# Oh my Goddess **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 7, 2015, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-my-goddess/719518 "2015-05-07T20:52:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![dracoi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90db22/32.png) [@dracoi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dracoi)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2015, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-my-goddess/719518/21 "2015-05-08T00:12:53Z")
> [@kanicbird](#): > > Gen 6, Rev 12, No question male and female. Well… I basically agree with you, but I think “no question” is overstating it. Cultures of all types apply female and/or male pronouns to things like boats, without any intention of a literal gender. For languages like Spanish, it’s essentially mandatory that every word have a gender so you know which pronoun to use. It wouldn’t be unreasonable to think this might be done with supernatural beings. And while the fallen angels in Genesis 6 do procreate with human females, Mary’s dream conception and virgin birth suggest that at least some supernatural entities can procreate without any physical male genitalia. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2015, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-my-goddess/719518/22 "2015-05-08T00:43:24Z")
> [@dracoi](#): > > Well… I basically agree with you, but I think “no question” is overstating it. > > Cultures of all types apply female and/or male pronouns to things like boats, without any intention of a literal gender. For languages like Spanish, it’s essentially mandatory that every word have a gender so you know which pronoun to use. It wouldn’t be unreasonable to think this might be done with supernatural beings. > > And while the fallen angels in Genesis 6 do procreate with human females, Mary’s dream conception and virgin birth suggest that at least some supernatural entities can procreate without any physical male genitalia. The Sons of God in Gen 6 are never stated as ‘fallen angels’ , that is a interpretation that is not scripturally supportable. The reason for the flood was clear, the wickedness of mankind (not angelic or hybrid nephilum). I believe male penguins can ‘procreate without any physical male genitalia.’ Well I am not totally sure, but many male bird species do not have penises. ---
**Author:** ![Measure\_for\_Measure](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/measure_for_measure/32/557_2.png) [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2015, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-my-goddess/719518/23 "2015-05-08T00:49:44Z")
There are [succubus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Succubus), but I’m not sure whether they qualify. Supernatural? Yes. Christian? Well it’s part of the folkloric tradition. ---
**Author:** ![Measure\_for\_Measure](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/measure_for_measure/32/557_2.png) [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2015, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-my-goddess/719518/24 "2015-05-08T01:33:32Z")
Lilith is sometimes known as the queen of demons. All of the 7 deadly sins appear to me to be either male or a creature of indeterminate sex. For those curious, they are Lucifer (pride), Mammon (avarice), Asmodeus (lust), Leviathan (envy), Beelzebub (gluttony), Satan (wrath) and Belphegor (sloth). Lamiae threaten marriages and are related to Lamia of Greek myth. [Onoskelis](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Onoskelis) is a shape-shifting female demon. [Abyzou](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abyzou) (also spelled Abizou, Obizu, Obizuth, Obyzouth, Byzou etc.) is a female demon in charge of miscarriages. [Enepsigos](http://www.mythicalcreatureslist.com/mythical-creature/Enepsigos) is a female shape shifting demon with two heads who lives on the moon. Witches have power, but they are typically human. This is a little odd. Examples of female demons and angels were rare compared to those of the male variety. Yet plenty of witches were burnt at the stake. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2015, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-my-goddess/719518/25 "2015-05-08T03:19:52Z")
> [@smiling\_bandit](#): > > Let’s change that to “pray with her” to avoid some religious disputation. No, we pray **to** her to pray to God for us, as an intercessor. “Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners…” Just like the litany of saints; we pray **to** them to ask for their prayers. > [@kenobi\_65](#): > > The concept of Mary’s role as a “supernatural being” in Catholic belief is complex, but in short, she is seen as an mediator / intercessor for believers with Jesus, which is why Catholics pray to her. Again, she is no more a “supernatural being” than any other dead human. There is the matter of her body having been assumed into heaven. /Mary tangent > [@John\_Mace](#): > > In fact, the term “Judeo-Christian Pantheon” is an oxymoron. Bingo. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2015, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-my-goddess/719518/26 "2015-05-08T03:50:04Z")
> [@Tom\_Tildrum](#): > > Isn’t there an angel named Muriel? Uriel! Sorry. Never mind. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2015, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-my-goddess/719518/27 "2015-05-08T04:42:27Z")
[The Holy Spirit is sometimes seen as female](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gender_of_the_Holy_Spirit), although he is always male or neuter in the Bible. ---
