Motherearth and the

Megamachine: A Theology of Liberation in a Feminine.

Somatic and Ecological

Perspective

ROSEMARY RADFORD RUETHER

Christianity, as the heir ,)f bolh das.,ical N�Plnt< .1oism and apoca· lypuc Judaism, l't>mliirtes W lmi�ge or a 11\ith:, warrior Gad with the oalra.tion of t� iolt"tlt'l..1 O\'t-t th<: body. Tbe clattical doctrine or Chn�t, which fo$Cd mt "islon or the heavenly mcssfanie king whh the lriln!il�nd,i:nt logos of irrmlutablc lki,,g, was .i :lflUhesis of 1ht. religlOIJ.$ 1111i:1ulscs of l.tt� a,uiquc- rtligioos con1(;i(.ltl.ffl(Ss, b\lt J)tccisely in \ht.ir .1tll"n,1tNI stale nf devclopmc111. TI1cse wortd0neg:ning rtliSiOM carried .- ¥!'I of du.a.lilies that siill profoundly condition 1he modem wOl'ld view,

N�vm.uy R;r,,JjrNd /1,,-,,1�, tttti,,c\l lwt Ph.D. (t(lrll Clarttne1nt &fl(l(li <:L l'heol� ., .. 1 1, (:C1<1Sla llarbt• rrmwor 11f ·1'Wogy 111 (}�rt'dl f.1111�liail Sani�. ""'�'"-""ftKnl \l.,,l1,:Nily. Loo$ 11,.,,w- iu anliwur, HodiQJ C•lholio\ ftmin�. 11"6 111111 ,,,1,,, IV('lip,,..,, ff auW/r or many l)ook4,, indudl111J Advillfl ,md $,,-n.,•. ulivu� J.\. !,<11 1111d Nnu W11m-PVNl'W Eorth,,.. ,.vJJ a tWflll($1< anick,. Th.it flSII)' ii

, !Mid ll'Olll f:hrli'tUIIIII)' ""d Cr,;;t, (April 12, 1 m), wpyrighl • I fJ7? try O,tl1lianit7 I , .,1,h lt1r., iu,d f,un her L1W1>1#J 7),�on, 1'�11bs1 Pww. (lJJl)'righc o 1•,rn by

It! �11, ,111.1y-soo.rty\/S1 P;iulllKAp,)lll11,i.111brS._l)fNll'll'\'11fil .

" JtUTtlf:R

All the basw dualities-the aJienatton of the mi»d from the body; cht alicnati()lt of the subJwi,·e self from the (ll�cetive world; I.he subjccti\'t retreat ol the individual. alittiatcd from the $0Ci..'l.l community, the domim11i()n or �jcl:tl011 of nature by spirit-thc9C' all tw\'C:- l'OOlS in lhc apocalyplic-PLnonic rcl.iglou:S herilagc of tl�cal Christhrnity. But 1hr alienation of ,he 1nasculinc frflnt thr- kminioc is 11,e primar)' sexual S)'mbolhM th�u sums llJ) ;1II thcst alien<Ui()ns. 1be psychie traits ol

intt.llc.:tu.aJity, 1nm.sttndcn1 spirit, and nutonomou$ will that wes-e idc111ified with the m:ctle left the wom:in wi1h the oontr.lry traits of oodilinm. sensuality, and i;ubjugrnion, Societ). throogh the «*-l'llurics. h�:s in cvtry wa)' 1)(Qfoundly ronditi(lfitd men and wmnen lO pla)' 001 their li\<n .-ind find 1hclr <..tpadtits witlun this b.lsic an1ithcsi11.

11,is amithe:1ii: h..U al.so .shapt."I the modern t-.:du,ologicaJ -.:11v11x111-mc-m The plan of our cities is made ii, thi.s imagt· Th� sphere 0£ doo-1cs1ici1y, rt!lt., and ch.ildn-;1ri1lg where wol'IM!11 arc �11cd i.s de..irly separated from those corndor$ down whkh mtn advance m ns.1auh upon 1he w<Kld or "wo,•k.'' The w<111u1n who a.ries 10 hte:a.k ou1 or the kmak 3J>ht-,<c into th<' rna$Culinc finds no1 c>nl)' p,sychk wndi­tiomng ;.111d social aui111dei. but the structure ol .social rel.lily ilS<'lf ranged -against her.

The J)hysical c:1wi11'>1\mc01-a�» to bask ln,:tltuti�s i.n u:rm� nr spa« ;md tinw:-has btt:n sh.aped (or the fundamental purpose otfn:,eing one half of 1hc race for 1h¢ work m<1y ('3lls "produtti.vt," whileo the <1thtr half of 1hr. tace remains m n sphC"rc th;·n s,crvices thts freedom (or w(.11'\(. The "''oman who would 1ry le.> ottup)' bmh 111)hc1·cs at or.i<.'e li1crall)' find, mility 1(5elf $1.a{:ked agaimt her, making th" combinaii(m of n,au:mal and masculine occu5)h1fons all bui iroposs1blt wfthoo1 cxtraordin:u•y roctgy °' tl'loo.gh 1.<o1eahh 10 hitc domestic h"lp.

