Just finished a zoom last night – finishing at 11.00pm here in Spain. On chapter 1 of Humanising the Divine. For me it was great, particularly as there was some healthy pushback on my ideas. It is wonderful to write something that could be well off, or at least wonderful if it helps others to push back against it and come to a far better position.
Anyway… I find it interesting that (and here I am being ever so positive about what I have written) in seeking to put humanity much more central to theology, there is either the possibility of just following a trend that has nothing to do with theology, or there is something very deep going on at this time concerning humanisation.
In recent work on women in politics – in some places there are (at last) record numbers of women entering the political realm that has been dominated not simply by men but by masculinity – there has been a shift with how violence is understood. Violence has often been equated with physical injury, but in policy and academic research the term is now being defined more broadly to mean a violation of integrity. Violence being any act that harms a person’s autonomy, dignity, self-determination, and value as a human being.
Humanisation… and for me theologically the work of demons is to dehumanise; sin is when we no longer act as ‘true’ humanity.
Then jumping forward some volumes (#3) of what I am writing I push into the necessity for the feminisation of humanity, with Jesus being (of necessity) 1st Century Jewish and male not because they are superior, but they (as defined above) have been the major perpetrators of violence. The male being universal, and the first Century Jewish context being that of isolation, separation and superiority. (Chosen, yes… but chosen for who?)
Back in the day I remember so much being unveiled concerning the imperial spirit, and the ‘rolling up of the Roman way’. It seemed at the time that those same themes were being unfolded outside the holy confines of church life also.
So maybe the humanising theme is coming through in theology because this is the time for a major push on this globally, and if so then there has to be a new breath expected in and through women. I like to think that.
If my thinking is in the right direction of course there will be an unholy push back against such a direction, the expression of that push back will be violence, as defined above and as classically thought of.
And of course I could well be wrong.
Have occasionally dipped into feminist theology and found it really challenging and something that opens up new ways of looking at scripture -not just because I’m a bloke. Recently have decided to take a deeper look and found the suggestion of a new wave coming from those with a feminist perspective(men and women) acknowledging that if feminist theology liberates women, but not others then it too can be oppressive- de-humanising? In defending ones own need of liberation love for others and even enemies remain. (Wisdom commentary series, Barbara Reid ed.) Feminist may not always be the perfect description, but the feminine voice definitely challenges what has been and still exists – thankfully!
Yes… the opposite ends up the same in most cases. I am just mulling over a post on the Social Dilemma. The alogirithms confirming our biased viewpoint, and we demonise the opposite. Liberation has to be for all… ‘In Christ…’ (Gal. 3:28).
Yes and Amen, Martin! In our journey of being back fully human, the feminine must be awakened. Living in the society we are in, it sure feels like getting out of Babylon and into our Edenic native self. Thank you for provoking all of us towards this journey, Martin!
Hey Alex & Sam
Thanks for reading and commenting. Love what you are pioneering, space for all, an environment for dreaming, a context of affirmation.