In Brazilian-author Paulo Coelho’s newest novel, The Witch of Portobello, a Romanian orphan (none-to-subtly) named Athena is adopted by wealthy Lebanese Christians. Throughout her upbringing, her various visions and prophesies are discounted as childish and baseless, but when the situation in Beirut becomes inhospitable and she moves to London as a young adult, things start to change. She acquires a spiritual teacher, begins endorsing a sort of modern Paganism and finds herself both disciples and detractors, both fervent in their respective beliefs.

In the Weekend Edition Saturday interview, Coelho, a Catholic, discusses his motivations for bringing to light an archaic tradition of matriarchal worship. “I’m a Catholic, but not a Catholic writer.” To him, “God is love…and love is traditionally associated with the more feminine face of the Lord.”

From there, Coehlo discussed the subtle evolution of religion and suggests that the Virgin Mary is likely a vestigial figure from the Roman Pagan tradition, pointing to the comparisons drawn between Christianity and Athena’s brand of religion that run throughout the novel. Coehlo continued, saying he hopes that this evolution will continue and that in another 2,000 years, the traditionally feminine aspects of religion will reemerge.

Listen to the NPR interview with Paulo Coehlo here.