The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions (771 page)
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, amongst many). Yet still the Goddess has often been brought into a relationship with the God, which means that most of her activities are expressed as extensions of his power, except, usually, when the power is negative.
The reassertion of the feminine imagination of the sacred is gaining ground, but usually against much male resistance in the historical religions (hence the importance of Wicca and
witchcraft
). The loss in the intervening centuries has been a kind of intellectual genocide—the eradication of the vision of half the human race.
The reassertion of the feminine imagination of the sacred is gaining ground, but usually against much male resistance in the historical religions (hence the importance of Wicca and
witchcraft
). The loss in the intervening centuries has been a kind of intellectual genocide—the eradication of the vision of half the human race.
Feminist theology
.
.
Theological reflection which acknowledges from the outset that the greater part of theology so far in human history has been male-dominated, has been an expression of patriarchy, and has been saturated with masculine imagery, relegating feminine imagery to the edges. In relation to the Judaeo-Christian tradition, G. Lerner calls this male domination ‘the androcentric fallacy’, which distorts the whole structure and life of the Church—though the same would be true,
mutatis mutandis
, of other theistic religions. The androcentric fallacy draws attention to the extreme distortions which result in life and imagination when only, or predominantly, masculine language and images are used. This cannot be corrected by using non-sexist language, or by adding ‘sisters’ to ‘brothers’ and ‘mothers’ to ‘fathers’.
Feminist theology recognizes the cultural relativity of the biblical period, in which the
incarnation
did not obliterate circumstances, but set humans to the task of changing the world in the direction of love: the maintenance of patriarchy in Church or in society is then seen as precisely that demonic condition which has resulted from the
Fall
, and from which Jesus has died to set humans free.
mutatis mutandis
, of other theistic religions. The androcentric fallacy draws attention to the extreme distortions which result in life and imagination when only, or predominantly, masculine language and images are used. This cannot be corrected by using non-sexist language, or by adding ‘sisters’ to ‘brothers’ and ‘mothers’ to ‘fathers’.
Feminist theology recognizes the cultural relativity of the biblical period, in which the
incarnation
did not obliterate circumstances, but set humans to the task of changing the world in the direction of love: the maintenance of patriarchy in Church or in society is then seen as precisely that demonic condition which has resulted from the
Fall
, and from which Jesus has died to set humans free.
Fénelon, François de Solignac de la Motte
(1651–1715).
Spiritual writer. In 1695 he became archbishop of Cambrai. Through his friendship with Mme Guyon and his defence of her doctrine of pure love, he became involved in the
Quietist
controversy and was attacked by Bossuet, as a result of which he was banished from the court in 1697. His letters of spiritual direction have long been greatly valued.
Spiritual writer. In 1695 he became archbishop of Cambrai. Through his friendship with Mme Guyon and his defence of her doctrine of pure love, he became involved in the
Quietist
controversy and was attacked by Bossuet, as a result of which he was banished from the court in 1697. His letters of spiritual direction have long been greatly valued.
Feng-kan
(Ch'an teacher)
:
(Ch'an teacher)
:
Feng-shui
(Chin., ‘wind-water’). Chinese art or skill of
geomancy
. Taking account of the five elements and the two forces of
yin and yang
, the practitioners use a circular wooden plate on which the outline neo-Confucian cosmography is inscribed. They then determine the best site for buildings, graves, temples, etc.
geomancy
. Taking account of the five elements and the two forces of
yin and yang
, the practitioners use a circular wooden plate on which the outline neo-Confucian cosmography is inscribed. They then determine the best site for buildings, graves, temples, etc.
Fenollosa, Ernest Francisco
(1853–1908).
An American educator, poet, and pioneering scholar of E. Asian fine arts and culture.
His published works include
East and West
(1893), a collection of poetry,
The Masters of Ukiyoe
(1896), and his
magnum opus
,
Epochs of Chinese and Japanese Art
(published posthumously in 1912).
An American educator, poet, and pioneering scholar of E. Asian fine arts and culture.
His published works include
East and West
(1893), a collection of poetry,
The Masters of Ukiyoe
(1896), and his
magnum opus
,
Epochs of Chinese and Japanese Art
(published posthumously in 1912).
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