Sunday 28 September 2008

Writing in the margins


How would you define marginisation? It could be described as the process of pushing non-mainstream people toward the edges of society so as to prevent their access to power. Or the social process of becoming or being made marginal, especially as a group within the larger society.

Jesus seemed to have the nack of placing central parties on the edge of society and including at the heart of his fellowship those who others pushed to the margins.

Take the case of Samaritan Woman

The Samaritan woman possibly experienced every form of marginalisation, and in many ways she embodied marginalization.

• Marginalised on the ground of Race/Ethnicity,(she was a Samaritan considered as impure race by the Jews)
• Marginalised on the ground of Gender (she was a woman)
• Marginalised on the ground of Lifestyle (she had many husbands)
• Marginalised to the point of loosing Self Respect/Dignity (fetching water in the noon when there was no one else)

With Regards to Jesus (The Barriers Jesus crossed)

• The Barrier of Race and Ethnicity (Jesus was Jew)
• The Barrier of Gender ( Jesus was male)
• The Barrier of Being Misunderstood ( Jesus talking to a woman, that too in solitude)
• The Barrier of Respectability (Jesus talking to a Samaritan woman and asking for water to drink)

Who defines the margins and who maintains them?

1 comment:

Rev Paul Martin said...

Absolutely right!

I will be linking to this site in next day or two.

Best Wishes,

Paul