Description
Shopping Mall Nativity 2: MenKind - if only
Reflection accompanying image “menkind”
Menkind: if only it were not just the name of a store but also a gender specific collective noun expressing a universal truth about male behaviour. How different our experience of the world would be then. When the angelic voices harmonise peace on earth and goodwill to all people, and when the prophets depict the reign of God as light in the darkness and wilderness ways being made straight, is
this an integral part of what is envisaged, described, entailed and yearned for. If we look to the birth of Jesus we would have to conclude that it is. The whole narrative is surrounded and permeated by male violence, the abuse of power and by threats and coercion. This is a hostile environment and no place for dissent. The poor live downtrodden lives and women exist within the prison of patriarchal power-play dominance. And over it all the long shadow of the Roman Emperor blots out the light....
Continues
See also:
'Shopping Mall Nativity 1: Sitting down in Bethlehem'
'Shopping Mall Nativity 3: Annunciating the Magnificat'
'Shopping Mall Nativity 4: Enticed inside Christmas'