Jose Nandhikkara

Paper: Feminine Genius: A Christian Perspective

Abstract

Christianity is often criticised by feminists as a contributing factor to the oppression of women. A Christian vision, after Jesus Christ, on the contrary, contributes to upholding and promoting the dignity, role, and rights of women. The problems and the prospects of what it means to be a woman in our time is seen here from such a vision. This vision is based on the Biblical creation account and the life of Jesus Christ, according to which men and women are created in the image and likeness of God, equal in dignity and different in vocation, to live in a fundamental partnership, in mutual collaboration and conversation. Humanity is a project of partnership of men and women, and as partners, they are neither superior nor inferior to each other; they are singularly unique and complementary. In the “unity of the two,” man and woman are called from the beginning not only for a co-existence, but a pro-existence. The inequality and the subordination of women, and the mutual opposition is the inheritance of sin. Lack opportunities for the realisation of the full potential for feminine genius had marginalised women and impoverished humanity. Women have significant contributions to offer in transforming the nature into a world of not only human habitat but also of values. From the Christian point of view, feminine humanity, together with masculine humanity is that of creative stewardship and mutual partnership, to work on nature and transform it for their wellbeing, benefit of all beings, and the glory of God. An effective and intelligent campaign for the promotion of women, concentrating on all areas of women’s life and beginning with a universal recognition of the dignity of women, is imperative on all men and women of good will.

Jose Nandhikkara, Professor of Philosophy, Dharmaram Vidya Kshetram, Bangalore, holds MA in Philosophy and Theology from Oxford University, Licentiate in Philosophy from Gregorian University, Rome, and PhD in Philosophy (2004) from Warwick University, UK. He was a Visiting Fellow at Sogang University, Seoul, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, and KU University, Leuven, Adjunct Professor, ISM Dhanbad, and International Fellow of KAICIID, Vienna.