The Classical and Modern World Views (Theology)condensed

THE CLASSICAL AND MODERN WORLD VIEWS      

     The classical world view is a view that is cosmic centered and static.  The modern world is dynamic.  There is a foundational shift from one world view to another.  This paper will provide the world view of the Classical and Modern world and explain why there is a shift from one to another. What will also be explained is how these worlds are present in my image of God, spirituality, prayer, theology, ministry and in my ways of living, feeling and interpretation.   

Static World vs Dynamic

    If a juggler has three balls it is important that they are each of equivalent weight.  If not, the balance is affected and the balls fall.  Think of three balls as one being the world, one being God, and the other being humanity.  In theology one may understand our evolving state by utilizing this concept.  We live in a developing universe.  There was a time of nature gods, there was a mythology, but not a history and therefore a divine purpose could not be declared.  By the time Christianity appeared, the Roman world would have been entirely familiar with the thought that the universe might have gradually come to be as it is.[1]

      The biblical writers showed little if any interest in a causal explanation of natural process.  The Greeks however were fascinated by it.  Greek natural science attained its height with Aristotle.  He created whole fields such as physics, theoretical astronomy, logic and biology.  Aristotle foreshadowed evolution, "we should venture on the study of every kind of animal without distaste, for each and all will reveal to us something natural…Nature's works exemplify…the conduciveness of everything to an end, and the resultant end of Nature's generations is a form of the beautiful." (McMullin, p22)

     St Augustine (5^th century) stated that if there is a conflict between a literal reading of Scripture and a well-established truth about nature, this is sufficient reason to take the scriptural passage metaphorically.  There cannot be a contradiction between nature and Scripture since God speaks to both.

     In the mid 1200s, the natural science taught in universities, including theology students, was that of Aristotle (McMullin, p 27).  Aristotelian cosmology and Christian theology were merged to form the medieval picture of the universe.  Earth was the fixed central sphere surrounded by the spheres of the heavens.  Man was unique and central in location and importance.  This view would soon be challenged by science.[2]

     Galileo (1564-1642) combined mathematical reasoning and experimental observation.  Galileo formulated a new picture of nature, that as nature in motion.  Galileo called mass and velocity, primary qualities.  Galileo was a devout Catholic and found no conflict between his scientific and religious beliefs. He upheld the importance of scripture but claimed that it reveals not scientific facts but spiritual knowledge for man's salvation, truths that are above reason and could not be discovered by observation.  Galileo put nature and scripture on the same level as avenues of God (Barbour, pp 23-30).

            In the year 1616, the Holy Office declared that the sun is the center of the universe, and consequently does not change place and that the earth is not the center of the universe and is not motionless, but is in motion as a whole and its daily rotation. [3]  We know with absolute physical certainty, that the stellar universe is not centred on the earth, and that terrestrial life is not centred on mankind[4]

     Newton (1642-1727) invented calculus but he was also an ingenious experimenter in mechanics and optics.  Newton's law of motion and gravity, a novel insight, was the idea that the earth's gravitational pull might extend to the moon.  Newton believed and found time for God and the human spirit (Barbour, pp 34-37).     

     The eighteenth century saw itself as the Age of Reason (Barbour, p57).

Charles Darwin and the Church

         Darwin spent twenty-five years studying in detail the breeding of domestic animals, such as dogs where new breeds would be produced that never existed before from greyhound, to St. Bernard to Chihuahua.  Here was evolution with human choice replacing natural survival.  Darwin studied problems as diverse as hybridization of plants, comparative structure of embryos and the geographical distribution of animal and plant forms, both living and extinct.  The range and magnitude of information he brought into correlation with his theory is staggering.  After all this research, he published Origin of Species in 1859 (Barbour,p 86).  By the close of the century, the fact of evolution was accepted by virtually all scientists, and by the vast majority of theologians.

    In 1951, an address of Pope Pius X11 cited with approval the views of several astronomers that the universe had a beginning in time.  In general, it is maintained that the creation of both the universe and the first man and woman were historical events, but that the biblical portrayal of these events is figurative (Barbour p 374).

