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Spirituality and Feminism

Started by dustyskipper3 · · 👁 9 views · 122 replies

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Participants dustyskipper3Lisa Morales4lonegardenerSusan Price30ABrandon Wright54Mark Torres14Rachel Williams18silentridge8Brian Foster3slyfox49jademarlin26Anthony Perez9cosmictinker21wearyowl29Sandra Morgan2copperfox22Anthony Rodriguez58Jacob Johnson56Adam Ross6Larry Wilson5neonscout5Harold RichardsonJeremy Davis7
wearyowl29 wearyowl29 Regular
715 messages
joined Feb 2014
#61 ·
silentridge8 said:You might want to brush up on your history books. As for secularization, women are "liberated" to such an extent now that they can choose to be sex workers and claim it’s just a manifestation of their sexual freedom.

Let’s be honest: men basically invented sex work just to have an outlet in a world they built entirely for themselves. For the longest time, marriage was treated like this sacred, untouchable institution—often totally devoid of actual intimacy—leaving guys looking for a way to blow off steam elsewhere. It’s a heavy reality, though. When you look at those who sell their bodies, they often feel like they have nothing else left to offer. You see people struggling with addiction, or folks living on the absolute fringes of society. Then you have the students, just trying to scrape by and patch up some holes in their bank accounts between classes. It's a tough cycle. That said, things have shifted. Modern nightlife and the industry today offer much more than what previous generations had access to—though, obviously, that isn't true for everyone or everywhere!
Prostitution isn't actually about sexual freedoms. I mean, those "freedoms" we talk about? They’re relatively young concepts. This whole trade for entertainment is way older than the Bible!
Women today have so much more sexual freedom, which is honestly such a breath of fresh air! Of course, you can still find plenty of people holding onto old-school inhibitions—it’s funny how those internal barriers can stick around even when the world changes. I was chatting with a friend about this over coffee yesterday, and it really got me thinking about how much individual journeys vary. It’s all about that personal balance, isn't it? Such an interesting time to be alive!😉Honestly, she just doesn't feel that social pressure to rush into marriage anymore, especially since her husband... well, you know how it goes!
It’s going to be a headache, honestly. Plus, let’s face it—access to contraception just isn't what it used to be for everyone. It's getting harder to navigate.
Look, let's get one thing straight: being a sex worker is a profession, plain and simple. That is fundamentally different from just being an ordinary woman who happens to have multiple partners throughout her life. It’s obvious that people are getting their wires crossed on this one!
Anthony Perez9 Anthony Perez9 Regular
311 messages
joined Apr 2019
#62 ·
silentridge8 said:The literalist approach to the Bible really only gained traction with Protestantism; using symbolism and allegory was actually the standard back in the day. Origen was never truly viewed as an apostate; rather, some people just completely misinterpreted his writings on transmigration 😬

silentridge8 says:
Creationism and literalist Bible readings are relatively modern phenomena.[/I]

Creationism was there from the start.
Jesus, Paul, and Peter were pure creationists. Just like all the early Christians and the Church Fathers.
Everyone believed in Noah and his flood, a young earth, the universe transforming when Jesus returns, the entire earth going dark for three hours at the crucifixion, and so on. I mean, how could it be any other way? 😕
As science progressed, the church had to slowly crawl toward more symbolism, basically playing along while quietly acknowledging scientific breakthroughs like evolution.

The same logic applies to women's rights.
Anthony Perez9 Anthony Perez9 Regular
311 messages
joined Apr 2019
#63 ·
Lisa Morales4 said:That's right: just as a fruit fly has a right to life, so does (a single) embryo.
Everything is wrapped in the same love.

Yeah. Women have a right to life, and so do embryos and zygotes. But when a zygote threatens the mother—like in the case of a child who was assaulted—then the embryo needs to go.
There’s something seriously messed up about equating a few cells with a conscious, grown adult.
wearyowl29 wearyowl29 Regular
715 messages
joined Feb 2014
#64 ·
Anthony Perez9 said:silentridge8 says:
Creationism and literalist Bible readings are relatively modern phenomena.[/I]

Creationism was there from the start.
Jesus, Paul, and Peter were pure creationists. Just like all the early Christians and the Church Fathers.
Everyone believed in Noah and his flood, a young earth, the universe transforming when Jesus returns, the entire earth going dark for three hours at the crucifixion, and so on. I mean, how could it be any other way? 😕
As science progressed, the church had to slowly crawl toward more symbolism, basically playing along while quietly acknowledging scientific breakthroughs like evolution.

