8. The Shekinah Was Not A Separate Deity
Another startling claim that the book made is that the early church, and the Jews before them, were known to have worshipped the sacred feminine, as did many other cultures, such as the Egyptians who worshipped Osiris. Elaborate rituals, such as the sexual ritual that Sofie’s grandfather took part in, were commonly used to celebrate the sacred feminine. The Jews and early Christians supposedly worshipped not only God but also the Shekinah, who was viewed as a feminine deity or counterpart to God. The early Christians also worshipped Mary Magdalene as a goddess.
However, none of the statements about the Shekinah or Mary Magdalene as manifestations of the sacred feminine have a historical, theological basis. The Shekinah was viewed by the Jews and early Christians as the manifest presence of God on earth among His people and was represented through various forms, such as the pillars of cloud and fire that guided the Hebrew people out of Egypt and the fire that burned above the Mercy Seat of the Ark of the Covenant. It was not a separate deity but an aspect of the one God that they worshipped. After all, the religion of the ancient Hebrews – which they often strayed from by partaking in the worship of idols – was monotheistic.
Christianity, which grew out of the monotheistic religion of the Jews, was monotheistic, as well. Jesus was worshipped as having proceeded from God. The Shekinah came to be known as the Holy Spirit, which complemented Jesus and Father God to create the Trinity.