     The shift from the Classical World to the Modern World was a result of science.  The weight of the juggling balls required to be balanced.  What was once considered a static world where angels held the earth in place shifted because science provided a new reality that could not be dismissed.  This view eventually was accepted by the Catholic Church, thus altering the theology of the Church.   This has altered the theology of the church.  Our world is dynamic and evolving. This shift is also seen as a shift from God-centered  to man-centered.  I believe that world views is a transcendence, a process, that of evolving towards God.  This is achieved by keeping the juggling of the balls balanced. 

     The classical and Modern World views are present in my image of God, spirituality, prayer, theology, ministry and the way I live feel and interpret.

Spirituality  

     My view of God is not of an old man with a cane often projected by the Classical world which continues to persist.  I believe that God is beyond my comprehension.  God is neither man nor woman but so much more.  God is all good which I sense in the beauty of creation and in my relationship with God.  I do not fear God, as is common and was promoted in the Classical World.  I cannot fear goodness.  I certainly cannot fear anyone or anything close to my heart.  However, I do fear evil.  I believe that God is everywhere.  In the Classical world it was common to believe that God dwelled in the heavens and demons were beneath the earth.  I believe that demons are very much a part of our lives.  I see this by living in the modern world.  The classical World cannot be dismissed.  Jesus came to us in the Classical world.  Jesus came to us as God and teacher preparing us for future world-views.  I also recognize evil transcending into the modern world. 

    Spirituality requires careful examination.  What is ethical in Modern society?    Was it more ethical in the Classical world?  Was it more spiritual?  I say naught.  Can ethics be separated from spirituality and prayer in our way of living, feeling and interpretation?  Can it be separated from our ministry?  Again I say no.  Christian Spirituality and Theological Ethics[5] defines ethics as “the critical of morality, namely, the direct, lived experience of human values and obligations.  Ethics stands to morality as theology stands to spirituality, the lived experience of faith.”

     During the evening news, I watched in amazement as “500 tons of oranges” were being used in a “massive orange fight” [playful] for a medieval re-enactment of a revolt against a local tyrant in northern Italy.[6]  My thoughts went to the people of Haiti who had suffered so much from an earthquake and where there was an outpouring of love with support of medical care, food, and money to rebuild their country.  My thoughts continued to sweep across the poor in Canada and the poor in the States and the poor in the rest of the world.  I thought of the millions of people, more often women and sadly children who die from malnutrition and starvation.  I saw all this as I viewed the vivid, colorful, images of hundreds of crates of oranges to be used in a mock fight.  My spirit cried.  This is the culture of our modern world.  There is a shift arising because this tears at the hearts of men and women.  A balance of the balls is required.  Berry professes that “the first thing we must begin to teach our children (and learn ourselves) is that we cannot spend and consume endlessly.  We have to save and conserve….An economy based on waste is inherently and hopelessly violent…”[7]

     Where is compassion? “Compassion…helps us recognize what the suffering need and inclines us to meet that need.”(Spohn, p 275).  Poverty was prevalent in the Classical World but now there is an expectation that we should know better.  Technology permits us to view the world from our living rooms.  The ease of travel permits us to live among others and return home at a moment’s notice.  Then why are we not balanced?  Spohn states that” …emotions can be educated.  They are not blind instinctual reactions but learned behaviors” (Spohn, p 277).  Therefore, in my spirituality, when I viewed the news and felt the emotions I was feeling, others may not, since they have learned differently from myself.  This is also encouraging because it reveals that there is hope for the future through learning which was more restricted to the rich in the Classical world.  Pope John Paul II visualized a renewal of conscience, “…in the last few decades some consoling signs of a reawakening of conscience have appeared: both among intellectuals and in public opinion itself.” [8]  This is the stirring of another shift to come for humanity.

   Berry states that “we accept uncritically the belief that technology is only good; that it

cannot serve evil as well as good; that it cannot serve our enemies as well as ourselves; that it cannot be used to destroy what is good, including our homelands and our lives.”(Berry, p 1).