The same logic applies to women's rights.

Oh, please! She hasn't actually given them anything besides doing the laundry—you can tell they aren't cut out to be nuns. Honestly, trying to force that is a serious crime, basically on par with pedophilia.🙂
Sandra Morgan2 Sandra Morgan2 Active Member
116 messages
joined Oct 2008
#65 ·
N'Dug Asks:
And that brings us right back to the core dilemma of feminism—and spirituality, too. Can a beautiful woman actually be a feminist or a nun? Does it even make sense? I mean, from the moment she’s born, those gates to earthly paradise are wide open to her, with the entire male population constantly looking her way. Does the concept even hold water despite all that?

It all comes down to what someone is chasing: a little slice of heaven on earth or true self-realization. If a woman seeks nothing but the constant attention and admiration of men, she’s feeding her ego—and let me tell you, that comes at a steep price. It requires massive investments (both time and money) just to maintain that youthful glow as the years pass. So, what’s the actual payoff? A smart woman won't fall into the trap of relying solely on her looks. She’ll know how to distinguish between what actually matters and what's just a superficial game. That’s why, when you ask if a beautiful woman can be a feminist, a nun, or a Zen monk, you have to start with the assumption that there’s more to her than just a pretty face. There has to be substance there—something deep enough to drive her toward a meaningful cause or a spiritual path.

"Quote:"
Lately, we've been seeing Angelina Jolie stepping up as this big advocate for human rights and protecting abused children... Honestly? It all feels like a bit of a performance. It seems more about using that beautiful face and body to grab headlines rather than offering any real spiritual substance.
.

Sure, she might grab all the headlines, but let’s look at the facts: she adopted three children from Africa and donated massive amounts of money to fund education, improve living conditions, and provide medical care for kids in impoverished African nations. The real issue? Her angelic nature gets completely overlooked because people are too distracted by her celebrity status and sex appeal. But honestly, it doesn't matter. Those who actually bother to look past the physical surface can see that she—like so many others—is proof that goodness still exists in this world, no matter how bleak things may seem.

On the flip side, it would be hard to take them seriously if they were stepping into the shoes of Mother Teresa—who, God rest her soul, was a physically unattractive woman, a real Baba Jaga type—but you could easily imagine them playing Diana or some fertility goddess. Does a woman’s physical appearance actually dictate the specific type of spirituality she can embody? I suspect feminists would absolutely lose their minds if that were actually true... though, honestly, maybe it is. 😍

No, you’re right—nobody would take her seriously if she were actually hot or conventionally beautiful. Usually, women tend to follow paths centered around devotion to some male deity (like Christ, Krishna, or Sherwin) or surrender themselves to some guru. It’s much rarer to see someone like Sandra Morgan2, who is also quite beautiful, following non-dual teachings instead. 🙂

Does anyone think there was ever a society in written history where women actually held the reins? I’m talking about a true matriarchy. And please, let’s leave the Amazons out of this—they're clearly just a product of myth and imagination. Does anyone here actually know of a real-world example?

I’ve been thinking... what does it all actually mean? If a matriarchy has never truly existed—if every society up to this point has been patriarchal—then we have to look at the facts. In the West, over these last few hundred years, we've seen more justice for women than ever before in history. And honestly, as much as I might struggle with certain feminist methods, you have to admit they played a massive role in getting us here.
cosmictinker21 cosmictinker21 Active Member
242 messages
joined Jan 2009
#66 ·
Sandra Morgan2 said:
N'Dug Asks:
And that brings us right back to the core dilemma of feminism—and spirituality, too. Can a beautiful woman actually be a feminist or a nun? Does it even make sense? I mean, from the moment she’s born, those gates to earthly paradise are wide open to her, with the entire male population constantly looking her way. Does the concept even hold water despite all that?

It all comes down to what someone is chasing: a little slice of heaven on earth or true self-realization. If a woman seeks nothing but the constant attention and admiration of men, she’s feeding her ego—and let me tell you, that comes at a steep price. It requires massive investments (both time and money) just to maintain that youthful glow as the years pass. So, what’s the actual payoff? A smart woman won't fall into the trap of relying solely on her looks. She’ll know how to distinguish between what actually matters and what's just a superficial game. That’s why, when you ask if a beautiful woman can be a feminist, a nun, or a Zen monk, you have to start with the assumption that there’s more to her than just a pretty face. There has to be substance there—something deep enough to drive her toward a meaningful cause or a spiritual path.

