Kragujevac and Thealogy: Difference between pages

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'''Thealogy''' is literally the study of the [[Goddess]] ([[Greek language|Greek]] θεά, ''thea'', "goddess" + λόγος, ''logos'', "study"). In [[1993]], [[Charlotte Caron]]'s definition of '''thealogy''' as "reflection on the divine in feminine and feminist terms" appeared, but the term actually originates in the writings of [[Isaac Bonewits]] in [[1974]].

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==First uses==

[[Image:Veliki.jpg|right|thumb|Municipal coat of arms]]

'''Kragujevac''' (Крагујевац) (population around 200,000) is a city in [[Serbia]] and the prime city of the [[Sumadija]] region. It is located on the [[Lepenica River]] at 44.02° North, 20.92° East. Kragujevac is known for its weapons munitions and car factory, Zastava, which produces [[Yugo]] [[automobile]]s. The [[University of Kragujevac]] (f. [[1976]]) is also located there. The first University in Serbia was founded in this city in [[1838]], as well as the first Grammar school(Gymnasium), Printworks (both in [[1833]]), Theatre ([[1834]]) and Military school ([[1837]]). During the period of [[1818]]- [[1839]], Kragujevac was the capital of a Domain of Serbia, during the reign of the Serbian prince [[Milos Obrenovic]].

===First(?) usages===

Kragujevac experienced a lot of historical turbulence, not always without severe casulties.First mentioned in [[Turkey|Turkish]] documents from the [[15th century]] as a "village of Kragujevdza" (the name comes after the bird griphon - "kraguj" in [[Serbian language|Serbian]]), Kragujevac has undergone a number of ordeals, and the worst must be the massacre of males and a number of schoolchildren in [[World War II]], when [[Nazi]]s shot 7000 people on [[October 21]], [[1941]], retaliating for a partisan attack on [[Germany|German]] soldiers - 50 people for one wounded, 100 for a dead soldier. Among the killed was a whole generation of boys taken directly from the school. The monument for the executed pupils is a symbol of the city. This atrocity has inspired a poem ''Krvava bajka'' (''Bloody fairy tale'') by [[Desanka Maksimovic]], a well known female poet from the former [[Yugoslavia]].

In "The Druid Chronicles (Evolved)," privately published in [[1976]], Isaac Bonewits used "thealogian" to refer to a Wiccan author ([[Aidan Kelly]], aka "C. Taliesin Edwards," who may have given him the term or vice versa) and "theilogy" (defined as "the study of more than one God"). Bonewits also used "theilogy" (and possibly "thealogy," since he thinks he coined them at the same time) in the pages of the widely-distributed "Gnostica" magazine he edited in 1974 and [[1975]].

The architecture of Kragujevac is rather interesting, displaying the fusion of two diametrically different styles -- traditional Turkish(nowadays almost completely gone) and [[19th century]] German "secession" style. Modern conceptions have not passed by Kragujevac, but they were manifestly influenced by the architectural thought of [[Communism|Communist]] [[socialist realism]].

"The Druid Chronicles (Evolved)" were a three-year project starting in 1974 and finished (published) in 1976. The article referred to within "The Druid Chronicles (Evolved)" is dated to the summer of 1976. Moreover, this is almost certainly not the first usage; the context of "thealogian" is in citing a work by C. Taliesin Edwards, "Essays towards a Meta''thealogy'' of the Goddess." [stress added] There is, however, a possibility that Bonewits altered the name of the work to fit with his terminology. He is attempting to track this down. Kelley himself has said to Bonewits that he can't remember which of the two of them said "thealogy" to the other first.

It is the administrative center of the [[Sumadija District]] of Serbia.

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In [[1976]], [[Valerie Saiving]], ending her "[[Androcentrism]] in Religious Studies" made a much quoted invocation that yearns towards something as yet undefined-

== History ==

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The history of the City is rich with events that changed the course of the history, economy and culture of this part of the world and the Balkans. Kragujevac was first mentioned in the Medieval time as related to the public square built in a settlement, while the first written traces originate from TAPU-DEFTER in 1476. Over 200 archeological sites in Sumadija confirm the fact that life in this region began to pulsate in the ancient time of Paleolite 40.000 years ago. The history of Kragujevac runs deeper than the history of the capital City of Belgrade.

