To the editor:

At least last week’s Faith Forum on God and war supported humanity’s ability to put our weapons down. Of course the clergy evangelized for their own path as the way out of war. The Old and New Testament were cast as the first ever and current top guidebook to secure a peaceful planet. But history isn’t served by this claim. And it’s too bad that those who note the poor track record by world religions to walk their talk are left with no alternative myth or spirituality to inspire lasting peace.

Religion did exist before scripture. Even the Neanderthals buried their dead in a sacred manner. More to the point, there were archaic cultures who honored God as Divine Mother, Her body the ground they walked – no weapons or fortifications found in their graves or surroundings. The work of anthropologist Marija Gimbutas in the Neolithic Balkan area is crucial here. More familiar, the Minoan civilization of ancient Crete epitomized a peaceful people’s love of art, ritual, sports and a darn good time. No weaponry there either.

Peace won’t be won by ignoring select examples of it in our collective religious past. I wonder what a theology that honors the Divine Mother – and by extension, elevates the status of women – would do for our foreign policy, social services, our physical and mental health?

Or for our children’s future.

Sue Westwind,
Oskaloosa