"Quote:"
Lately, we've been seeing Angelina Jolie stepping up as this big advocate for human rights and protecting abused children... Honestly? It all feels like a bit of a performance. It seems more about using that beautiful face and body to grab headlines rather than offering any real spiritual substance.
.

Sure, she might grab all the headlines, but let’s look at the facts: she adopted three children from Africa and donated massive amounts of money to fund education, improve living conditions, and provide medical care for kids in impoverished African nations. The real issue? Her angelic nature gets completely overlooked because people are too distracted by her celebrity status and sex appeal. But honestly, it doesn't matter. Those who actually bother to look past the physical surface can see that she—like so many others—is proof that goodness still exists in this world, no matter how bleak things may seem.

On the flip side, it would be hard to take them seriously if they were stepping into the shoes of Mother Teresa—who, God rest her soul, was a physically unattractive woman, a real Baba Jaga type—but you could easily imagine them playing Diana or some fertility goddess. Does a woman’s physical appearance actually dictate the specific type of spirituality she can embody? I suspect feminists would absolutely lose their minds if that were actually true... though, honestly, maybe it is. 😍

No, you’re right—nobody would take her seriously if she were actually hot or conventionally beautiful. Usually, women tend to follow paths centered around devotion to some male deity (like Christ, Krishna, or Sherwin) or surrender themselves to some guru. It’s much rarer to see someone like Sandra Morgan2, who is also quite beautiful, following non-dual teachings instead. 🙂

Does anyone think there was ever a society in written history where women actually held the reins? I’m talking about a true matriarchy. And please, let’s leave the Amazons out of this—they're clearly just a product of myth and imagination. Does anyone here actually know of a real-world example?

I’ve been thinking... what does it all actually mean? If a matriarchy has never truly existed—if every society up to this point has been patriarchal—then we have to look at the facts. In the West, over these last few hundred years, we've seen more justice for women than ever before in history. And honestly, as much as I might struggle with certain feminist methods, you have to admit they played a massive role in getting us here.


If you look at actual recorded history, the whole idea of a matriarchy is basically a myth. In reality, women were mostly treated like pieces of movable furniture, nothing more than manual labor or breeding stock. They were essentially property—owned by fathers, husbands, or brothers who could trade them for livestock, swap them for cash, or just toss them out on the street whenever they felt like it based on whatever local custom or "law" was in place at the time. It wasn't uncommon for things to escalate to physical abuse or permanent injury... it was just how the system functioned back then.

Let’s take a much deeper dive into the past... In many animal packs, it’s actually the alpha female who calls the shots. She picks the partner, leads the hunt, decides when the group migrates, and even dictates the social hierarchy of the rest of the pack. We're talking about apex predators at the very top of the food chain here—situations where the offspring aren't under immediate threat, so the whole "ensuring the survival of the species" argument isn't even the primary driver... think wolves or hyenas...

The dynamic with lions is a bit different... The lioness pretty much runs the whole show—handling the hunt, organizing the strategy, keeping an eye on the cubs—yet she still shows this quiet, respectful deference to the male, letting him take the first bite of the antelope. She’ll even carefully move the little ones out of the way when the boss decides it's time to retreat into the shade. Why? It's simply because in the Serengeti, those cubs are constantly exposed to danger, which creates a need for a harem structure. The male lion essentially lives like a sultan with his queens and concubines; he spreads his lineage far and wide, fulfills his sacred duty to reproduce, and once he’s driven the young males off into solitude, he can finally focus on just being the king of his domain...

Even with those fast legs, fawns—whether you're looking at deer, antelope, or zebras—just aren't ready to outrun a predator right out of the gate. It’s why nature relies on sheer numbers; you need a massive surplus just to offset the inevitable losses... It brings to mind that frantic, arrogant billionaire type, greedily hoarding and fertilizing his harem while kicking out anyone who actually shows a bit of genuine interest...

Take bonobos, for instance—they’re basically our closest biological and social cousins in the primate world. Because food is easy to come by and they're fairly large, the whole male-female power dynamic stays pretty balanced. Research actually shows that female bonobos are just as promiscuous as the males. It’s almost like a "free love" vibe where everyone mixes with everyone... provided the entire group steps up to look after the kids. You might have one mother watching her little one while someone else jumps in to teach them how to dig for worms or watch out for snakes. Then you’ve got chimpanzees, who are a lot more aggressive. The males tend to run the show there. Since chimps are smaller and physically weaker, their main survival strategy is often just running away... which unfortunately leaves the offspring to fend for themselves. And then there are gorillas, whose lives are dictated by food availability. They need massive territories, so they focus on maintaining a harem and ensuring plenty of offspring to keep the lineage going. A silverback gorilla is a hell of a protector for his group, though... definitely takes the job seriously.

