DISQUS

Gordon · 1 year ago

Julie, I have just scanned Elizabeth Schuster Fiorenza'a book 'In Memory of Her' for the second time. I so enjoy her view of scripture.

There is absolutely no doubt that if women had written large tracts of scripture it would have been from an entirely different perspective. No wonder we 'see' God from the perspective of men - after all it is written primarily by men. Certainly the Biblical view of women expressed in those early days in Leviticus and Deuteronomy do not place too high a value on women.

I think Fiorenza has something important to say when she hints at the subversive nature of scripture. To me the important point is that scripture subverts itself - Jesus truly passes judgement or subverts the Old Testament where a woman is to be stoned for adultery - and so on.

To me this places a higher value on the nature and purpose of the written Word. We are surely to delve more deeply into exactly how and why the writers redact accounts the way they do in both the Old Testament and the New. Context and retoric is also vitally important.

I wonder sometimes whether Barth's ground-breaking comment on scripture is not of major importance where he speaks of scripture as not being the word of God but rather revealing the Word of God - in Jesus himself.

Anyway, that is not half the story of women's struggle for a place in the sun.

Julie Smith, MS · 1 year ago

Gordon,

Thanks for your comments. I haven't read Elizabeth Schuster Fiorenza but she sounds like an author I would find interesting.

The scripture that comes to mind from your remarks about Barth is one where Jesus says, "You search the scriptures for in them you think you will find eternal life, but they speak of me." We often misconstrue points in scripture because we do not allow the Spirit to do the teaching and we do not consider the author and context of those scriptures--a point which I appreciate you making.

The life of Christ is a powerful testimony to the truth about God. His life should clarify any misunderstandings we have regarding the treatment of women and many other issues. What remains unclear, the indwelling Spirit should help us to unravel and understand.

Sadly, it is the lack of the Spirit living in our lives that makes many of our religious forms stale and lifeless. I love the definition of the Shekinah presence that is found in the Hebrew--She who dwells within. If we would embrace this concept how might our church and our lives change?

We have not just rejected the feminine aspect within the gender of women and men, we have rejected it within religion, our culture, and the planet. As we learn to honor the feminine aspect of God, our treatment of the feminine in everything will change.

Gordon · 1 year ago

Yes, I would say that Fiorenza is an important author to consider when reflecting on feminist theology. Perhaps Bauckham tries to balance it a litle in his book 'Gospel Women'. Where Fiorenza's use of literary/historical tools might lead us in directions away from scripture Bauckham will squeeze the last drop of water out of a text to gain a fuller understanding of women's place in scripture.

Julie Smith, MS · 1 year ago

Creating balance between polarities is one of the most important issues facing us this century. We tend towards extremes. The concept of a new heaven and a new earth is one based on this idea of perfect harmony and balance. If we could only get this figured out--what a difference it would make in our own lives, the life of the church, and in the world!

Balance in the realm of spirituality is about being completely empty and receptive (the feminine aspect) and completely filled and responsding to Spirit (the masculine aspect). It is the work of both genders to incorporate and balance both aspects in their lives. Prejudice, inequality, contention, and pride cease to exist in a Spirit-filled person. Miraculous, isn't it?