03 04 05 Shalom to the Broken Woman: Peace as/through Breaking the Power Culture s t h e C h u r c h today initiates to Ap o l i t i c i s e , establish and ensure peace within and outside the Church, it is also essential to introspect her own p r o g r e s s i v e p o w e r structuration in order to Rev. J. M. Sharath realise whether the very existence of her ideal S o w s e e l y a i s a n feature, namely 'Peace' is b e i n g t h r e a t e n e d o r ordained Presbyter in safeguarded by these Rayalaseema Diocese of power structures. In this theChurchofSouthIndia. process, one needs to c o m p r e h e n d t h e connotation of Peace. The SheisdoingherPh.Dunder Hebrew term 'Shalom', which is translated as theSenateofSerampore peace, has several possible and at present pursuing meanings. It does not h e r s t u d i e s a t t h e mean mere absence of conflict but it has to be the University of Heidelberg, restitution of one's integrity, wholeness, Power culture versus Peace culture: The Germany,aspartofthePhD well-being in terms of completeness, Influence of Power culture on the Ecclesial inclusiveness and justice etc.. The Church is programme. Realm the replica of Divine's reign where Shalom In plain terms, power is Vashti phenomenon exists. Nonetheless, the Church often and by itself is neutral to justice. It is an appears to be lost its model by adopting the important and necessary factor in all gender-based power structures and the relationships. It has the energy, the potential dynamics of socio-cultural setting. to act, to effect and to shape. Nevertheless, Moreover, the progressive patriarchalisation patriarchy makes use of power to dominate, of the Church has eventually ascribed the manipulate and to destroy both woman's culturally based dominant and oppressive identity and her role. It defines and teachings and interpretations to the Bible too constructs the 'femininity' as something in order to justify discrimination. As a result, which has the qualities of subordination, this has turned out to be an ecclesia of submission, inferiority, of remaining silent, patriarchy remaining passive towards the weak, tolerant, timid, emotional, tender and violence against women. In relation to this, asexual. The aim of this fixation is to utilise Schussler Fiorenza's opinion is pertinent. all these qualities in the confines of the She goes a step further and says that the private realm, preventing women's role from ecclesial institution is not only passive but leadership in the socio-political and religious herself became part of the problem that realms. This constructed gender is not only confronts women. h av i n g c u l t u r a l va l u e b u t a l s o i s 06 May2017| www.csisynod.com conceptualised as hierarchical. Besides, pleasure. She is portrayed as a negative through the manipulation of royal men, the deplorable fact is that the patriarchal character when compared with a the holders of power. The exemplary power culture intertwined with religion. character Esther who is seen as a women were those who were modest, Subsequently, these constructed cultural prototype for being silent, submitting to subordinate and who surrendered identities and notions are being abuse and violence by two men, one of themselves for the 'honor' of a man. The transmitted through religion as 'Divine them abused her for his selfish gains while concept of 'honor and shame' was sanctions.' Religion performs successfully the other abused her with all his political important in ancient Mediterranean to tune the psyche of women to accept the power. Her silence on this abuse and cultures. A man gained honour by his constructed identities as idealism and violence is highly extolled by the behaviour and by the obedience of projects a thought that negating these traditional interpretations even today. In woman to him whereas a woman avoids imposed values as blasphemy. Most likely fact, Vashti is a feminist hero who did not shame by hers (1:20). As in Indian the Church is not an exception to this. In remain silent and allow the patriarchal culture, the concept of 'honor and shame' order to implement these dominant (and royal) power to break her self-dignity revolves around the female body, in the notions the patriarchal power even could and identity. same way, the concept of 'honor and take control over the shame' revolves around interpretations of the t h e o b e d i e n c e a n d Bible. From the beginning, subordination of women the interpretations are in those cultures. It is clear biased and are being used from this background that to justify violence against women were objects and w o m e n a n d possessions of men to discrimination ignoring extol men's power and w o m e n ' s v o i c e a n d honour. It is evident in experiences. Subjected to Esther:1:10 where the such indoctrination in the king commands Vashti to name of Divine sanctions, appear and display her obviously, the woman beauty to his guests who a c c e p t s h u m i l i a t i o n were princes and nobles without any reservations from all realms who had and is ready to remain come in successive relays silent. Consequently, peace for a period of six months in terms of justice, equality, to enjoy king's favour and wholeness and inclusiveness to witness the king's pomp can be buried legitimately in and glory. The king's the Church. intention was to show off his wealth and power (v4) Breaking the Power and in the same way, he Culture - Re-Visiting the wanted to display the S c r i p t u r e a s a beauty of his wife Vashti. Commencement: Re- Essentially his intention Interpretation of the was to display her as his S t o r y Va s h t i a s a n status symbol, as one of Example: his possessions (1:10), and to assert that her role as a wife is to be The interpretations of the Scripture have The Power as Instrument of Male (and Royal) 'obedient' and 'pleasing' yielding to the been deliberately failed to find the content Violence (Esther 1:10-22) stupid desires of a husband. She was of the Bible as the basis for peace. The expected to be presented with utmost women of the Bible enmeshed in Throughout the history of the people of modesty and silence with no apparent patriarchy and are presented from an the Bible, men had the absolute power opportunity to disapprove of the decision androcentric perspective. The traditional and authority in the family, society, of her husband. In those days king had the interpretation of the story of Vashti is the religion and politics whereas women privilege of consulting young and best example for it. From its early days till we r e s u b o r d i n a t e a n d i n f e r i o r. beautiful virgins whose main purpose was today, Vashti has remained the most Specifically, in the Persian diaspora pleasing him. What mattered was only misinterpreted character of the Bible. evidently, women were powerless and their beauty, since they were merely Indeed the patriarchal interpretations marginalised. Even among those who objects of pleasing the king (2:2). succeeded in displaying Vashti as a sinful belonged to the royal family, they could and rebellious character based on her not attain power as a man could. At this point, a few questions will help for refusal to be a chattel for the male Whatever the power they could attain was www.csisynod.com |May2017 07 a better understanding of the power of A New Paradigm: Refusal of Vashti as the extent of stating that her disobedience manipulations employed in inflicting Breaking the Power Culture (1:11-12) towards the (violence of) power violence against women. Why did the dethroned her power. In fact, ironically, king feel the need to consult his advisers? Vashti is a feminist hero, successfully who Vasthi gained the power, powerfully by What was the decision of the advisors or opposed the male power and the losing the crown. Her successful patriarchal structure. She did not have a disobedience made her a powerful model the royal court? Why was the decision royal power like a king nor did she possess for all women and wives who are c o n s i d e r e d a s o b l i g a t o r y f o r the male power of being a husband but subjected to many forms of violence and implementation? (Esther 1:12-22). The her power arose from within to stand for abuse. But, traditional interpretations 'disobedience' of Vashti became a serious her right as a human being. The refusal of show her in a negative perspective instead motif in the royal court for their decision Vashti reveals that she is not an ordinary of seeing her in a positive way. Hence, the making, because her disobedience linked woman and a wife who is ready to be a story of Vashti reveals a fact that peace with the 'honor' of her king and husband.