When God Had a Wife: The Fall and Rise of the Sacred Feminine in the Judeo-Christian Tradition

by Lynn Picknett, Clive Prince

Reveals the tradition of goddess worship in early Judaism and how Jesus attempted to restore the feminine side of the faith

• Provides historical and archaeological evidence for an earlier form of Hebrew worship with both male and female gods, including a 20th-century discovery of a Hebrew temple dedicated to both Yahweh and the warrior goddess Anat

• Explores the Hebrew pantheon of goddesses, including Yahweh’s wife, Asherah, goddess of fertility and childbirth

• Shows how both Jesus and his great rival Simon Magus were attempting to restore the ancient, goddess-worshipping religion of the Israelites

Despite what Jews and Christians--and indeed most people--believe, the ancient Israelites venerated several deities besides the Old Testament god Yahweh, including the goddess Asherah, Yahweh’s wife, who was worshipped openly in the Jerusalem Temple. After the reforms of King Josiah and Prophet Jeremiah, the religion recognized Yahweh alone, and history was rewritten to make it appear that it had always been that way. The worship of Asherah and other goddesses was now heresy, and so the status of women was downgraded and they were blamed for God’s wrath.

However, as Lynn Picknett and Clive Prince reveal, the spiritual legacy of the Jewish goddesses and the Sacred Feminine lives on. Drawing on historical research, they examine how goddess worship thrived in early Judaism and included a pantheon of goddesses. They share new evidence for an earlier form of Hebrew worship that prayed to both male and female gods, including a 20th-century archaeological discovery of a Hebrew temple dedicated to both Yahweh and the goddess Anat. Uncovering the Sacred Feminine in early Christianity, the authors show how, in the first century AD, both Jesus and his great rival, Simon Magus, were attempting to restore the goddess-worshipping religion of the Israelites. The authors reveal how both men accorded great honor to the women they adored and who traveled with them as priestesses, Jesus’s Mary Magdalene and Simon’s Helen. But, as had happened centuries before, the Church rewrote history to erase the feminine side of the faith, deliberately ignoring Jesus’s real message and again condemning women to marginalization and worse.

Providing all the necessary evidence to restore the goddess to both Judaism and Christianity, Picknett and Prince expose the disastrous consequences of the suppression of the feminine from these two great religions and reveal how we have been collectively and instinctively craving the return of the Sacred Feminine for millennia.

Genres: History, Religion, Nonfiction, Mythology, Spirituality, Feminism, Audiobook

336 pages, Paperback

First published December 10, 2019

Reviews

[Stephanie (Bookfever) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm gonna jump right in and say that When God Had a Wife: The Fall and Rise of the Sacred Feminine in the Judeo-Christian Tradition has been one of the most fascinating books I've ever read. I randomly requested it on NetGalley because I liked the title and I wanted to read a nonfiction. I'm obviously very glad I did because I highly enjoyed this book and I consider it a 2019 favorite of mine now.

I am a history lover and I've always been intrigued by anything biblical ever since I was a child but I wouldn't say this book is something I'd pick up easily. I just don't read a lot of books that deal with religion or spirituality even though I do find these interesting topics. So now I feel I definitely need to read more books that are similar to this one, or at least look into the authors' other books. I'm sure they will be equally intriguing.

A big chunk of this book, which was mostly the first part, dived into the early days of Judaism and where Asherah (Yahweh's wife) fit in it. This part was the most fascinating to me. I could hardly stop reading this particular section of the book. It was not only something interesting to read about but also very thought-provoking.

Another thing I feel I just gotta mention is that this was a very well-researched book and that the authors definitely know what they're talking about. This is another reason why I can't wait to read more books written by them, actually. I know this book will probably not be everyone's cup of tea. I must admit that even for me all the information of the Sacred Feminine and everything it entails made my head spin but it was well worth the read. I'm so glad I stumbled upon it!

[Jay Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another book with endnotes... can't wait to chase up some/all the books in the bibliography... "Rabbit hole" here I come...

