Chasing Sophia, Part 3
Proverbs is one of my favorite books in the Bible, and I’ve always been intrigued by the first couple of chapters, where Wisdom is personified as a woman. The pagan community has noticed these Scriptures, too, and has used them to argue that the Bible supports goddess spirituality. So, in the third and last part of my interview with Lilian Calles Barger, author of Chasing Sophia, I asked her to explain.
Wisdom shouts in the streets.
She cries out in the public square.
She calls to the crowds along the main street,
to those gathered in front of the city gate:
“How long, you simpletons,
How long will you fools hate knowledge?
Come and listen to my counsel.
I’ll share my heart with you
and make you wise. –Proverbs 1:20-23
Q. Those in the goddess tradition often cite the mention of wisdom, or Sophia, in the Bible, as proof of an ancient goddess tradition. Can you explain what the Scriptures mean? (I’m specifically thinking of the beginning of Proverbs, where Wisdom is personified.)
A. God is often talked about in
metaphorical language in the Bible, and Woman Wisdom is such a metaphor. It is,
however, a very powerful image. God is also described as a baker woman, and a
woman
seeking a lost coin. Feminine images, like masculine images for God, do
not mean that God is gendered. God is above all human categories and we can
only talk about God in metaphorical ways. The best way to
understand the nature
of Woman Wisdom in Proverbs is to see how Jesus claims this identity as his
own. He clarifies the metaphor by being Wisdom in the flesh. Obviously, Jesus
was not a female, but neither does he shy away from feminine language in
identifying himself. He was not afraid of the feminine. Further, the early
Christian understood Jesus as being the Sophia, or the Wisdom, of God.
Ultimately, a Goddess is no better than a masculinized God. Both reduce God to
a stereotype.
Q.
Can you talk a little bit about “the inward journey?” Is this something Christians should strive for?
A. The inward journey in itself is not
ultimately fruitful, partly because we deceive ourselves about what
we find
there. However, with the light of Jesus as our guide, he can show us ourselves
if we are willing to stop long enough to listen. Most of us could use a good
dose of contemplative prayer. Our lives are
too noisy for us to hear our lives
and what God is saying to us.
Q. What is The Damaris Project? Why did you start it?
A.
The Damaris Project is simply a
place for women to get resources to help them start meaningful conversations in
their communities. There is need for conversations that deal with the real
issues of life of concern to women. Many of us don’t know how to start those
conversations. It feels awkward when it ought to be fun! The Damaris Project
helps you start conversations through printed resources called the Damaris
Salon, available through our website.
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If you’re looking for a contemporary Christian woman’s take on goddess spirituality, try Barger’s Chasing Sophia. It’s both personal, and profound.
I’ll end with a quote from the last chapter of Barger’s book:
"Like the serpent in Eden, the world continues to offer a source of wisdom independent from God. Jesus–the Wisdom of God–was unrecognized by the world … As we continue to follow Jesus–our Sophia and our Sage–we will discover that our search for wisdom ends with us–ordinary people acting in ordinary ways and in ordinary places, living as wisdom bearers for the world."
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SUSY FLORY is a writer, speaker, and journalist who inspires and challenges women to embrace a life of passion, boldness, & adventure. In your own unique way, YOU can change the world, starting in your own backyard. 