Thu.,s., in order m pfa)' out the roles sh�ptd b-i' this dcfii,ition or lht m.;\le life-st)·lc,, tl1c woman fimb 1hat she m�1.,:t ci1hcr be chil<lltss or ha\·� �l'llMnt d5' .-ie;1 as her ''wire .. (i.e., play the -,ervitt role for ht!r rrttdom 10 w-0rk). Wom,:-n's liberation ,s d1c1•tforc 1mf)l)$J1/,l" within 1he f)ttSC-01 s1>1:i.1I t1)'$tCtn except for �11, tlile few. W(Mne,, simply cttllMt be pC'l"$0f1$ within th(' pn·sem S)'S(C'ffl of w()tk aod (amil}', and they c.in (lfll)' ri.st' to libetllttd ptn0nhocxt h)' the mosl ra,dical and fuodt1111t1)1.al l'C'shapil'lg of the <nlin• hum3n env1ronmt.m in a way 1ha1 reddine5 thf· very naturt of work, family. and the in.sti1111ic,oal expmsions-01 social r.-laitOns .

Although wid-csprta.d hi>l>CS (or lilxrt}' and cquiJi1y runong aJI

M<1lhn-1:1Jrlh and lhe Meg«muduntt 4$

humans r«se wi1h the phiJ01opJ":¥ or the EnlightmmcnL, h::trdly any of 1h• idtologio of 1hc Frtnch Revolution and the liberal rt\'Oluti(mll 61' the ninC(een1h c:cntury envial:lm,ed the libcratiW' <>f women. The bourgroisic, lhc worken., the peasants, C'\'Cll the Negro sfaVT.S wCJ'C mort <ilwious candidates for libctation, while: lhc subjugtuion of women continued to be viewed as an un;�her:sblt. neccssi1y ol natvrt. When the m0$1 t,\dkal of the F'rtn� liberals, the Ml"Jr<iuis de Condorcet, included w-0,tl(n in 1ht ,..i,lon or equ;llity. his roUcagut'!S thwght he had km bit 11tnscs and bre;:tehod th( foonda1i0f\J of the new ration;.1IL-\ln. The a$1;nwlency of Reason rneruu the -asctndcn9• of 1he intclJot1 O\'tr the passions .• and ,his must ever imply di.e subjugalion ol wortttl'I.

An l!itlbarrasscd slkn« or cries af ridicule likewi11,1: grtt1cd this 1oplc when ii Wall r;lisod ha.I! a ccmury later by ano1hcr corn1$tent libcr1ar­iru1, Joh.n SlUan Milt Onl)· af1cr a tong strugsle from the nirac1f'enth to th(' ('-.irly twtntit'lh century did women linally l)N'ak down the b.1.rriers that Kpar:ut<d 1htm from the 1nost basic righ1, to work� cdv-ellti<)fl, fino.ncial autonorny, a.nd full d1iuo.shi1,-.and even 1hnc: rrttdoms an: l)l)t unh·trsaUy S<'rn�d t"'lay.

The reaction aga.in!il su,d suppression or the Woman's Libcr;Hion M<M:roenl has btto closd)' 1ied t(I tt:a.c1ionary cuhur-J:'1 and political movements. and 1he erna1w:ipatcd womao h3l been 1hc chief l<1rget or di1ivn, f;ucism ., and ncocotl��atism of all kind�. The Romantic MO\'mieo1 1rau1n.'ltfacd Europt'5 re.1"1i(lCt to the freneh Re\l(llutioo, reinnattd Ule tradufon:,l vie""' of women in idtalittd form, while 1he mQrt vin.1knt blood-aod-sod r11tC1i<m,l1'ics ol the mnet.t.-t>nth ttfttu.ry txp� a more n;ikcd mi�y.nism, Liu:r.11)' figures rudt aiS Stri,�1· berg �,wt Nic12eht couldn't ,� S1tongly enough their abhorrence uf women. At the 1un1 -0,f Lht ccmury. Freud oodif,cd aU the 1radi1iooal n�ti,·t \'itws ol the fcrmdt psychology, giving lht."'lil -"!icnti.fic mpe'1· ;1bility for 1hr ne1,1,• psychok,gka.1 .ind uicial scicn<-'<'S, The5c- ll�tivt: Hct«Kypcs have been a key c-kmcnt 111 1he rc.preilion o( the womcn'i1 mt,vrnW'\ll.l tltrough the po1,-.1la; m:,ss m«Ua.

