Sunday, 1st October, 2006

Scripture: Source of Christian Theology

It’s been a busy week. What with chaplaincy, training, kiaros, Holy Trinity placement, work, and family. At least I have found a few minutes to do my journal.

I was really surprised in the lecture at the strong feminist reactions that were raised. “Lies in the Bible” was one response. “It wasn’t included because it was written by a woman”, was another statement made about the Coptic (Gnostic) gospel according to Mary Magdalene. They felt it should be added because it was supposedly from a woman’s viewpoint and for the sake of sexual equality.

Forgive me for having a view on this, but evidence states the earliest fragments were clearly written 200 years after the latest of the four Gospels, and had most probably not even been written by a woman let alone Mary Magdalene. Having read through it, it seems to have little to add to the other Gosples, and is clearly written for the Gnostic movement that threatened the divinity of Christ, and the issues at that time relating to the Holy Trinity. The fact that “men” made the decision not to add it to the canon, along with all the other Gnostic texts is circumstantial.

Perhaps it is a male thing, but I have always felt, and mainly due to my mothers influence, that the truth within the Bible was none sexist. It speaks about people, and God revealed in people of all race and gender. “Man” I was taught was the species, it was short for human. Jesus spoke of men, as examples so the parables were seriously considered by all, in a context that was acceptable for both woman and men of the time. Why do we have to continually put things on a male/female basis, why should a Patriarchal view of God being the “Father” be questioned? Even if you can relate your relationship with God, closer to that with your mother as I often do myself, Jesus confirmed God as the Father.

I personally feel I know a maternal God as well. One who was a creator and gave birth to a world, blessed with precious life. But why do people try to rewrite “Sola Scriptura”.

My spiritual advisor is a woman and a priest, and this feels really natural. So why does the gender issue seem so callous, when raised by some women, when for me the quest for equality is never in question?

I accept woman in the Church, still feel victimised by some people, both male and female who believe it is wrong for women to become priests, but by being militant when no such prejudice is being shown does nothing to strengthen their cause for equality in the catholic (whole) church. In fact, even for me at times, it tends to demonstrate a personal disparity for the individual(s) concerned.

The gender issue tainted much of the lecture discussion at break time, forming a division where there was no need for one, a real pity. I was more interested in discussing the validity of apostolic succession of the biblical canon, rather than it’s political correctness. It proved to doubt this gospels right in the canon, could become a male viewpoint.

I say....

Let’s stand for equality, female and male together in the face discrimination. Let’s please not taint Gods truth for all by over addressing male wrongs of the past.