     Since the Classical World everything we created has been used for evil as well as good.  Wars have never ceased.  Now we have the technology to destroy massively while in the Classical World it was direct contact.  Thus less were killed and only soldiers died in battle.  Now a bomb can kill so many innocents.  Darwin’s experiments continues to this day where tampering has become unholy.  The British Parliament voted to allow the creation of human-animals.  When Legislators vote 336 to 176 in favor of such a law we must question our respective governments who speak for us. [9]  That is another shift.  Do we really trust our leaders to decide for us?  Is there another system required to revamp what was considered democracy?  How democratic is our society by the structures in place?  But we cannot dismiss the good of technology and science.  We are living much longer than ever before because of modifications in the treatment of health and medicine.  We must keep in mind that life requires a balance.    There is a polarity of extremes.  There is good but there is evil.  There is positive and there is negative.  There is light and there is night.  There is life and there is death.  There is God and there is Satan.  Some like to choose a particular extreme.  Others choose to look at both sides and still others pick a point in the middle of what is available to them.  This too at times may be bias and misinformed.  “There is no need to seek Truth; only stop having views…The ultimate truth about both Extremes is that they are One Emptiness..Whether we see it or fail to see it, it is manifest always and everywhere….[10]

Prayer

     I consider prayer powerful.  For me prayer is a blanket which provides me with warmth and protection from cold and evil.  Prayer connects me directly to God.  Prayer engulfs me with grace.  Prayer does this for me and so much more.  Prayer is my protection.  Jesus taught us prayer and

Jesus taught us forgiveness.  Prayer is being removed from our schools and government.  Even here at Regis, I have only had three professors who began class with a prayer.  But, there is also a positive note.  Crucifixes are now in every classroom while at our prior school there were not.  This too is improvement towards God.

        Spohn speaks of prayer which is my prayer, “when rightly done, liturgical prayer has significant moral consequences…Expressed in prayer and interpreted through preaching, ritual should help the congregation realize what God is empowering and requiring them to become.  The complex affections shaped by Holy week ought to leave believers to take a definite moral stance toward their own culture and world ” (Spohn, p 280).  This is another example of world views transcending into our modern time.  The key words  “when rightly done” is important because such harm can be harvested when it is not done right.  Fundamentalists waving their bibles quoting the bible verbatim regarding hate can be used as an example.  My spiritual director, as well as my studies have convinced me that reading the bible literally can be quite destructive.  Interpretation through preaching is imperative in how we interpret the bible as we relate to others.  And how is the community being affected by religion?   

     “An estimated 20 % of adult Americans pursue spiritual experiences apart from organized

religion…When, (however) spiritual pursuits are extracted from a community context of

interpretation, they can easily become superficial or distorted” (Spohn, p281).  This superficialness

and distortion may also arise from religions which causes a person to seek spirituality elsewhere. 

What is positive is that there is a revival of spirituality and I argue that the spirituality renewal is a

search for God in a quest for balance, another shift in perceptions and another world view.  “In

 every era, Christian spiritualities mediate between religious tradition and the needs and challenges

 of a particular society” (Spohn, p 283)             

Ministry

     ................................   In our modern world most must focus on so many things in urban society that the self is lost in the process.  But, I also believe that we are living in an amazing time with endless opportunities.  Of course we are also living in a dangerous time.  Wars kill more people, exploiting our planet has caused global warming, our rainforests are recklessly being stripped robbing us of medicinal opportunities.  We are a people in trouble.  Regardless of our scientific discoveries that continue to expand along with our technical and medical knowledge, we are still allowing people to starve in major portions of the world while we exploit our world in others.  Hopefully we can continue to evolve intellectually as well as spiritually without destroying each other or our planet with our tampering.  There is an end for all of us including our universe.  As Catholics we should take our faith seriously, try to do something good for others and our world, even if it is in a small way.  We need to understand the changes we are introduced to in science, economics and politics because we need to understand our faith in the context of a changing world.  We need to maintain the balance of the three balls, of humanity, God and the world.  We depend on our Catholic leaders to educate us, to enlighten us and to help us with our faith. We depend on our leaders to help us to help others.  We depend on our leaders to guide us, nurture us and to help us understand God in our changing world.  This is all being challenged and rightfully so.

                                                         CONCLUSION

     In June 1988, in a message to a group of scientists and theologians, Pope John Paul 11 urged scientists and theologians to come to understand each other for their mutual benefit.  Pope John Paul said, "Science can purify religion from error and superstition.  Religion can purify science from idolatry and false absolutes."(Korsmeyer, p20)

      

      ...................................................      

Bibliography

          Barbour, Ian G. Issues in Science and Religion.  Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, 1966.

