Fading Christian Relevancy Exposed by Sallie McFague Essay -- Religion

My first encounter with Sallie McFagues article was jarring her eco-feminist simileical approach to theology is somewhat unexpected to those unfamiliar with Religious Studies. Yet I suppose I have misjudged much of this field of study by unfairly coming to expect either completely traditional or wholly radical claims. McFagues approach, however, seems relatively moderate and reasonable in all its assertions, and its neo-Derridian deconstruction had my inner cultural analyst bursting with excitement. Aching to break away from the patriarchical one-man rule of classical Christian theology, she is committed to a drastic reconstruction of traditional Christian dogma. At first I wondered as to her motives was this deconstruction fueled by a second-wave feminist desire to overthrow patriarchy, or the wishes of a tree-hugging ecologist on a mission to save the natural world (as suggested by her books title, Theology for an Ecological, Nuclear Age)? Apparently neither. It is after the fir st few paragraphs that McFague brings clear relevancy to her writing. She argues that the common interpretation of Jesus resurrection serves to negate Gods omnipresence. traditionally it is understood that the resurrection represents a personal, bodily translation into another world (259) though which one can join the Savior. Thus while awaiting a later holistic reunion with God, ones earthly, bodily present is in between-time, in limbo, lacking God in space and time. Thus McFague fears such an interpretation for its confirming implications God, then, is not omnipresent He is only partially, selectively present. (260) She proposes, then, that the resurrection tale no longer be held as a mythology of transcendence, but rather as a promise of G... ...e need for metaphorical theology. The particular appeal of McFagues style is, then, not necessarily her argument nor her logic rather it is her open-minded approach to such controversial matters. For as McFague herself would openly ad mit, there are, of course, different understandings on what is better (265).Notes1 I particular enjoyed McFagues observation that a model is a metaphor with staying power (278) as I have often wondered at what point a religious metaphor, such as God as Father, becomes evaluate enough that it becomes used in the vernacular.2 McFagues metaphorical theology very much reminds me of George Carlins attempts to rejuvenate an outdated Jesus in Dogma. McFague, like Carlins Cardinal Glick, is trying to re-package and sell faith (or rather, The Buddy Jesus) by preventing a need, and relevancy, for religion.