In a message dated 98-08-29 16:21:06 EDT, Joe writes:
<< Angela, go to
>http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Oracle/7169/Page4.html
>Blessed Be, Salamantis (Joe)
>
> >>
Hi!
Joe thanks for sending me this page - very enlightening. I have a few
comments to add here. First, I want to say that some Christians are very
open-minded and tolerant of other spiritual beliefs - and you can include me
as one of them. I wish all Christians were! I want to learn about different
beliefs and how they view this eco-crisis and how they apply ecofeminism to
their beliefs. Maybe we can find some common ground and work from there.
First, you have affirmed exactly what I have uncovered after doing some soul
searching and reading I want to share with you some facts about our
misunderstandings:
Joe you wrote this:
Creator packed a hostile and bountiful world like a reluctant lunchbox for
fallen humanity (read man) to suffer, endure, dominate, subdue and exploit for
his own benefit. This divine license for exploitation without regard to
consequences in the name of greed has borne bitter fruit.
Wrong - Greed is not a Christian teaching - In true Christian teachings we
are taught NOT not to focus our energies on the riches here on Earth but on
the riches in Heaven - I think this translates to NO GREED - So therefore,
henceforth , Christianity actually and unequicably preaches NO GREED! The
greed that has evolved not only from believers and non-believers is a result
of CAPITALISM - everything for the sake of progress! Not actually too much of
the SACRED but not enough of the SACRED!
Regarding this:
"But this contradicts the JCIZ premise that it is transcendent Deity which is
holy, not a nature which, compared to the supernatural, must remain
substandard."
No wrong again - nowhere in my Christian understanding do I see God as soley
transcendent/spirit - God is present here in nature - in me - working
mysteriously through us (Jesus calls me friend and partner - not a substandard
position?) and with us and there is a bit of the Creator in everything in
Nature - a thumbprint so to speak - like signing your masterpiece. That is
what I believe and this belief is Christian!
Regarding this:
"JCIZ responds with an iron demand frozen for thousands of years in the face
of catastrophically changing circumstances; you must be fruitful and
multiply."
No - This is also not how all Christians view to be fruitful - we are asked in
the bible to exercise prudence in filling the land - I forget the exact
passage - but I have been exercising a little prudence here myself - because I
do agree that overpopulation is a problem at this time in history! However,
do not attack fertility (the very life of life) attack the real problem - the
misunderstandings that just stopping Nature from doing what she does best will
help solve the problem - is wrong - nature has a mania for reproduction - deal
with it - solve the problem in other ways! Celebrate natures fertility -
celebrate life - do not try to completely subdue it just control it a little
through education!
This is the what I am trying to reveal as a Christian who wants an Wholistic
Spirituality where both man and woman are equals in divinity and the rest of
creation also important in the big picture. There does not have to be a new
religion - just a rethinking and reworking of a current beliefs with the
infusion of true love -altruistic love as Chris states - which we are all now
capable of - being enlightened educated, evolved to this point - we need a
belief that encompasses love all creatures not just men.
and finally . . .
Joe you wrote:
"This, however, would require deity to be comprised of masculinity and
femininity in equal measure, which of course directly contradicts the JCIZ."
Regarding this statement on your page _ NO - No there is equality of deity in
my belief- Christian - Both Mary and Jesus are equally responsible for my
salvation and care while I am here on Earth and at the end of my journey-
EQUALLY - Many preachers preach this not in exact terms but if you follow
Christianity properly you would come to this correct conclusion both the mail
deity (Jesus/God() and the female deity Mary are equally important in our
lives.
The problem Christian woman will face revealling this feminine face of
Creation - Mary - in her glory as a femme divine who needs more honor and
respect - is enormous! We are up against men who seem to be set on keeping
women in their place - as if our place isn't right next to them as God
intended! This has been handed down from generation to generation - that is
why it is important to teach our children properly - so that we can break the
vicious cycle of patriarchy - I always remind my boys that woman are to be
treated equally if not with more respect and honor - this is why the feminine
face of creation has to be celebrated, honored and respected. To show the men
- no you would actually not even be here - if it were not for woman for the
love of your mother - Queen of Heaven and Earth - got it!