          CTV news, Toronto, Ont. 1800 hrs. 15 Feb 2010.

          Korsmeyer, Jerry. Evolution and Eden. New York: Paulist, 1998.

          Spohn, William. Ed. Holder, Arthur. The Blackwell Companion to Christian Spirituality. “Christian Spirituality and Theological Ethics”, Massachusetts: Black, 2005.

          McMullin, Ernan. Ed. Evolution and Creation. Notre Dame: University of Notre Dame Press, 1985.

          New York Times.  London.  18 Feb 2110. www.nytimes.com/2008/05/20.

          Novak, Philip.  The World's Wisdom. New York: HarperCollins, 1994. 

          Teilhard de Chardin. Christianity and Evolution. New York: Harcourt Brace Jamanovich, Inc. 1971.

           Vatican Translation.  Letter To Families From John Paul 11.  Sherbrooke: Paulines, 1994.

          Wildiers, N.M. The Theologian And His Universe.  New York: Seabury, 1982.

          Windell, Berry.  “Thoughts in the Presence of Fear.” Orion, Autumn 2001,

 www.orionmagazine.org/index.php/articles/article/214.

---

[1] McMullin Ernan. Ed. Evolution and Creation.  Notre Dame: University of Notre Dame Press, 1985, pp 7.

[2] Barbour, Ian G. Issues in Science and Religion. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, 1966. P 18.  Further reference to the text will be indicated by the author's surname and page numbers.

[3] Wildiers, N.M. The Theologian And His Universe. New York: Seabury, 1982.  Pg 97. All further reference to the text will be indicated by the Author's name followed by page numbers.

[4] Teilhard de Chardin. Christianity and Evolution. New York: Harcourt race Javanovich, Inc. 1971.  P.38. Further reference to the text will be indicated by the author's name followed by page numbers.

[5] Spohn, William. Ed. Holder, Arthur. The Blackwell Companion to Christian Spirituality. “Christian Spirituality and Theological Ethics”, Massachusetts: Black, 2005. P 270. Further reference to the text will be indicated by the author’s name and page number.

[6] CTV news, Toronto, Ont. 1800 hrs. 15 Feb 2010.

[7] Berry, Wendell.  Orion Magazine “Thoughts in the Presence of Fear”, www.orionmagaine.org/index.php/articles/articles/214.  Autumn 2001. Pp 1- 3.  Further reference will be indicated by the author’s name and page number.

[8] Vatican Translation. Letter To Families From John Paul 11.  Sherbrooke: Paulines, 1994. P 93.

[9] New York Times.  London.  18 Feb 2110. www.nytimes.com/2008/05/20.

[10] Novak, Philip.  The World's Wisdom. New York:HarperCollins, 1994. P 97.

The multidemensional views of intelligence cont...

The multidimensional views of Sternberg and Gardner -  given that the same person shows different levels of aptitude in different subjects at school for instance -  Sternberg (1980's) proposed that intelligence is composed of three elements in information processing, some of which conventional intelligence tests measure and some elements they fail to measure.

(are you bored?) cont.......

Theories of Intelligence cont....B. (psych notes)

b.  Thurstone (1930's - 1940's)maintained that intelligence is composed of several factors or abilities he called Primary mental abilities.  He proposed seven such abilities.  These included verbal comprehension, word fluency, numbers, space, associative memory, perceptual speed and general reasoning.  In addition, e Thurstone noted that a person who was above average on any one of these abilities tended to be above average in the others.  He concluded that intelligence is composed of seven factors and a general factor common to all the abilities mentioned.

cont.....with c.

What kind of therapy do I provide?

