September 27, 2010
1. Feminism Theodicy (PhD edit)
When preparing my PhD thesis, a kind advisor suggested, for the sake of originality, I attempt to research and write concerning a Feminism Theodicy. We could not find, at the time, what we deemed was a significant enough actual theodicy that we could use. However, we did agree to use the text below and also include some feminism questions in the PhD questionnaire and survey.
Do not laugh, just because I am a big, macho guy does not mean I am not sensitive enough to write on a Feminism Theodicy, if there was one.;)
GEBARA, IVONE (2002) Out of the Depths, Translated by Ann Patrick Ware, Minneapolis, Fortress Press.
Gebara is a well-known Latin American, Roman Catholic theologian and sister. She presents an academically important text since although it is not a formal theodicy or defence, it does deal theologically specifically with the historical sufferings of women. Gebara (2002: 13-59). I can agree with much of what she states concerning the abuse of women that has taken place in history, but I disagree with her feminist reinterpretations of certain essential Christian doctrines, for example the resurrection. Gebara (2002: 122).
She reasons the resurrection is idealistic theory. Gebara (2002: 122). It should be instead looked at metaphorically as the lives of women are improved and evil is resisted. Gebara (2002: 122). She reasons that actual changed lives of women today, which would be metaphorical resurrections in actual bodies are more beneficial than the traditional concept. Gebara (2002: 122).
Yes, physical evil against human bodies, and female human bodies should be dealt with as much as possible by the forces of relative good in this world, including the Christian Church. But within this view all humanity simply eventually dies, as the physical human body cannot exist forever in the present realm. This no matter how much good is done for humanity and women.
The resurrection of Christ and his followers (1 Corinthians 15), those elected in Christ (Ephesians 1, Romans 8), provides victory against the temporal sufferings and evils Gebara is describing and victory over the even greater everlasting evils which she seems to downplay, that is the eventual death of all humanity including women.
From my PhD graphs:
Question 29
Question 37
Question 41
Question 45
Question 52
End
September 30, 2010
2. Blog Star
I just received this 'award' (promotion more like it) by email.
'Dear thekingpin68©
Congratulations! Your blog has been hand selected and
recognized by add your blog.com to receive our - "Blog Star Award" !
Your blog was chosen by our webmasters, to honor your hard
work and dedication in providing a quality web log.
Requirements:
1)Quality Web Content.
2)Great Design.
3)Web Log Everyone Will Love To Read.'
recognized by add your blog.com to receive our - "Blog Star Award" !
Your blog was chosen by our webmasters, to honor your hard
work and dedication in providing a quality web log.
Requirements:
1)Quality Web Content.
2)Great Design.
3)Web Log Everyone Will Love To Read.'
Blog Award By: Blog Directory - Top Blogs
This post presents ten of my favourite local desktop photos:
Fire in the sky, New Westminster (trekearth.com)
Vancouver blues (trekearth.com)
Vancouver skyline (trekearth.com)
Vancouver April 2008 (trekearth.com)
BC Gone fishing (trekearth.com)
Vancouver at night (trekearth.com)
Victoria sunset (trekearth.com)
Vancouver, Coalharbour (trekearth)
BC farm (trekearth.com)
Vancouver blues (trekearth.com)
Vancouver skyline (trekearth.com)
Vancouver April 2008 (trekearth.com)
BC Gone fishing (trekearth.com)
Vancouver at night (trekearth.com)
Victoria sunset (trekearth.com)
Vancouver, Coalharbour (trekearth)
BC farm (trekearth.com)
38 comments:
Ha, hi Russ, still around in bloggerworld, too :-)
And still I admire how many different thoughts you still manage to get our of theology.
Reminds me of a discussion on 'should women be allowed to preach' lately...
Ms. Appletree from Germany, welcome, it is good to hear from you once again.
I miss your intellectual contributions.
Thank you for the compliment.
Dr. Kingpin:)
Feminism is a hot topic for sure and you've tackled it in a theological context, excellent work macho man.
-Macho Mucho-
Nice pics of Vancouver BC, what a beautiful city, one of the nicest in BC!
-Picture This-
'Anonymous said...
Feminism is a hot topic for sure and you've tackled it in a theological context, excellent work macho man.
-Macho Mucho-'
I try, but do the ladies appreciate it?
'Nice pics of Vancouver BC, what a beautiful city, one of the nicest in BC!
-Picture This-'
Thank you, and yes I know you prefer Maple Ridge, in particular east Maple Ridge.
Heyyyy my friend!
I miss you. I'm so sorry for being all this time away. I've just graduated in Tourism & Hospitality. I've been so busy lately. I hope to restart writting on my blog very soon. Please don't stop leaving comments there =)
Bye byeeee
I miss you as well.
Congratulations on your tourism graduation, I now have my Doctorate.
Thanks, Li.
And congrats on your Doctorate :)
Much appreciated, Li.