In Naz.istn, 1h� i-eat1ionary drive .ig.:iinsl lhc libcnanan lr:lditioo .-ulmin:ut.d in a Viru.l.cm tevh·aJ of rari.sm. miJo8yni�m. ditism. and nuhuiry :11,d national chau\•ini:;n1. II! .,,ietims we.re Jew$, C<llnmu11is1s. '-1111 i:iJ Dunocnu. und hbcnarlans of .111 ki11ds.-and, finally, 1he 11 .,1111,•111 "''amen 's movement.

In Amcnc:1, tht: period from World War I 10 the 19(>()� ,d1 '"''"ntrizcd by a tSU(i!(·M,i.,,c revival or 1.uni•Ntgro racism, <wtl·

,� ltU'l'IU:ll

Semitism. the dt$1ruc..1ion of tht Amerit,.'t.11 Left. and finaJJy 1he cold w:a.r miJitanzation or society �$Cd on a fanatic an1i,Communism. ln lhis same period, � 4.1.mdnuous rcac1ic:11laty 1).lcifil"alion of the wooiit:n'.s

mQVe1ncn1 deprived v.•omen or n1:\ny of lhcir carti«- ga.il'.'I$ in education­al and profCi.SioiuJ fitlds

Thi.$ ti:iodc:rn baddlih agaiMt 1he libcn:arian tra<litiOC\ $H:1'.$ 10 rc:innatc aui1uMs aAd l(ltial rdatiom whost p,iycbk rooa run back through the Jurl�Chrinian and cfat'ffca1 cu.hurcs into 1he ""ry roundatM>os ol cMti2atiOfi buUding. The: cry for liberl)', equnl.ity, and fraternity challttigetl I.he rorm of the l)S)'th')loin· "'hut.by the ru)fninan1 clai� nttaiured iu status in terms of tbe conquest of dMSes.. 11..1.tioos, races.. and nature itst.lf,

l....twi$ M1,1m(Of'd, ln his mooumen1�I work on the foundatH>ns of' ancic-nt civilization, Tiu. Myth of lhe Machutrr, and its supplemmrn.ry volu.mc oo m<1dern 1cdioological society, Tht: Myth of tJ,(' Maehirlt::

Thtt Amtag1m of Pown-, ha, $.hown how dvUizatiol'I ha$ been found<d on a subjug:11io1\ or man to machinrni. A th.)1,winLSl, par-anoid ps1•d1o1�­ogy hat dirtt*ed men's produc1i�e energies mto dcsiruc1io11 r,ul,er than the aJll!'\•iation of 1hc n�11ilit.s o( alJ, thus aOOrting 1h1: promise � civilitnion. The subjugation or the female b)' the male is 1he primary 1)$)·thic model for this diiUJvinism and il.S 1>3tallf'I expressions in oppttUOr-opprn,scd .-cl;11ionships btiwttn $0Ci.;1,I dasse,, racts and ruui�ns. h is this mmt basic ;9,yn-,bc>JUm of powe.r thtu hll,S rni&dirccif'd me.n's psychie energy into the OOUding or the Pen1agon of Power, rrom 1hc pyramids or ancknt f.gypc to 1he North American pur,;lc�palacr oo tht P«oma�

'fhc psyd•o.wcl�J history o f the domln.-.iion of women has l'I()( betn explored with any oonsis1en<.1', so the cffon to ltact: its genesis and dcvclopmen1 hen:: c'/4o ooJ)' be- \-Ct)' gcner:11. However, it appcal'$-that in agticuhw.tl societies stx:iu and cf:us polarization did n()4 immcdi.md)' reshape the religious world ,•icw. for 1� fr� two milknni.a or rttard¢d hi,tory, religious culture ()O-rttim1td Lo rcffca the m(l1't' htili i;ti.('. view or socitcy of the nl!()fi1h.i<: village, where 1he indi"iduaJ and the oom.muni1y, 1u1turt :md !il0cie1y, m.aJc and ftmaJc-, earth Coddtn and sky God were SC<'O in a u:ital p<"rsp«(h't' of wo,•ld rtocwaJ. 1nc salvation or the individual was not spli1 off from that of the communi1y; the sal�1joo ol society was one with the mkwal ol che earth; ,n�le- aod fem.a.le played thci:t complementary roles in tht "lv�1fon of chc t.\'Orkt This priini1ive democracy o( the nonlithit village persisted in 1he di,·ine

Motherearlh (Jnrl J)1� M�gorruuhm(' '7

p:imheons or Babylonia, despite ,he social class sµ-atili.�1iQCl lha1 �w ap1,c:tred.