     I have been told by my mentor that I am solution focused.  I suppose in many ways I am.  However, I incorporate all my learning, experience and education and tailor it to each client.  It was in my undergrad psychology that one professor informed us of a particular client who came to him with a specific problem.  As he continued to see this client, he realized that her problem was not the one she had assessed.  I have found this to be very true in some cases.  There are at times situations that are so close and overwhelming that one cannot take a step back, with an unbiased position. 
    I have a friend who is a social worker and she said that helping people is more than just listening to them.  I wasn't sure where that came from but I cannot totally agree.  Different people need different things and sometimes, that is exactly what someone needs.  I remember another professor in my undergrad say that the Aunt Martha that people used to go to is disappearing.  They have no one to turn to.  Sometimes, that is what someone might need and that is, to just let it out and be able to  do so by trusting the person.  Not everyone is able to talk to someone. 
     I also of course believe in the medical model.  Another professor indicated that during counselling we should ensure that a client has a complete physical, to ensure there is no medical problem which may be thought of as a psychological problem or a contributon of such.  That is something I have found to be easier said than done.  Sometimes people just don't want to go and that is it.  There are normally reasons associated with that.  The client is responsible for herself and a suggestion may be made but the decision must be respected. 
    I also had one professor say that no matter how much work we do, there are times that all we can do is just make the person's life just a bit more bearable and that is all that will be accomplished.  That is ok to. 
    Couple therapy in my opinion is solution focused.  We cannot change other people but we can change ourselves.  In couple therapy it is about the relationship.  Our family of origin, is a template of who we are.  I like to do a genogram with most clients because it helps me and the client to understand why they think or do things automatically in response to their mates.  This extends to other relationships.  The idea is to get both to listen to each other, and get beyond the emotions that surface and repeat themselves.  It is basically, beginning another approach to listen to each other and understanding where each other is coming from. That is the beginning.  This takes time and effort.  Can we do couple therapy with only one person when the other party refuses to come or can't.  Yes.  I prefer the couple together but I have done couple therapy with only one person and there has been a positive change in the relationship.
     My understanding of theology also helps me to understand the religion and spirituality of the person.  I understand why people are athiests and agnostic.  That is not a problem, unless it is a problem for the client.  There are also various understanding for people with their own organized religion and that is ok too.  However, there are times when an individual's concept of God is also contributing to an unhealthy notion.  If God is cruel and destructive and not loving, than it can negatively effect the person's health as well.  If a client had an abusive and cruel father, than God may be cruel and unforgiving. 
     This is all that I encorporate in therapy plus.  My session is a 50 minutes hour.  I charge 75.00 an hour at this point and will probably charge more as I advance and grow.  However,  I keep in mind that not all people can afford that price.  So, I do keep in mind a sliding scale according to what the person can afford.  I do not work for free as I have in the past in my internships.  I too need to make a living. 
     What is your mental health worth to you?  What are the qualifications you should look for when you seek therapy?  Can you afford therapy?  Can you not?  What do you think?             

Theories of Intelligence (psych notes)

a.  Spearman (1920's - 1930's) noted the correlations of performance by the same individual across a number of tests of intelligence, were quite high...meaning, that one brought to bear on a number of tests the same general mental ability.  One's performance on one test was correlated with how one did on other tests.  This indicated to Spearman that there is a general mental ability all tests of intelligence seem to be tapping.  This general mental ability is called "G."   Example: a person who scores high on reading tests also scores high on vocabulary tests.  Reading and vocabulary tests seem to require the same general mental abilities or "G."  Thus there is a general factor being measured by all tests and specific factors or "S" being measured by various kinds of tests (see Gleitman).   


....to be continued with b. Thurstone (1930's - 1940's)

Women and Religion (condensed, edited and altered)

WOMEN AND RELIGION – AN ACT OF GOD OR AN ACT OF MAN

                            By Silva Redigonda

     Several years ago, before alter girls were popular a friend living in a rural area, informed me that her priest wanted alter girls in their parish and her daughter, would probably soon be accepted.  She said the priest was contacting all the alter boys to ensure that they were not opposed to the notion.  “He is asking boys permission for girls to be alter girls?” I expressed shocked.    

     At times it is difficult to distinguish what God wants and what the men in organized religion want.  Jesus welcomed women as equals.  As I study about different religions, I realize that women seem to serve and have a place in all religions.  This position is normally subservient to men.  This paper will begin with the image of women in the Classical world and will depict what the Christian and Muslim religion experience is for women in the church/mosque and outside of it.  

     Growing up in Toronto I was offered the opportunity of equality by my parents and then by school.  I was informed that I could do anything I wanted with my life because I was living during a time of opportunity and equality.  My first hint that this may not be so was within my church when I wanted to be an alter girl.  I was told I could not.  When did this division of boys and girls occur?  When did it begin that men were elevated by gender alone?  This did not make sense to me, even as a child. 

