To continue with my reflections on Bishop Robinson's book I'd like to offer the following important quote:
“Paul and his Greek and Persian contemporaries were also influenced by a popular notion from which most of the Western world still opereates—an idea that would have been foreign to the Hebrew mind and to Jesus—the notion of a mind/body dualism asserting that matters of the mind and soul were noble and striving for the good and perfect, while matters of the body were crude and obscene and inherently shallow, if not evil...Seeing the body, and especially sexuality, in this corrupting way is perhaps the most powerful source of our Pandora’s-Box attitude toward sex” (33).
With this statement, Bishop Robinson reminds us of the crucial truth that early on in the history of Christianity the influence of Greek philosophy came to hold theological sway in the church. As articulated in the philosophy of Plato, this line of thought suggested a fundamental mind/body split in which things pertaining to the mind are good and those related to the body bad. This school of philosophy actually has nothing to do with the life and teachings of Christ and therefore, though perhaps one might argue that it was useful for a time, there is no need to hold to this view of human beings or creation any longer.
Instead, I believe what is needed in the church is a reflective, intelligent return to the historical and biblical roots of the Judeo-Christian tradition, in which God's gift of sexuality is both respected and appreciated as good, holy and beautiful. In doing so we have the potential to help our sisters and brothers, whether gay or straight, regain a sense of gratitude and appreciation for the gift of sexuality in their lives.
Peace,
Padre Chuck
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Prayers for Haiti
Although with my research this year in Mexico I don't get to blog as often as I'd like I did want to share a hopeful article I ran across recently about the tragedy in Haiti. The news about this disaster is of course horrific but it's also helpful, I believe, to remember that those who have suffered this tragedy are not just victims but also women, men and children who, with the help of international aid, are working together to gradually rebuild their country and their lives.
Peace,
Padre Chuck
Peace,
Padre Chuck
Thursday, January 7, 2010
The Roots of Homophobia
As I mentioned in my last posting, I would like to continue to share a few more insights from Bishop Robinson's book that were especially striking to me. For today I'd like to offer the following quote:
“Much of the chaos in our society and in the church are the early stages of the end of male dominance, male superiority, and male privilege. And because of the link between homophobia and misogyny, this battle over homosexuality is as much about the end of patriarchy as anything else” (40).
Although Bishop Robinson elaborates more extensively on this point throughout his book, I believe this short excerpt sums up quite well an essential point he's trying to make: namely, that much of the resistance to LGBT equality in our places of worship and society stems from a deeper, longstanding misogyny or hatred toward women. Many cultures throughout the world and certainly the major Abrahamic religions are historically based on a patriarchal model of society - men are the leaders and authority figures and women traditionally have been marginalized to a kind of second-class citizen status. Now that this is changing, both as women gain a voice within the church and society and men who don't conform to traditional masculine roles also become empowered, those in traditional roles of dominance feel threatened and are responding accordingly.
However, despite these challenges to equality, voices like Bishop Robinson's continue to arise to give us the courage and hope we need to keep on fighting for what's right. It's not an easy fight but in the end it's one that will ultimately liberate both the oppressed and their oppressors from a system that, by its staid inflexibility, is obscuring the message our world so needs to hear - the good news of God's radically inclusive and embracing love for all.
Peace,
Padre Chuck
“Much of the chaos in our society and in the church are the early stages of the end of male dominance, male superiority, and male privilege. And because of the link between homophobia and misogyny, this battle over homosexuality is as much about the end of patriarchy as anything else” (40).
Although Bishop Robinson elaborates more extensively on this point throughout his book, I believe this short excerpt sums up quite well an essential point he's trying to make: namely, that much of the resistance to LGBT equality in our places of worship and society stems from a deeper, longstanding misogyny or hatred toward women. Many cultures throughout the world and certainly the major Abrahamic religions are historically based on a patriarchal model of society - men are the leaders and authority figures and women traditionally have been marginalized to a kind of second-class citizen status. Now that this is changing, both as women gain a voice within the church and society and men who don't conform to traditional masculine roles also become empowered, those in traditional roles of dominance feel threatened and are responding accordingly.
However, despite these challenges to equality, voices like Bishop Robinson's continue to arise to give us the courage and hope we need to keep on fighting for what's right. It's not an easy fight but in the end it's one that will ultimately liberate both the oppressed and their oppressors from a system that, by its staid inflexibility, is obscuring the message our world so needs to hear - the good news of God's radically inclusive and embracing love for all.
Peace,
Padre Chuck
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