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From: 2flmlife@kuhub.cc.ukans.edu
Newsgroups: soc.feminism
Subject: Re: Newspaper Article
Message-ID: <26108.2716dda3@kuhub.cc.ukans.edu>
Date: 15 Oct 90 15:32:22 GMT
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In article <1990Oct12.214229.23575@nntp-server.caltech.edu>,
morphy@truebalt.cco.caltech.EDU (Jones Maxime Murphy) writes:

> Being from a catholic background myself, I believe catholicism and
> feminism are fundamentally incompatible. In fact, the entire
> Judaeo-Christian-Islamic family of genetically related religions have
> several fatal flaws that render them useless for the development of
> spirituality in a manner unvitiated by gender bias.

You might want to take a moment to read Matthew Fox, and a little
stuff on liberation theology before you say catholocism and feminism
are incompatible.  And there are historical women prophets, both in
Tanakh and Catholic history.  Hildegard of Bingen being one of my
favorites.
	Maybe it was old Matthew that the author of the priest had in
mind when he said 'feminism is as bad as witchcraft.'  Starhawk, a
very prominent feminist and Witch, has taught at Holy Names College in
Oakland, CA where Matthew is the director of Institute in Culture and
Creation Spirituality.
	Pick up a copy of Original Blessing for an overview of his
theology.  It is wonderful reading.  He lays down the groundwork for a
feminist theology.
	Rosemary Radford Ruether, may also be someone to look into.
Basically Patriarchy and feminism are incompatible, but suprisingly
enough, Judaeo-Christian-Islamic religions need not be patriarchal.

Holy persons draw to themselves all that is earthly...
The earth is at the same time mother,
She is mother of all that is natural,
mother of all that is human.
She is mother of all,
for contained in her
are the seeds of all.

		-Hildegarde of Bingen
		German Catholic prophetess of the 11th Century.
		Abbess of both a men's and women's monastery.

And for a Prophetess in Tanakh:

(Deborah summons Barak to her, and prophesies)

"The Lord, the God of Isreal, commands you,
'Go, gather your men at Mount Tabor, taking ten
thousand from the tribe of Zebulun.  And I will
draw out Sisera, the General of Jabin's army, to
meet you by the river Kishon with his chariots
and his troops; and I will give him unto you hand.'"

Barak said to her, "If you will go with me, I will
go; but if you will not go with me, I will not go."

And she said, "I will surely go with you; nevertheless,
the road on which you are going will not lead to your
glory, for the Lord will sell Sisera into the hand of a
woman."  Then Deborah arose, and went with Barak to Kedesh.

                 Judges 4, 6-9
                     RSV


Stephen R. Figgins
University of Kansas
2flmlife@kuhub.cc.ukans.edu