The Serpent and the Goddess: Women, Religion, and Power in Celtic Ireland [Paperback]

Mary Condren (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 1989

Using Ireland as a case study, this book provides an account of the decline of matriarchal power in Western civilizations and analyzes its implications for today's women and today's Catholic Church. From the age of Eve to the age of Brigit to the age of Mary, the author traces the rise of patriarchial consciousness. Mary Condren is a former editor of Student Christian Movement Publications and the author of articles on men written for feminist liberation theory. The author has taught in the Women in Religion Program at Harvard University.

Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Harper San Francisco; 1st edition (July 1989)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0062501569
• ISBN-13: 978-0062501561
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #409,194 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

29 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Invite Home the Power of the Irish Feminine, August 21, 2001

By 

Frank MacEowen - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Serpent and the Goddess: Women, Religion, and Power in Celtic Ireland (Paperback)

This book should not be out of print, furthermore, every Irish descendant should read it. The Serpent and the Goddess is an in-depth exploration of the demise of the feminine in Ireland by a Romanized and patriarchal Christian tradition. Condren pulls no punches and she probably could have thrown a few more. The hopeful aire to the book is the fact that the Irish feminine has not disappeared, and her piece by piece, step by step mapping of the suppression of the feminine in the Celtic traditions is done in such a manner to almost offer a prophetic vision of her return, within both primal, druidic as well as in Celtic Christian ways.

17 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Ancient Goddess is Transformed into a Saint, June 18, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: The Serpent and the Goddess: Women, Religion, and Power in Celtic Ireland (Paperback)

A history of the many faces of the Celtic Bridget, from Goddess to Catholic Saint. Read about the legends and the politics that forced changes to them.

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book, January 31, 2012

By 

Heather J. Donnell - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Serpent and the Goddess: Women, Religion, and Power in Celtic Ireland (Paperback)

This is an excellent resource for those looking for a feminist discussion of the impact that the arrival of Christianity had on the socio-cultural structures in Irish and English society. Condron's focus deals primarily on how Christianity is an oppressive patriarchal religion whose adherents sought to sublimate, if not outright, destroy any and all non-Christian influences (read: Pagan) in society. While Condron's writing is accessible, and her information is well-researched, the arguments have an overall tone that is very heavy-handed and negative towards Christianity. In short, I wouldn't recommend this book to Christian feminists.