User:NoorAlmutaa/sandbox

Goddess Remembered is a 1989 Canadian documentary on the Goddess movement and feminist theories surrounding Goddess worship in Old European culture according to Marija Gimbutas, and Merlin Stone's When God Was a Woman. Created and produced by Donna Reed for the National Film Board of Canada, the documentary initially focuses on the B.C.E Goddess worshipping civilization that thrived and was nourished for a long period of time. This poetic documentary is a salute to 35 000 years of "pre-history," to the values of ancestors only recently remembered, and to the goddess-worshipping religions of the ancient past. Goddess Remembered features Merlin Stone, Carol Christ, Luisah Teish, Starhawk, Charlene Spretnak, and Jean Shinoda Bolen, who link the loss of goddess-centred societies with today's environmental crisis. They propose a return to the belief in an interconnected life system, with respect for the earth and the female, as fundamental to our survival. Goddess Remembered is the first film in the National Film Board of Canada's Women and Spirituality series, followed by The Burning Times.

The main theme of the film, composed by Loreena McKennitt, was released as the track "Ancient Pines" on her album Parallel Dreams.

Goddess Movement in America
The Goddess movement began in the late 1960's with the intention to create a form of self-empowerment towards the female ordeal – the objective is to empower females as omniscient entities and create a disadvantage towards the gender inequalities that are presented in the United States of America. Goddess feminists identify themselves as part of the movement however, their approach stresses socio-political feminist approach whilst the Goddess Movement has a spiritual approach. the articulation between both parties emphasize the fundamental standpoint between both religion and politics. The movement thrived as a cultural and religious movement with the aim for women to express their struggles and recognize the notion of alienation within society. Often, when the movement is articled with Dianic Wicca, or Neopaganism in which women are glorified and is seen as a New Woman religious movement. It was originally based on a pseudohistorical approach that subsequently all existing cultures were once considered as matriarchal. About three decades ago there were minimal participants who practiced the Goddess movement, However it is estimated that there are about 200,000 participants of the movement. It is believed that converters emerged from the publication of the selling introduction of the teaching from Starhawk in his book The Spiral Dance: A Rebirth of the Ancient Religion of the Great Goddess (1979). Participants name themselves Witches who are usually educated, and are involved in political causes.

History
Influenced by neopaganism ideas in the Women's movement, the following authors; Mary Daly, Merlin Stone, Naomi Goldenberg, and Carol Christ influenced a significant amount of supporters when the movement first launched in the 1960's. They stated that religion was in fact a male-dominated principle that shuns women and their abilities. The notion of Goddess is associated with the term divine; used to describe women as a whole - it s centred on the "the Goddess". The movement emerged and expanded profusely almost all of the Western Countries. The movement dates back to the paleolithic age, which relied on shamanism. Many participants claimed that it was centred and practiced heavily in various regions of Europe – the religion generated that the Great Goddess as a divine entity responsible for nature, women, community, as well as peace. It is believed that Mother Nature is the same as the Great Goddess. The movement not only empowers women but attempts to balance gender equalities that participants believed were imbalanced by the patriarchal cultural, social, political dynamics that were male dominated. Starhawk summarized that it began 400 year ago when it was seen that women who were healers, had natural leaderships and were seen far more independent than men were seen as a threat. The use of the movement encouraged women all over the regions to be unshakeable and the divine entities that they are.

The Movement Today
Today, the Goddess movement is still very much present especially in the United States. It is seen ideally in feminist movements; the fight for equal gender rights, women rights, and act as a support system for its fellow participants. The Goddess is not only seen in the movement but it is also seen in various religions and traditions whether in ancient Greek, Native America, Hinduism, and Buddhism.