[Brett Folkman · Rating 1 out of 5]

Starting with the title, I thought I'm going to love this book! I've studied in-depth about Asherah and this topic. I was left extremely disappointed in this book, as their complete bias towards Gnostic writings, sexual rites, a broad categorization that all historic males belittled women, etc. was so evident, it ruined the real message of the book. They quote William Dever, who wrote Did God Have a Wife? (notice their title similarity!) and Raphael Patai, who wrote The Hebrew Goddess, when it suits their preconceived agenda despite a plethora of excellent scholarship that disagrees with their constant assertions. I loved Dever's and Patai's books - real scholarship and insights. This book lacks both. If you're into conspiracy theories, love to ignore 99% of the facts and read poorly written works, then you might like it. It doesn't bother me that God (El) has a wife and that His son Jesus was married to Mary Magdalene. Asherah is alive and well. But the fable Picknett and Prince weave - especially when they state gnostic writings are Christ's true teachings are ridiculous.

Brett Folkman, Doctor of Ministry

[A N N A · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Net Galley for sending me a copy in exchange for a honest review.

I found it incredibly interesting in how these religions were formed in the beginning - it's something I've always been interested in, how Judaism, Christianity and Islam all kind of circle around the same geographical area, principles and all include Jesus, which just makes the endless war and hatred of each other throughout history completely ridiculous to me. I am someone who is not religious in any way shape or form, but I respect other people's religions, as long as their beliefs don't belittle or diminish someone else's beliefs.

I did find it a little hard to follow at some points, simply because I am not brushed up on the Bible, but it didn't hinder my reading completely.

This was intricately detailed in it's research and the depth of work that the authors did for this was astounding. there were detailed recounts of Bible stories, and was very interesting to read. Obviously this is a book only 'suitable' for those who are interested in the subject itself and I do wish it had more of a feminist undertone but that's just my preference. 

[Justin · Rating 4 out of 5]

***I was granted an ARC of this via Netgalley from the publisher.***

When God had a Wife: The Fall and Rise of the Sacred Feminine in the Judeo-Christian Tradition by Lynn Picknett and Clive Prince is an interesting look at the history of the God of the Bible having a wife and its continuation for a time into Christianity. The authors show evidence of such worship of God's wife using historical and archaeological evidence. They also make an argument that Jesus participated in this tradition of honor the sacred feminine with Mary Magdalene by his side as a companion. My one biggest criticism of the book is that the authors seem to hold the gospels not included in the Bible as better because they are the alternative where I think it would be better to look at them as simply alternatives neither superior or inferior to the Bible from a historical perspective. I would recommend this to someone interested in religious studies.

Rating: 3/5 stars. Would recommend

[Cynthia · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fascinating, scholarly book about the divine feminine in Judaism and Christianity. The authors show that - despite our assumption that monotheism has existed since the time of Abraham (at least) - there has always been a "goddess" figure who was worshipped in Judaism. This "goddess" figure was also a part of early Christian sects as well.

Anyone who is interested in a scholarly approach to the Bible should read this book. Much of the book is focused on the Old Testament and addresses many highly interesting topics related to the ancient Hebrews, who they were, and how they viewed God. The authors cover the feminine divine of the New Testament as a continuation of the goddess figures of the Old Testament, focusing on Mary Magdalene. Surprisingly, Mary of Nazareth (the mother of Jesus) was only addressed at the very end of the book. Given the veneration of her by the Roman Catholic Church, I would have expected much more discussion of her.

This book would best interest those with seminary degrees or laypersons with a very keen interest in Biblical scholarship. Much of the research by the authors is rather mind-blowing and might be a bit much for the average churchgoer.

[MaCayla Hanks Longson · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF, it took me basically three months to read just over 100 pages so I'm calling it quits. Which I'm sad to say because I was so excited for this read! Maybe it's right book, wrong time?

This book felt like she took all of these random facts and stories then put them together in a random way. I felt like I was jumping around to different people and stories a loooot. I was also annoyed because this book is titled the Fall and Rise of Sacred Feminine yet all I read was about Moses, Joseph, and all these other males??? Then I'd get one sentence about a goddess of some sorts? Again, just randomly thrown in between paragraphs? I don't know, I didn't get the vibes of this book and couldn't force myself to continue which is saying something cause I typically finish every book I start.

