Another "Fruit" of Feminist "Theology"

Goddess Rosary
Joining scholars like Elisabeth Schussler Fiorenza and Letty Russell and a growing number of feminist theologians in reconceptualizing the canon and biblical authority ... connect with the Holy Other in holy writings and sacred rites.

The banner on the outside of Ebenezer Lutheran Church boldly proclaims “Goddess Rosary Every Wednesday 7 p.m.” Doubtless this precipitates questions in the minds of passers-by: a rosary at a Lutheran church? A feminist take on a ritual indigenous to a denomination with an especially strong patriarchal foundation? I was eager to experience this new phenomenon, and it was with open mind and heart that I entered Ebenezer on my first Wednesday evening in the City. Thought the church was empty, I felt that I had stepped into a Presence, like a mother’s warm embrace....

From the basket of rosaries, I took into my hand a strand of vibrantly-colored beads with a silver goddess icon in place of the traditional cross. The goddesses came in a variety of shapes and sizes, celebrating the beauty of the feminine form; I found reflections of my own figure in the full hips and Rubenesque curves of my goddess. Once gathered, we began to recite together the “Our Mother” and “Hail Goddess” prayers. At first, it was awkward as we broke the silence together, yet as our lips became accustomed to the shape and rhythm of the words, a lyrical and rhythmic unison chant emerged. I felt my own voice fortified, made fuller by the others. As we made our way around the rosary, the words flowed easily, and the text itself receded into the background, becoming a gently murmuring accompaniment to our silent prayers and meditations....

Is America being Babylonianized rather than secularized? In other words, is paganism hiding behind secularism?

At a guess, yes.

From the Michigan border (US23) to the first exit in Ohio--"Cleaned up by Pagans of Toledo." I spoke with either a pagan, or wiccan, not sure which, at a fabric store. Didn't get into a discussion on her religion, but she was thrilled with the new Harry Potter book. She was wearing tons of crystals, pentagrams, etc. Saw a car covered with "Wiccan is a Religion," "Blessed Be Ye" bumper stickers, yesterday in Toledo.

My point being they are EVERYWHERE & are proud of their beliefs. Hail, Astarte, blessed be, and all that. We are at War and I, for one, tend to forget that.

Our little Mission just had our matronal (I'll cut the feminists that much slack and no more): St. Mary Magdalene.

We celebrated with lots of food and a lecture from our priest debunking the feminist revival of gnosticism and the rot surrounding it (e.g. the 'scholarly' underpinnings of the DaVinci Code).

His sermon the next day included a catalog of the women besides St. Mary Magdalene who bear the title "Equal-to-the-Apostles", but concluded by reminding us that according to Orthodox understanding the highest of all created beings, "more honorable than the cherubim and more glorious beyond compare than the seraphim", is a woman, the Holy Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary.

Guess that's not enough for the feminists, is it?

Sorry, don't agree with you on this for a second. It is the duty of the individual to guard against his own conduct. It is the job of each man not to sin or be tempted

I must disagree on several points. The first is the fact that a person cannot refrain from doing something passive. It cannot be a person's responsibility to "not be tempted" any more than it can be there responsibility to "not be hit" or to "not be rained on." That doesn't mean a person does not have the responsibility to try to flee from danger, or to come in out of the rain, but that isn't always possible.

Temptation is a sin that is committed against someone. It is an attack on a person's soul. Just like an attack on a person's body, it can be resisted, fled, etc. and since the soul is always defended by free will, the target is always at moral fault when they do succumb to temptation. But our sins are not absolved by other people's guilt. It is the responsibility of every Christian to avoid doing anything which would tempt another to sin.

As in, But he that shall scandalize one of these little ones that believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone should be hanged about his neck, and that he should be drowned in the depth of the sea. (Matthew 18:6)

And see especially, But take heed lest perhaps this your liberty become a stumblingblock to the weak...shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ hath died? Now when you sin thus against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. Wherefore, if meat scandalize my brother, I will never eat flesh, lest I should scandalize my brother. (1 Corinthians 8:9,11-3)

...not the women who must hide everything so you aren't tempted.

See, In like manner women also in decent apparel: adorning themselves with modesty and sobriety, not with plaited hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly attire, But as it becometh women professing godliness, with good works. (1 Timothy 2:9-10)

And, For many have perished by the beauty of a woman, and hereby lust is enkindled as a fire. (Ecclesiasticus 9:10)

It is a basic principle of charity that we support one another, not undermine them. If you know a person is a struggling alcholic, it is an obvious sin to waive a beer under his nose, and a lame excuse to say, "Hey, it's his job not to drink."

Not that your excuse is particularly unusual. Am I my brother's keeper? (Genesis 4:9) has seen a lot of use in the past 6,000 years. But then again, God hasn't accept it in all that time, and I don't expect him to change His mind any time soon.

Maybe your experience with Muslim countries are different than mine. I haven't been to Afghanistan while the Taliban conducted their reign of terror. Nor have I been to Iran. Most of the Muslims I've lived or worked with had to compete for popularity like any other seeking human respect. Not all Muslims follow the same Islamic culture as Islam has no equivalent Apostolic succession that Christianity has with the Catholic Church. But Islamics do revere Our Blessed Virgin. Virgin Mary icons are easily recognizable to them (sometimes simply by the way Our Lady is dressed) and She will only lead souls to Christ.

"Women in Islamic cultures, most of them, are none-entities with few rights and fewer powers, worth less then farm animals in some."

Again, I haven't experienced the same "Islamic cultures" that you've described. My point in bringing up the Blessed Mother and the way she is dressed is that Catholic Tradition gives us someone to Love rather than looking for an enemy to hate. We are not even called to hate Satan, but to reject him and all his works.

As Credo_ has examined, of violence and seduction, to tempt someone into sin is far worse than being a murderer. Violence upon another harms their flesh, but seduction into a life of sin murders their soul. The raunchy and rebellious videos from popular "music" cable channels do far more damage to body and soul than terror regimes. They both wickedness of violence and corruption stem from the same source of evil. That demonic influence will be Judged far more harshly than upon one who's committed a personal sin against self and God. Even so, a "mere" personal sin is still a sin against all mankind as it has far reaching effects to all.

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.