The Our Father is Sexist?

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I recently read an article in which a prominent bishop in the Church of England said that the opening words of the Our Father may be problematic because of their association with patriarchy. And of course, the takeaway here, is that when two things are different and somehow need to work together, one or both must change.

In this case, we’re talking about a fundamental, defining characteristic in Christianity, the Lord’s Prayer, and it’s incompatibility with modern assumptions about morality informed by creeds like feminism, liberalism, and egalitarianism.

And in this case, it isn’t that they both need to change, it’s that Christianity is the one that needs to change, because it’s the problematic one. Patriarchy is assumed to be an evil that must be suppressed, and since it may be associated with titles like Father, for God, then that’s problematic.

And this way of thinking isn’t exclusive to the Church of England. I could take a survey among mass going Catholics at the parish closest to my house and I guarantee more than a few would sympathize with this criticism of the Lord’s Prayer – so called because it’s the one that Jesus taught us.

What this reveals, is where a person’s fundamental loyalty lies. When they consider some moral dilemma, where do they turn first for inspiration. Is it to what the Christian creed says, or some foreign and incompatible creed? Because modern liberalism and feminism are incompatible with Christianity – if they weren’t, then neither would have to change.

Music written and generously provided by Paul Jernberg. Find out more about his work as a composer here: http://pauljernberg.com

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