So, because the forests started thinning out and gave way to more open savanna, our dear primate ancestors were basically forced to stretch their legs a bit... had to go out and hunt for new ways to find food and maybe some decent shelter. At that specific stage of human evolution, everyone was pretty much just looking out for themselves. There wasn't any concept of splitting the kill or checking in on the weaker members of the group who ended up going hungry... it was just survival of the fittest, I guess...

It wasn't exactly by choice, really. Circumstances just forced our hand. A need for a different way of life emerged because our ancestors slowly realized that if they stayed caught between the savanna and the woods, they were basically dead meat—starving, defenseless, too slow to run away, and way too weak to hunt or fight back... In that desperate struggle just to find enough food and keep their bare lives from slipping away, they ended up neglecting reproduction. Hm. Not exactly a glowing forecast for the future...

So, they eventually figured out ways to make catching game a lot easier, and they made sure to find decent shelter. They realized it was much simpler to just call the animals out from the tall grass rather than hunting them down through dense brush. Labor division started to drift toward physical strength over time, mostly because the pack became more tightly knit through individual interdependence. The females were busy gathering berries, keeping the fires going, raising the kids, teaching them the ropes, communicating, passing down knowledge, making sure bears didn't eat them, making sure bears didn't eat the kids, and also watching out for those famous hunters showing up with mammoth legs. Multitasking. We've all been there, right...

And that’s exactly why—because they were the ones collecting and passing on all that knowledge—mothers became the central axis around which the whole tribe revolved. While the men handled the hunts and some of the technical ideas, the women took care of everything else. Because of that, they were respected. They were the shamans, the teachers, the caregivers, the scouts; their word carried weight, just as much as the word of a smart, capable man. During that era, we see the first evidence of female-centric cults being honored (Mother Earth, the parent, the provider), and it wasn't until much later, with the discovery of metalworking, that the cult of the male principle emerged (think ram or fire cults). Physical differences led to different roles, sure, but there was still an equal sense of importance and dignity. There isn't really any evidence that one gender was favored over the other back then...

The first signs of ownership and dominance over women showed up once surplus value appeared. Once we transitioned into partial agriculture and domesticated animals, the guy who was physically strong or just lucky enough to grow extra grain or breed more lambs (which ensured his own kids were fed and numerous) suddenly had more material to trade. He got richer. And subsequently, more arrogant. He teamed up with guys just like him, formed the first military units, hunting became a smaller source of food, and he needed a way to burn off all that testosterone. So, he got greedy and wanted what others had. More. Larger territories. More food. More people surrounding him for protection. Women were pushed to the sidelines...

Sorry for this massive wall of text. 😢
Anthony Perez9 Anthony Perez9 Regular
311 messages
joined Apr 2019
#67 ·
wearyowl29 said:Oh, please! She hasn't actually given them anything besides doing the laundry—you can tell they aren't cut out to be nuns. Honestly, trying to force that is a serious crime, basically on par with pedophilia.🙂

She hasn't strayed far from the prestigious title of "Sister" (given how much they act like handmaidens). Maybe in five hundred years they'll roll out titles like Most Holy Sister, Honorable Deaconess, Cardinaless, Grand Dignitary, Curial Officer, Parish Priestess, Provincial Superior (lol, better than Father Provincial), Jesuit, Franciscan, Cleric, or even Pope. 🤷
cosmictinker21 cosmictinker21 Active Member
242 messages
joined Jan 2009
#68 ·
Anthony Perez9 said:She hasn't strayed far from the prestigious title of "Sister" (given how much they act like handmaidens). Maybe in five hundred years they'll roll out titles like Most Holy Sister, Honorable Deaconess, Cardinaless, Grand Dignitary, Curial Officer, Parish Priestess, Provincial Superior (lol, better than Father Provincial), Jesuit, Franciscan, Cleric, or even Pope. 🤷

a vestal.
the guardian of the temple of Artemis.
the general manager of the kitchen and the grounds.
Lisa Morales4 Lisa Morales4 Active Member
205 messages
joined Aug 2010
#69 ·
Brandon Wright54 said:There’s no such thing as a "right" or "wrong" kind of feminist. There are just different schools of thought—liberal, Marxist, radical, trans-feminism, cyber-feminism, and so on. You can't claim one woman is a "real" feminist while another isn't; everyone is acting on their own convictions. It turns out there is no universal archetype for a feminist, nor even for a woman. The whole idea of a "universal female identity" relies on forcing people into a specific mold. Personally, I’m not a fan of the radical approach where they advocate for the entire female population solely based on sex, ignoring the fact that women can unconsciously play into sexist roles themselves.