Maybe I'll give it another go in a year or something. Or maybe I won't touch this book again. I guess we'll never know.

[Naomi Ruth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was wonderful. So many interesting things to think about. It pairs well, in my opinion, with Thompson's The Mythic Past. I love the writing style. I will be thinking about this book for a long time.

[Seriah Azkath · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating book dealing with the sacred feminine in ancient times and how it was hidden, and reappeared over the ages.

[Elrize · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book - it illuminated much of the fog from my evangelical upbringing, and introduced me to concepts I've never heard about. Although Picknett introduces her own theories here and there in the book, it was mostly a demonstration of historical findings and how we can make sense of them. All in all I learned so much and it shifted much of my perspective on the Judeo-Christian religions, and how it has twisted and obscured things for its benefit.

[Faith · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book begins with the authors discoursing on El and Yahweh, who were they, where did they come from, and how they were so closely resembling Egyptian Gods. They also brought up both Sons of God and Angels, are they one and the same? Did Exodus really happen and did the Red Sea really part?

Asherah who Is she? What are her origins? Why is her name found in multiple cultures? What is her role and how does it impact Judaism and in reflection, Christianity as well? What symbols are designated hers? What is her relationship to El and Yahweh? Why are trees, goats and angels found at sites where her name is also found? Do her many names equate to Hathor, she who has many names.

What is the relationship between Egypt and Israel, Moses and Canaan, Joseph and the 12 tribes? Was there really a Temple of Solomon? Why was it built and what does the iconography found mean to Judaism? What influence does Egypt have on the Hebrew Bible and its first five books? Are Aten and Yahweh alike or was one patterned after the other? What do the Arc of the Covenant and the closed Shrine of Amun Ra have in common?

Having found answers the book continues to reveal that even in Judaism and Christianity the Divine Feminine Existed. She existed in Deborah and Joel among others in the Old Testament and She can be found in Helen, Wife of Simon Peter and in Jesus’ Mary Magdalene in the New Testament. She is Isis in Egypt and Sophia in Greece.

They continue offering proof of the existence of the Sacred Feminine citing finding it in the Kabbalah. Here She takes the form of the Shekinah. They continue with The Tree of Life where The Divine Feminine is found in Malkuth as this Shekinah and it is in Malkuth that the Divine Light from Above manifests into the physical world or the material plane.

I read through this book in four days; I just could not stop reading it. Usually one filled with as much information and thorough research, takes over a week to absorb. I felt impelled to reach the end to find out why I always wondered why God had no Consort but was in my sense Alone. Thank you for reaffirming faith in myself to know He did and She exists even Now.

If you like mysteries, if you feel the Feminine needs balancing and if, you like me think women have always honored the Divine Feminine but did so in secret, this is a must read. This book spotlights the imbalance between the Masculine and Feminine and brings the Feminine closer to balance than ever before.

I thank the authors, NetGalley and Bear and Company for allowing me the opportunity to read this book in advance of its publishing date.

[Vivienne · Rating 4 out of 5]

My thanks to Inner Traditions/Bear & Company for an eARC via NetGalley of ‘When God Had A Wife’ by Lynn Picknett and Clive Prince in exchange for an honest review.

Subtitled ‘The Fall and Rise of the Sacred Feminine in the Judeo-Christian Tradition’ this book is the culmination of decades of research by its authors and also revisits key themes from their previously published works.

While approaching the topic in a scholarly manner they write: “Part of our mission is to build a bridge between the “Mind, Body, and Spirit” (MBS) community and academics. We realize the time is right to share the curious, not always easy, crossover between their discoveries and ours.”

Certainly a fascinating, eye opening work that looks at an extensive array of both historical and archeological sources and presents them in an accessible manner. The main text is accompanied by notes and a detailed bibliography.

I come from the position of someone who is already convinced of the importance and existence of the Divine Feminine and so in my case Picknett and Prince are ‘preaching to the choir’.