**Author:** ![Measure\_for\_Measure](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/measure_for_measure/32/557_2.png) [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2015, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-my-goddess/719518/28 "2015-05-08T04:43:54Z")
Uriel, angel of wisdom, appears in the Second Book of Esdras, usually considered apocryphal. He’s a dude though. [Uriel - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uriel) Ariel is an angel of nature and the environment. She also “Helps people set goals and achieve their ambitions.” She sounds a little modern to me. Nothing wrong with staying current though. Cite: [How to Recognize Ariel, Archangel of Nature](http://angels.about.com/od/Famous-Archangels/f/How-Do-I-Recognize-Archangel-Ariel.htm) I see she appears in the Book of Isaiah as a personification of Jerusalem. > **[Ariel (angel)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ariel_%28angel%29)** > > Ariel (Hebrew: אֲרִיאֵל, romanized: ʾÁrīʾēl; Ancient Greek: Άριὴλ, romanized: Ariel) is an angel found primarily in Jewish and Christian mysticism and apocrypha. > The word Ariel appears in the Hebrew Bible and on the Mesha Stele under various spellings but not as the name of an angel. In 2 Samuel 23:20 and its parallel passage 1 Chronicles 11:22 the meaning of the word is unclear. In Ezra 8:16 it is a personal name. In Ezekiel 43:15 it is a part of the altar. In Isaiah 29:1–2, 7 it means Jerusale... ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2015, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-my-goddess/719518/29 "2015-05-08T04:49:45Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > . In fact, the term “Judeo-Christian Pantheon” is an oxymoron. [I disagree.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pantheon,_Rome) But to stick with the direction you meant: I do understand what you are trying to say. The “theo” part refers to gods, and not supernatural entities in general. However, the word pantheon is defined in English as “all the gods of a people or religion collectively.” There is no reason this can’t refer to just one entity. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2015, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-my-goddess/719518/30 "2015-05-08T04:51:13Z")
> [@Tom\_Tildrum](#): > > Isn’t there an angel named Muriel? > [@Tom\_Tildrum](#): > > Uriel! Sorry. Never mind. [You were right the first time](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muriel_%28angel%29) (although I don’t think there is any scriptural basis for her). Uriel has a more traditional basis, but he’s not actually canonical either (as mentioned by **Measure for Measure** ). ---
**Author:** ![Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kolak_of_twilo/32/73_2.png) [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolak_of_Twilo)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2015, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-my-goddess/719518/31 "2015-05-08T05:22:48Z")
> [@kanicbird](#): > > As I posted above: Rev 12 > > (yes there is) No, there isn’t. [This is the passage](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation%2012) you mentioned. Reference is made repeatedly to “the woman”. It is never stated that she is an angel. In fact, she flees from the dragon or Satan. Michael and his angels stand and fight, ultimately defeating the dragon and hurling him to earth where he continues to pursue the woman, who continues to flee. If she were an angel, surely she would fight and defeat Satan, just as Michael and his angels did. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2015, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-my-goddess/719518/32 "2015-05-08T06:00:08Z")
It is by no means universally agreed, but it has been argued that one of the Hebrew names for God, _El Shaddai_, means ‘breasted one’ - supposedly linking to themes of fertility and motherly nurture. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2015, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-my-goddess/719518/33 "2015-05-08T06:00:47Z")
Mrs Claus (does she have powers?) ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2015, 6:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-my-goddess/719518/34 "2015-05-08T06:21:56Z")
> [@kanicbird](#): > > There is also the entity that gives birth to the Christ Child in Revelation (Rev 12), this is Jesus’ birth in the heavens, and is not Mary. A angelic female being. And the Whore of Babylon. Clearly (or maybe not so clearly) a metaphor for Rome, or something, but abundantly described as a person. ---
**Author:** ![si\_blakely](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d9b06d/32.png) [@si\_blakely](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/si_blakely)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2015, 9:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-my-goddess/719518/35 "2015-05-08T09:25:56Z")
> [@Finagle](#): > > Lilith, maybe? First wife of Adam. Possibly derived from demons in more ancient religions. Don’t know if the biblical version had any actual demonic powers. Just to be clear, Lilith is from the jewish tradition, and does not occur in the (traditional canonical) Bible. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2015, 11:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-my-goddess/719518/36 "2015-05-08T11:01:44Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > And the Whore of Babylon. Clearly (or maybe not so clearly) a metaphor for Rome, or something, but abundantly described as a person. Rome (or whatever, these things repeat in our world) as I see it is just a physical representation of the spiritual being, causing the earthly governmental/ruling system to organize in a certain way (many times under different names, as that being still exists) In this there are other such beings are indicated as female, among them Jerusalem and the Church, and it is not just using a female pronoun, as they are taking on distinct female roles, such as prostitutes and being the bride of Lord Jesus respectively. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2015, 11:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-my-goddess/719518/37 "2015-05-08T11:05:06Z")