The strategy I mentioned has been used in feminist circles for years to emphasize the constructive nature of gender—it has nothing to do with being a lesbian or just enjoying one's body. A femme fatale is a siren who uses her appeal like a weapon—think Medusa. Honestly, I’m not even sure how much physical appearance matters in this whole feminism debate; I find the issue of female body representation far more interesting. And I really don't get why you'd see Mother Mary or Princess Diana as "avant-garde" women... that doesn't quite track for me.🤷

It’s because they gave their entire lives to challenge the status quo. They served as global sources of inspiration, acting as messengers and prophetesses—true agents of change who carried Christ's Spirit.

In addition to those women we already discussed, I’d like to add one more to the list:

Qurratu'l-Ayn


A writer and Persian theologian, Tahirih paid with her life for her desire to disrupt the status quo; she stood in a public square, right in front of the men's council, and tore off her veil. The crowd was scandalized, and one man was so shaken by what he saw that he actually took his own life on the spot.

The spirituality and the work of that proactive woman, Tahirih, remains incredibly fertile ground today. Her influence isn't just limited to feminist spirituality across the globe; it’s globally relevant to humanity at large. Tahirih acted as an apostolic trumpet, an announcer, and a bearer of the new Christ's Spirit to the world, signaling a shift toward a new direction—essentially starting a new faith that marked the beginning of the end for existing religious divisions, calling instead for universality and unity by ending all sectarian strife.

To honor this extraordinary woman, a prominent Baha'i theologian publicly bestowed upon her the name "Tahirih," the Pure One.

There is actually a film about her life (part I - intro 8 min) i - intro 8 min ) Tahirih - divine Voice

🙏
cosmictinker21 cosmictinker21 Active Member
242 messages
joined Jan 2009
#70 ·
honestly 🙏🙏🙏

forgive me for being sacrilegious, truly, please forgive me.
but I just couldn't help picturing Dolores finally snapping—just tossing her rings and bracelets aside, chucking her designer crocodile bag straight into a dumpster, handing out all those tacky, overpriced clothes, letting her ego fly wild... she’d probably just leap right off a yacht into the shallows, ripping her hair out and screaming:

I'm done! I don't need any of this! Screw the corporate sponsors!
cosmictinker21 cosmictinker21 Active Member
242 messages
joined Jan 2009
#71 ·
My apologies again for that awkward association.😢

I can't help but wonder if there will ever be a critical mass of actually wise people following those paths of least resistance, just enough to finally make a difference in this world of ours...😢
Sandra Morgan2 Sandra Morgan2 Active Member
116 messages
joined Oct 2008
#72 ·
cosmictinker21 said:If you look at actual recorded history, the whole idea of a matriarchy is basically a myth. In reality, women were mostly treated like pieces of movable furniture, nothing more than manual labor or breeding stock. They were essentially property—owned by fathers, husbands, or brothers who could trade them for livestock, swap them for cash, or just toss them out on the street whenever they felt like it based on whatever local custom or "law" was in place at the time. It wasn't uncommon for things to escalate to physical abuse or permanent injury... it was just how the system functioned back then.

Let’s take a much deeper dive into the past... In many animal packs, it’s actually the alpha female who calls the shots. She picks the partner, leads the hunt, decides when the group migrates, and even dictates the social hierarchy of the rest of the pack. We're talking about apex predators at the very top of the food chain here—situations where the offspring aren't under immediate threat, so the whole "ensuring the survival of the species" argument isn't even the primary driver... think wolves or hyenas...

The dynamic with lions is a bit different... The lioness pretty much runs the whole show—handling the hunt, organizing the strategy, keeping an eye on the cubs—yet she still shows this quiet, respectful deference to the male, letting him take the first bite of the antelope. She’ll even carefully move the little ones out of the way when the boss decides it's time to retreat into the shade. Why? It's simply because in the Serengeti, those cubs are constantly exposed to danger, which creates a need for a harem structure. The male lion essentially lives like a sultan with his queens and concubines; he spreads his lineage far and wide, fulfills his sacred duty to reproduce, and once he’s driven the young males off into solitude, he can finally focus on just being the king of his domain...

