Goddess

The term goddess refers to a feminine deity, both as an abstract concept of the divine (analogous to god) and in reference to a particular deity. Goddesses were prominent in ancient religions in many parts of the world and have continued to play an important role in Asian religions, particularly Hinduism. The rise of universal monotheism, as articulated by Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, displaced the worship of goddesses in favor of masculine god images in much of Europe, Africa, and the Americas. However, the rise of feminism has led to a rebirth of goddess religion in the West as well. This entry discusses goddesses in ancient religions and in Asia, Europe, Africa, and the Americas.