Divine Quote by Mary Daly
“If God is male, then male is God. The divine patriarch castrates women as long as he is allowed to live on in the human imagination.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Gyn/Ecology by Mary Daly, 1978
The quote critiques patriarchal religion, suggesting that male‑centric divine concepts oppress women and persist in imagination.
In simple terms: Patriarchal religion oppresses women.
Key Takeaway
Question gendered power structures.
Themes
feminism
religion
power
gender
oppression
Mood
critical
defiant
Type
philosophical
activist
When to use this quote
- activist writing
- academic discourse
- public debate
Key Concepts
Patriarchy
theology
social imagination
Questions to Reflect On
- How does language shape divine gender?
- What alternatives to male‑centered divinity exist?
A Different Perspective
Patriarchal narratives can be deeply ingrained and resistant to change.
![“The core symbols we use for God represent what we take to be the highest good…These symbols or images shape our worldview, our ethical system, and our social practice--how we relate to one another. For instance, [Elizabeth A.] Johnson suggests that if a religion speaks about God as warrior, using…” quote by Sue Monk Kidd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/8ab/sue-monk-kidd-404_quote_the-core-symbols-we-use-for-god-represen_695324.jpg)
![“The word ‘sin’ is derived from the Indo-European root ‘es-,’ meaning ‘to be.’ When I discovered this etymology, I intuitively understood that for a [person] trapped in patriarchy, which is the religion of the entire planet, ‘to be’ in the fullest sense is ‘to sin'.” quote by Mary Daly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/465/mary-daly-12589_etymology_the-word-sin-is-derived-from-the-indo-eu_889160.jpg)