      Let us begin during the era of the Ancient World.  Here women are described as “empty-headed; vengeful, dangerous, and responsible for men’s sins; medacious, treacherous, and unreliable; fickle” etc…  Men appreciated a good wife but women as a group were not well thought of.”[1] It is clear that women were suspect and unequal to men.  Women’s status in pre-Islamic Arabia was observed in the marriage agreement that resembled a contract in which a woman became the property of her husband.  This lowly status is depicted in Quranic condemnations, “When news is brought to one of them of the birth of a female child, his face darkens, and he is filled with inward grief!  With shame does he hide himself from his people because of the bad news he had!  Shall he retain it on sufferance and contempt or bury it in the dust? XV1: 58-59)"[2] One gender is not only supreme over another, one is shameful and not worthy of life.  Daughters were often buried alive in their infancy.  The koranic reforms forbade infanticide and required that daughters be included in inheritance.[3]  In Arabia, men also had a right of unlimited polygamy based on the male’s ability to capture or purchase women.  Islam brought a shift to the status of women.  A strong family theme of Islam meant recognition not only for males, but rights for females as well (Esposito, p 15).  The Koran permits a man to have four wives simultaneously, though monogamy is encouraged.  Many Muslim men now insert a clause, in the marriage deed, excluding the right to a second concurrent spouse, with the exception of African tribes where polygamy is still a custom (Smith, p 252).  The Qur’an provides no account of the creation of the first human pair that favours one over the other.   The story of the creation of Eve from Adam’s rib only occurs in Muslim traditional literature in the period following the Muslim conquests.[4]  Muslim women do not have the stigma that Christian and Jewish women have, being blamed for the fall of humanity due to their primal ancestor.  Adam and Eve share disobedience equally and Adam and Eve are restored to Allah’s mercy and forgiveness (Geaves, pp 225-226).  Did Jesus feel that women were less worthy than men? 

     Jesus treated men and women with equal respect.  Women were among the inner group of disciples who followed Jesus in public ministry.  It was also women who were particularly responsible for the financial support of the movement of Jesus.  The parables of Jesus depict what Jesus thought about women as persons and in their roles in society.  Women appear as key figures in the parables with equal frequency with men.  There is a comparable balancing of male and females.  It is ironic that Jesus is willing to be subjected to the anger of a synagogue leader by healing a woman on the Sabbath.  Jesus declared the woman a daughter of Abraham with the same status of any of his males.  It is also to women who Jesus first appeared to after his resurrection (Drummond, pp 213- 214).

     How did Muhammad react to women?  Muslim women argue that during the time of Muhammad, both men and women sat before the Prophet when he preached (Geaves, p 234).  The Qur’an’s teachings about women, is “enormously progressive in their original historical context.” [5]  The legal and financial rights became dramatically advanced (Renard, 128).     

The Christian and Muslim Woman in the  Church/Mosque

          While women comprise the large majority of active church membership, there is no sustaining force in almost every congregation.  Women have virtually no power within its structure.  This is dominated by men. [6]   A woman pastor is more readily accepted by laymen than by the clergy. Not only is she the pastor of his church, she also has a degree in theology, plus approval, since she is ordained (Doely, p 68).  It is not the congregations who have recently protested against women clergy in the Anglican Church, it is the male counterparts who have complained of ordained women.   

     It has been established that women are subservient to men within the church.  Does this extend to the Muslim woman?  Of course, most Muslim societies segregate males and females in public.  This is also found in the mosque, which remains a male’s domain.  It is not uncommon for a mosque to forbid entrance to women for public prayer.  Other mosques provide a segregated space for them.  The majority of Muslim women pray at home.  Women are therefore denied the religious equality which is central to the Qur’an’s message (Geaves, p 234).

The Christian and Muslim Woman in Contemporary Society

     An increasing number of Muslim women are “challenging the overwhelmingly male voice of religious authority, and reassessing the roles of prominent women in early Muslim development.” (Geaves, p 224)   Nowhere does the Qur’an indicate that women are to wear veils.  The Qur’an indicates that women dress modestly at all times (Renard, p 129).  However, the idea that all Muslim women must wear the veil is not accurate.  In certain cultures it is mandatory and in others, among young and educated women, wearing the veil is a symbol of resistance and cultural authenticity or as a symbol of their Islamic identity (Geaves, p 232).        

