The Diane Rehm Show; Reader's Review; Part 2

On Sunday, noon to 8:00 and let's go to Prince Frederick County. Hi there, John. You're on The Diane Rehm Show. Hi, Diane. How are you doing today? Good. I'm calling in reference to the topic of feminism in this book. I have read the book and I think that there is a blatant disregard for women in this book. And basically, if there's one thing I point to and that's statements that he makes, man is a priest of all creation. I have a little bit of problem with that. And another thing I wanted to address was the lack of of a shift that's occurring today from knowledge to wisdom. And I would call that shift that which Matthew Fox calls a paradigm shift from this modern machine era to a green era. I just wanted to bring that up. Thank you very much. Thanks for your call, John. What was your own reaction to this sort of lack of attention to women? I think that point is very valid. I just noted, for example, that the chapter entitled Women. I mean, that's a very, very bold, broad

subject. He devotes to meager pages to women. And the gist of those two pages is that Mary is the great woman and we must venerate all women as we venerate Mary. I mean, I'm not a woman, but I think I can sense something of a woman's unhappiness with this brush off. Ron Walters. Well, I'm sitting here thinking about the the knowledge and the wisdom juxtaposition and how I think Linda's right about the ability of the Catholic Church to reinvent itself, or at least to to give the feeling that it is somehow adjusting to some of the problems of the ages and thinking about liberation theology and how the how the church is attempted to try to adjust itself to that. And in doing so, the question of wisdom yielding somewhat to the wisdom of defining the questions of social justice and non personalistic ways, acknowledging the need for things like land reform and the

elimination of racial discrimination and so forth in mass kinds of ways. And I think it's gone a long way toward accepting it. It was initially hostile to it. And so I would think that that is that is wise of the church and its own progression. I want to say that I think that he puts feminism and with communism and other ideologies as something that is of the of the past or the passing part of this book is sort of dedicated to the idea of come join the party, the party being young people who will carry a message into the next millennium. He's very focused on that. And I think that's where the book really comes most alive when he starts talking about young people who are, he said he thinks, untainted by the ideologies of the past. Some of us are perfectly happy to put feminism right there with some of those. I just want to make one final comment. It's obvious that I have a lot of difficulty with a book, but I do want to say that it's beautifully designed.

It's it's very attractive. It's held in the hands very nicely. The chapters are brief, the print is legible. Some fundamental questions are raised, in my view, not answered in many instances, but that, I think, is beside the point. I really would urge people I think it is reasonably accessible that there are some some passages that are tough going, but after all, it is contending with the great and eternal issues. And I think we ought to approach the book in that in that moment. I think. Can I say one thing on women quickly before we go? Because some of us would not be happy to see feminism in the past. And and I actually think there's a way of interpreting his his discussion of it in a way that is is not anti feminism that he's saying it's a reality. It could be interpreted as saying it's a reaction against the way in which women were mistreated. I think it's very I had not read it in the original Polish and wouldn't know how to. But in reading it in English, it's a little bit it's a little bit ambiguous,

but I'm just as happy. Didn't spend a lot of time on women because he would have gotten in trouble probably first. But and that's what I was saying at the beginning. I think that the sad thing from the perspective of a female American Catholic in a way, is that he has not spent more time with us, with people with whom he has spent time. And not that I would all agree, but that we would have experiences to relate that are different from experiences that he knows about. And that's what I was saying at the top where he has been personally involved. He has clearly learned this is a man capable of learning, but he has not had those kinds of personal experiences, probably with any women. But certainly not with American women of the late 20th century, and that does make a lack of understanding that is very clear there. Are you all glad you read the book? Oh, very much so, yes. I think I think the John was talking about

the youth. I think what he talks about, it gives us should give every educator hope, because this business of the young people seeking some sort of pure truth and the expectation that they will be guided along the line, I mean, actually legitimizes our profession. But as long as we don't take it too seriously. But I do think that it has a message for us, Gus. Gus has given me a hint to read it a second time. I thought, well, Linda Chavez and Cokie Roberts, Ron Walters and Gustav Nieburh, I want to thank you all so much. And I want to tell you all that Monday, John Rehm, I celebrate 35 years of marriage and it is a truth. Thank you so much. And I want to thank you all for being here and to wish you a happy anniversary. Thank you. All right. And if you'd like to have a cassette copy of today's program, call us for information on eight eight five one 200.