By Rev. Renaldo C. McKenzie, Author of Neoliberalism Globalization Income Inequality Poverty and Resistance | The NeoLiberal
Renaldo: “to know Him and to make Him Known” is that still our motto and will we use that on the alumni pages? How inclusive and forward thinking is that?
Dawn: Say more about your thoughts on this, Reynaldo.
Renaldo: There’s much talk about the feminization of the church. But what of the Masculinity that has been entrenched and only inherited from a masculine misogynistic historical culture that used masculine language to speak of God because back then to say “her” (when speaking of God within a male dominant culture) was blasphemy in the sense that God is not weak like women, as was the sexist thinking where we now celebrate as doctrine and divine all but ostracizing women!
Renaldo: Further, we are moving towards a university. Do we really want that? Can we really handle that and what does that mean? What changes will we make? Further what of our theology, that we have held onto that continues to put down women, a culture and ideology that sees God as “Him” and we have adopted and celebrated within our own theologies as doctrine! A theology that is draconian and not in step with the reality to today’s society and the challenges we have.
Renaldo: How does this motto “to know him and to make him known” speak to the “ME TOO MOVEMENT” and this new thrust to promote women and gender equality? How are we as a academic, scholarly and sensitive university or people speak to this? First our language and worship still excludes women. In 2005 the United Church in Jamaica and Cayman where I served as a pastor embarked on what is known as liturgical renewal. This was a move to make the worship experience relevant, contextual and inclusive without dismissing the core of the church. Now the issue here is how do we do this?
David: It is going to take some doing to completely stop the idea of God as being male. For one, whether we like it or not, women are generally physically weaker than men are. This will not suffice in the minds of many for thinking of God in feminine terms.
Renaldo: I agree, however, if this is so, that it is a particular thinking or worldview driven biographical thinking, then we are practicing a voodoo mixed up kind of life where we use biological basis to approach matters of the spirit and the divine.
Renaldo: I agree, however, if this is so, then that is a particular thinking or worldview driven by biographical thinking, then we are practicing a voodoo mixed up kind of life where we use biological basis to approach matters of the spirit and the divine.
David: As you mentioned a theology that is in step with culture, all I am saying is that culture sometimes dictates things that we do not find appealing or appeasing. The same culture that calls out for egalitarianism is the same one that scoffs at the idea of a weak God. It is the same culture that sees females as weak because they judge strength mainly from the standpoint of the physical. And so, this is the dilemma of a culturally sensitive theology – what aspects of culture are we to accept and what aspects do we reject?
Renaldo: Further what of the actual revelation of God in Christ where he shows a weakness in order to lift up. Moreover it is our definition and association that creates the problem. This is a question begging epithet: using pseudo appeal to association. We tend to think that God is like humans so that He can’t be weak or in a sense tender and lowly. Jesus rejected his deity in order to become weak so that he could save. That is a revelation of God, his or her weakened and brokenness state so is the image of the cross. Jesus is a sissy. He is woman how could he have allowed himself to be crucified. Yet she or he is God!
Renaldo: Socrates said to find oneself, one must think. And not just think, but critically. For he went on to say that the unexamined life is not worth living.
Renaldo McKenzie is the Author of Neoliberalism which is available in paperback and eBook available on Amazon, Apple, Barnes and Noble and Target. Renaldo can be contacted via email at [email protected] or [email protected]
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