Ordinary Days: Anna #12

Don’t be forced into

   the pattern (syschēmartizō >schēma)

   of this age (aiōn)… (Romans 12:1)

 

Dear Anna,

Your syllabus for “Introduction to Gender, Sexuality, and Intersectionality Studies;” has me a bit concerned. The course description states:

In this introductory course in Gender, Sexuality, and Intersectionality studies, we will take the opportunity, as a class learning community, to explore the dynamics of oppression and privilege using a feminist lens focusing on topics of gender, race, class, sex, sexuality, ableness and age through a wide range of texts and media. We will look at these issues with both a historical feminist lens as well as a current lens for contrast and comparison.

That’s a lot of issues to be focused on through the lens of “historical feminist” and “current lens.” In my day, feminism wasn’t “historical,” but “current.” We talked of a “feminist hermeneutic” as a larger way of seeing the sacred text. I’ll be interested in hearing about the “current lens,” and how it differs from feminist interpretation. No doubt “current” today will be for your children another “historic lens.” Makes me think there is something faddish about it all. “Current” is now the fashion. And, you’ve never been one for fashion, have you? That’s why you are a classicist, right?

Creation gives us God’s mind concerning his creation. It’s true that the innocence of creation has been lost. We need some sort of covering in our fallen world. Even creation at its best remains ragged—it has jagged edges. There is loss and tragedy in it. Nevertheless, as the hymn goes: “Though oft the wrong seems oh so strong; God is the ruler yet. This is my Father’s world…”

Much Love, PAPA