My Kind of Feminism: Sex and Christianity, Part 4

August 01, 2011 by Tim Muldoon

Continued from Page 1

I know this firsthand. Around me every day for the past couple of weeks I've been surrounded by a group of people, mostly girls and women, whose lives have been transformed by generous love. I have spoken with nannies in obscure Chinese orphanages who have labored tirelessly to save orphaned girls. I have heard countless stories of parents, mostly Moms but also many Dads, whose lives have been turned inside out because of love for their Chinese daughters. I have spoken with girls of various ages, some now knocking on the door of college, who began lives on the other side of the world and who have forged identities amidst questions of heritage, race, language, and family ties.

My kind of feminism is not the kind that is predicated on girls and women imitating the worst patterns of some men. Rather, it is the kind that looks like passionate advocacy on behalf of girls and women whom God has created as daughters, sisters, friends, mothers, grandmothers; as students, professionals, workers, artists--but always as people whose desires point them toward their deepest joy. My kind of feminism recognizes that for some, their desires point them toward a profession; others, toward a family; others, elsewhere. In a word: my kind of feminism is rooted in the discernment of vocation, asking how our families, communities, government policies enable girls and women to grow in love.

Read more from Tim Muldoon's series on Sex and Christianity.

Part 1: Sex and Christianity
Part 2: The Sexual Divide
Part 3: Two Sexual Myths
Part 5: Why Are Catholics Obsessed With Sex?

Page: 2 of 2

8/1/2011 4:00:00 AM

Catholic

Culture at the Crossroads

Sex

Christianity

Roman Catholicism

more at patheos

Holy Longing: What Our Restlessness Is Telling Us

Tricia Gates Brown

The Healthcare Crisis Extends to Pet Care

Dennis McIntyre

The Gospel of John: The New Torah, Part II

Gabriel Blanchard

White Grievance Month: Your Official June Observance Guide

Stuart Delony

About Tim Muldoon

Tim Muldoon holds a Ph.D. in Catholic systematic theology and is an award-winning author and Catholic theologian of the new evangelization.

Patheos Logo Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Subscription Support Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In

Follow Patheos