Nonsense. I’m not talking about some feminist theology, but about a mature Catholic theology that recognizes that the development of dogma has been conditioned by cultural constraints, including outdated gender constructs. “God as exclusively father is such a construct.” I’m talking about a mature theology that moves toward greater inclusiveness not less.
I’d like to see you respond to benedictgal. What is immature about abiding to the ecclesiastical and cultural norms that have informed the entire Judeo-Christian history?
Rather than trying to push a square post into a round hole (which I think your so-called ‘mature theology’ certainly is), why not ask why so many people are quick to be offended by things that never used to offend?
Let’s say a woman feels excluded from God because the ENTIRE WORLD refers to Him as Father, King, etc. Is the solution to rewrite history and our understanding of God, or is the solution to address this woman or anyone else, helping them to understand that *they *are the ones who lack maturity and education in their faith?
I can guess at your answers, but I don’t see how anyone could honestly disagree with this. The problem lies in the emergence of a class of people who refuse to acknowledge reality and find their place in it. Instead, they want to hammer it into what THEY prefer. I don’t get it. There are plenty of churches that will indulge any number of idiosyncrasies you want to entertain. Granted, they aren’t the true Church, but why quibble when you can have it ‘your way, right away’. My too-long experience with those who speak of ‘mature theology’ is that they often have no foundation in their faith, the lack of a sound educator along the way, and the prevailing thought that these fundamentals are old hat and not worth dwelling upon. But don’t worry, you can probably take your pick of any Jesuit university to run their theology department.
A woman was just ‘ordained’ in an ‘Independent’ (read=heretical) Catholic Church in Sacramento over the weekend. On the news, she remarked that this church “Was a good fit for [her].” Well put. Why try to make yourself fit into the Church? Find one that will fit your own perception of how things ought to be, then knock yourself out. Only don’t come crying when you realize your mutual appreciation society has no substance, no foundation, and no future.
Finally, you seem to be asserting that Jesus, Son (not Daughter) of God was more or less a victim of His times when He referred to God as His Father? Really? Tell me I read this wrong.