:''it is just possible that the unheard testimony of that half of the human species which has for so long been rendered inarticulate may have something to tell us about the holy which we have not known - something which can finally make us whole.''

Kragujevac is located at a crossroads. Given this ___location, the city has been devastated many times and has suffered great losses of life in a number of wars throughout history. Kragujevac began to prosper in 1818 when Prince Milos Obrenovic proclaimed it the capital of the new Serbian State, and began to lay the first foundations of Serbia. The first Serbian Constitution was proclaimed here in 1835 and the first idea of the independent electoral democracy. The first Law on the Printing Press was passed in Kragujevac in 1870. Kragujevac, the capital, was developing and cherishing modern, progressive and free ideas and resembled many European capitals of that time.

::(Saiving 1976:197)

===Second(?) usage ===

Apart from the political influence of the time, Kragujevac became the cultural and educational center of the state. Most important institutions built were: The First Grammar School, the first Pharmacy, and the first printing press. Kragujevac gave rise to many international scholars, professors, academics, scientists, artists and statesmen.

In "The Changing of the Gods" 1979:96, [[Naomi Goldenberg]] selfconsciously introduces the term as a half whimsical possibility, an inspirational comment, not a prelude to exegesis. She does not go on to define what thealogy might be, other than the implicit femininity of the coinage. This lack was perhaps because at that time the very assertion of a serious feminist analysis of religion was virtually unheard of, and the introduction of the concept was an excitingly powerful, but vague, possibility.

The turning point in the overall development of Kragujevac was in 1851 when the Canon Foundry began production. The new era in the City’s economic development began. The main industry of the XIX and XX century was military production. Kragujevac has been one of Serbia’s largest exporters since 1886when the main railroads Belgrade –Nis connected Kragujevac.

This is not to say that both Goldenberg and Saiving do not both offer extremely solid chunks of thealogy, but they do not give an overview of something to which they were midwives.

New centuries brought new wars. In the World War I Kragujevac again became the seat of many republic institutions even Supreme army command was roomed within the Court House building. During the war Kragujevac lost 15% of its population.

===Bonewits again===

In the World War II Kragujevac suffered great losses in human life and was devastated and destroyed. October 21, 1941 was the most tragic day in the history of Kragujevac. On that day fascists committed one of the biggest mass crimes when they shot several thousand Kragujevac citizens.

In the post war period Kragujevac developed more industry. Industry has been developed by the economic activity of many enterprises, their main products of export has been passenger cars and industrial vehicles, hunting arms, industrial chains, leather and textiles. Since 1976, Kragujevac has grown as a University center.

Also in [[1979]], in the first revised edition of "Real Magic," Bonewits defined "thealogy" in his Glossary this way: "Intellectual speculations concerning the nature of the Goddess and Her relations to the world in general and humans in particular; rational explanations of religious doctrines, practices and beliefs, which may or may not bear any connection to any religion as actually conceived and practiced by the majority of its members." While the last clause was his editorializing, the majority of the definition was adapted by removing sexist assumptions from a dictionary then in his library. Also in the same glossary, he defined "theology" and "theoilogy" (spelled correctly this time) with nearly identical words, changing the pronouns appropriately. He has since dropped the use of "theoilogy" in favor of "polytheology," also first published by him in the 1974 "Druid Chronicles."

Kragujevac was the first Serbian capital after the liberation of the Turkish rule. The old church of Descent of the Holy Spirit was built in 1818, as a part of the Prince Milos' court. Its interior was decorated from 1818 to 1822. The new belfry was built in 1907.

In [[2003]] he pointed out that "thealogy" is an obvious coinage that may have been invented many times, and that feminist scholars are unlikely to have been familiar with his writings.

The Old Parliament was built in the court of the church where the first parliamentary meeting was held in 1859. Many events of great historical importance such as verifying The Berlin Congress Decision about the Independence of Serbia have taken place in it. After the conservation made in 1992, the building was converted into a Museum.

=== Growing usage by Carol Christ and Ursula King ===

The Amidza Konak was built by the Prince Milos in 1820, as a residential house. It is one of the finest examples of regional architecture in Serbia. It now houses the National Museum exhibitions.

The Prince Mihailo Konak was built in 1860. Its architecture blends local tradition with European architectural concepts. The building is now the National Museum.

