A new commentator, and I'm glad to able to clarify this: Nick wishes to know if, in my comments, I meant to mean that the rise of feminism will lead to destruction if men maintain a "logical" perspective and accept the rise of feminism. In reply, I would have to say, "no."
First, feminism has been taken on by many new-age spiritual thinkers, Fr. Bede only one among many, and it has been used by deep-ecologists as well, the scientific often crossing with the theological (for example, Fr. Tielhard de Chardin). What is meant by this "feminisation" is not a desire for a Matriarchy (to replace an historical Patriarchy), in that it must be led by flesh and blood women, but rather by a way of knowing the world which is often paired with the feminine, such as the Ying and Yang of Chinese philosophy/ theology. It is in this latter perspective, the Chinese, that it is best understood. To the Taoist, everything contains, or reflects, both the Ying (female, passive, intuitive) and the Yang (male, aggressive, rational), including nature. Hard for some to conceive, but various elements in the natural environment are said to be weighted towards the Ying (earth) or Yang (air), the interactions as such creating the overall balance of the forces within the dynamics of the material (and spiritual) world (only the absolute is beyond the interplay, being all things and spirit at once). A preponderance of one, which often occurs in nature as well as society, creates an imbalance leading to storms (for example) or unjust or unhappy societies. And although these imbalances are bound to occur, it the work of the wise to look to nature to see how it retains balance around a center to do the same for society. In simpler words, when there is a preponderance towards one polarity, we must pull it back towards an equilibrium by accentuating the other polarity.
Thus, in a society weighted towards the masculine - that is, towards rationality, power, and dominance, the antithesis, that is, the intuitive, the nurturing and the passive must be emphasized. This is not because one is superior to the other - both poles are necessary according to our view of the Tao here - but each must have its say. It is obvious to Bede and others that through our historical emphasis of the Yang principle, we are ruining the earth and disrupting traditions, traditions that in the past have helped people at least maintain an idea of God or the Absolute.
Nick refers to my comment on this - that much of contemporary feminism has focused on the physical form, or genetics, of the female, while it seeks the very same ways and means of power as men, or those with power in our society. This goes back to the blog I wrote the other day about "co-opting." That is, the "Ying" that is materially represented by females, has been replaced by the "Yang" mentality, while still referring to physical females. And so it might appear that the Feminine is gaining power to balance our society, but in many cases, it is only physical females who are gaining power via the masculine route, with all that this implies.
So, it is not that we will come to our end because males continue to be "logical" - or, really, continue to emphasize the rational at the expense of the intuitive - AND accept feminism. Rather, further harm (and maybe social - environmental collapse) will occur if both men and women do not understand that what is important is not the physical form in positions of power, but rather the nature of that power itself. That is, is authority more holistic? Does it work from an intuitive view that shares ineffable knowledge with others and the environment? Or is it only interested in control, profit, and raw, physical power?
I hope I have clarified my position, which is really the position of the many deeply wise people that I read, hopefully translated correctly through me.
That was longer than expected, so a short one on the Work Ethic, which does have something to do with the above. I am currently reading a book called "The Cloud of Unknowing" written in the 14th century by an English monk who preferred to remain anonymous. It is done as if it is a series of lectures by an experienced monk offered to a neophyte on the values of the contemplative life. It is interesting to learn that even in that period, monks who spent most of their time in meditation were seen as wasting their time - especially those who were so immersed that they lived by the charity of others. He brings up the gospel of Martha and Mary to console the neophyte. This is the one where Jesus visits the house of the two women. It is a great honor for these believers, and Martha naturally goes about making food and washing feet or whatever else were the duties then of a host towards an honored guest. Meanwhile, Mary simply sits, in rapture at the feet of her master. Martha then complains, asking Jesus to tell Mary to share in the work. Jesus replies "Martha, Martha! You are worried and distracted by many things...Mary has chosen the best part, which will not be taken away from her." That is, that things of this earth are not only short- lived, but distract from the complete attention that must be given to the eternal if it is to be realized. "Anonymous" then goes on to say that these two represent the two parts of the Church, the Active and the Contemplative. Both, he says, are necessary, but as far as approaching God is concerned, contemplation is the gold standard.
Given the first part of this writing, we can say that the Active principle is the Masculine. It is essential for survival in this world. And that the Contemplative is the feminine - where a willed passivity and humility brings one closer to God, wisdom and the eternal. Overemphasis of the masculine can lead to forgetting God - or deep wisdom, however you wish to label it - and with that, the principles that are necessary for a holistic, balanced and just society. Overemphasis of the feminine in a society at large would lead, eventually, to annihilation.
And here we also see that the masculine and feminine principles are both embodied by woman - which was part of the first point. A man can veer towards Ying just as a woman can veer towards Yang. It is the confusion of the spirit and the physical form that allows co-option in this case to occur. FK
First, feminism has been taken on by many new-age spiritual thinkers, Fr. Bede only one among many, and it has been used by deep-ecologists as well, the scientific often crossing with the theological (for example, Fr. Tielhard de Chardin). What is meant by this "feminisation" is not a desire for a Matriarchy (to replace an historical Patriarchy), in that it must be led by flesh and blood women, but rather by a way of knowing the world which is often paired with the feminine, such as the Ying and Yang of Chinese philosophy/ theology. It is in this latter perspective, the Chinese, that it is best understood. To the Taoist, everything contains, or reflects, both the Ying (female, passive, intuitive) and the Yang (male, aggressive, rational), including nature. Hard for some to conceive, but various elements in the natural environment are said to be weighted towards the Ying (earth) or Yang (air), the interactions as such creating the overall balance of the forces within the dynamics of the material (and spiritual) world (only the absolute is beyond the interplay, being all things and spirit at once). A preponderance of one, which often occurs in nature as well as society, creates an imbalance leading to storms (for example) or unjust or unhappy societies. And although these imbalances are bound to occur, it the work of the wise to look to nature to see how it retains balance around a center to do the same for society. In simpler words, when there is a preponderance towards one polarity, we must pull it back towards an equilibrium by accentuating the other polarity.
Thus, in a society weighted towards the masculine - that is, towards rationality, power, and dominance, the antithesis, that is, the intuitive, the nurturing and the passive must be emphasized. This is not because one is superior to the other - both poles are necessary according to our view of the Tao here - but each must have its say. It is obvious to Bede and others that through our historical emphasis of the Yang principle, we are ruining the earth and disrupting traditions, traditions that in the past have helped people at least maintain an idea of God or the Absolute.
Nick refers to my comment on this - that much of contemporary feminism has focused on the physical form, or genetics, of the female, while it seeks the very same ways and means of power as men, or those with power in our society. This goes back to the blog I wrote the other day about "co-opting." That is, the "Ying" that is materially represented by females, has been replaced by the "Yang" mentality, while still referring to physical females. And so it might appear that the Feminine is gaining power to balance our society, but in many cases, it is only physical females who are gaining power via the masculine route, with all that this implies.
So, it is not that we will come to our end because males continue to be "logical" - or, really, continue to emphasize the rational at the expense of the intuitive - AND accept feminism. Rather, further harm (and maybe social - environmental collapse) will occur if both men and women do not understand that what is important is not the physical form in positions of power, but rather the nature of that power itself. That is, is authority more holistic? Does it work from an intuitive view that shares ineffable knowledge with others and the environment? Or is it only interested in control, profit, and raw, physical power?
I hope I have clarified my position, which is really the position of the many deeply wise people that I read, hopefully translated correctly through me.
That was longer than expected, so a short one on the Work Ethic, which does have something to do with the above. I am currently reading a book called "The Cloud of Unknowing" written in the 14th century by an English monk who preferred to remain anonymous. It is done as if it is a series of lectures by an experienced monk offered to a neophyte on the values of the contemplative life. It is interesting to learn that even in that period, monks who spent most of their time in meditation were seen as wasting their time - especially those who were so immersed that they lived by the charity of others. He brings up the gospel of Martha and Mary to console the neophyte. This is the one where Jesus visits the house of the two women. It is a great honor for these believers, and Martha naturally goes about making food and washing feet or whatever else were the duties then of a host towards an honored guest. Meanwhile, Mary simply sits, in rapture at the feet of her master. Martha then complains, asking Jesus to tell Mary to share in the work. Jesus replies "Martha, Martha! You are worried and distracted by many things...Mary has chosen the best part, which will not be taken away from her." That is, that things of this earth are not only short- lived, but distract from the complete attention that must be given to the eternal if it is to be realized. "Anonymous" then goes on to say that these two represent the two parts of the Church, the Active and the Contemplative. Both, he says, are necessary, but as far as approaching God is concerned, contemplation is the gold standard.
Given the first part of this writing, we can say that the Active principle is the Masculine. It is essential for survival in this world. And that the Contemplative is the feminine - where a willed passivity and humility brings one closer to God, wisdom and the eternal. Overemphasis of the masculine can lead to forgetting God - or deep wisdom, however you wish to label it - and with that, the principles that are necessary for a holistic, balanced and just society. Overemphasis of the feminine in a society at large would lead, eventually, to annihilation.
And here we also see that the masculine and feminine principles are both embodied by woman - which was part of the first point. A man can veer towards Ying just as a woman can veer towards Yang. It is the confusion of the spirit and the physical form that allows co-option in this case to occur. FK
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