Paper: Creation of a
Just and Compassionate Society: A Feminine Project
Abstract
From the
beginning of creation, God desired to create a loving community. Humans were
entrusted with the responsibility of loving one another and to take care of the
entire creation. God endowed the humans with many gifts of mind, body and
spirit, the greatest being the gift of freedom. With the abuse of freedom, sin
and evil entered the world. The consequence was male domination (Genesis 3: 16)
which eventually gave birth to patriarchy. In patriarchal cultures, men
identified feminine qualities only with women. Consequently they suppressed
women and also the feminine within themselves. Feminine qualities were
relegated to the back and masculine to the fore. With the suppression of
feminine, the oppression of those on the periphery began. Prophets condemned
the injustices and atrocities practiced against the vulnerable in the society. However,
the creation of a just and compassionate society remained an unfulfilled dream.
When Jesus arrived on the scene, he
began with a surprising proclamation. It was about the arrival of the Reign of
God. His vision was to create a just and humane society where equality, love,
brother/sisterhood and fellowship will flourish. Jesus struck at the root of
the patriarchal system which stood against the fulfillment of his dream.
Through His words and deeds, Jesus proposed an alternative worldview where the
feminine will be equally valued and recognized. He did not suppress the
feminine. On the contrary he allowed it to blossom. He treated women as equals
and was compassion personified.
The vision of creating a just and
compassionate society is in the process. Women too have contributed to this
process. This process can reach its finality only when the feminine is equally
valued and women are accepted as equal partners.
Shalini Mulackal is a Presentation Sister, teaching systematic theology at Vidyajyoti College of Theology. She is the President of Indian Theological Association (ITA), former coordinator of Indian Women Theologians Forum (IWTF) and Ecclesia of Women of Asia (EWA). She has published many articles and has contributed two volumes to the Dalit Bible Commentary series.
