I want to start discussing the question about the way authority and hierarchy were reinforced with the fraise that I found in one book source: usurpation of the Catholic church’s monopoly to Biblical interpretation. In this case we should look into the Bible to find the place for a woman in the society, especially in the times that were guided by the strict commandments and rules. If we go one thousand years ago, we cannot ignore how important social frames were as a cornerstone for building civilization. A woman could not be treated as a prophet based on the historical record of the Bible. Through pilgrimages, only men gained their honor and places in church hierarchy. The best reason or justification for such treatment of women was the Bible, or it is better to say, the Biblical interpretation. According to the notions of the Bible, women could not be put on one level of men: women have to obey men, as men obey God.
Nothing can be done with the words that came from above. The Bible words could easily be manipulated by interpretation leaving women no chance for exception of their divine gifts. We know the women, who dared to claim about their abilities, trying to bring the good and help to people, but suffered of those actions. The power of church had been already established, and the rules were undeniable and essential for keeping that power. The knowledge of the church power kept gifted women in fear. Almost the only way women could bring the spiritual knowledge to life, helping people see the truth, was through pilgrimages.
The Essay on What Do Women Want From Men
Where did all those romantic fellas go? With all that can be, all that is within us, romance lives forever! So why not take advantage of it. Did you ever look around and wonder why a woman will chose another man over you? Maybe you are more handsome, intelligent, richer and so much more than that other plain fellow what's his name. But he's romantic and obviously knows how to treat a woman and ...
One of the main figures in history was Hildegard of Bingen, who traveled extensively throughout many places, bringing people knowledge of medieval mysticism and esoteric wisdom. She did not live an easy life. It was filled with fear and doubt in the beginning. She herself wrote about it: Up to my fifteenth year I saw much, and related some of the things seen to others, who would inquire with astonishment, whence such things might come. I also wondered and during my sickness I asked one of my nurses whether she also saw similar things. When she answered no, a great fear befell me.
When about forty years of age Hildegard received a command to publish to the world what she saw and heard. She hesitated, dreading what people might think or say, though she herself became fully convinced of the Divine character of the revelations. The “Scivias”, one of her creations, represents God on His Holy Mountain with mankind at its base. It tells of the original condition of man, his fall and redemption, the human soul and its struggles, the times to come, and the end of the world. She is considered to be the reformer of the church thought. The chief focus of her ‘reform’ is of ‘ordo virtutuum’, a reform that works from within as opposed to the outright opposition.
The divine comes from above and never from within. This is the main conflict between the church world and the one of hers. In Christianity, the divinity can only come from above and give knowledge and the power. Because of mans place in the creation, the privilege to receive such knowledge was always given him. He divine knowledge could never appear within a human, sharing the holiness. Submission and obedience was up to the human nature, especially for the women.
The Essay on Women In The Catholic Church The Great Debate Affirmative
H2>SHOULD WOMEN BE ORDAINED IN THE PRIESTHOOD? The question of the ordination of women to the priesthood has moved to the forefront of theological controversy in recent years, prompting a swamping of books, and religious opinions. This controversial issue stems not only from the renewed interest of the Catholic Church in the nature of its priesthood, but also, and perhaps predominantly, from ...
The women who claimed to possess some spiritual power considered to be the evil one. Women had to be very careful claiming to have some gifts. Nevertheless, pilgrimages turned to be one of the first ways that women began to express themselves. Pilgrimages saved and gave the right to express love to God. Remembering Hildegard, we can say she was holy. The reason to account for her special status as a medieval mystic is the absence of any so-called phenomenon of stigmata, trance-like swoonings.
She received these purported visions without the influence of drugs, and she transcribed them in a state of clarity unlike any other female mystics of her time. Opposite to the social obstacles, Hildegard of Bingen, through pilgrimages and endless sincerity, gained exception in the Church, created her own hierarchy and took the chief place in it. I think the story of Hildegard is a good example of the women victory over prejudices without external struggle..
