In the early years of Leninism after the Russian Revolution society was de-gendered in favor of the universal term “comrade “. I think there was a similar fever that swept the French Revolution in the name of egality. These impulses were not much more than political fads and soon ran their course. Today we are evidently not perceptive enough to see the roots of this latest assault on gender and are busying our culture to institutionalize these bizarre notions about men and women.
True here in Florida where governor DeSantis has followed a very narrow interpretation of Title IX but certainly the Biden Administration is deconstructing gender on many national fronts.
Wonderful article. May I humbly offer my somewhat simpler article that I wrote with "Waldorf Dads" in mind? Also my story "The Golden Soldier" which is of course, a fairy tale for all genders, but which does mirror Parsival in some ways and contains the archetypal "male" gestures of combat (with the dragon) and redemption through compassion. Let me know on FB if you don't have either of these.
Generally speaking, America does not have a proper system for initiating boys into manhood. We have adult bodies with immature minds. I like the term "arrested development" which comes from psychology. We need to be challenged in real life and face to face. We can watch Jordan Peterson all day but it won't do us any good until we go out into the real world and fight some battles and rescue the princess! I admire your work and thanks for sharing your thought provoking thoughts.
Hey Michael, thank you for this thought provoking piece. As the mother of a 27 year old son it really concerns me how masculinity is being derided and scorned upon in these times (I believe that the "Me To" movement has done more damage than good, and in the process masculinized women - we are here to complement each other not compete with each other!) At the risk of sounding "too Catholic" I have come off the back of a "Consecration to St Joseph" by Donald H. Calloway. At the end of the 30 day journey I can truly say that it has offered a salve for my soul's despair at what does a "Spiritual" masculinity look like.
The erasure of gender is more cataclysmic than most people understand. And, as you imply, it's ultimately a spiritual problem requiring spiritual solutions.
As regards Christian non resistance to violence. I suppose a individual saint type man could meekly submit as a lamb to violence and death, but a father and husband has to stay in good working order for the sake of his wife and children so vigorous effective self defense is saintly in that case. Duh, love for your neighbor may involve hurting some folks who are dangers to your neighbors. In high school one of my sons took down the school bully. Years late my son ran into him and the guy nodded his head in greeting and said, “ I was a real jerk back then” So the guy got the kind of love he needed from my boy.
In my son’s high school years I met a kid who also went to school with my son. I mentioned my son Nathan went to his school and the kid said, “ Nathan! He’s always so kind!” My boy was six foot, handsome, athletic, muscular, intelligent, with a charismatic personality but that statement was my proudest moment for my son during those years.
Interesting exploration. I think the latent violence actually has a more positive aspect within a chivalric frame of reference (vs sublimating it completely). Seems an important part of that ideal is to also commit to using whatever power one possesses in defense of the weak. Such as you mention with protecting your family. That opens up a whole social ethic aspect of a ‘Christian masculinity’. What do you think?
Very generically I'd say the American Christian male archetype is Captain America. There are many, very different, churches though just in the US, so in practice can we say what christian masculinity is without going into a deep dive on Christianity through the centuries and in different cultures?
In the early years of Leninism after the Russian Revolution society was de-gendered in favor of the universal term “comrade “. I think there was a similar fever that swept the French Revolution in the name of egality. These impulses were not much more than political fads and soon ran their course. Today we are evidently not perceptive enough to see the roots of this latest assault on gender and are busying our culture to institutionalize these bizarre notions about men and women.
No, no we're not.
True here in Florida where governor DeSantis has followed a very narrow interpretation of Title IX but certainly the Biden Administration is deconstructing gender on many national fronts.
Wonderful article. May I humbly offer my somewhat simpler article that I wrote with "Waldorf Dads" in mind? Also my story "The Golden Soldier" which is of course, a fairy tale for all genders, but which does mirror Parsival in some ways and contains the archetypal "male" gestures of combat (with the dragon) and redemption through compassion. Let me know on FB if you don't have either of these.
Generally speaking, America does not have a proper system for initiating boys into manhood. We have adult bodies with immature minds. I like the term "arrested development" which comes from psychology. We need to be challenged in real life and face to face. We can watch Jordan Peterson all day but it won't do us any good until we go out into the real world and fight some battles and rescue the princess! I admire your work and thanks for sharing your thought provoking thoughts.
Well put...and thanks.
Hey Michael, thank you for this thought provoking piece. As the mother of a 27 year old son it really concerns me how masculinity is being derided and scorned upon in these times (I believe that the "Me To" movement has done more damage than good, and in the process masculinized women - we are here to complement each other not compete with each other!) At the risk of sounding "too Catholic" I have come off the back of a "Consecration to St Joseph" by Donald H. Calloway. At the end of the 30 day journey I can truly say that it has offered a salve for my soul's despair at what does a "Spiritual" masculinity look like.
The erasure of gender is more cataclysmic than most people understand. And, as you imply, it's ultimately a spiritual problem requiring spiritual solutions.
As regards Christian non resistance to violence. I suppose a individual saint type man could meekly submit as a lamb to violence and death, but a father and husband has to stay in good working order for the sake of his wife and children so vigorous effective self defense is saintly in that case. Duh, love for your neighbor may involve hurting some folks who are dangers to your neighbors. In high school one of my sons took down the school bully. Years late my son ran into him and the guy nodded his head in greeting and said, “ I was a real jerk back then” So the guy got the kind of love he needed from my boy.
In my son’s high school years I met a kid who also went to school with my son. I mentioned my son Nathan went to his school and the kid said, “ Nathan! He’s always so kind!” My boy was six foot, handsome, athletic, muscular, intelligent, with a charismatic personality but that statement was my proudest moment for my son during those years.
Interesting exploration. I think the latent violence actually has a more positive aspect within a chivalric frame of reference (vs sublimating it completely). Seems an important part of that ideal is to also commit to using whatever power one possesses in defense of the weak. Such as you mention with protecting your family. That opens up a whole social ethic aspect of a ‘Christian masculinity’. What do you think?
That's what I'm getting at here, for sure.
Very generically I'd say the American Christian male archetype is Captain America. There are many, very different, churches though just in the US, so in practice can we say what christian masculinity is without going into a deep dive on Christianity through the centuries and in different cultures?