Abstract

Many feminist social activists assert that patriarchal consciousness has brought humanity to the brink of destruction. They suggest that a new consciousness, based on feminist ethics, is needed to transform society. A compelling example of this new consciousness is the re-emergence of Goddess Spirituality, which opens a way for women to be spiritual that has not been possible in patriarchal culture. This is a case study of the search for non-patriarchal spirituality which focuses on participation in Goddess Spirituality through the analysis of 64 questionnaires and 22 interviews conducted with a local group of women. ;Both the surveys and interviews confirm the literature's portrayal of the core values of women who profess Goddess Spirituality. They illustrate a fundamental critique and the steadfast rejection of patriarchal society, especially patriarchal theology and institutionalized religion. They also reveal a veneration of qualities perceived to be uniquely womanly or feminine, including respect for and connection with the natural world, and an emphasis on women's nurturing and creative capacities. ;The surveys and interviews also reveal a conceptual complexity and occasional ambiguity regarding the political and social change implications of participation in Goddess Spirituality. Although they strongly criticize patriarchal power structures, especially patriarchal Christianity, these women frequently resort to notions of individual responsibility and free will when discussing the ways in which individuals transform their lives. There is little recognition of the extent to which, within patriarchal society and theology, individual responsibility and free will have been used to justify women's subordination and unequal social standing and to perpetuate patriarchy. ;Similarly, in personal interviews, the women readily and uniformly acclaim the need for encompassing social change. Nevertheless, when queried regarding their political actions, the vast majority of women interviewed and surveyed acknowledge minimal participation in collective social change activities. The women's responses also reveal decidedly apolitical identities as participants in Goddess Spirituality and as self-identified feminists. ;The analysis provided confirmation that there is a relationship between Goddess Spirituality, feminism, and feminist ethics and that these women's values provide evidence of a new consciousness that is emerging. This study contributes to the growing literature concerning Goddess Spirituality and feminist ethics. Also, it demonstrates the importance of focusing on the experiences and contributions of women when analyzing social change