However, I also recognise that no matter how strong the archeological and historical evidence is there will be those who will deny anything but a strictly patriarchal interpretation of Judeo-Christianity.

Yet I am heartened by the authors optimistic view and certainly over my lifetime have witnessed a cultural shift in terms of the recognition of the Sacred Feminine.

I found their closing words especially inspiring: “The story we have traced shows a perpetual yin-yang-like balance to be cosmically important. And what the world needs now more than anything is balance. But as ever, hidden in the story of the goddess is the secret of how to make it happen.”

I feel that this is an important work that hopefully will encourage study and dialogue. Certainly one that I would hope will be welcomed by academia and by those interested in Biblical studies as well as by those exploring aspects of the Sacred Feminine in world religions.

[Emily Schmidt · Rating 2 out of 5]

Much if the arguments within this piece, while interesting, are very much contingent on theories in the earlier parts of the work being true. So it must be taken with a grain of salt since that makes most of this information speculative.

The information about myths and other religions in surrounding cultures is very interesting and give good context for the wholistic beliefs of the time. But again some parts of this literature are speculative and only theory since we do not have all the definitive research and clues.

In all, this book can be summed up by one sentence found within:

“This is all speculation, naturally. The fluidity with which the ancients mixed and matched their god forms meant that a transition from mother to daughter, or vice versa, was easy.”

I take this to mean that anything can be anything if you twist it’s arm enough...which is perhaps what this book does.

[McCalla Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

All I want is to resurrect the Ashera cult and I don't think that's too much to ask for in this life 🥺

[Emily · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars. The title of this book intrigued me, as I was curious about any evidence of belief in a heavenly mother among the ancient Israelites. The short answer is, yes there was, and I enjoyed learning some interesting beliefs that fit with and added to my belief system. However, outside of a few interesting chapters, the majority of the book was either a review of bible stories, or was speculative and felt a little weird to me. Like most books, I was able to pull out the gems, but it took some work to find them:
• The Ancient Israelites were not monotheists—while they focused their worship on one God, they acknowledged the existence of others (including a feminine God)
• El and Yahweh were originally understood as separate beings (father and son), with Asherah as El’s wife and Yahweh’s mother (later El and Yahweh became amalgamated into one being, and Asherah became Yahweh’s wife)
• This female goddess was coeternal with God and may have also been cocreator of the Earth
• One consequence of the Christian reforms was the loss of the belief in a heavenly mother
• One of the names of mother god means holy sanctuary, which has a beautiful connotation of a safe place and warm embrace during times of trouble
• I liked learning about Christ’s relationship with the holy feminine
• One scholar’s interpretation of why the serpent chose to speak to Eve rather than Adam—"not because she was the more gullible but because she was more able to comprehend a reasoned argument.”
• I loved learning the connection between the divine feminine and wisdom (see quotes below), providing a unique perspective as we read about wisdom in the scriptures

-Association between female and wisdom: “The prominent role of the female, rather than the male, in the wisdom aspects of the Eden tale is a little noticed feature of the narrative. It is the woman, not the man, who perceives that desirability of procuring wisdom.”

-“Wherever you delve there are traces, sometimes just hints, of the lost goddess even in the patriarchal books, but there is more specific evidence for a line of women with a very particular function and it was based on a special kind of wisdom.”

-“Why was wisdom portrayed as a flesh and blood woman? Is it just a poetic metaphor for a manifestation of an aspect of god, or could lady wisdom even be a goddess? If so this would be evidence that the beloved sacred feminine was refusing to go away even under so much patriarchal pressure, but continuing just out of sight, even in the official texts.”

[Vivienne · Rating 4 out of 5]

My thanks to Inner Traditions/Bear & Company for an eARC via NetGalley of ‘When God Had A Wife’ by Lynn Picknett and Clive Prince in exchange for an honest review.

Subtitled ‘The Fall and Rise of the Sacred Feminine in the Judeo-Christian Tradition’ this book is the culmination of decades of research by its authors and also revisits key themes from their previously published works.

