Comments on: Daly, feminist theology prof, lesbian separatist dies

By: judderwocky

judderwocky — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 18:18:28 +0000

Also… while some may balk at the fact that she did not teach men in class… I think you are missing the context of the time that she was writing in. This had been common practice for many Christian institutions for centuries. Her actions were meant to draw attention to the larger system of segregation. I think you would have be blind or completely unaware of the history of theological education in Europe and America to miss this. How many denominations and church’s still bar women from the Priesthood? It has improved somewhat… but I know many women who have been theologically trained and yet are unable to serve their parishes, church’s, and spiritual communities.

By: judderwocky

judderwocky — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 18:11:44 +0000

As a man who went through theology school, I was always very fond of Daly’s work. I enjoyed reading about her in my Theology classes and I found her approach inspiring. Beyond God the Father was brilliantly pieced together… even if some of these ideas have been replaced modern feminist concepts they still provided a platform that shaped feminist theology long after.

By: bvfrenchknitter

bvfrenchknitter — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 00:51:24 +0000

The vitriolic and misogynistic comments below are proof positive of Daly’s view of the world. She challenged the Roman catholic church and patriarchy wherever she found it. Unfortunately patriarchy, and hatred of lesbians is in force, even here.

By: James Withers

James Withers — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 23:58:07 +0000

“The professors are overly cerebral and emotionally retarded, out of balance, and live in their own world.”

Is this so? Can you provide an example or two?

By: David J. Galik

David J. Galik — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 23:52:17 +0000

“Why in the world 365Gay would even bother with this is beyond me”
“I can’t belive 365 would even praise such a twisted individual”

I agree. The only thing this woman did was perpetuate the stereotype that all lesbians hate men. And ALOT of heterosexual people believe THAT. And heterosexual use that stereotype to deny LGBT people their rights. This showcase of 365Gay just reinforces it.
I have a problem with 365Gay showcasing a woman who was so negative. Can you imagine how loving she was? To whom? Personally she must have a very sad, angry and negative person. What kind of personal, loving relationships could she have had? Even with another woman? I smell domestic violence.
She reminds me of my college days in the 1970s and early 80s at liberal schools. There were always these unhappy people teaching,strange academic types especially in the humanities and social sciences. Academia is probably the most negative environment one can be in let alone choose to work in. The professors are overly cerebral and emotionally retarded, out of balance, and live in their own world. Why would a university hire someone and keep someone on the payroll for such a long time who actively discriminates against one gender? Why did it take so long for the males in the college, an expensive college at that, to file lawsuits against this strange witch? Why should any student be locked out of any class. If women were locked out of a class how would they react?
Hopefully someone like this is a relic of the past and we wont be seeing her ugliness anymore.

By: JonnyBoy

JonnyBoy — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 01:40:07 +0000

She definitely did have some rather unorthodox ideas. I definitely do not agree that we have to respect her ideas, as someone previously suggested, but we do not need to get into nasty name-calling.

Women are denigrated in our society, and even more so in generation within which Daly developed. While she is a product of her environment and education, it is still questionable to have isolationist objectives.

Let’s hope that we can use her philosophy to expand our understanding of some women’s perspective, and try to resolve the discord between that which is repugnant in her teachings and that which is helpful to our causes.

By: Ray Hill

Ray Hill — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 22:44:43 +0000

I met with Mary Daly in New York in 1978 while organizing the First National March on Washington, after our conversation I offered her the title of Co-chair with me. She declined feeling I was sufficiently committed to feminist ideals to represent women and lesbians in the position of Chair. She seems a tough cookie in the article. Not my experience with her.

By: Suzan Cooke

Suzan Cooke — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 19:46:42 +0000

As an atheist I find the goddess based theologies just as oppressive as the god based ones.

That said Mary Daly was a cultural feminist not a radical feminist.

Her analysis was totally gender based and formulated on “women good, men bad, transsexual and transgender people the worst”.

Radical feminsts take other factors into account when evaluating oppression including matters of race and class. Daly did neither.

I’ll not mourn Daly as I see her as part of what destroyed second wave feminism rather than as a feminist or as a LGBT/T liberationist.

By: Joey in CT

Joey in CT — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 14:34:33 +0000

So Leeanne….you feel so offended by the word bitch, and decide to lash out at all gay men with the use of “fag”…But let me thow out some form of derrogatory comment about a lesbian or female and it’s all over. Right?

How dare you feed into hateful name calling on a GAY website. I don’t care what someone called some man-hating witch. She was exactly that. She wasnt a leader of anyone rights. Stating that males needed to be wiped out, in my eyes, makes her a prodigy of Hitler.

I’m guessing you are a lesbian, right? So you’d get offended if I threw out the Bull-dyke card, right? Now does back and forth name calling make anything work better? Didn’t think so.

Why is it that members of the SAME oppressed community attack eachother with hateful words deemed to describe us by people who would rather see us dead? I just don’t get it.

In regards to Ms. Daly, personally, I’m not sad the world is down one less hateful person. Why in the world 365Gay would even bother with this is beyond me, clearly she didn’t “approve” of everyone in this community. Who the hell knows what she thought of the gays. Im offended this hateful woman ended up even getting coverage on this site.
Whatever, I’ve lived my life not even knowing this witch existed…you bet your ass I’ll continue living just fine knowing shes gone for good.
The world is a better place without trash like Ms. Daly.

By: Facebook User

Facebook User — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 14:02:46 +0000

James, I’d love to know how I’m sexist.
I didn’t use the “B” word. I did call her a cow which in the past even our women readers said is fair game.
Please tell me you’re not another one of these men that have let people like Daly convince you that as a male you have zero worth.
And thank you SO much mattinmich for posting the link to that article. Daly flat out says the planet needs to be decontaminated with less of the male species.
I’m sorry but this borders on genocidal thinking.
NOT what I would call a great mind.
Not only that but during her trial she admitted she NEVER extended to one male in 30 years an invite to privatly tutor them.
I can’t belive 365 would even praise such a twisted individual.
Equal is equal and I have nothing but the deepest respect for people who fight for equality, not for people like Daly who wanted men wiped right off the planet.
May she rest in peace and her hateful,divisive line of thinking rest with her.
That’s all I have to add to this one.