We Believe in God, the Father Almighty

Abstract

This dissertation presents an ethical examination of power dysfunctions within liturgical practices, with a specific focus on the portrayal of God as an omnipotent monarch. This depiction propagated through rituals, contributes to a culture of unaccountability among clergy and undermines the active participation of the faithful in the liturgy. The study utilizes performative theories from philosophers such as Judith Butler and theologians like Louis-Marie Chauvet to explore how the repetitive use of language and iconography that enacts domination also opens possibilities for resistance. A significant aspect of this research involves an ethical analysis of non-Christological images of God from the twelfth to the fifteenth century. This investigation uncovers a resilient agency among the faithful, who actively resisted the monarchicalization of God and God’s ministers. The dissertation posits that addressing this power dysfunction requires a revival and promotion of depictions that portray divine vulnerability. This conceptualization of vulnerability, inspired by feminist philosophers, is reimagined not as a weakness but as a capacity for responsiveness and the ability to attend to others’ wounds. The dissertation argues that vulnerability is a foundational element in building communities of solidarity that resist injustice. By promoting such imagery, there is a potential to encourage ethical responses and foster openness to others’ claims. This shift can lead to a transformation from a culture of unaccountability to one that upholds the equal baptismal dignity of the faithful, thereby redefining the dynamics of power within liturgical settings.