In these fi'lrly (:ivili�;nions, 1.h,s h003tic w0f'1d \•icw W-1$ �xpresscd in ,he 1)ublic cckbr.ition or the new year•, r-:iti�·al, ...,•herein the wh(llc society or hmnal'lity and nature cxpcrimccd lhe armu.'11 death or tht OOfl'lW and h;s rcs1.1rr<-«ion from primo,.dial chaos. ln thUI <'uh, the king, .us ,he pctsanifiration of 1hc community. pfa)'Cd the role' o( the COO who dk·s and ii reb� trom lM nc:1herworid. llis ooun1erpan was a powttfol fominihC figvn: wlw was at on,Qt virg:in a.00 mother• wire and sister. and who rrseucd tht: dyin_g God frum 1hc pi)wcr of 1.hc undetworld. The king united wlth her al the clld of the drama h1 i:re31e the divine child of lb:- new ye,'lr'!l ,,cgei.ation, The t1'i.s.is and rcbir1h c:11<x)rupa.s.std both S(,r,ic;ty and natur� The hymns of rcjoiri11g <:cltbral­ed the rde:.is-e or the CApth-tlf. jus:1ict for the poor• :1.nd security a.g.i.i.nsl

im·:i.sion. as well tt/1 the ne.w rain, the new g,ain. lht' new 1$mb and the new child.

Somcwh(n: in lb( first millc:nniunl !I.e., howC'\lcr, this communal w()t]d view o( hon1;<111i1y :tr1d nature, m,'l.lC and rem.ale, c-.irrit;•d over lrom trib.11 socie1y a.aned tQ Lte:tk down, ancl 1ht alienations or ri,<ili2:nion bcpn t() te$h .. '1pc 1ht rdigi01.1$ world picture, This ehan!'(t was p.1.11ly aggr-ava1cd by ,he hismt)' or i.mpl':'ri-'1 ronquc!ll that swept 1.bt people ot 1hc �·fedittn-ancan iJJtO l:irgtt and larger social cooglom· t'r,ues whcN: they no longer felt the same um1y with the klng, 1hc lfOil or the society.

The old rcligM>m of the eanh became private cults £or OK' indi,·idual, no longer .inticip:ning the renewal of lhc: cartb :md i<'lcicty bul rather e,cp«ting an othc:l'W()tl(liy sah•atioo «>r the individual swl �ftt:r death Nt1hm: itfitlf camc to be 11eir.n as an- alien fllllity, and men MW , l..uaJizcd ,heir ()Wn bodies as foreign tCJ their true: sclv,es, longing foe a lw,lvt'.nl) home to r,;tlC3f<;t 1hcm from thei,r �,111lavcmcnt wi1hit1 the phralc;aJ 1'QSll'IC)S,. final))\ e .anh c:,eaSitd 10 be S('ffl a.11 m.-in's true home�

I lt'brcw religion is significant ui it.is history as the fai1b or a pcoph• 'f'llho clung with partkul;,r tet1aci1y to lhcir 1rlbal idemily O\'Cf .-1gairu1 1lir 1111pcrial p(IWCN ai civiJizaliOJl. Hebrew .90C1e1y mhi:.ri1td kingship .,1111 lhc new yca.r'1 rcuival of lh� 1�m1)lt from their C31'taaoite 11l'hd1bors. But Yahwism tt� tM kminmc di"ine tole- inu:gral ti> 111!• 1 uh .and bcgat1 to cut loose 1.hC' fQ1_i\·al itscl( from 111 natural base ,,, ,h,. rr-tw·wal of the earth.

I h11 dnerl 1J«>plt claimed the i.Afld jl/1 a divine lcg;)q•. but they

,s kf.U'fHF.R

imagined :t manner o( 3NJu.iriog it that set I.hem llg<llnst the tt::tdilional cuh <1( the carih. They look over lhc old ea/th festivals bu, reinterptci� c,d them 10 rertr to histotkat t\'ClllS in chc Sinai journey. 'Inc lllC$$iank hope$ (If lh<" propl1t(fl; still Jookcd for a pat\tdisal rc-ntw.il of eanh aM' wcicty, bu1 d1i.s rt'ocwal hl'Olle the bonds� natural po,ssibtlit)' and w;_i,s projet.'ltd into hjscory :'IS a future e.�nt.

So the- pattern of dcaLh a11(1 murrcction was cut lnoliC.' from 01'8,<'11nt­hatmMit11. -and bctat1tt ins1ead an hisrnric:al pattern of wrath and ttdemptiOfL The feminiDt imsgtr)· of the euh was rcpre.s,ed C'Otitcly, i:thhough i1 survfrcd in a lleM' form in the symbol (>f the communit)' as tht bride ol Yahw�h in 1he C'.ovenanL Uu1 the bride w;M; subordinate Md depcnd-0n1 to dtt" male Lord ol H0$1$, who rrigl'M"d withou1 OOn.$0ft in the heavens, oonftmtln,: hi.sS(lrnnimcs tcbellioos, soo�imes rcpcn. tanl pcopJe wi'1h punishnM!nt or promit.es O( nation.ii victory.

