You are invited to a lecture and discussion by Marguerite Rigolioso, Ph.D.,  author of The Cult of the Divine Birth in Ancient Greece  on Friday evening,  July 17 2009, 7-9PM in Long Beach (CA), co-sponsored by the Iseum of the Nubian Moon and Women's Heritage Project.

 

Dr. Rigoglioso will explore the “rape by gods” and supernatural conception stories from Greek history and myth in a startling new way that places virgin priestesses at the core of Western civilization.  Her research makes the case that divine birth was something deliberately attempted by holy women – an elevated form of spiritual practice considered the only means of bringing avatars and true leaders to incarnation.

This serious scholarly study has tremendous implications for world religions with divine birth claims, including Christianity.  It also helps reframe and reclaim the Virgin Mary as a deliberate agent in the conception of Jesus. 

Marguerite Rigoglioso, Ph.D., holds a doctorate in humanities and a master's in philosophy and religion from the California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS), as well as a bachelor's degree from Vassar College . She teaches pioneering courses in women and religion at CIIS, Dominican University , and the Institute of Transpersonal Psychology .