Symbolism of God the Mother By Kim Fromkin Faculty Mentor: Dr. Lavonna Lovern, Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies
Article Abstract In the canonical texts of Judaism and Christianity, the term “God” is primarily interpreted as a male deity, specifically associated with the term “Father.” While this interpretation is often considered standard for the canonical texts, the noncanonical texts offer different imagery that includes both masculine and feminine deities. Using the non-canonical texts as reference and understanding the nature of symbols and metaphors as a medium for gaining transcendent reality, it is possible to reinterpret the canonical texts in a way that reveals God as both Divine Father and Divine Mother. This article analyzes the significance of God the Father and God the Mother in both Christian and Jewish traditions. The article focuses on both canonical and non-canonical texts including works from the Nag Hammadi Library and multiple translations of the Bible. Finally, the article analyzes the relationship between the traditional Jewish/Christian concept of a human “mother” and the Divine Mother as a means of understanding early Christian concepts of the complete and integrated God, including the androgynous and hermaphrodite God.
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