While approaching the topic in a scholarly manner they write: “Part of our mission is to build a bridge between the “Mind, Body, and Spirit” (MBS) community and academics. We realize the time is right to share the curious, not always easy, crossover between their discoveries and ours.”

Certainly a fascinating, eye opening work that looks at an extensive array of both historical and archeological sources and presents them in an accessible manner. The main text is accompanied by notes and a detailed bibliography.

I come from the position of someone who is already convinced of the importance and existence of the Divine Feminine and so in my case Picknett and Prince are ‘preaching to the choir’.

However, I also recognise that no matter how strong the archeological and historical evidence is there will be those who will deny anything but a strictly patriarchal interpretation of Judeo-Christianity.

Yet I am heartened by the authors optimistic view and certainly over my lifetime have witnessed a cultural shift in terms of the recognition of the Sacred Feminine.

I found their closing words especially inspiring: “The story we have traced shows a perpetual yin-yang-like balance to be cosmically important. And what the world needs now more than anything is balance. But as ever, hidden in the story of the goddess is the secret of how to make it happen.”

I feel that this is an important work that hopefully will encourage study and dialogue. Certainly one that I would hope will be welcomed by academia and by those interested in Biblical studies as well as by those exploring aspects of the Sacred Feminine in world religions.

[Gayle (OutsmartYourShelf) · Rating 4 out of 5]

An intriguing look at the sidelining of the Sacred Feminine within Judaism and Christianity. The authors go back to the time of the Israelites and argue that not only were they polytheistic (or at the very least they acknowledged other gods even if one was considered foremost) until the time of Isaiah, but that even Yahweh had a female counterpart. Working through the centuries down to the time of Jesus, the book argues that despite the best efforts of the monotheists, the figure of the Sacred Feminine refused to disappear completely.

It was a very good read with some convincing arguments, although I must say that I didn't agree with everything. The authors have obviously done a great deal of research and it shows, however, I did feel that some of the middle chapters seemed to be very long and rather dry in areas. Overall, I found it to be worth reading and it has piqued my interest in looking into the subject further.

Thanks to NetGalley and publishers, Inner Traditions / Bear & Company, for the opportunity to read an ARC.

[John Martindale · Rating 3 out of 5]

Picknett's work is interesting for its mix of solid scholarly research findings and then flights into fancy and speculation. The part of her thesis which is rooted in solid evidence would be quite challenging for many Christians to entertain.

I wonder if a way forward for Christians who are convinced of the likelihood that Egyptian and Canaanite paganism had a central role in the initial formation of Hebrew religion, is to consider what we have in the Bible as a "redemptive analogy;" Something like what Don Richardson writes about in the Peace Child. What I mean, is that one could suppose there is a Supreme God who loves humanity, and God revealed Himself to the Israelites who believed in El and his wife, the tribal warrior YHWH who was a member of the divine councel and his wife. The true God could be thought to allow himself to be understood within their particular story--filled with its particular mythology and pagan elements which are outside of modern's plausibility structures.

[Olga · Rating 5 out of 5]

Probably the best book I read this year, totally paradigm shattering.

Our patriarchal universe is completely unbalanced. Politically it is overwhelmingly run by members of a single gender.

That's true even spiritually. For instance, the Roman Church has leadership composed entirely of men. Other Christian denominations as well as the Jewish and Islamic communities are not far behind in their patriarchal orientation.

How could we expect balance and harmony in a world like that? No one can. And the big question is: has it always been this way?

This book will take you on a spiritual journey back to when God had a wife. It's full of great history, amazing research, great messages, and intriguing writing. All devotees of religion in modern times ought to read it because of its exemplary research, revelation of ugly, uncomfortable truths we ALL need to accept, and its celebration of the once, present, and future goddesses who history and the patriarchy could not silence, and never will.

It's truly a missing piece in our culture.

