Thursday, February 09, 2012

Is there such a thing as "masculine" and "feminine" virtues?

I wonder where society got the idea that there is a set of "masculine" virtues and a set of "feminine" virtues. As best I can tell, the Bible has no such distinction. Everybody is called to a life of virtue, and we don't get a pass on any of them. There are no optional virtues. Courage is often considered a masculine virtue -- but women face death just like men do; it's not like we women can afford to sit that one out. In the Bible, Paul's instructions to be patient and kind, or to show gentleness and respect, don't come under the heading of responsibilities of wives; he's speaking to everyone at that point. Jesus has commanded all of us to love each other; it's not like the men can skip that one. It makes me wonder what kind of distorted personalities people would have if we tried to live up to (down to?) the recommended set of virtues for one sex.

I'm not saying men and women are the same. Vive la difference, as they say. I'm saying that the idea of "masculine virtues" and "feminine virtues" is not really how the Bible speaks about virtue.

11 comments:

Anastasia Theodoridis said...

Bravo and amen.

We are all called to pattern ourselves after Jesus Christ. That's one sense in which, in Christ there is neither male nor female.

I wonder if differing roles for men and women call for emphasizing different virtues, though?

But I have a theory that if one could really, truly, thoroughly master any virtue (take your pick), one would necessarily have mastered all the rest in the process. They just aren't separable.

Martin LaBar said...

This comment has nothing much to do with this post. Sorry.

I have posted a partial answer to a question you asked me, in a comment. The partial answer is here. I hope to post the rest of an attempt at an answer soon.

Thanks for asking!

Weekend Fisher said...

Hi Anastasia

What you said, I'd agree that men and women do end up in roles where we develop different virtues more fully, or where some kinds of bad character are more evident in those roles. Back in mankind's more tribal days when territory warfare was simply a fact of life, if a man was a coward that would really stand out, so "courage" came to be emphasized. And women are more likely to be raising the kids, so a lack of gentleness and warmth would be a very plain and noticeable character flaw for us.

So ... you got me curious about your theory. How does it work out, that to master any virtue the rest would come along? I hadn't thought along those lines but it's an interesting thought, & I'd be glad to hear more, if you're willing.

Take care & God bless
Anne / WF

Weekend Fisher said...

Hi Martin

Thank you very much for the responses. I needed a perspective-check there, & was glad for your insight.

Take care & God bless
Anne / WF

Anastasia Theodoridis said...

Okay, I'm game. Pick one of the virtues and let's explore it together.

Weekend Fisher said...

Thanks. I'm just really curious to see where this goes. We could start with "courage" since that was already in the conversation. Though I'm trying to remember how that ranks on Biblical lists. If you want to pick another be my guest.

Take care & God bless
Anne / WF

Anastasia Theodoridis said...

Okay, courage. Remember, we are talking about mastering this virtue. So we're talking about *perfect* courage.

What does perfect courage mean, or what does it inlcude?

Weekend Fisher said...

How about a really simple definition: "not chickening out or backing down when you shouldn't; standing up when you should."

There are probably more dictionary-style definitions, but to me that's what it boils down to.

Anastasia Theodoridis said...

Good. Then we can agree, I suppose, that by courage we mean both physical and moral, esp. the latter.

So what gives a person courage?

First, by definition, it means self-sacrifice. Willingness to undertake risk, to forego if need be: safety, security, health, perhaps even life. Renunciation, in other words. Self-denial, as in, "... let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me."

What does it take to have the courage to say, "I was wrong?" Humility.

What gives us the courage to repent, viz., undertake to change course? For that, you need hope.

Courage not to let actions be dictated by “what others will think” requires faith.

Courage to stand up for the right and speak truth (perhaps at great personal risk) requires you be committed to justice.

Courage to say no to sexual sin involves a commitment to chastity.

*Perfect* courage is not just standing up for oneself, but for others. Courage to go into combat, for example, requires love of country and/or home and family.

Courage requires love, and love is the sum and basis and ultimate meaning of every other virtue. Put another way, each virtue is another facet of love, so in this way they are all connected.

Your opinion?

Weekend Fisher said...

Hey that was pretty cool. I like the way that worked out. Thanks for sticking with me on this; I was just curious.

Take care & God bless
Anne / WF

Martin LaBar said...

You are right. (About virtues)