[[Carol Christ]] used the term more substantially in "Laughter of Aphrodite" [[1987]].

High School, Licee, was built from 1885 to 1887 after the designs made out at the Ministry of Civil Engineering. It is one of our oldest edifices designed in European manner in which the tradition of the oldest Serbian Licee from 1833 is keeping on. The academic approach in designing and eclectical outside decoration resulted the fine proportions of the building. Some Serbian famous scientists, artists and politicians were educated in this school.

In [[1989]] [[Ursula King]] notes its growing usage as a fundamental departure from traditional male-oriented theology, characterised by its privileging of symbols over rational explanation. She chronicles sympathetically that-

These institutions continue to promote cultural activities in modern Serbia. Theater "Joakim Vujic" (founded in 1835), National Library "Vuk Karadzic" (1866), Cultural and Artistic Group "Abrasevic" (1904).

:''most writing on the Goddess, when not historical, is either inspirational or devotional, and a systematically ordered body of thought, even with reference to symbols, is only slowly coming into existence.''

Memorial Park "October of Kragujevac" - October 21, 1941 was the most tragic day in the history of Kragujevac. On that day fascists committed one of the biggest mass crimes when they shot several thousand Kragujevac citizens.

::(1989:126-127)

== Further expansion of thealogy by Starr* Saffa ==

The National Museum has various displays including those pertaining to archeology, ethnic diversity, history of Kragujevac and Sumadija and many paintings. The archeology department has a rich collection of 10 000 exponents and over 100 000 study items. The painting department has over 1000 pieces of prominent Serbian art of extraordinary value.

The "Zastava Museum" is located within the old gun foundry and exhibits the history of industrial development in Kragujevac and Serbia.

The Historical Archives of Sumadia collects and files the archives and issues of the seven municipalities of Sumadija and has at its disposal 700 meters of archive issues with 780 registries and hundreds of thousands of original historical documents.

Touristic offer include rich cultural and monumental heritage and specific areas that promote the range of scenic attractions within short distance. Spas Vrnjacka and Mataruska; Castle of Karadjordje, Famous churches Saint George at Topola 40km far; Old monastery of Kalenic 55km far; Resorts of Rogot 28km, Stragari 34 km far with old monasteries of Blagovestenje and Voljavca; Spa Arandjelovac.

Tahirih Thealogy

Tourist information and accommodation:

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Tourist organization of Kragujevac

34000 Kragujevac, Kragujevačkog oktobra 98

+381 34/334 054, 334 883

fax: [phone]

</blockquote>

The basic Definition of TheAlogy as opposed to Theology means viewing the world incorporating the Female lens which to a great extent in the past has been omitted in Theology.

Inhabited places

* Kragujevac – 211.580

** Kragujevac city – 193.930

There are 5 municipalities, 4 urban and 1 suburban.

*Aerodrom - urban

** Aerodrom

** Uglješnica

**Vinogradi

**Šumarice

**Jovanovac,

**Cvetojevac

**Resnik

**Novi Milanovac

**Petrovac

**Opornica

**Desimirovac

**Cerovac

**Lužnice

**Gornje Jarušice

**Čumić

**Mali Šenj

**Pajazitovo

**Mironić

**Gornje Grbice

**Šljivovac

**Poskurice

*Pivara - urban

**Pivara

** Lepenica

**Ilićevo

**Filip Kljajić

**Bresnica 3

**Beloševac

**Teferič

**Botunje

**Korman

**Donje Komarice

**Gornje Komarice

**Velika Sugubina

**Bukurovac,

**Jabučje

**MaršićTrmbas

**Donja Sabanta

**Gornja Sabanta

**Velike Pčelice

**Dulene

**Baljkovac

Tahirih TheAlogy is religion beyond religion, politics beyond politics, and spiritual feminism beyond feminism in that it recognizes the Cosmic Christ Spirit in every individual and sets out the pattern of balance for the Sixth Cycle of humanity based on magnetic attraction vs. force and patriarchal constructs.

During the later part of 2004 Starr* Saffa introduced Tahirih Thealogy and the Tahirih Path in her book entitled “Tahirih Thealogy: Female Christ Spirit of the Age” based on the figure of the 19th Century Iranian born Prophet-Poetess Tahirih who was also known as Qurratu’l-ayn, and the return of Fatima.