Let me add that I think we are working for the same thing here on Earth -
let's hope we can overcome our misunderstandings and differences so that we
can find lasting unity in true love!
Peace and Love,
Angela
>From [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sat Aug 29 16:07:13 1998
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Date: Sat, 29 Aug 1998 18:07:06 EDT
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: Re: Get to the root of the problem!
In a message dated 98-08-29 17:36:06 EDT, you write:
<< This shows that the bible and religion were put together
mainly BY MEN in a certain way to leave out women and (in my opinion) to
subsequently subjugate women.
>>
Hi!
Let me add here that men did write in favor of men but I do not think that it
was intentional - please remember that now we are more evolved - our brains
are smarter we can see things differently now - men can see things differently
now - they can appreciate the female without excluding her -maybe back then
they could not - they were only being human - now the problem is that some men
are still imbedded in false beliefs and refuse to evolve - they like their
place on top - we have to tell them it is not their place without us women!
Thanks!
Angela
>From [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sat Aug 29 16:24:52 1998
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Date: Sat, 29 Aug 1998 18:24:20 EDT
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: Ecofem poem
Hi!
I just want to add that I think it is great what you are trying to do - but
you have to hit the root of the problem! Think about how societies are formed
- Then working on the social issues that patriarchy is not getting to the root
- working on the underlying beliefs of the members of the society now that's
digging deeper - change the view - both men and women need to show both men
and women that the feminine face of creation is valid/worthy of respect, love,
honor and equal divinity in words and deeds - they will eventually get the
message - stop hitting into thin air start aiming for the target!
Here is my poem thanks to anyone who helped with it:
Hey, Friends Peace and Love
by Angela Cameron
Hey,
Friends ~ bondhura ~amis ~ amigos ~ kamrats ~ amicos
we are Ecofems, your friends in any language
and we are joining together
Men/Women ~ homme/femme ~ manniska/kvinna ~ uomo/donna ~ hombre/mujer ~
l'homme/la femme ~ porush/mohia
as equal partners and co-creators/co-defenders of
all life on Earth.
We are joining our efforts in solidarity to help
heal injustices in life caused by gender inequity and
are working to help protect and preserve biodiversity of life
on Earth.
We celebrate, respect and honor life's interconnectedness and
each others gender, freedom and individuality and we
unequicably believe that only when men and women work
together with equal voices can their unique
contributions create balance, Unity and lasting
Peace ~ La Paix ~ La Paz ~ Pace ~ Frid ~ Shanti
for all living things on this beautiful and enchanted
Earth ~ Terra ~ Jagot ~ La Terre
that we do so
Love ~ Amor ~ L'amour ~ Amore ~ Kariek ~
We hope that more people will join us in our solidarity
and help us celebrate with each other as equal partners and
co-defenders/co-creators of fertility
and that this all encompassing Unity of life
will spring forth lasting
Peace and Love!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>From [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sat Aug 29 22:10:21 1998
Date: Sun, 30 Aug 1998 12:10:02 +0800
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
From: bunny <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: Eco-fem poem
Eco-feminists
Eco-feminists unite,
nows the time to stand and fight,
Mother Earth calls us for help,
for men have raped her
leaving her degraded,
poisoned with polluted rivers,
acid rain -feel her pain.
Her sad tears weep from the
branches of remnants of forests
turned to woodchips by the greed of men.
Women of the world,
who see the strife and torment
gather and form strategies
don't let your thoughts be dormant.
Nows the time to stand and say
LISTEN TO WHAT WE HAVE TO SAY
we will try and save the planet
and our words will carry on the wind
to reach women at the furthest reaches
of the world to unite with common purpose.
Marguerite
===========================================================================
/`\ /`\ RABBIT INFORMATION SERVICE: _ _
(/\ \-/ /\) P.O.Box 30, Riverton, Western Australia 6148 (.\_/.)
)6 6( http://www.wantree.com.au/~rabbit/rabbit.htm \6 6/
>{= Y =}< VEGETARIAN PAGE =\ /=
/'-^-'\ http://www.geocities/RainForest/4620 /O\ /
(_) (_) / \ (
| . | U U )
| |} Pity the human race its illusion of permanence (| |)/
\_/^\_/ w'-'w
===========================================================================
