Talk:Monogenism (disambiguation)

Theology?

Nowa,

I have re-reverted the edit, believing the issue is perfectly clear. I am happy to discuss it. The section you propose adding is:

• In theology, it [monogenesis] refers to the world view that the male (God) provides the seed for new life and the female (Earth) is merely the vessel for its growth.

You supply the reference: Kirsten Abbott, “Creation Motifs in Hosea”, Seachanges journal Volume 5, December 2005.

This article is written "[f]rom a feminist perspective" (first sentence). It relies extensively on a previous work by Regina M. Schwartz, The Curse of Cain: The Violent Legacy of Monotheism (University of Chicago Press, 1997). The principal contention of the article is that the Biblical Book of Hosea uses imagery that reinforces patriarchal power relations.

The expression "monogenesis" occurs in it only once, in a paragraph that discusses the following passage from Hosea:

2.23 And so on that day, I will answer - oracle of YHWH - I will answer the heavens and they will answer the earth 2.24 and the earth will answer the grain, the wine and the oil, and they will answer Jezreel. 2.25 And I will sow her for myself in the earth. And I will have pity on Not-Pitied, and I will say to Not-My-People, “You are my people” and he will say “My God.”

The author states (boldface added):

The object of the phrase ûzĕra‘tîhā lî bā’āreṣ “And I will sow her for myself in the land/earth”, is somewhat opaque, possibly referring to the woman or the earth (or both?), but the phrase seems to have sexual and fertility connotations (cf. the sexual imagery of wĕyāda‘att ’et-yhwh “and you will know YHWH” 2.22 [2.20]; yizrĕ‘e’l “God sows”, “God inseminates” 2.24 [2.22]). Schwartz makes the point that an understanding of procreation as monogenesis (that is, the male plants the seed and the female is merely the vessel) produces a monotheistic “doctrine of possession, of a people by God, of a land by a people, of women by men.” In Hosea 2.23-25 [2.21-23], particularly when read in conjunction with 2.4-22 [2.2-20], the feminised objects of YHWH’s action (woman/people/earth) are placed in a position of utter dependence. The male God has the power of life and death. The male God is the one who controls resources and fertility.

My comments are these:

The doctrine that the male is solely responsible for procreation and the female a mere vessel was widespread in parts of the ancient world (for example, among the ancient Greeks). Regina M. Schwartz calls this doctrine "monogenesis": if this can be further substantiated, then we might have grounds to add a sentence on this particular use of the word monogenesis. I would want to be sure, though, that it is a general use, not that of an individual (on this I currently have no further information).

However, nothing in the passage cited indicates that this doctrine forms part of Israelite theology, let alone theology in general (Rabbinical? Augustinian? Franciscan? Sunni? Sufi? ...), or – the key point – that it has ever been predicated of God and then called "monogenesis", including in this article.

VikSol 01:00, 12 February 2009 (UTC)