    Women in the Western world can wear what they want.  However, some churches may request a code of dress for women.  I have been stopped from entering an Orthodox Christian church where there was a claim of the Madonna statue crying.  My T-shirt was considered inappropriate and I was provided with a shawl.   I later learned that the Madonna mystery was a hoax.  I cannot recall what the young man who stopped me was wearing because from my perspective, clothing has no significance. 

     Culture is very important regarding how religion is viewed and practiced.  In certain extremist Muslim societies, the punishment for adultery is death by stoning, a repetition of Jewish law of death by stoning, and social dancing is proscribed (Smith, p 253).  

          Women definitely have a role in the Christian and Muslim faith.  It is clear that this role is controlled not only by men, but by the culture.  This subservient role that women have adopted is contrary to Jesus and the prophet Mohammed.  How does this experience of women have pastoral and theological significance?

THE THEOLOGICAL AND PASTORAL SIGNIFICANCE    

    Jesus and Mohammed both liked and respected women.   Women were provided with an opportunity to grow along side men towards God.  Yet, somewhere this has taken a turn favoring men over women.  Women are told that they have a place in the church/mosque.  Some women internalize society’s norms and accept what is, as justified.  It is a form of conditioning.  If society is not challenged, than change is not possible.  Jesus made changes and was crucified.  Mohammed also made changes which favored women, especially for his time.  Yet, somehow these messages got lost.    

     I have met one woman who said she left the Catholic Church to become a priest in the Anglican Church. Is she happier?  What is the concept of communion now for her?  Is it a memory of the last supper or does she believe she is receiving Christ.  This can cause serious theological consequences for her if she is torn between two belief systems but belongs to one to be a priest.  I have had female Anglican priests tell me that they go to the Catholic mass and receive communion.  When I say that this is contrary to the Catholic faith, a debate arises.  I do not understand the theological objectives in their need to do this?  I ask but I am informed that it is I who do not understand that they are able to have communion without being a Roman Catholic in a Catholic Church.  Since Catholic priests have agreed with them, this misconception is encouraged.  After all, I am not a priest and they are supposed to know more than I.        

     In another situation, I asked a student during a course if she was a Catholic because of something she said that led me to believe she was.  She became angry and said she was Catholic but not a Roman Catholic.  I dared not ask what the difference was because her face became red and she looked furious.  What could cause such anger?  How does this extend to Muslim women?              

     Muslim women I have met and have been friends with in Toronto, inform me that they refuse to wear the veil and adopt the customs of the Muslim Culture. They inform me that the veil has nothing to do with their religion.  They also inform me that their husbands understood their wishes prior to marriage.  This has taken a toll on their husbands when they are ridiculed by their friends and co-workers of the same faith in Toronto.  Subsequently, this has caused their husbands to challenge them on their clothing, considered inappropriate and too revealing.  One friend who believed her husband loved her, felt deeply devastated when he left her.  Was it because she refused to accommodate cultural norms?  I do not know.  She left the country shortly afterwards.   

     Theology and culture takes a toll not only on the women but on the men who try to support them.  Men in Christian Churches as well as Muslim men agree and support women in issues of inequality.  If men did not support women, change would not be possible in the religious tradition or outside of it.     God is there for everyone equally and this has been taught by Jesus. Mohammed too supported women and elevated them in the society in which they lived.  Yet, men still dominate and regulate the church/mosque to serve God in the manner which keeps women subservient.  These norms become internalized and that makes it difficult for change.  People who recognize these differences can become a source of comfort to those who suffer because of it.  Women should never forget that they are no better and no worse of any man and that Jesus and Mohammad did welcome them and made changes for them.  Somehow this change has been lost in translations through the ages.  Men and women need each other to pro-create and raise families.  How wonderful it would be for men and women to walk side by side, in peace.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

     Drummond, Richard Henry.  A Broader Vision Perspectives on the Buddha and the Christ.  A.R.E. Press: Virginia Beach, 1995.

     Esposito, John L. Women in Muslim Family Law.  New York: Syracuse University Press, 1982.

     Geaves, Ron.  Aspects of Islam. Georgetown University Press: Washington, 2005.

