On the Defense: The Religious Aspect of the Movement

A main goal of Mujerista theology is for Latinas to have their voice heard, listened to, and respected; and to challenge social and religious practices that oppress them as Latin women. I believe all voices should be heard and recognized, this a great argument. My question is how one wishes and expects to be accounted for in the religious aspect of the movement when they say Christ’s message is “questionable”?

“Thus I have come to see that the insistence on the value of suffering for Christians and its placement as a central element of the Christians messages is questionable,” (Diaz pg 134).

She earlier states that although Jesus did suffer...
“I cannot accept that his suffering was greater than all other human suffering nor that the God whom Jesus called Father demanded or required Jesus to suffer in order to fulfill his mission on earth,” (pg 130).

A large portion of Christianity is based on the belief that Jesus was the son of God, he did suffer and he did die for humanity’s sins. A large portion of the dominant party of the Feminist movement, which the author wishes the Latina voice to be heard, is middle to upper class white women, who are in fact Christian.

In Tuesday’s class we discussed that when one feels threatened and offended they have a tendency to shut down and reject any ideas proposed by the offending party. With this being said, how can the author even think that one would be willing to listen, when they have just reduced one’s religious commitment to that of being “questionable”?

Although I consider myself open minded and I recognize I am not part of the dominant, normative social structure, I was still in a way offended by these statements. Coming from a Christian background hearing someone say these would make me act “on edge” and want to defend my view or retreat from their views. Other than not being the “norm” I feel that I am educated enough to take heed to another’s view points as should the women in the feminist movement, but like myself they would react in the same manner, resulting in close mindedness and defense mechanisms towards the Latina women’s views. Hence these statements and ideas hurt the Mujerista theology rather than aid them in being recognized and accepted in the religious aspect of the movement.