Cakes, Libations, and Smell Good Stuff

           Without getting into a debate about the gender or lack of gender of a triune God, apparently some women during the time of the prophet Jeremiah worshiped not the “King” of heaven but the “Queen” of heaven. Although the text states that this Queen was worshiped by women, children, and men (including kings and officials), Jeremiah implies that worship was mainly done by the women in the Yahwistic community. The interpretation is that the women were excluded from the leadership of the cult (just means religious) practices of the Temple, so they started their own private form of worship that they had control over.
 

            So what exactly did the new religious group of women do in their new religion according to the prophet Jeremiah? Well, the most offending cult practice these women did was to make “offering cakes” for the goddess known as Queen Cakes. Other offensive practices included bringing the goddess something to drink and making an offering of incense to her.

             Let me get this right, women were excluded from assisting in the male dominated religion of the Yahwistic community so they formed their own religion that included baking cakes, offering libations, and burning smell good stuff. Yep, that sounds like a religion that would centered itself around a feminine approach to worshipping a divine figure! Again, compared to the more masculine religion where the Lord is offered cooked meat, the blood of a lamb, and the pleasing incense is cooking meat….Yeah, I can see where some independent minded women would have struck out on their own!
 

            Now I’m not saying the women were correct in forming their own religion, but I do think they have a point that some modern church goers would support. In the new Church (Christian Church born of Christ) where there is no male or female, there should be an awareness of what religious practices we do that can be inclusive to all. Or, a searching to shift an all-male dominated religion towards something that can include the gifts and talents of anyone from the community of believers. If we are one body of believers, then searching to include the gifts of all members of the body should be our goal in worshiping the triune God.