Original Sin and Women

[theatokos]

So I'm getting a much better grasp of this whole original sin deal. Looked at in a systematic way, yes, I believe that we are born into a fucked up world, where relationships (all kinds) are ordered not in any authentic way, but are ordered in a hierarchical fashion that prevents true authenticity. Without true authenticity and given the ripple of evils and sins from past generations we are hard pressed to walk a truly authentic life. We're often forced to choose the lesser of evils, not the best of possible goods. I can make sense of this. What I don't get is how sin (not "original" in any Augustinian or Catholic sense) is the reason for death and decay. I don't get the biological implications that seem to linger about in the theology. They're secondary considerations, but seem to play out in the way we non-theologians think about sin and the body. Can there still be any theological validity to it in light of actual biology?

Yeah, Tuesdays and Fridays I have my theological anthropology class. Does it show?

I also made the mistake of going to chapel today for a service in honor of International Womens Day. God, I'm such a hard hearted bitch. As beautiful, well structured, all encompassing, etc etc as it was I just can't stand fruity services. I had to sit and pray that my heart would not be so hard. And, I had this image of Athena filling the chapel. My heart wasn't opened, but it wasn't as hard. I think I need to learn more about this Athena. Lately I just can't seem to grasp hold of Mary as any sort of comfort or inspiration. I was thinking of writing my thesis on Mary as the feminine face of the Divine, but I'm wondering if she isn't just a mere muddy girl (as per Elizabeth Johnson) and her Theotokos qualities just inventions of men to throw a bone to women and pagan converts in the early centuries (and to help in their formation of Christological dogma).

Whew. I'm all worked up today. That's good. I guess that means I'm getting my money's worth.

Comments

[urbanbard.livejournal.com]

A few thoughts.
I'm big on the theology that seperates 'evil' from the natural processes of the world, like death, and decay.
Death isn't evil, its part of life. Earthquakes, even when they do horrible things and kill many people, aren't evil.
Consumerism run amock, the oil economy, the social structures that we are a part of which we create out of our selfish desires for 'more' without realizing the human cost- thats evil.

As for Goddess images, I have to say I always found Mary somewhat lacking. Maybe its the virgin thing, but she seemed too much the co-dependent mother, with no real power of her own, just her son's reflected glory. Hmmm, interesting idea that just hit me as I'm writting this, but I wonder if my own problems with Mary have to do with having a mother who has given up on her own dreams in life, and now just wants to live through her children. Hmmmm.

Anyway, thats an aside. Good luck with Athena. Myself, I'm currently learning more about Brigid and Morrigan. Interesting women, them.

[ewigweibliche.livejournal.com]

I guess as I learn more about Mary in actual theology I find that there is little technical room for her to be anything more than Jesus' mother. Yet, there is a movement within Catholicism that sees her as Co-Redemptrix, even though it's not doctrinally accurate. I think humans crave the balance of a feminine face in the Divine. I guess I'll be working that out in my thesis somehow.

And that Athena image was really interesting. I just saw her standing in the front of the chapel, huge, enormous, filling the whole space. She was strong and firm and had her arms in the orans position. I was reading a bit about her the other day. I wonder if that's why she popped into my head. Or maybe she is a Goddess that represents characteristically male traits and I need her as I explore all the masculine energy in my life right now.