Ooh interesting topics. As a typical sociology student I've been exploring feminisms for the last few years. Still, I'm not sure that women should be re-writing the Bible for a feminist mindset. If the Bible is truly God's Word then let Him (Her?!) speak to us.
Speaking as a married 20-something from Australia, that is. Sorry I couldn't find a New Zealander to comment! ;p
'Still, I'm not sure that women should be re-writing the Bible for a feminist mindset.'
I agree, women should not. Men should not. Persons should not, for any kind of mindset.
'If the Bible is truly God's Word then let Him (Her?!) speak to us.'
My take is that God is both masculine and feminine and non-sexual. He is however, primarily represented by God inspired Scripture as 'He' and 'Father'.
Well, I guess Australia will do for now...
Thanks, once again.:)
Wow, you not only got your PhD now, but you got a Blog Star award to boot! I guess it can't get much better than that! ; )
You know, Jeff...
I have been humble being elected by God, by grace through faith, in Christ.
I have been humble with great distinction with my first two Christian degrees and two British thesis only degrees.
I have been humble as a Doctor of Philosophy in Theology and Philosophy of Religion.
But, the Blog Star award with the pretty and shiny red colour that sort of matches thekingpin68 template, that is really difficult to be humble about.
If I received a Blog Star for this blog I guess satire and theology is a bit of a dog, eh?;)
That guy just cannot write the same kind of blog I do.
Ruff, ruff.
I have also been humbled in life.
Dr. Kingpin (Marvel blog super-villain)
PhD and Blog Award!!! Well done!
Loved the photographs and am now a proud follower of your blog!
Middle Ditch, you are very kind, thank you.
I followed your blog with Goggle/Blogger in return.
Happy Weekend.
Congratulations Dr. Blog Star!
Bizarre how some respondents actually thought God does not desire women's suffering to be understood, or that God does not dislike women being viewed as sex objects. How does one misread statements like that? Unless their concept of God is radically different, like an impersonal force that has no desire.
Thanks, Chucky.
My take, and this is not what I know, as I did not watch people fill out the surveys, for example, was that some perhaps on the radical right and/or left, did not want women's issues dealt with by the Christian Church.
So, I will just throw this out as hypothetical and speculative.
I dropped off questionnaires to radical left leaning local churches, that were technically for my PhD research purposes and by Wales' definition 'Christian'. A few of the attendees that day could be persons involved the sex trade industry, or support it and some of these persons may not think women need special care or should not be seen as sex objects. By the way, I simply dropped questionnaires off at these places and did not request to participate in the service.
I emailed a bunch of questionnaires to fairly fundamentalist churches in the USA and some of the attendees could reason that I was a liberal, which I was and am not, and some may have decided to put me in my place and shut down any attempts I may have had via the surveys to promote feminism in the Church.
Another possibility is that the answers were given as a joke.
Those negative answers could be been given as an angry response to my questions. I received some angry feedback with both my MPhil questionnaire (Religion students) and my PhD questionnaire (Church attendees).
I have stated this before years ago, that when I was attempting to send out these PhD surveys, one radical left Reverend in BC implied I had something against women and that was why I was asking his church to fill out the questionnaire. He refused. I also had a gruff fundamentalist Pastor in the US claim my survey was a feminist propaganda tool. He refused.
Both men refused to discuss this issue with me when they were corrected via email.
Typical.
Geographical stereotype maps
You might have to zoom in on some of them.
Thanks, Chuck.
Interesting.
Europe according to USA
Europe according to UK
But, the Blog Star award with the pretty and shiny red colour that sort of matches thekingpin68 template, that is really difficult to be humble about.
LOL! That's hilarious!
If I received a Blog Star for this blog I guess satire and theology is a bit of a dog, eh?;)
That guy just cannot write the same kind of blog I do.
That's right; he can't compare to you!
Jeff,
Mr. Satire and theology actually received his Doctorate from the University of Whales. Sure enough he wrote a thesis on the problem of evil.
The problem of Evel Knievel and why he did not make the launch at Snake River Canyon.
I watched that on television as a little kid. How disappointing.
The pics of Vancouver are really nice as I have mentioned, What are your top five favorite cities?
-Curious-
Thanks.
I have been to North America, obviously and Europe.
Top Five cities I have visited in alphabetical order, with Greater Vancouver area excluded:
Dublin
London
Los Angeles
Washington, D.C.(Historical parts)
York
Others:
Calgary
Durham/Newcastle area
Edinburgh
Orlando
Paris
Rotterdam
San Diego
San Francisco Bay/Silicon Valley
Jeff,
Mr. Satire and theology actually received his Doctorate from the University of Whales. Sure enough he wrote a thesis on the problem of evil.
The problem of Evel Knievel and why he did not make the launch at Snake River Canyon.
I watched that on television as a little kid. How disappointing.
That's funny.