Even with those fast legs, fawns—whether you're looking at deer, antelope, or zebras—just aren't ready to outrun a predator right out of the gate. It’s why nature relies on sheer numbers; you need a massive surplus just to offset the inevitable losses... It brings to mind that frantic, arrogant billionaire type, greedily hoarding and fertilizing his harem while kicking out anyone who actually shows a bit of genuine interest...

Take bonobos, for instance—they’re basically our closest biological and social cousins in the primate world. Because food is easy to come by and they're fairly large, the whole male-female power dynamic stays pretty balanced. Research actually shows that female bonobos are just as promiscuous as the males. It’s almost like a "free love" vibe where everyone mixes with everyone... provided the entire group steps up to look after the kids. You might have one mother watching her little one while someone else jumps in to teach them how to dig for worms or watch out for snakes. Then you’ve got chimpanzees, who are a lot more aggressive. The males tend to run the show there. Since chimps are smaller and physically weaker, their main survival strategy is often just running away... which unfortunately leaves the offspring to fend for themselves. And then there are gorillas, whose lives are dictated by food availability. They need massive territories, so they focus on maintaining a harem and ensuring plenty of offspring to keep the lineage going. A silverback gorilla is a hell of a protector for his group, though... definitely takes the job seriously.

So, because the forests started thinning out and gave way to more open savanna, our dear primate ancestors were basically forced to stretch their legs a bit... had to go out and hunt for new ways to find food and maybe some decent shelter. At that specific stage of human evolution, everyone was pretty much just looking out for themselves. There wasn't any concept of splitting the kill or checking in on the weaker members of the group who ended up going hungry... it was just survival of the fittest, I guess...

It wasn't exactly by choice, really. Circumstances just forced our hand. A need for a different way of life emerged because our ancestors slowly realized that if they stayed caught between the savanna and the woods, they were basically dead meat—starving, defenseless, too slow to run away, and way too weak to hunt or fight back... In that desperate struggle just to find enough food and keep their bare lives from slipping away, they ended up neglecting reproduction. Hm. Not exactly a glowing forecast for the future...

So, they eventually figured out ways to make catching game a lot easier, and they made sure to find decent shelter. They realized it was much simpler to just call the animals out from the tall grass rather than hunting them down through dense brush. Labor division started to drift toward physical strength over time, mostly because the pack became more tightly knit through individual interdependence. The females were busy gathering berries, keeping the fires going, raising the kids, teaching them the ropes, communicating, passing down knowledge, making sure bears didn't eat them, making sure bears didn't eat the kids, and also watching out for those famous hunters showing up with mammoth legs. Multitasking. We've all been there, right...

And that’s exactly why—because they were the ones collecting and passing on all that knowledge—mothers became the central axis around which the whole tribe revolved. While the men handled the hunts and some of the technical ideas, the women took care of everything else. Because of that, they were respected. They were the shamans, the teachers, the caregivers, the scouts; their word carried weight, just as much as the word of a smart, capable man. During that era, we see the first evidence of female-centric cults being honored (Mother Earth, the parent, the provider), and it wasn't until much later, with the discovery of metalworking, that the cult of the male principle emerged (think ram or fire cults). Physical differences led to different roles, sure, but there was still an equal sense of importance and dignity. There isn't really any evidence that one gender was favored over the other back then...

The first signs of ownership and dominance over women showed up once surplus value appeared. Once we transitioned into partial agriculture and domesticated animals, the guy who was physically strong or just lucky enough to grow extra grain or breed more lambs (which ensured his own kids were fed and numerous) suddenly had more material to trade. He got richer. And subsequently, more arrogant. He teamed up with guys just like him, formed the first military units, hunting became a smaller source of food, and he needed a way to burn off all that testosterone. So, he got greedy and wanted what others had. More. Larger territories. More food. More people surrounding him for protection. Women were pushed to the sidelines...

Sorry for this massive wall of text. 😢

Exactly! It was all about equality without being identical. They were just as valued and respected as the men, but they weren't out hunting or forging metal. Instead, they stepped up in other vital areas of the community—handling roles that were essential to everyone's survival. Those tasks were recognized as being just as crucial as hunting or metallurgy, performed with the exact same level of dignity as any "man's job." Women were women, and men were men.

The first signs of ownership and dominance over women appeared right when surplus value emerged. Once we transitioned to small-scale farming and domesticated animals, things shifted. If you were physically capable and lucky enough to grow extra grain or breed more lambs—which basically guaranteed a fed and growing family—you suddenly had extra material to trade. You became wealthier. And predictably, more arrogant. These guys teamed up with others just like them and formed the first military units. Since hunting wasn't the primary food source anymore, they needed a way to burn off that excess testosterone. So, they got greedy. They wanted someone else's stuff. More territory. More food. More people around to act as their personal security detail. Meanwhile, women were pushed to the sidelines.