'fhe hopes for a rcne ... ,..J o( oa1ur� and sodety, proJocttd Into a onceand for all hii«Onl.'al futurt, now c.ante t(l be seen 3$ less aod It$:$ n-aJi2ablc "''ithin histcll'y hsclf. And llO chc- prophetic dri-11e 10 free manr,um m11urc- ended in the ar1<Qlypdc negauoo of h4wry 1l&cl(; :, cataclysmic worJd dcst.ruct100 and angelic new crcadQn,

In tMis isame period o( the fitsl m.iUennium i,,c.., we lin.d in classical philosophy a parallel dr-velopmern or th.: aliena1i<,n of the individual from the world. Llkt- lht> propheU;, the philOW>JJh�rs rcpudia1ed 1be old 1\(llv•'t Cods in thctr sexual forms of in�le and ftm:de divinitiC9, anrl matenc,it w�s seen a11 bodiless and imellcctual.

Fi,r Plato, the .1,.11hC'mic S(MJf i.s incarnated as a male, and only "'J1-c11 ii suocumt» ,., the body i:1 it rtiocam,ilttd in the boo)· ot a female and &hen i1uo lhc body (If $OJUC' he;1J1f resembling lhc. C'viJ ch;i.niner imo which il has (alien. The &alvatioo i>r 1hc- libtta1ed oonsciowoeH l'Cpudiiuies hetcl'OU'xuaJ for mS�ulirn: IU\•c 11nd rnoum!I lfJ ht:avt'.n ln flighl from tJtt bod)' and lht viis1btc "'otl(I The inttllcet is scm ai an alien, loud)' .sptcics that o,·iginlltcs in a purely Sf)irituar re:iJn, beyond time., ispace, and 1�tler. and has btc-n dropped. flthtr a:1 iolo a lestirtS pl:k't or. thl'ffli.gb JSOme fauh, into this lqwer nmerial WOl'ld. Bui spa..-e and tin,e, body Md ,nutabilit)' arc lotaUy alien lo us nruure The body d�s the "Sdul down, ob11euring the darh,· Q/ iu .knowl"'dgc, debasing i.ts moral itltf',grit}'. Libcntion is a fliiJht from ,he tarth co a th-'ngdns. infinne world bc)·ond Again we !fiet tht tmergcnct <>f the- libcratt,:I consciousness 1n a way that lllic:n:ttt.t it from. na1urc: in a hody•flcdng, worlcl•n<-gat[ng tap(ntuaJity.

M1,tl11trw.r.rth and lht l11,rgum,u.hfr1c> 49

Chri11ti:\llity btought 1ogelbtr botlt o( these m)•ths-d\t myth of world cataclysm and the m�·th ol the ftigh1 of 1h·e soul to heaven h ,J� stru.ggled 10 c.•cwtut the more (Xltt"Jl\c! imptit;niom o( thi� body� ntgating spiriw�lil)' wid, a more posilive d<ic1rine of cit:,ttH>o and i,K:wn;uion. h even reinsw.1td, in «1\'tn form. the oJ.J toy1lu1 of tht )'far cult and ,he 11hg:in-mothcr Goddess..

But the dominaot spirih1:1lilf of the Fa1hel'$ or 1l1f: Churth linaJI)' a<.'tepted: ih(' antibody, am.ifemi.nitw vitw or late antique religious culmrt. i{«<'m prq1)()nel)lll of erolog)' b.;m:, 1l1erefo1'f:, pointed the fingtr- .ti Christia.nil)' as the originator o( th.is <kbasc:d view or nature. as ,he rd1g101J$ t.-iM:tM>n for modern 1«hni>l()skal exptoitattoll of the t:1r1h.

Out Chri$ti:\11i1y did not onginale ihi$ vkw. Rather, H .:IJ)1)(111":I 10 rorttspond to a stage (){ dl':lldopm,em of hum.'111 Cl)1lsciousncss that Winddtd with ripcninp; dass.i�l t.:ivili1.111jon. Christjanily 100k 011e1' this alienated. world view of late classical cMlh:a1tC)n, but its opprtssi\•t dUllliti� expms 1he ba:lic ruien:ui<>11s �t work in lht i1$yehfflocial chanoch:i.ation or hmnan energy sintt 1he bteakup of the romm1,11\:ll ure ()f earlier tribal $(lt'1C,y.