[Maxine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a 4.75 rounded up.
Going in I always knew the bible had been altered to fit the narratives, motives and times of the writers. So, listening to this book and the clues and actual facts of the state of things of when these stories happened as opposed to when they were written was very interesting especially when you string all of them together and start to see the picture form. I think the chapter I liked most was chapter 7 because I am not the most familiar with the Old Testament as I am with the New Testament, so this chapter was easier for me to grasp because the base knowledge was there. Plus, like so many other people in my generation it was the Brown's DaVinci Code that started us down the path of questioning the church and its teachings. Overall, it was interesting book, and I enjoyed listening to it and seeing all the clues laid out.

[Stuart Enkey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is strongest when describing the well documented polytheistic traditions of the ancient world. It also does well describing the process of transitioning from polytheism, to monolatry, to monotheism. The book is interesting as it speculates on what that process might have looked like, and how aspects of the old gods may have hung on or permeated in Samaria and Judea. I do think the last chapters are less credible in their specific speculations, but still plausible in the grand setting of divine wisdom/sacred feminine beliefs and practices. Down with the patriarchy!

Overall a fun book.

[Nicole Bergen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very interesting ideas to think about. It started out pretty well but the facts seemed to get fewer and farther between as it went on, which was disappointing, even if I usually wanted at least some of their hypotheses to be true. Certainly the institutions of Christianity haven’t done much that’s good for women, so at a minimum, it’s good to consider what various church leaders have said about women and to view their other teachings in that light. Unfortunately, too many of their arguments don’t seem to follow from their sources, or at least, I wasn’t always convinced that the threads between sources and conclusions were all that secure.

[Lisa Davison · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book provides an accessible resource for those seeking information about the sacred feminine. For millennia, humans worshipped both female and male deities. This was especially true for agriculturally-based civilizations, as their deities represented the reproductive process of crops, animals, and humans. The authors have done good research and skillfully lift-up the many female deities that have sustained humanity throughout the ages. For those who want to further study this important piece of the history of religions, the books will not disappoint.

[S. · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my go to re-reads for the religious deconstruction journey. I’ve read it three times in the last 6ish years, and every time I have found the history absolutely fascinating. Ancient history can sometimes be pretty dry, but this fascinating. It seems a bit long at first but once you get into it you won’t be able to put it down. The research is very thoroughly done. I would say that if you are just dipping your toes into religious deconstruction, you may need to start with Shane Claiborne, John Pavlovitz, etc… but if you are ready to grapple with the bigger things, this is for you.

[Todd · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book. i'm staggering under the sheer weight of information presented. I'm not sure how to review this except to recommend reading it. The authors tie their vision of the Sacred Feminine to the research done by well regarded scholars in the field. The book is thoroughly annotated. A decent bibliography is provided as well. Anyone interested in the topic of recovering the divine feminine in the Abrahamic religions needs this volume on their book shelf.

[Tricia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good premise, but more sensationalism than substance. they tied the lack of sacred feminine to every wrong in history with little evidence. they also made some outrageous claims without a footnote to back it up, making it difficult to see the evidence. this last point is more nitpicking than anything else, but what was the reason for using the ESV translation over more scholarly translations like the RSV or NRSV?

The book was well written and fun to read but more pop nonfiction than anything

[Ryan Thompson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some great gems and insights in here, especially when connected with other scholarly work around judeo temple theology. On its own there is certainly a lot to take with a grain of salt, particularly as the authors start diving into their previous works that live largely in the realm of conspiracy theorists.

[Gediminas Kanonenka · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun, light reading that kept me entertained. However, I recommend taking everything the authors said with a huge handful of salt. Academic sources were constantly cited, but the authors seemed to be strongly biased, and their assumptions and conclusions reminded me of conspiracy theorists' trains of thought. Still, some ideas inspired me, and I found academic material that I might read later.

[Annarella · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting and engrossing book about the sacred feminine. It's well researched and well written.
I learned a lot and I think I'd like to read other books by this author.
Recommended!!
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

[Chrissy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very interesting pondering points. I will think about the data for a long time. The narrator was difficult for me to listen to- monotone and slow. But speeding up 1.5 x made it difficult for me to grasp the material. Hence the 3stars. Otherwise 4