My apologies for this mess.😢

Not sausage—you actually made some really interesting points there! 🙂

Chaos really kicked in once surplus value entered the picture. Greed followed right on its heels. Honestly, all the struggles women have faced from then until now started when that first tribal macho type—who already had a little extra—decided he wanted even more. From that tiny seed grew this massive, suffocating tree of patriarchal societies where women were constantly suppressed and undervalued.

Here’s my takeaway:
If women had stayed in that subordinate role from tribal times all the way to the modern era...

They would have been at their absolute best if they had contributed that unique spark within themselves to society, rather than just trying to replicate what men bring to the table.

Also, let's be clear: the issue facing women is actually a symptom of deep societal imbalance—one driven directly by pure material greed.

Exactly. Gender inequality is really just a symptom of a much deeper societal sickness. And you don't cure an illness by treating the symptoms—you have to go after the root cause.

- so, the fix isn't about trying to force women into a male-dominated culture built on greed. It just doesn't work.

- the real answer? tear down this whole broken system and rip out the very values it was built on from the roots up.

- but let's be real—that feels impossible. the system is global, massive, and practically programmed to protect itself. honestly, we’ll probably see even more of the same unless there’s a massive shockwave—like a total collapse of the Federal Reserve system, some major global catastrophe, or someone stepping up like V from *V for Vendetta*... if you've seen it.

- there is one sliver of hope left: that there's still actual goodness and wisdom out there. that love and humanity exist, and that light exists just as much as the darkness. I have to believe positive forces will continue to push against the negativity. The thing is, you don't notice it. Goodness isn't loud. It doesn't shout, it doesn't need a front-page headline in the *New York Times*, and it doesn't crave promotion. It works quietly, like a slow-moving river carving through stone. Maybe enough good people can reach a critical mass. Maybe they can slowly, evolutionarily, tilt the scales of this unbalanced system to build something better—a society where, fingers crossed, women aren't just "equalized" to men, but truly equal partners.

anyway, excuse my ranting about sausages.🙂
Lisa Morales4 Lisa Morales4 Active Member
205 messages
joined Aug 2010
#73 ·
cosmictinker21 As expressed by:
I sometimes wonder if we’ll ever reach a tipping point in this world of ours—this constant path of least resistance—where enough wise people finally gather to actually step up and do some good.😢

We're getting close...

Just as we first debated the evolutionary process of the Fall from Eden to the earth—which really means the transition of spirit becoming matter—we are now slowly converging back into One. It’s happening through a cosmic balance of creative spiritual Force, guided by Nature's plan.

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cosmictinker21 cosmictinker21 Active Member
242 messages
joined Jan 2009
#74 ·
for Sandra Morgan2:

I really hope so. I’m sincerely hoping that old maxim still holds some weight somewhere: think globally, act locally...

A little tangent here: women weren't "equalized." That word implies they started out unequal and then somehow leveled the playing field when circumstances changed. No, that's not it. Everyone contributed to the human pack as much as they possibly could—physically or mentally—and everyone was an equally vital member of the community. Neanderthals looked after the sick and the elderly (have you ever seen "The Ballad of Narayama"? It's a beautiful depiction of how people would selflessly sacrifice their own lives for the good of the family, met with genuine respect, gratitude, and remembrance by those who survived), regardless of whether that person was a powerful hunter with massive muscles or a frail, arthritic midwife who accidentally broke her femur... It was actually those very differences in physical and mental capacity that allowed for a harmonious way of filling the needs of the tribe.

It was only once individuals began asserting themselves through sheer physical force (that biological gap between females and males in mammals), where certain specific skills that used to fit perfectly into the pack's rhythm suddenly became prioritized, that visible, valued hierarchies emerged. Before that, people were simply valued and respected based on what they contributed to the whole. But now, suddenly, because of certain standout abilities, those virtues are being hijacked to benefit only the individual and their inner circle...

So, instead of differences complementing one another to ensure the survival of the species, we have a situation where everyone is just trying to crush one another to ensure they're the only ones left at the top.

