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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.