What we $t.t in this dcvclopmcm i" a one-sided exprm;ion or 1.hc r.go, daiming iu, tr.tni;cendental autonom)' by neg.-ti11g tbe finite matrix or ex.iS(cnct. 11lii antith<sls is 1)rQjetted JiOciaJly b)· idco1ilying woo1an as tbc in<arnati<H1 or thi!< debasing thn:at o( bodily exi.'i1cncc. whjJc- the fl;utw, p<>l:uiud 1nodcl c,l llic �l·chc is proj((llt:d 1»li1ir.aUy upon ,uppl'CS$('d or (1.1oqut:N:d social groups.

Tht: emphasis upon 1tie transccndrnt eonsciOu1$rlt$.'\ h.as lilt'rally r-rcau:d the ui'b,'l.l) tttnh, and both ib$ttaC1 sdcnt'C aod n:volu1ion ntt uhim:uc products <1f 1his will to transcend ;met domiruue the natur.il .md �04·i;)I wotlct that ga1;'e bi.nh to 1hc ttbdlious sptrh, Th<: exdusi,•tly nwlc God who 1:retitct 001 of nolhing, tr.lns<ending nalUn: ;md dn111i1u11ing- histor)\ and up(ln wh()Se aU-powerfol wriuh and graa:. uun hangs is a mi.sicrabte, trt&lfallet, &ini�, is the thcologic:tl lid(· lm,l�e and guihy oon�ence of Chis sclf-infinj1h;il).g $pitiL

l'titfay wt tttognizc: Lhat ,hi, 1ht()l(lfly 1)r rcbeUion lnto infinity has 11 · ullJJltt'fl)ilrl in a world-dt'stroying spi.ri1uality that prQjC'ClS upon the r1 ,11.-tr (l( 1he raoc all i1s abhorrtt1ce, hos-1ilhy and fear of the bodily 1••,-1,rn fr11m which it MS 11risen and rrom which it 1,•i:she3 10 be 111,I, 111'1wlffit. One ca.n foel this rear io the Lhrc.11entd, reprcs�h·ely 11,1,111• rnC"rg)' th:i1 is :miv.ated in 1he d{1111inan1 malt society a, tht! in�rt

51) lt.el:UTHf.a

11uggq1ion of tht trncrgcntt ()( ihc remalc OrJ an tquaJ plane-as lhough tq1J.3li1y ilSClr mu4t ine..,jtably me-an lu'l N;�ubjugation 1n preconS(i0\111 submcl'$:iOO in lh t wornb.

This most liask duality dw.rac:lffius murh recent 1h cology. Kati Banh, dt:$J)Ue his model of rohum:rnity .u the csit11� of the crei11fo,nal oovenam, insisu i)n the ttJa1i,in of .super- Md subordin:uN)n between men and ..,.omen as an <>rdaincd nta"$$ity of crta1ion- "Crisis" :illd ''seeufar"' tbcologiJns such as B,1.ltmann s1,d Gogartcn oontinuatry strc11s the tr:m�ndentt or his1ory o,;cr n:Hutt, dcfo1ing ebc Gospel ;u the freedom oi lhe libctau:d ronsciousm:ss 10 dt!).'n cndJcs.<1ly from n.lluraJ and his-Qrkal found:uions imo the contendcsi daen of putt possibility. Such theologians arc bapp)· to baptize modern 1tt:hr1(1fogy

as 1he express.ion <ii 1hc frttdom mediated by the Gospel ((I lran5tt0d and domjna.1e nature.

Tod-')'t both in 1he West and :.mong ins-urgent Third World peoples, w(: are Stting i new in1cnsifi1c..-tion of 1hi!( Western m<Klc <If abstrac,. tionis.m :ind tt\"Ohuior1. Many att! Q)nvlottd tha1 tfu; problems cre:ued by m3n'i ra,·aging o( nature (·4'1• be solved Mly by a gtt.a, deal mott

u:dmologieal manipulado,i. The oppres:.'lcd people$ who have beer, 1he viClim$ (1( the- domin,'tion of the elite classes 1)1),w seek LO foUow much iht: same p.·uh ttf pride, lNUi.11Qend1ng W'nuh. ,eparatis,n #ind po"•cr i,1 order to $11.;lr(' in the he!nt"fits of indipeodentt and c«hnologic-al power alrta.d)· won by the- dominani daisK'l!,

Yn., at 1he same Lim� naiure 3nd $1()(:iety art _giving dear wamlng .signals 1ha1 the u�uJn-css or 1hit spiri1ualit}' is abou1 tt> t-nd, Two. rc,-olutiom .trc running i11 ooni.rnpu111:J dirttti005.. The aliM:ucd member$" Q( 1he domin.mt &0eitt)• art. 11eeking new oommunal, t!gtlliui.r· ian lffc-.s1ylcs, ecological living 1>auerns, and the ttdirc-ction Q(' ps)•chic l:'nerip• 1owttrd rct-onciliation with I.he tx,dy, But thek human pc>1tnli.1.I mo,•mieots rem:1in cliti.s., privatiittc. csLhc1i1; and dc:�-oid (I(� profound cov-cnant with the poor and oppcesstd Qr 1he earth.

