ABSTRACT
The language of abuse used to denigrate those unworthy gods and goddesses negated by exclusive monotheism makes it clear what is to be 'othered' by this jealous god female autonomy and non-hegemonic sexualities. The biblical account of a sure progression from polytheism to monotheism is now being interrogated. Instead, a growing number of scholars are recognizing that a wide variety of options remained a feature of ancient Israel's religious landscape throughout its history. Long underlined the pattern of oppression which was sanctioned by a narrative of divine monotheism expressed solely in the male gender. Catherine Keller explores pre-literary and hermeneutical evidence of ancient, pre-patriarchal goddess traditions which expressed a very different way of knowing and relating, conveyed through symbols of biophilic energy and female sacrality. When the metaphysical and Cartesian trappings of immutability have been removed, we are left with an expression of sacrality as process.