> [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](#): > > No, there isn’t. > > [This is the passage](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation%2012) you mentioned. Reference is made repeatedly to “the woman”. It is never stated that she is an angel. In fact, she flees from the dragon or Satan. Michael and his angels stand and fight, ultimately defeating the dragon and hurling him to earth where he continues to pursue the woman, who continues to flee. If she were an angel, surely she would fight and defeat Satan, just as Michael and his angels did. She is a heavenly being, at apx the level of Satan and Micheal. I would put her at the level as archangel, as the stars (angels) are around her. (Stars are angels Rev 1:20, and again in Rev 12) Also much in the bible that was translated as angels was really ‘sons of God’, such as in Job 1,2. So the term angel is not always used. ---
**Author:** ![Cato\_Younger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Cato\_Younger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cato_Younger)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2015, 11:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-my-goddess/719518/38 "2015-05-08T11:46:44Z")
> [@kanicbird](#): > > She is a heavenly being, at apx the level of Satan and Micheal. I would put her at the level as archangel, as the stars (angels) are around her. (Stars are angels Rev 1:20, and again in Rev 12) > > Also much in the bible that was translated as angels was really ‘sons of God’, such as in Job 1,2. So the term angel is not always used. It’s not certain who “SHE” is–the Book of Revelation is rife with symbolism (this is commonly excepted–unless you are a fundamentalist Christian and literalistic). What “SHE” represents can several different things, insofar as Catholic teachings go: who “SHE” personifies is open to interpretation. [http://www.ncregister.com/blog/jimmy-akin/revelation-12-who-is-the-woman-clothed-with-the-sun/](http://www.ncregister.com/blog/jimmy-akin/revelation-12-who-is-the-woman-clothed-with-the-sun/) ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2015, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-my-goddess/719518/39 "2015-05-08T12:05:37Z")
> [@Cato\_Younger](#): > > It’s not certain who “SHE” is–the Book of Revelation is rife with symbolism (this is commonly excepted–unless you are a fundamentalist Christian and literalistic). > > What “SHE” represents can several different things, insofar as Catholic teachings go: who “SHE” personifies is open to interpretation. > > [http://www.ncregister.com/blog/jimmy-akin/revelation-12-who-is-the-woman-clothed-with-the-sun/](http://www.ncregister.com/blog/jimmy-akin/revelation-12-who-is-the-woman-clothed-with-the-sun/) I do disagree it is symbolic at all, and I do feel saying it’s symbolic is whitewashing it, but my take is it reveals what is going on in the heavenly/spiritual world (and hence the name of the book Revelation and it actually states that’s what it is doing). For example the 4 horses of the apocalypse, I don’t expect 4 physical horses to gallop across the land, but in that realm they will (or have), and we will get the effect of them, and that effect will be felt here, such as disease, famine, higher food prices (possibly due to the making of biofuels - ‘don’t touch the oil or wine’), etc. It does show how and why our world is different then the spiritual, we are given a nicer place to exist in, as the spiritual realm can be quite harsh. But with that said the 2 realms are linked and one does affect the other and a connection is shown in Matthew 16:19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” Which also is a method practiced by people of many faiths, using stuff on earth to predict or influence the spiritual, sometimes with a goal in mind. ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2015, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-my-goddess/719518/40 "2015-05-08T12:40:03Z")
According to Wikipedia: In [Mormonism](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mormonism), **Heavenly Mother** or the **Mother in Heaven** is the mother of human [spirits](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spirit_body) and the wife of [God the Father](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/God_in_Mormonism). Those who accept the Mother in Heaven doctrine trace its origins to [Joseph Smith](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Smith), the founder of the [Latter Day Saint movement](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latter_Day_Saint_movement). The doctrine was not widely known, however, until after the movement’s [succession crisis](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Succession_crisis_%28Latter_Day_Saints%29) upon [Smith’s death](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_of_Joseph_Smith) in 1844. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-my-goddess/719518.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-my-goddess/719518.md?page=3)