On 1he olher hand, the aspiration$ o( insurg,:nl peoples ri11e- .ilong 11,e lfors or the tradhiorwJ rise o( civili.i::"ltion through group p,idt, trchnolasn�.-r domination of natu� :ind antagooi�ic. rompttili\•t rr.1.i· 1i1m1hjpi; brtwttn pc.:oples. Such lendentics might I)(" deplored by thotse­who ha\'c S(I for monopoliied 1tthnofo,gy and 00"'' btlic,·e 1hey h.a,·r stt1l tht end or its rruitfulnrsi, hu1 they mu1t1 fX! rc,oogniZ(!Xf as .sull r.-Jeva.m IQ the liberation or 4he poor a11d oppl"("sscd frQrr) matcri:11 ncccs�i1y ;_ind ps)·chological depcndtr1(·y.

Mq1lu:,-rorlh and,.� Megomochine j/

\\'c att now approadl_ing lhc deno1.1e11Knl of this dialceLk. The ethic of c(l,p1!)t:Ci1i,,c,,�ll and technological mastery has crca1ed ;t world divided by pcnjs-miss:ilo Md c(lun\,C:rmi:s.<1ile,1 ti,." could dcsi:roy all hm11.t111i1y :1 l1undttd times <Wer. Vet I.he <'lhic of r-coonnli;nivn with lhl" C":anh has f('l to bn::ak ¢'II (,I ibl snu& corners of aff-luentt and frnd mc:u1ingfol oohtsion \\'ith dM: f'C\-olutiom of im1urge111 p«,J�tf.

Tl'1: siguifiranci' iJf the women's revolution, then, may well be: i1<; unique locnLion in the ceruer o( this d:.ul, b(1wet11 tht: (»n11"3pumal d.1rct·ticms t>f current libert11ioo mo�-cments, Women arc the � ;,ndoldest oppressc-d. robjv.g.Hed r.lC(lrte. They 100 mutt dnjm for lhtm•t;eh-ti d1� bum,'l.n eapaciti� ol intdJ«t_, will, and autoric1m(M,1,: crt;,ti\'Cconsciousness that h<Wt bct'n dtnied theru through this psychosocialpal.triution in its most original form.

Ye• woni,in hth·t' ;l)SI) been identified with nature. the eanh. v)(f 1he bod)' in its. despised and reFttt'd form. T() $imply rtjt.1.1 this idcmillca-1iqn would he to 1tcgttc1 th.-i1 pan or oursc(�s we: ha\'t' been ld'1 10 cuhh•ate and to buy into th.it V('ry p<.!::trh•.ati<in or whicfl we ha\'e bt-en the pti.m:wy viajml. The signih,cance ol our m(w(ment will be lost ir we mcrcl)· &etk ,·;iluecl 1nr1.$1Culinc traits a, the cxpen!iC' or dt'l·alued rcniini.ne ones.

Women n1w;1 be tht: spokesmen for a new humanny arising oot -Of 1he tt'<'OOCUimion (,I sr,iril 11,.J bc)dy. This docs not m(an .sc:Hing shon our- ,·ights U) the J)O\"'C'N of indcpcncknt pel'$00hood. /\1.1tof1Qll:'lf, world• 1ransccnchng spirit, $tpar.;1tism :,, 1hc: puwcr or tonltfiousncss raising, 11nd liberation from an umamcd nan�re .iind fn,tn :ruLjugation w lhe ri-.·ket"Sh1p male-all 1h(;S(: tevolu1ions arc stiU vita.I to W<>mt'n's ,,cbtt'oemcnt or irut'gral pcrwnhood. Out wt htwt w l,)(M bcfond our ,,\, n libera1ion from opprcs.sion 10 tht' hbc-rauon (l the <•p1�wr a.t �rll Women :1hould not buy int6 the m::u1ieulinc ethic of oompc:titi""'· un, that SttS tlte triumph of the self as prcclkatcd t•pon 1h..- $Uhjug:1.-11-,,, c,f 1he Mhrr. Unlike ,ncn, wc»n-cn haw: tradiLionaJly ruhivttlcd a , ,auununa) personhood that coo.Id par1icip.'1tl" iu 1he su� of Olhers , ,,hrr lluti seeing 1hcsc as mc-ttl)' a 1h.ttat to one$ own iurtJeSI·

I u �k 1hc liberation of women witl1()ut l()Jli.ng this sense o(

u1111uual pcrso,,hood is the grca1 c:hallcngc and sctTl't power of the 1t11111tr11'11 rf'\'(1lu1i()n. II$ only proptt end must be 1he total abolition of hi" ,-.111111 pauem ol dominauon and sl•bJ'IAS":fon :\lid the 1:tt(.1iun or a

, •1JU1t1unal $0Cial ethic Wt' need to build a new tWptf311\'e 8Qltk11 .... , beyond the princi1>les (if l1itr3fffi)', rulr.. and too1pctid\•enc:ss.