*Stanovo - urban

** Stanovo

**Veliko Polje

**Korićani

**Male Pčelice - Staro selo

**Male Pčelice

**Novo Naselje

**Trešnjevak

**Adžine Livade

**Erdeč

**Vinjište

**Goločelo

**Grošnica

**Dragobraća

**Đuriselo

**Drenovac

**Drača

**Divostin

**Prekopeča

**Rogojevac

**Kutlovo

*Stara Varoš (Old City) - urban

**Prvi maj

**Bagremar

**Bubanj

**Centar

**21.oktobar

**Erdoglija

**Palilule

**Stara radnička kolonija

**Vašarište

**Sušica

*Stragari - suburban

**Stragari

**Veliki Šenj

**Vlakča

**Dobrača

**Kamenica

**Kotraža

**Ljubičevac

**Mala Vrbica

**Masloševo

**Ramaća

**Ugljarevac

Tahirih taught that inner knowledge is trumps and Starr* Saffa says Tahirih TheAlogy has the potential to unite East and West where everyone can be living Tahirih’s in this day through the continuous flow of Spirit.

Executive government Mayor (Gradonačelnik), City council (Skupština Grada)

== Definition by Charlotte Caron ==

Mayor Veroljub Stevanović

In [[1993]] Charlotte Caron's definition of thealogy as "reflection on the divine in feminine and feminist terms" appeared in "To Make and Make Again" (quoted from Russell & Clarkson 1996). By this time the concept had gained considerable (though conventionally marginal) status, broadly analogous to Ruether's view of radical feminist theology as opposed to reformist [[feminist theology]].

Area 835 km²

=== Melissa Raphael's view ===

Population - total 211.580 (2002)

In [[1997]] [[Melissa Raphael]] wrote "Thealogy & Embodiment" which put the usage firmly on the map, and which she sustained in her subsequent "Thealogy: Discourse on the Goddess" ([[1999]]?). Together with Carol Christ's "Rebirth of the Goddess" 1997 Raphael's work provides a start for the "systematically ordered body of thought" King found lacking in 1989.

Founded 1476

== Three interpretations of thealogy ==

Area code 034

City web site

There are perhaps three distinct interpretations of thealogy, and they are evident in the briefing above.

==External links==

*Christ, King and Raphael focus thealogy specifically on [[Goddess]] spirituality.

*http://www.drugaboja.co.yu

*Caron defines a broader field of a female worldview of the [[sacred]].

*http://www.microsky.net

*Goldenberg's neologism as a political stance that marks the [[androcentrism]] of historical [[theology]] permeates the other two and raises its own issues.

*http://www.zastavinsoliter.com

*http://www.kgauto.com

=== Thealogy as Goddess spirituality ===

*http://www.kragujevac.org.yu

*http://www.kragujevac.co.yu

*http://www.kgonline.info

*http://www.kg-online.net

Taking the Goddess variant first, and it seems the commonest to the point where thealogy is typically assumed to be purely Goddess based, a linguistic derivation from the Greek "thea"

[[Category:Cities in Serbia and Montenegro]]

(goddess). Goddess systematics inevitably face the question of "god in a skirt" or not, a subtly [[sexism|sexist]] tag that nonetheless carries a genuine issue. This can be viewed as sexist because "in a skirt" defines a subject norm as altered, trivialised, and definitely derivative, much as some have considered the female to have been historically defined in relation to the male. Thealogy specifically aims to counter what its proponents perceive as the massive [[dualism|dualistic]] sexism in the field of religion, by asserting a female [[worldview]] that is not merely reformist or derivative, so its proponents would see this quip as especially destructive.

[[Category:Towns in Serbia ]]

[[bg:Крагуевац]]

=== Broad interpretation of thealogy (Caron) ===

[[de:Kragujevac]]

[[it:Kragujevac]]

Caron's definition "Reflection on the divine in feminine and feminist terms" holds a caution for feminist theologians and thealogians alike that the female sacred extends beyond the feminist agenda. Often theology or feminist thealogy writes as if the Goddess is a feminist discovery. The "womenspirit" Goddess is a highly selected deity who for thealogians such as Christ has nothing to do with goddess practices such as violent sacrifice, or validating a male conqueror. However, this can be seen to be as inauthentic as the habit of some Christians of disowning the [[Inquisition]] as "not done by real Christians" (see the "[[no true Scotsman]]" [[logical fallacy]]).