Yeah, I know, it sounds a bit like the alpha-male struggle in a wolf pack. On the surface, it looks like the natural order of things. But it isn't. Every individual has their place in the pack. In human society, however, this "natural" hierarchy serves no purpose other than fulfilling a drive for testosterone-fueled ego trips at the expense of the weaker members. And the "weaker" ones are the women... and those who don't have a natural inclination toward greed, murder, or violence.
cosmictinker21 cosmictinker21 Active Member
242 messages
joined Jan 2009
#75 ·
I feel like quoting Capra again:

"One of the primary polarities we face in life is the tension between the masculine and feminine aspects of human nature. Much like the struggle between good and evil, or life and death, we often feel an inherent discomfort with this internal gender polarity, which leads us to overcompensate by leaning too heavily into one side or the other."

It’s true, though... it’s incredibly difficult to find any semblance of balance nowadays between our actual spiritual needs and everything being shoved down our throats as a "necessity" in this tiny, materialistic, multi-corporate, micro-capitalist, pseudo-communist, feudalistic little universe we call home.
Sandra Morgan2 Sandra Morgan2 Active Member
116 messages
joined Oct 2008
#76 ·
@ cosmictinker21
👍 These two posts? They’re on an entirely different level—wider by a whole dimension than anything I’ve said before... bravo, dear! 🙂
wearyowl29 wearyowl29 Regular
715 messages
joined Feb 2014
#77 ·
Anthony Perez9 said:She hasn't strayed far from the prestigious title of "Sister" (given how much they act like handmaidens). Maybe in five hundred years they'll roll out titles like Most Holy Sister, Honorable Deaconess, Cardinaless, Grand Dignitary, Curial Officer, Parish Priestess, Provincial Superior (lol, better than Father Provincial), Jesuit, Franciscan, Cleric, or even Pope. 🤷

It sounds more like a list of craft bourbon brands or vintage vineyard names...😂
silentridge8 silentridge8 Active Member
231 messages
joined Jun 2007
#78 ·
Anthony Perez9 said:silentridge8 says:
Creationism and literalist Bible readings are relatively modern phenomena.[/I]

Creationism was there from the start.
Jesus, Paul, and Peter were pure creationists. Just like all the early Christians and the Church Fathers.
Everyone believed in Noah and his flood, a young earth, the universe transforming when Jesus returns, the entire earth going dark for three hours at the crucifixion, and so on. I mean, how could it be any other way? 😕
As science progressed, the church had to slowly crawl toward more symbolism, basically playing along while quietly acknowledging scientific breakthroughs like evolution.

The same logic applies to women's rights.

It’s clear you don't really grasp scientific terminology or how to use it, considering you’re framing creationism as some specific "phenomenon" from early Christianity ( 😂 ). And this whole bit about the Church Fathers is honestly laughable. If it weren't so sad, of course. 🙂
silentridge8 silentridge8 Active Member
231 messages
joined Jun 2007
#79 ·
wearyowl29 said:Let’s be honest: men basically invented sex work just to have an outlet in a world they built entirely for themselves. For the longest time, marriage was treated like this sacred, untouchable institution—often totally devoid of actual intimacy—leaving guys looking for a way to blow off steam elsewhere. It’s a heavy reality, though. When you look at those who sell their bodies, they often feel like they have nothing else left to offer. You see people struggling with addiction, or folks living on the absolute fringes of society. Then you have the students, just trying to scrape by and patch up some holes in their bank accounts between classes. It's a tough cycle. That said, things have shifted. Modern nightlife and the industry today offer much more than what previous generations had access to—though, obviously, that isn't true for everyone or everywhere!
Prostitution isn't actually about sexual freedoms. I mean, those "freedoms" we talk about? They’re relatively young concepts. This whole trade for entertainment is way older than the Bible!
Women today have so much more sexual freedom, which is honestly such a breath of fresh air! Of course, you can still find plenty of people holding onto old-school inhibitions—it’s funny how those internal barriers can stick around even when the world changes. I was chatting with a friend about this over coffee yesterday, and it really got me thinking about how much individual journeys vary. It’s all about that personal balance, isn't it? Such an interesting time to be alive!😉Honestly, she just doesn't feel that social pressure to rush into marriage anymore, especially since her husband... well, you know how it goes!
It’s going to be a headache, honestly. Plus, let’s face it—access to contraception just isn't what it used to be for everyone. It's getting harder to navigate.
Look, let's get one thing straight: being a sex worker is a profession, plain and simple. That is fundamentally different from just being an ordinary woman who happens to have multiple partners throughout her life. It’s obvious that people are getting their wires crossed on this one!

To each their own. I'm not even going to dive into the scholasticism of it all here.
slyfox49 slyfox49 Newcomer
6 messages
joined Oct 2008
#80 ·
I honestly don't get how you, as a woman, can support an organization that treats you—and basically every other woman out there—like a second-class citizen.

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