52 ltf.1JT11 Ek.

Stardng in the g,aH r(>{ltll local units of hu.nuu, soc,cty where f>S}'COO\SO .. tial polarizati()o Cir�! began, wt must ci:,,,ne a living J).1Uern of mut1J-tili1y be1w«ri men and wo1Ut'11, ll<'twctn p;1.re111t aOO ch1Jdrt.11, :unong ))(Opie in their $0Cial, (l(.'()nomic. and Pl)litkal rdauon$11ips and, linully, between m;·,nltind and the organic harmonit-� of nature.

Such .;1 n>V1'lhuion cn1.:,ils oothin,� lcn than a traosforrnaUon of all 1he $0Cial stro�'tul'CS of ttvillu•i•"'� pa.rlicularly 1ht rclatJon$hi•) bc­l"''«n work and play. h en1.a.ils litcr.iJI)' J global suu_gg:}e I() t)\'Cf'lhrow,11ul trausform the tharaocr or p>wcr stn.iovrt$ Md poinlS forw:itd 10 a new 111itssianit cpjph::iny 1ha1 will ;-u. fot 1ran5ccnd tht. world-re.,eai,1g salvation myths of apcx.:alyp1ieism and Pl:uonism ru 1hesc myth·� U"an�d.:d the old n:uurt' myths of 1he ncolithii; village. Combining the vJ.luef or 1hc wor,d-1r,u1$tt1iding y_.hweh wilh lhc,sc or 1he world· rtl'lt:\\'ing aa•.;1111'1 a posmxhn(>klgical rdigioo M tt('()ndliat.km wilh the body, tht woman and die world, ii$ salv:uion ffi)'lh will ll(IC � one: ol<.livinizalion and Hight from the body bUl or l-11.mlan.itation .-nd ,econ· dli.tii()l'i wi1h the e;1rth.

Our tt•OO.cl is n<'hhc:r tht tumantidud 1)ri.mi1ive Jungle llOr the n,(ll'ltrn 1cchnok,gi1:.1I wasteland R.:nher il ex.presses iLSCtr in :.i. ,,cw command 10 team to .;ultivate ,he g:m!c.1i. for lhc l,dth•a1ion �f t1w g::.nltn is when' the powt'rS <.1f tational (OM$1:iousncs.s come 10,tclhtf whh 1h1: barmonit's or n:lturc in pac1n,:1'$hip.

The new �nb must be: (ttl4' whtre peopl'° are rc:oondlcd with their labor, abolishing 1httt .alienation or 1ht: m<:gama(hJO� while inheri1ing its product.1\"t f11>wcr to rJ'C4: ,ocn for un3lir11111cd crtativn)'· h ,...,m be a world ,..,•here pe:01)lt: a.r<: rc-ooadled to their oy,•n finitudc. where 1he 13Sl enemy, dca1h. is conql.11:ttd., uo1 by s1 nigh• into eternity. bu1 in th;)t �piril or St F'r;,ncis that grteu "Orothc-r Death'' as a rtiend Lha, Wflll'lNei the proper tyde or the h1Jfl'lai1 soul

The new hmnani1y is 11<1C 1he will 10 po,�'er ur a monoli1hic- c:mpir<. ohlitttating all othe't id.cnliti<'s bi:forc. the one id1·n1i1) or 1ht' mJ.\.tt'r race, 1>111 a polyhngui�aic .'.lpprcdat.ivt-1\ts.11ha1 <.'an rrdrtm IOC',a) sp,11:t.. time. and i<k:111i1y. We S('(k l<! Q�ctoome. the dt;wll)' L�'lil.1han ol' tht' Pcn1:,s<iu of Powrr, inns.forming ii� power into m.:11,n.1 to recd 1hc hungr)• of th¢ t:.<1r1h. The rt\Vlution of the forninin<' rC'\lohs ,isains1 tht' d., .. a..'11urcd Babd ur ooocr«c nnd ,attl th:tt slUk:s the. livin.a;-suil II d<IC':5 not mc-rrly ttjffl: the s1>irit chi.Id born from the C'anh hut seek$ m rr.cbin\ spm1 for body nod b•xl)' for spi.ri1 111 ii ttiessiank appearillR oltht' blxly of God.