[[nl:Kragujevac]]

[[pl:Kragujevac]]

Nor is it a matter only of past history: many members of a huge international organisation like the [[Fellowship of Isis]] would not identify as feminist, nor would a great many [[Pagan]]s. Outside the goddessing of western [[New religious movement|NRMs]] thealogy can recognise and give due respect to the world millions in village and tribal religions who look to goddesses in ways that may or may

[[sr:Крагујевац]]

not be feminist, and Caron's definition allows thealogy to be this widely inclusive.

[[sv:Kragujevac]]

This broader view accords well with the kind of fluid systematics profiled by [[Cynthia Eller]] when she reports her respondent [[Margaret Keane]] as saying:

:''I don't make those kind of distinctions that you hear about, they don't make any sense to me. You can say it's the Great Goddess, and that's the one Goddess, but she's also all of the many goddesses, and that's true. And she's everywhere. She's immanent in everything, in the sparkle of the sun on the sea, and even in an animistic concept. I think certain objects can embody that force and power. So I worship the Great Goddess, and I'm polytheistic and pantheistic and monotheistic too. And I also have a feeling for nature spirits...''

::(1993 :132-133)

This broader view has most recently been labelled by [[Michael York]] as "polymorphic thealogy." He also raises the issue of whether thealogy venerates one Goddess or many, which some thealogicians consider a non-question since it arises from a monotheist worldview that they do not hold.

However Caron's definition falls short of explicitly allowing for male positions in thealogy.

=== A challenge to androcentrism ===

The third interpretation of thealogy as an assertion of female sacred worldviews is clearly political. The notes above touch on how this usage aims to counter the deeply established dualistic relegation of female as derivative, making the male the norm: as [[Mary Daly]] put it "If God is male, then the male is God."

Thealogy has been criticised as [[essentialism|essentialist]] by [[queer theory|queer theorists]] and others.

To a thealogian it is important to explore the female worldview (not only but notably of the sacred) and not be compelled to take off female spectacles when looking at themes beyond female [[psychobiology]]. A speaker may choose to adopt a kind of gender neutral stance insofar as she can, or she may try to empathise with a male worldview, and a male speaker vice versa.

== Linguistic twiddling ==

Many scholars find the term "thealogy" exasperating, a linguistic twiddling, including some feminist theologians. But the position of women operating within the male worldview of theology, as in most of [[feminist theology]], is more marginal than in the general run of professional occupations these days. The rigidly entrenched sexism in the contemporary academy perceived by some thealogs recalls situations of general Women's Liberation in 1972, rather than society 30 years later (see recent research studies Ofsted UK).

==See also==

*[[God and gender]]

*[[feminist theology]]

*[[goddess]]

*[[goddess worship]]

==References==

* Isaac Bonewits "The Second Epistle of Isaac" in "the Druid Chronicles (Evolved)" Berkeley Drunemeton Press, 1974.

*Isaac Bonewits "Real Magic" Creative Arts Book Co., 1979

*Charlotte Caron "To Make and Make Again: Feminist Ritual Thealogy" NY Crossroad 1993

*Carol Christ "Rebirth of the Goddess:Finding meaning in feminist spirituality" Routledge 1997

*Cynthia Eller "Living in the Lap of the Goddess: The Feminist Spirituality Movement in America" Crossroad 1993

*Naomi Goldenberg "The Changing of the Gods" 1979

*Ursula King "Women and Spirituality" Macmillan 1989

*Melissa Raphael "Thealogy & Embodiment" 1997 Sheffield Academic Press

*Melissa Raphael "Introducing Thealogy: Discourse on the Goddess" 1999 Sheffield Academic Press

*Letty M. Russell & J Shannon Clarkson "Dictionary of Feminist Theologies" Mowbray 1996.

*Starr* Saffa "Tahirih Thealogy: Female Christ Spirit of the Age" OzForUs Publishing 2004; Zeus-publications 2005.

*Valerie Saiving "Androcentrism in Religious Studies" in Journal of Religion 56:1976:177-97

[[Category:Theology]]