Friday, June 24, 2011

Controversial Fordham University Professor's Unconventional Views On Our Lady

In Truly Our Sister, Elizabeth Johnson reveals that feminists have a grudge against Mary for standing above them as the Virgin Mother of Christ. Johnson, a Sister of St. Joseph who teaches theology at Fordham University, claims that a torrent of hatred for women has resulted from the honor given to Mary. 
But change is coming, she hopes, because devotion to Mary has died out among “hosts” of women and our culture scorns “medieval” faith symbols. Yes, medieval, even though there is evidence that our Lady was evoked in the third century. 
Johnson thinks it is time now to remove such titles as “Mother of mercy” from Mary and give them back to God — “She Who Is,” according to Johnson — and to “reclaim” Mary with “new liberating interpretations.” From now on, God will have “her own maternal face,” and 
Mary will be demoted to the level of other women. 
Accordingly, Johnson depicts Mary as a Galilean drudge and outcast lacking all supernatural privileges, but who is now “truly our sister” because she is no longer honored above other women. 
Link (here) to the full article at New Oxford Review

11 comments:

Lars said...

You can look to "Beth" and theology professors like her who poorly form young Jesuits.

Maria said...

Like I said at America Magazine: I place no stock in nuns who wear aquamarine polyester suits, pink lipstick and costume jewelry earrings. This sort of get up in s "Sister" is nearly always pathognmonic of dissent. Let us stop calling it dissent and start calling it by its rightful name: heresy.

Anonymous said...

Here! Here! For more Feminist and Jesuit heresies!

me said...

I have often felt like a drudge in my life. Even as a small girl. I also imagined Our Lady as a goody two shoes.
Nevertheless, I asked God, if it was His will, to let me get closer to her. I think it was actually a Fr Corapi CD that inspired me initially.

I have never felt so empowered and also given strength to endure. Whatever power Mary has been given or not, she shares. She does this silently but not in an aloof manner or in any way demeaning of other females.
Because the experience is so unique from any other human relationship I have had, (knowing her) I don't actually have words to articulately describe it. However, I would not swap it for any worldly given respect from man, woman or otherwise.

It's a gift of self worth awareness available to us all, female or male, if we ask.

However, don't take my word for it.

Ask.

Albert said...

One can expect everything Sister has written to be challenged. Including I suspect her 8th grade religion class assignments will get a going over as well.

Magnus said...

Junk theology leads to junk Jesuits

Maria said...

Junk theology leads to junk Jesuits

Lol, Magnus. Lol!

Anonymous said...

The trouble is that it was junk Jesuits who appointed this bitch. But should any orthodox scholastics challege her absurd opinions you may be sure that she will make trouble for them with their superiors. Women like her are not only parasytes on the Church but malignant forces generally.

Anonymous said...

The trouble is that it was junk Jesuits who appointed this bitch. But should any orthodox scholastics challege her absurd opinions you may be sure that she will make trouble for them with their superiors. Women like her are not only parasytes on the Church but malignant forces generally.

Anonymous said...

Heaven forbid that Mary be in any way compared to ordinary women, who exist on a lower level. Johnson argues for the proper placement of Mary in the Communion of Saints, where she remains the first among saints, but un-divine nonetheless. Mary is a source of great inspiration, devotion, and even intercession, but she is not our Savior, despite what the Co-Redemptrix supporters believe. Let's never forget the honors which are due to Christ and the Father.

me said...

"Heaven forbid that Mary be in any way compared to ordinary women, who exist on a lower level."

If you get to know Mary, you will not feel on any lower level. There aren't any levels, we are all equally of value to Jesus.