to a mix of feminism and psychology.
Themes:
- Psychology vs religion, oppression, revisionism, spirituality vs. organised religion, Myths, symbolism, and gender representation
Pros:
- Chapter 3 which saw Goldenberg analysing some of Freud’s thoughts on religion and gender were interesting. I appreciated the nuance, even though it was a short chapter.
- This book had a fairly decent bibliography section.
- Goldenberg's writing is accessible.
Cons:
- The chapter on witches and tarots cards was insane.
- This book is nowhere near long to fully explore all the important things Goldenberg touches on this book.
- Additionally, within the short run time - Goldenberg isn't persuasive in any of her arguments. And she provides no clear direction for a better world.
- Goldenberg did the stereotypical feminist thing where she believes women, by the virtue of being women, can automatically make things better.
- This is quite outdated, it seems as though Goldenberg was caught up in the hype of the late 20th century. Her writing displays a naive euphoria.
- This book doesn't balance the interpretive and empirical very well.
- It is also very lacking historically and doesn't engage with non-Western religions. Or even Islam for that matter.
Quotes:
‘To progress toward religions in which new images of women live and thrive we have to make a philosophical leap entirely out of patriarchal structures.’
‘Freud was certain that Judaism and Christianity stunted the intellectual maturity of men. It is probable, however, that these religions are even more damaging to the intellectual growth of women.’
‘Freud had hoped that psychoanalysis would eliminate father-gods through scientific reasoning. But, in fact, feminism may prove to be more effective.’
‘The women’s movement is destined to spread religious revolution in levels of popular culture that psychoanalysis could never reach.’
‘What then is a living religion? It is a religion that satisfies a person’s need for mythic reflection and understanding.’
‘Theologians are ignorant of what every anthropologist knows – i.e., that forms of our thought derive from the forms of our culture.’
November 2, 2024
Fantastic book, written 1979 and fairly accurately predicts the rise of alternate religions like witchcraft, because of their adaptability to fast-moving modern problems, and their space for female (and androgynous) deities.
March 24, 2023
Some parts are a bit dated and which I don’t agree with, but overall a fanatic reading
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews