Fortunately, in the New Testament, the subordination and domination nature of humanity are clarified by St. Paul as: “Be subject to one another out of reverence for Christ. Wives, be subject to your husbands as to the Lord…Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the Church and gave himself up for her…that she might be holy and without blemish.” What exists then, between man and woman, is a relationship which is dominant and subordinate, but only inasmuch as there is complementarity between the two which leads the other toward holiness in Christ. This is at the core of the conjugal love and the union of marriage. Pope Pius XI affirms this in his encyclical Casti Connubii released in the year 1930. He states, “By matrimony…the souls of the …show more content…
contracting parties are joined and knit together more directly and more intimately than are their bodies and that not by any passing affection of sense of spirit, but by a deliberate and firm act of the will; and from this union of souls by God’s decree, a sacred and inviolable bond arises.” In the Catholic scholarly journal, Communio, an essay published in the Summer 2016 issue on body and gender entitled Gender Ideology and the Humanum and composed by Margaret M. McCarthy, states “…this radical view of ‘gender’ is becoming more dominant even with the growing evidence showing that sex goes far deeper than previously thought: biologically speaking, the brain ‘has sex’ as do the kidneys. In the face of all this biological evidence, which is even setting medicine on a new course, Butler could well argue, ‘Let us subjugate the brain, too! What matters is the identity we choose to have.” She states this in response to Judith Butler’s feminist philosophy. This idea is the direct result of a modern philosophy known as relativism in which truth becomes relative to an individual’s experience. Relativism In all arguments of gender as a social construct, we find an underlying false ideology known as relativism. Pope John Paul II, in his papal encyclical Veritatis Splendor writes about relativism as a vision of the world which moves further from the community and toward individualism by placing its emphasis on the individual’s freedom rather than the freedom of the race. He states “man is no longer convinced that only in the truth can he find salvation. The saving power of the truth is contested, and freedom alone, uprooted from any objectivity, is left to decide by itself what is good and what is evil.” In other words, the truth is measured by the individual experiences and emotions of the person rather than on a universal scale. Truth is then relative to the circumstances of individual persons rather than being universally true, which is contradictory by nature. Frye’s book can serve as an example of a relativistic approach to the human experience.
In her introduction, she expresses that “If one person’s theorizing is sound and correct enough to be useful to another, the other still has to make use of her own knowledge to transpose and interpret it, to adapt it to the details of her own life and circumstances, to make it her own.” In fact, she makes no use of the word “truth” to describe the theories in her book except as applies individually to women of all experiences. By presenting her work in this way, she does not claim that she has found a universal truth, but a theory that can apply individually to some women as truth and to others as …show more content…
irrelevant. Here we see the individualistic tendencies of modern thought in which the highest importance is on the self. Furthermore, the relativistic mentality favors a distorted view of freedom. Often misunderstood as the liberty do what one wishes when one wishes, freedom is not understood as such in Catholic morality, or Gospel morality. On the contrary, freedom, and identity are found in the truth, as stated by Jesus Christ “You will know the truth and the truth will set you free." This truth is necessarily universal, otherwise, it would not be true. A real liberation lies in truth itself, and according to St. John Paul II, freedom is found in the truth about humanity. This truth is best honored in charity and love for oneself and for one another by recognizing the reality of our humanity as two distinct parts of a whole. McCarthy states in her essay, “For others—and the Catholic Church is now the lonely gathering point for these—the only way to salvation is the recognition of sexual difference.” It is in this recognition that man finds his or her true identity. Pope Francis also confirms the existence of relativism today in his Apostolic Exhortation Amoris Laetitia. He writes about the family in modern times, and in the second chapter of his exhortation, he states “equal consideration needs to be given to the growing danger represented by an extreme individualism which weakens family bonds and ends up considering each member of the family as an isolated unit, leading in some chases that one’s personality is shaped by his or her desires, which are considered absolute.” Thus relativism has also become a threat to the family also by creating hostility in matters which are considered absolute, such as gender. As a defender of Truth and “expert in humanity,” as stated by Pope Benedict XVI, the Church continues to be at the fore of these gender issues. The CDF, in its declaration concerning sexual ethics entitled Persona Humana, defends the value of the divine law which is written on the heart of man and is known to him. This holy Congregation, in defense of the laws to which man is ordered, states, “These principles and norms in no way owe their origin to a certain type of culture, but rather to the knowledge of the Divine Law and of human nature. They, therefore, cannot be considered as having become out of date or doubtful under the pretext that a new cultural situation has arisen.” Part of the error made by gender ideologies is that it denies this natural law and asserts that truth is relative. As aforementioned, this is seen in the introduction of Frye's book where she emphasizes the differences in the experience of women and how the 'truths' she puts forth in her book would apply differently to each. Furthermore, the CDF states “It is these principles which inspired the exhortations and directives given by the Second Vatican Council for an education and an organization of social life taking account of the equal dignity of man and woman while respecting their difference.” Far from being separate from the body, the Church would argue that gender and identity are closely linked with the biology of man, and in fact, if rightly acknowledged and given a proper place in the development of the person, would more appropriately liberate man from sin and give man freedom in holiness. Thus, the body and the soul are not separate, but they are one entity until the body dies and the soul is taken to its resting place in the Kingdom of Heaven. Body and Soul An essay also published in the Summer 2016 issue of Communio, entitled “The Flesh is of No Avail”: Theology of the Body as Necessary to Understanding Life in the Spirit, also discusses gender ideology as regards the theology of the body and the body’s relation to the Spirit.
The author, Jose Granados, discusses the truth that in scripture, body and spirit are never apart from each other. Using sources which are more philosophical in nature, Granados explains how the Spirit and human identity are not impeded by the biological facts of the body, rather, the biological nature of the body is essential to understanding the reality of human identity. He argues that there is a key structure in man’s incarnate condition called affectivity which allies itself with its surroundings rather than ignoring or separating itself from them. He states, “Affection, therefore, does not perceive the other outside of me, but captures the tie that unites us and forges a common world by way of a primordial symbiosis. This is why the maturation of personal consciousness does not consist in a progressive perception of the isolated self, but in a process of deepening the ties that unite us to things and to others.” The effectivity of the human is thus an essential part of the developing stages of humanity. This is noted in the nurturing relationship between mother and child. In the educational development of a child, the child would then receive or form this relationship with the teacher. When the
child has grown into an adult, the social relationships that person develops will become an essential part of their professional, social, and educational development. When this adult is ready to marry, they then receive and return this relationship to their spouse. It is a harmony which exists between different parts of humanity which allows it to step outside of the self and not only encounter but grow with the other. Granados furthermore states, “The spirit, as a bond of love, is at work in personal relationships revealing the depth of them, and through them, it pervades the flesh, illuminates it, and clarifies its language… From this perspective, the connection between the spirit and the flesh can be understood dynamically and must undertake the mediation of time, until it arrives at the fullness of history in Christ and the Church.” Thus, the spiritual life cannot be separate from the life experienced by the body, instead, they may serve together to lead humanity to holiness. This is contrary to the relativistic belief held by most gender ideologies because the body is no longer an imposition, but a gateway to developing relationships and finding one’s true identity. Conclusion Though there does exist, due to the frailty of man, a sexism which perverts the dominant-subordinate relationship between man and woman, this is a truth which is noted in the biology and psychology of men and women. Gender ideologies and the idea that biological sex is an impediment to one’s identity have arisen due to this perversion of the roles in which the dominance of man is used as a power tool and the subordination of women is abused. However, this relationship, if it is allowed to be transformed by Christ, is complementary and motivates the other to be holy. Like the relationship which existed between Christ and his Mother, which brought to humanity the salvation which it so desperately desired, the acknowledgment of biological sex is a gateway to discovering one’s identity and gives men a sense of freedom which denying the fact of one’s biology thus takes away. Acknowledging one’s masculinity or femininity according to the biological sex one is born allows one to be liberated, in other words, to understand the feminine or masculine nature of their biological sex, is the true way in which man becomes the “image of God” which God created them in.
One aspect of Edin and Kefalas’s argument that is successful is their appeal to reason. This is because the article is a case study during which they followed about 161 women who are
In “Cohabitation instead of Marriage” by James Q. Wilson, he believes that marriage is a necessity in today’s day of life, but you do not get this conclusion till completing the article. He states that marriage is built to maintain a family but we trust teachers to teach our children, daycare to care for them, and police officers to keep them safe and that, that does not leave left for the mother or the father to fo. He then proceeds to say that if the couple does not want children then there is nothing for the marriage to offer and to why not just live together, without the actual title of marred. Just live together with no legal formality and cohabitate. By this statement alone James Q Wilson makes you believe that he is pro-cohabitation
The message of Lugones and Spelman in Have We Got a Theory for You! Feminist Theory, Cultural Imperialism and the Demand for “The Woman’s Voice,” is that the entire worldwide experience of women cannot be universally articulated. Blanket definition of woman is impossible due to the many characteristics of women that make the gender so diverse, specifically race and economic status in society. “The women’s voices most likely to come forth and the women’s voices mostly likely to be heard are, in the United States anyway, those of white, middle-class, heterosexual Christian women” (Lugones and Spelman 21). Since “feminist theory” has been established without encompassing the inherently different experiences of non-white/non-Anglo women “much of the theory has failed to be relevant to the lives of women who are not white or middle class” (Ibid. 21). This displacement of a large population of the world’s women from feminist theory is extremely threatening to the development of a woman’s voice, in so far as this voice is key to fighting the battles that feminism sets out to fight: the end of re...
...ir rights and to gain equality in the world. If the women in the world do not work together to produce something they all desire then it will not work. They bring about a few small changes but not enough to create a more equal society and a happy environment for everyone to live in. ‘Only within the interdependency of different strengths, acknowledged and equal, can the power to seek new ways of being in the world generate’ (Lorde, 1984: 367) all women are different and therefore they all have different experiences, thus working together, listening to each other taking into consideration the views and ideas of all these different women, they can become strong enough to dismantle the masters tools and to produce equality something that all of these women. They all want equality so they should work together to gain the more there are the higher the chances of success.
In conclusion, Plato and Aristotle present two different conceptions of the soul. By examination of their formulations, and the structure and genre they used, Aristotle's perception of the soul is more convincing. I am more convinced by facts than I am ideals. But his views should not be thrown away, for Aristotle's focus upon the organism as a whole as the proper object of study is a successful approach to the question of the nature of and relationship between mind, body, and soul.
In arguing for the distinction between mind and body, Descartes seeks to show that the two are independent substances and can exist separately. It will be useful to outline Descartes’ argument based on clear and distinct perception by listing his premises and conclusion. The essay will then analyse each premise in turn, arguing that the argument fails because his premises are faulty. The argument, found in the Sixth Meditation, runs as follows
Feminism is commonly thought of as a tool for educating society on the rights of women. It teaches that a woman is equal to a man in every civil and societal accord. Realizing this is not always the case, Charlotte Bunch, a noted lesbian feminist of the 1970s also defined feminism as "a way of looking at the world - a questioning of power [and] domination issues" (WIE). Many feminists attempt to bulrush the ideals of stereotypical women and push them away from those who believe in these standards. "Feminist scholars also seek to question and transform androcentric [sic] systems of thought which position the male as the norm," says Barbara McManus. They strive to find, examine, and eliminate biases in a world encumbered with intolerant men who see women as thoughtless objects and most certainly not equals. Other women announce their impressive intellect, economic well-being, and individual personalities to the people who oppose them. "A woman should always present herself and explain her forthcoming jaunts into Feminists, like Edna, howe...
In her commencement speech she mentions four factors of knowledge that she believes are mandatory for women to remedy. Her idea of a true or good woman is a strong woman who knows what she wants from life, is out to succeed, and will survive. An untrue or bad woman is a lady that is weak, that has a tendency to get run over, and has no real ambition for what she wants to do with her life.
The short stories “Souls Belated” and “The Yellow Wallpaper” have in common ‘Marriage’ as main theme. However, the marriage is treated quite differently in both short stories. In "Souls Belated", Lydia chooses to take control of her destiny, to deviate from conventions and to choose what is good for her. She is the strongest character of the couple. Whereas, in "The Yellow Wallpaper", the name of the main character who is also the narrator of the story is not known. She is identified as being John’s wife. This woman, contrary to Lydia in "Souls Belated" is completely locked up in her marriage. This essay will first describe and compare the characters of Lydia and John's wife in the context of marriage, and then it will look at how marriage is described, treated and experienced by couples in these two short stories.
There are two major religious beliefs on the soul, and though they may seem diametrically opposed, we must remember that our ideas on the soul exist only because of the conditioned acceptance of these religiou...
Adam and Eve, Marriage rules and over all treatment of women all favor men with in the bible, It is clear that a man is destined to rule over a woman, and with Gods word as a backing how could a christan lady escape. It starts with the creation of man according to the New Testament which was interrupted from the Old Testament predating the coming of Jesus. And so on the sixth day god created man, “from that man God made a woman. He gave them only one rule that you may not eat from the forbidden tree. By deception Eve eats said forbidden fruit and give some to her husband.” (Genesis 1:27). It is in this well knowing story of man that true prejudice against women begins. A woman is made for a man. God gives Adam a woman, Eve, so he is not to be lonely, and there begins ownership of a woman. It appears that a man is superior to a woman, the story of Adam and eve conveys the message that women as a gender are response able for the sins of man creating a superiority complex for men, causing discrimination of women associated with religion. Marriage is a scarred communion of two people, this unification, is a mans game in the eyes of the church. Wife duty is to obey her husband a...
Feminist epistemology involves the study the theory of knowledge i.e. epistemology from q feminist standpoint; the disadvantage faced by women through knowledge and justification. It is usually said to be concerned with how our knowledge is influenced by gender through justification and inquiry. Feminist’s epistemology is ideally based on the fact that by the perspective of a certain theory is affected upon by the knowledge pertaining the theory. The themes which characterize feminist epistemology are not unique it on only, since the themes are also found in the filed science studies and social epistemology. However, feminist epistemology is distinct from both science studies and social epistemology in that, for reconstructing and analysis, gender is characterize used. However, feminists have always argued gender rather than being determined
Holy Matrimony is the sacrament that bonds a man and a women together as the matter with their vows as the form. To be married, the couple must meet certain criteria for the marriage to be valid. They must be open to children and must remain loyal to each other through the promise of fidelity. Additionally, they both must consent to the wedding, meaning no one is forced into it.
It is apparent that we are personified entities, but also, that we embrace “more” than just our bodies. “Human persons are physical, embodied beings and an important feature of God’s intended design for human life” (Cortez, 70). But, “human persons have an ‘inner’ dimension that is just as important as the ‘outer’ embodiment” (Cortez, 71). The “inner” element cannot be wholly explained by the “outer” embodiment, but it does give rise to inimitable facets of the human mental life such as human dignity and personal identity.
After Charles II revived theater in 1660, a new kind of comedy, the comedy of manners exploded onto the English drama scene and remained the preferred style of theater for the rest of the century. The aim of these plays was to mock society, or rather to hold it up for scrutiny by those very people whose social world was being characterized on stage. The Way of the World reflects Congreve's personal view of Restoration society and city life, full of its artificiality, rigidity, and formality. As is typical of Restoration Theater, this play's main themes are centered around that of marriage and the game of love. However, unlike the relationships depicted in earlier works, the couple at the heart of World, that of Mirabell and Millamant, have the potential to become a true partnership even by modern standards. The love and trust shared between two intelligent and independent characters, set against the tableau of falsehoods, greed, and jealousy that was exemplified by the social world around them, was revolutionary for Restoration comedy. By comparing and contrasting Mirabell and Millamant with the characters and relationships surrounding them, Congreve reveals his view of the true meaning of marriage and how it should be seen by Restoration society.