     Renard, John.  Responses to 101 Questions on Islam.  New York: Paulist Press, 1998.

     Smith, Huston.  The World Religions. 50^th Anniversary Edition.  Harper Collins: New York, 1991. 

---

[1] Drummond, Richard Henry.  A Broader Vision Perspectives on the Buddha and the Christ.  Virginia Beach: A.R.E. Press, 1995.  Pp 211 – 212.  Further reference to the text will be indicated by author and page number.

[2]  Esposito, John L. Women in Muslim Family Law.  New York: Syracuse University Press, 1982. Pp 14-15.  Further reference to the text will be indicated by author’s name and page number.

[3] Smith, Huston.  The World Religions. 50^th Anniversary Edition.  Harper Collins: New York, 1991. P 251.  Further reference to the text will be indicated by author’s name and page number.

[4] Geaves, Ron.  Aspects of Islam. Georgetown University Press: Washington, 2005.  P 223.  Further reference to the text will be indicated by the Author’s name and page number.  

[5] Renard, John.  Responses to 101 Questions on Islam.  New York: Paulist Press, 1998.  Further reference to the text will be indicated by author’s name and page number. 

[6] Doely, Sarah Bendley., ed. Women’s Liberation and the Church.  The Need For Freedom In The Life Of The Christian Church. New York: Association Press, 1970. P 19.  Further reference to the text will be indicated by Author’s name and page number.

IQ cont...psychology notes

IQ is fairly stable, yet may change with age and experience.  IQ reveals one's standing relative to others who are the standardization samples. IQ reveals aptitude as well as the extent to which one has learned information and skills.  Schooling and general cultural experience influence IQ.  Brofenbrenner (1970's) found in a study of identical twins raised in separate households, differences in IQ were related to amount of schooling.

Jew

     I have friends and acquaintances of all ages, nationalities and religions, if any.  I have listened to all their stories, their loves and their sorrows.  I consider all this a gift.  Last night I attended a Jewish Senior home to hear a vocalist group sing.  My friend is a WW11 vet in his nineties and I was unaware until last night that he also sings.  I brought along another friend of mine who seemed to know all the music and sang along beside me.  I was thanked when I said that the singing didn't bother me and I was thanked because I was told that it bothers some other people.  I became aware that talking loud at a theatre would bother me but singing never has.  Something to think about for myself.  The singing and music was wonderful.  But what I realised was how powerful the presence of these elderly Jews was for me.  Lately, in Toronto, my beautiful city which I love so much, there has been controversy  about anti Jew associated with one gay parade.  There has also been a controversy of the use of space of a public school to what I will call Muslim extemest because I have studied and developed friendships with Muslims who have no hate in their hearts what so ever.  This group however was teaching how horrible the Jewish people are to young children.  Actually, it was more derogatory than horrible.  I asked a Jewish aqaintance of mine if hate was such a reality for the Jewish people here and now in Toronto.  As she spoke, I saw her pain and I could feel my inner tears want to emerge.  But I kept that inside me, because this was about her.  "Why do you think there are so many doctors and........among us?  No one wanted to hire us?"  As I sat listening to the music surrounded by these beautiful elderly, I wondered how many had experienced the concentration camps.  I have visited two which I will speak of in my second book which will not have the constant humor of my first.  I will say that all concentrations camps should remain as they are, so people will always be reminded that this should never be repeated, "Lest we forget."  As I looked over at the war veteran singing among these proud people who have suffered so much, I thought how beautiful this all was.  We began with the Canadian National Anthem and we ended with what I presume was the Israel's national anthem.  I saw a man proudly hold his fist against his heart.  I have seen this many times while celebrating Jul 4th in the States (I hope I have the date right).  It is being proud of who are are.   I am in awe of these people.  How many Christians have attempted to eliminate them as a whole.  Vatican 11 arose from this hatred.  How can Christians hate Jews when Jesus was a Jew?  There is no room for hate in Toronto.  There is no room for hate in Canada.  Ignorance is no excuse for crime.  Someone needs to be accountable.  As I sat there side by side with Jews who never try to convert others from their religions, who remain proud and strong, who I sat and learned with in high school, who never made a fuss about my celebration of Christmas, who I went to Kenya with, I felt privledged to be in their company as one people.