Last of the Musings on Sue Monk Kidd
I was looking at a blog by a pastor the other day who was outraged by the emerging church movement. He was particularly unhappy with Brian McLaren and Rob Bell, and had something like 25 blog posts alone on Bell.
I don’t want to spend all my time spitting out cranky blog posts on Sue Monk Kidd–there are so many other things to talk about! So this is the last one for a while. I guess I am still pondering, though, her message, a call to affirm female spirituality by turning to goddess worship, and her growing influence as an author, a speaker, and a voice for this generation of women. (Regarding her influence, I just heard recently that a movie version of The Secret Life of Bees is in development, with Dakota Fanning to star as Lily Owens.)
For a look at Kidd’s ongoing influence, check out the continuing discussion on these sites:
- Gary, a Christian guy from Seattle.
- A thoughtful group called Young Anabaptist Radicals.
- The reading list for a Christian women’s conference called Emerging Women gathering.
- A high school class in New Jersey studying Kidd’s The Secret Life of Bees.
- A recommended reading list for "The Esoteric Theological Seminary"
- Kelly, exploring the goddess Ariadne, via Kidd’s memoir.
I’d love to sit down some day and have a cup of tea with Kidd. I’d tell her how much I enjoy her writing, how her warmth and transparency and her search for answers speak to me. And then I’d ask her these questions: I know you felt hurt and devalued by your church, but why not find a new church? I know you’ve been hurt by men, but why turn your back on God? I know you’re looking for truth, but why search for a goddess when it was Jesus who died for you? And how can you settle for stone idols, when incomparable riches and the sweetness of grace await in a relationship with the living God?
The more I learn about goddess worship, the more it seems like one of those Celtic spirals, circling inward into darkness, a journey with no end.
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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. 
What makes you think that when people embrace Goddess that they are settling for stone idols?
There are definitely incomparable richnesses and a sweetness of grace (not to mention an abiding sense of peace and the healing *wonder* of being enwrapped by and *permeated* by Her Love) when one has a genuine relationship with Goddess.
Why assume people have turned their back on God — when, in reality, they are embracing the Other Half of the Larger Divine Reality?
Your Bible is too biased! The writers thereof did not have the experience of *truly* knowing Goddess.
Since Goddess (Shekhina/ Sophia) *is* precious to the True God, the writers of the Bible obviously didn’t know God very deeply, either!
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Good question about idols. I’ll do a future post on that topic. And I think you’re right, Wynn–the Bible is biased. That’s because it’s a personal message from the Creator God to us, made in his image.
Wisdom (what you call Sophia) is precious to God, but it is personified in his son, Jesus Christ.
The goddess is spoken about in the Bible, numerous times, but not in a positive way.
SUSY
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I was doing some research on Sue Monk Kidd and came across this blog.
Kidd’s work has meant a great deal to me. Coming as I have, from an evangelical background, I understand her searching for a more compassionate reading of the Christian narrative.
I deeply appreciate her personal journey and disciplined scholarship.
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Beth,
I absolutely agree that Kidd is a tremendously gifted writer who comes across as sincere, compassionate, and a genuine spiritual seeker. I would point out, however, that her contemplative practices and her search for truth have ultimately led her away from the Gospel, where Jesus alone saves, and to a circular inward journey ending in worship of the goddess and the self.
I think you can certainly appreciate Kidd without agreeing with her; that’s where I stand. The problem I see and have tried to draw attention to is that, being such a great communicator, she is leading other women away from the Gospel.
SUSY
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I liked this book a lot and wrote an article because I thought it needed bringing to the public’s attention.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book regardless of the concept of idols and am a practicing christian.
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Rachelle,
Thanks for stopping by the blog. I, too, like the book as a novel. Kidd is a very good writer. I only wrote the blog articles to point out that she is highlighting a type of pagan spirituality in “Bees” and that it’s good to be aware of an author’s bias, don’t you think? Art always has a message, and if we know what that message is, we can choose whether we agree with it or not. That’s what I’ve tried to do with Kidd’s novel. Kidd’s spiritual beliefs are more clearly spelled out in her memoir, Dance of the Dissident Daughter.
Blessings,
SUSY
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Susy,
After watching the movie I was a little angry and honestly disturbed as well. This movie and book would have been just amazing if it did not teach false doctrine! I agree with you fully on what you are trying to say. It breaks my heart to see a beautiful story like this became ruined because of what she was portraying as a pure religion, which is not at all. They were actually praying to a statue! I mean sorry to offend anyone but when you do kneel down in front of a statue and start putting your full trust and faith in it, yea I will say you are turning your back on God because in Deuteronomy, God even commands not to worship false gods and idols meaning statues as well. That also includes Mary the mother of Jesus. Jesus is the way the truth and the life, no one comes through the father EXCEPT through Him! that means praying to mary will not get you to God…praying to anything other than God will not get you to God! simple as that.
I will agree that Kidd has a talent of writing, but it is a well talent wasted if it is not use correctly, which is to glorify God. And what she is doing is by far not of God.
-Elizabeth