Statues are intended to represent the structure of a belief system, and quite literally symbolize our past. The above image is that of a Catholic Pope from long ago. The robes signify the structure and ceremonial aspects of the Church, and the headdress signifies the apparent wisdom and authority of the leader of the Catholic Church. Another important recognition is that it’s an image of a male. All throughout human history, the religious institutions of the world have been largely led by men. This is of course the case with Christianity as well, especially the Catholic Church. Does this indicate that men are somehow more aligned with God or universal intent? Does this mean that men are more knowledgeable about universal purpose and are therefore the “better” of the two sexes? Does this suggest that men are more representative of God and God must therefore be male? I don’t think so. It is certainly clear that men want to believe they are somehow superior and have a God-given mandate to lead, but this is a serious misconception about the intents and purposes of God or the greater universe and is in fact a complete misunderstanding about what or who God actually is. Let’s take a closer look.
Put simply, God or the universe is all things. There is nothing in our physical existence that is not God. Honestly, it is quite silly to limit the limitless. At a very basic, universal level of expression, male and female energies are the building blocks of all that is and are a little beyond our current level of understanding. These expressions are not personal and cannot, therefore, be confined to any particular sex. If we accept this premise, we can begin to understand the need for the “all that is” to express itself equally throughout the universe. The patriarchal system of beliefs we find ourselves in today is a misconceived perception of the actual purpose of God. Why the male gender decided to adopt the idea of superiority as reality has led to an unbalanced state within our society. Although the qualities of the male gender may have had a purpose of assuring our survival through physical strength long ago, much of this need is no longer required. The continuation of the idea of male dominance has been perpetuated by the various religions of the world, especially the Catholic Church, and is born of the simple desire of males to be the dominant influence in the world. I think we can all recognize that just because an individual or group wants to be more important than the rest doesn’t mean it’s true or has any basis in reality. The fact that our religious institutions fail to be honest about this is entirely irresponsible, and most definitely indicates a lack of real spiritual awareness. The foundation of the Catholic Church is based on the false premise of patriarchy as reality, and has led to many of the problems we face today. The ultimate goal for us is to have humanity be a true representation of God and all that is. All the parts of this great universe are important and have equal value. In order for us to be successful in our pursuit of love and understanding, we must always be inclusive in our approach. What can be accomplished from a practical perspective as it involves the Church? Let’s consider the following points to help us out.
The Role of Women in the Church
How women are portrayed in the founding of the Christian Church is largely false. Women were in fact equally represented and had an important say in its development. Women had a much more prominent role at the time of the Christ than the Church is willing to admit. The actual events and “who was who” are not accurately depicted by the Christian Church, especially the Catholic Church, and there is a lot of documentation that can be found if you are willing to do the research. There are many denominations within the Christian Church that have slowly allowed women to play an active role. This is a good thing. The Catholic Church, if it wishes to survive as a religious institution, must be willing to do the same. Many of their policies are an attempt to oppress women in order for men to maintain their positions of power. This is very unfortunate because it goes against the natural state of our universe. The Christ himself never said that men were to be the only leaders of the Christian Church, or to have any special position of power, or to have any superior access to truth and wisdom. I’m afraid that men did this all by themselves for their own selfish motivations. If the Catholic Church or even the Christian Church, in general, intends to survive, they must share the power equally. Women do have an important say after all, and rightly so.
The Desire for Dominance
Clearly, this is all about men wanting to have all the power. If God is all things, then God is man and woman. There is no other way to accurately view or perceive our reality. Although it is true that women have also been the dominant influence long ago, humanity has now reached a point where equality can be the only reality, as it will ensure the greatness of the whole. All throughout human history, there have been individuals and groups who intend to dominate because of a false sense of superiority, but we are now being provided an opportunity to realize that this creates an unbalanced state and can no longer be sustained.
The Problems Arising from the Patriarchal Approach
Whenever one side has more power than the other, our world becomes out of balance. The effects of this are detrimental, as we can see. Without spiritual maturity, the male energy tends to be self-centered and aggressive. We can see how this leads to violence and the hoarding of resources, for example. Spiritual awareness is of course increased through the opening of the heart and the expression of love. Women may be able to help in this area, but men must be willing to share their power to make this happen. The time has arrived. It is important for men to realize that they will lose nothing and gain a lot more. The opening of the heart requires a willingness to feel. It is clear that women are a little more experienced in this area than men. Let’s work together and help humanity be successful.
The Christ, the Buddha and Spiritual Teachers as Men
The fact that our spiritual leaders tend to be male more often than not is a little misleading and may have provided the idea that men are more spiritual than women. This couldn’t be further from the truth. The Christ, the Buddha, and all other great spiritual leaders could have just as easily appeared as females. So why have they come as male? The answer is quite simple. If our core belief is that men know more, then in order to be respected and heard, it was more convenient for them to choose a male display. Spiritual teachers and leaders are efficient, you see. They were just meeting us where we’re at. This will change of course as society adjusts its belief system and aligns more with truth.
The Catholic Church as a Patriarchy
In order to see the inequality that exists between men and women, we need only look at the Catholic Church. The oppression of women throughout the millennia has gone on far too long. The religious institutions of our world are largely to blame for this state of affairs. The value of women and what they can provide to the world as a positive and necessary influence can no longer be denied. The foundation of the church being based on patriarchy can no longer be sustained because it is not a true reflection of universal intent or what God is. In order for institutions to be effective, they must be representative of the world in which we live. The Church cannot survive if its leaders are not willing to be honest and tell the truth. I would ask Catholic women why they would want to be involved in an institution led by men who are unwilling to share their power. If they are not willing to change, then it may be best to let the Church dissolve. Let’s not forget that lust for power always involves lots of money as well. It is time for these leaders to let the robes they wear fall from their backs. It is time for them to leave their fancy apartments and participate in real service to humanity. It is time for the Vatican to release the obscene amount of money, artifacts, and literature found in its own vaults. It is time for all of our institutions to support the light of truth. Will the leaders of our religious organizations participate? Time will tell.
To all of my fellow men – It is time to share the power! If you let go of half the responsibility you currently have on your shoulders, you will certainly feel better and have a sense of ease about things. Women are not to be feared, but valued and appreciated. Your willingness to allow this will most definitely improve world conditions and the lives of all humanity. This is a team effort!
All my love and support, stay safe and be well