Yes, Jeff, sorry The Jeff, for purposes of the web.
I, thekingpin68, am smart funny, whereas the satire guy...not so much. He has to rely on his silly photos.
Gee, I still don't see any award on his blog...
Thanks. Interesting charts
and post!
Warm Aloha from Waikiki
Comfort Spiral
Thank you, Cloudia.
The graphs were a request made by the PhD examiners. A friend showed me how to make them.
They do look good.
Hello,
I visited your blog. The information which you have shared in your site is very informative. I really much impressed with your blog.
I have added your blog to Blog Roll at
http://autotransport-uk.blogspot.com. So would
If you give my links on your blog it will be useful to our visitors and also can get ideas and information from your site.
Thanking You
With Regards,
Bertina
Bertina, we are now reciprocally linked.
Thank you.
For my readers, these are my two latest posts from satire and theology:
satire cult
satire diary
I think the ladies do appreciate your blog, its intelligent and respectful of all persons, full of humor, pleasant scenic pictures, and challenging to read!
-Blogger Reviewer-
'I think the ladies do appreciate your blog, its intelligent and respectful of all persons, full of humor, pleasant scenic pictures, and challenging to read!
-Blogger Reviewer-'
I will only believe it when they tell me. Even if a female has to use anonymous. Enough blog snooping.;);>
Cheers.
Someone quoted C.S. Lewis: "If you do not listen to theology it does not mean you have no ideas about God, it means you will have false ideas about God."
I have gleaned much material from the Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood. They discuss primarily complementarianism and egalitarianism. http://www.cbmw.org/
Interesting, thanks David.
From the website:
'In 1987, a group of pastors and scholars assembled to address their concerns over the influence of feminism not only in our culture but also in evangelical churches. Because of the widespread compromise of biblical understanding of manhood and womanhood and its tragic effects on the home and the church, these men and women established The Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood.
In opposition to the growing movement of feminist egalitarianism they articulated what is now known as the complementarian position which affirms that men and women are equal in the image of God, but maintain complementary differences in role and function. In the home, men lovingly are to lead their wives and family as women intelligently are to submit to the leadership of their husbands. In the church, while men and women share equally in the blessings of salvation, some governing and teaching roles are restricted to men.
An organization like CBMW is needed because the gender issue is so complex, and the consequences for violating God's Word in this area are so devastating. We hope that you will benefit from the critical ministry of CBMW as we help the church deal biblically with gender issues.'
I really found the topic of "feminism theodicy" an interesting one and worthy of investigation. However, to reinterpret the Bible to fit anyone's agenda, whether it be a feminist agenda or otherwise, compromises the validity and the true teachings it was intended to convey. Unfortunately many have used the Bible as a platform to subjugate others, especially women, and in a way it does do that but in another sense, if one really looks at the women in the Bible they will see that women have played a vital role...note: Rahab the prostitute, Mary Magdalene, etc.
I read a book recently by James Finley, Christian Meditation, where he brings up the idea of using the female and male entity in referring to God. He argues that the Bible, since it was written during the time of patriarchal societies, was thus written from such a perspective but really God is of no gender and has both female and male characteristics. (an example of a female one, would be wisdom). Do you have any thoughts on that? I'm just wondering! The church I go to I don't think would let it fly very well if I referred to God as a she!
Anyways, enjoying your blog :)
'I really found the topic of "feminism theodicy" an interesting one and worthy of investigation.'
Thank you.
'However, to reinterpret the Bible to fit anyone's agenda, whether it be a feminist agenda or otherwise, compromises the validity and the true teachings it was intended to convey.'
Well-stated, I agree.
'Unfortunately many have used the Bible as a platform to subjugate others, especially women, and in a way it does do that but in another sense, if one really looks at the women in the Bible they will see that women have played a vital role...note: Rahab the prostitute, Mary Magdalene, etc.'
Good points. And Mary of course.
'I read a book recently by James Finley, Christian Meditation, where he brings up the idea of using the female and male entity in referring to God. He argues that the Bible, since it was written during the time of patriarchal societies, was thus written from such a perspective but really God is of no gender and has both female and male characteristics. (an example of a female one, would be wisdom). Do you have any thoughts on that? I'm just wondering! The church I go to I don't think would let it fly very well if I referred to God as a she!
Anyways, enjoying your blog :)'
God is spirit, and is therefore not physically male or female.
My theological deduction is that God is both masculine and feminine and that this is reflected in God's image within humanity in Genesis 1: 27 and Genesis 2.
God has decided in his word to be described as 'he' and Father, and I reason we should respect and honour that within his word.
It is good to have someone new to blog with.
Thank you :) And I agree to your statement regarding the fact that since the Bible refers to God as our Father that we should honor that.
Yes, it is great to find new blogs, I'm glad to be following yours now, I look forward to reading more of your articles :)
Thanks, Jessica.
Kind comments.
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