S1-Day 11: God in Dirty Places: The Disgusting Menstruation

Menstruation has been a tabooed topic to talk about for centuries especially in Indian churches and societies. There is seldom a sermon, a Bible study, a speech or a talk and so on, on this topic in the church. It is a himalyan task for a male priest to talk about it from church alter/pulpit or even in women’s fellowship. If at all there is a talk, only a woman is asked to speak. Sigh! At times I wonder, why it disgusts men to even utter about it? Moreover, why is the notion of “purity and pollution” attached to this natural process of women’s bodies? However, women themselves are not open to express it to others especially to men at home, work place, or any other public places. And yes, most of them (us) are silent, shy or hesitant because of their upbringing, where a girl is asked to restrict her expressions about it.

When I started menstruating, I was asked not to express/expose it to men but when I grew up, I wondered why? Is it not strange that you are asked not to express about it to your own father or brother in the family living under one roof? I constantly question, if it is a biological/natural process every woman/girl goes through, “why wouldn’t women and men be expressive without hesitation”? Why is there a gap? Perhaps, this is how the society perceives it, “as disgusted and dirty.” In most Indian religious traditions, women are not given access to enter temples or to participate in religious rituals. Menstruating women are considered unholy, dirty, disgusting, filthy, sickening, nauseating, and messed up. They are further isolated from religious rituals (sacraments) or holding a religious position. Thus, women are isolated from socio-cultural and religious activities during their menstruating period. Significantly, COVID-19 has quarantined people just for days/months this year, but sadly, women have been going through an “enforced quarantine” from time immemorial.

This is one of the pivotal reasons for denial of women’s ordination/ priesthood/leadership in the church/society particularly in India. Along with other religious traditions, the church has also played a discriminatory role by preventing women’s participation just because, “women bleed and men don’t.” Quite often, menstruation is considered a norm to oppose women in position, worshipping in church, participating in sacraments especially Holy Communion services and so on. Most people in church do not like to receive Holy Communion from the hand of a woman priest who is considered to be impure or dirty during her menstrual cycle. In my opinion, this is a serious matter of the “dirt” in human beings’ minds/ attitudes and not the “dirt” in the menstrual cycle.

Being a woman, I wonder, “if God would discriminate me and my ministry because I menstruate”? The answer I get is a big “NO” because God created women (along with men) in God’s own image and likeness. Why would God give a dirty cycle to a woman, who was seen as good as other God-created beings (Genesis: 1:31)? God blessed women with the “cycle of menstruation” to be co-creators with God to create Life. It is a blessing / boon given to women to be a source of life. Therefore, “Bleeding” cannot be considered as impure/dirty because it is the process to “life.” Bleeding is “life-giving,” which is one of the attributes of God. Thus, the process of menstruation becomes the process of life, where God is found. The bleeding Christ and the bleeding Cross symbolize that bleeding is the process of salvation and so is the bleeding of women. Thus, the Women-Christs demand reverence and dignity as they bleed to liberate humanity.

Prayer

O Liberating God, forgive us that we have discriminated menstruating women from ministry and other responsibilities. Help us to understand the mysteries of your creation, like menstruation in women so that women participate and lead the church with dignity. This we pray in the name of the Bleeding Christ. Amen.

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Author: B. Silpa Rani

About the Author: Silpa completed her B.D. from Bishop’s College, Kolkata and Master of Theology from the United Theological College, Bangalore. She is presently working as the Assistant Professor in the Department of Biblical Studies (Old Testament) and also serving as the Dean of Studies in Bishop’s College Kolkata.