~ Spiritual Practices ~

If it's precious,they say, hold onto it! ~ and what could be more precious than our feelings about the Divine?

In spiritual practices we 'walk our talk' in the deepest sense. If traditional language is normally used in those practices then, through association, the terminology feels sacred in itself: 'God', 'Lord', 'Father' and 'Man' are classic examples, empowered over hundreds of years. Traditionalists say they feel estranged when inclusive language is introduced; there is no 'charge'. Naturally they fear "With the 'talk' changed, how will we walk? Where will this unfamiliar path lead us?"

On the other hand, an increasing number of people feel that traditional terminology no longer fits; they want language that reflects how they live in today's world. This is an unstoppable trend in the West, where young people are raised using more inclusive language in everyday life. Many youth don't relate at all to traditional religious language. Naturally they wonder "What does all this mean to me?

Which direction do we go? Either way people's spiritual identity seems threatened. It's no wonder people resist change!

On a personal level, when we're alone, there is no problem. We find what is sacred to us and there's no need to change it. But when we communicate, or worship with others, we need also to consider them.


   ~ Communication ~
If we want to commune with people at a heart level, and not hurt them, we have to find the right words. In daily life, sexist language may work for the speaker, but the listener is often hurt - even though they might not show it. Once it comes naturally, inclusive language works for both the speaker and the listener. It does not hurt anyone. It seems an obvious choice.

But religious life is not that simple. When new, inclusive language replaces familiar tradition, some people are hurt - they feel a deep sense of loss: and the longer they've lived the old language, the greater the hurt is.

That puts religious leaders in a difficult position. If they want to communicate meaningfully in an ongoing way with the community they have to speak the language of that community. They have to juggle the delicate balance between tradition and social change.

Most young people in Western countries no longer relate to sexist, archaic or authoritarian language. By holding onto it, we lose the attention of those we want to reach.

Explaining that 'man', 'men', 'mankind', & 'brotherhood,' etc, includes everyone, that 'He' & 'Him' doesn't mean that God is male, or that 'others aren't offended by it', may make you feel better, but others will simply 'switch off'.

   ~ Research ~
Psychological research has produced a body of evidence that affirms women's claims that sexist language can invoke feelings of being somehow 'invisible' or 'inferior'. Many women have to 'work' at feeling equal to men in the eyes of God. Studies of college students and children show that the generic use of 'man' etc. tends to call up images of males, not females or of men & women together.

If you think you're not affected, see how you go with Badendyck's letter to the New York Times:
"Knowing that he and his can be generalized, I shall no longer feel there is an odd image filtering through something like: 'The average American needs the small routines of getting ready for work. As he shaves or blow-dries his hair, or pulls on his pantyhose, he is easing himself by small degrees into the demands of the day...' "

   ~ A Quiet Anguish ~
To presume that girls and women are not affected by language which tells them God is male, is naïve. Having originated in patriarchal societies, the major religions use male imagery in relation to the Creator and even the created. Many women feel a degree of inner anguish when society repeatedly reinforces God as male. This feeling is not one that men are likely to experience, since their conditioning is understandably different.

Interestingly though, a number of religious women - shall we say half? - have no problem with sexism in religion, so they think that other women needn't, and of course, tradition is on their side. That leaves the others struggling - not to mention a large number of women in secular society who are not attracted to religion at all because of such issues, while they are interested in growing spiritually. Many of these women, and an increasing number of men, see a widening gap between 'religious' and 'spiritual': sexism also affects men.

   ~ History ~
In Old English, 'wer' equals 'adult male' and 'wif,' adult female. The plural 'wifman' evolved into 'woman', and 'wif' to 'wife'. Though 'man' had earlier meant 'adult male' it was no longer used for adult females, except by a few.

That 'few' grew, and by the 18th C the narrow sense of 'man' was adopted in Parliamentary law: "Words importing the masculine gender shall be deemed and taken to include females."

English Biblical translations also featured the generic use of 'man'. This does not reflect earlier scripture. For example 'Man does not live by bread alone', was more accurately 'One does not live by bread alone.' Unfortunately many such sexist anomalies are now regarded literally as 'God's Word.' More accurately, they are the 'translators' word' or the 'record keepers' word'.

Rules of grammar were established in the 16th and 17th C for male readers, as few women were literate. Language reflected that men represented the human race, and that women revolved around them.

   ~ Everyone Wins ~
Change is happening because people care and realise it is not good for one's spiritual life to cause others unnecessary pain. People wanting to embrace inclusive language realise that only habit stands in the way; with a bit of attention that can be readily changed.

As inclusive language gently seeps into our lives we find not only that our sacred feelings are still there, but that our hearts have opened wider: this is the true meaning of 'inclusive'. Women are becoming ordained as priests. God is often referred to as 'the Divine' 'the One, ''Mother Father God', etc, and many progressive religions are adopting inclusive language without losing the congregation. Feeling one with all, we love our neighbours as ourselves. Everybody wins as we realise this works for the whole society.

Blessings & Peace


                                  

Examples of Inclusive Language


If this can be taken
exclusively...
brother (when both genders are implied)

brotherhood                 "


brotherly Love              "

God ('God' is deemed gender-neutral,
but should you wish to  express it differently)

Father (as God)

Father (as founder)

to father (when not literal)

'Him' 'His' ' (for God)                           

he, his (for people of both genders)

he, his (for animals of both genders)

Ladies (when not a 'title', or humor)

Mother Earth

Motherland/Fatherland

mother tongue

sister (when not applying to women)


Try...

companion, kin, family,

community, unity, spiritual kinship, family, friendship, humanity, alliance

kinship, spiritual bond, affection, universal love, spiritual love, platonic love, familial love
the Divine, Source, Almighty, Creator, One, Oneness, Holy One, Great Spirit, Mother Father God, Ultimate, Beyond, Universal Consciousness, That, etc.

Mother Father, Divine Mother & Father

founder, inventor, creator, source

to parent, nurture, create, invent, originate

God, God's, (the Creator etc. as above)

they, their (now grammatically fine), you, your, one, one's

it, its

women, womenfolk

Earth, earth, the soil, planet Earth, gaia

homeland, homeground, birthplace, home country, native land

first language, native language, birth language

companion etc. (as for 'brother'), twin, associated, cousin, charge nurse


Words that Work in Pairs
 Example: If you're saying 'Ladies' the males would be 'gents', or 'gentleman', not 'men'.
If you're talking about 'men', the women would not be 'girls'.
Men
Lady
Woman
Girls
Sisters
Guys
 Women
Gentleman
Man
Boys
Brothers
Gals