Edith Stein: Developing

Edith Stein was Jewish-German nun, theologian and philosopher. Explore interesting quotes on developing.
Edith Stein: 68   quotes 8   likes

“The concept which assumes that everything in the Church is irrevocably set for all times appears to me to be a false one. It would be naive to disregard that the Church has a history; the Church is a human institution and like all things human, was destined to change and evolve; likewise, its development takes place often in the form of struggles.”

Edith Stein

Essays on Woman (1996), Problems of Women's Education (1932)
Context: The concept which assumes that everything in the Church is irrevocably set for all times appears to me to be a false one. It would be naive to disregard that the Church has a history; the Church is a human institution and like all things human, was destined to change and evolve; likewise, its development takes place often in the form of struggles. Most of the definitions of dogma are conclusive results of preceding intellectual conflicts lasting for decades and even centuries. The same is true of ecclesiastical law, liturgical forms — especially all objective forms reflecting our spiritual life.

History , Appearance , Change , Time

“The relationship of soul and body is different in man and woman; the relationship of soul to body differs in their psychic life as well as that of the spiritual faculties to each other. The feminine species expresses a unity and wholeness of the toal psychosomatic personality and a harmonious development of faculties. The masculine species strives to enhance individual abilities in order that they may attain their highest achievements.”

Edith Stein

Essays on Woman (1996), Problems of Women's Education (1932)

Life , Soul , Personality

“To be a mother is to nourish and protect true humanity and bring it to development.”

Edith Stein

Essays on Woman (1996), The Significance of Woman's Intrinsic Value in National Life (1928)
Context: To be a mother is to nourish and protect true humanity and bring it to development. But again, this necessitates that she possess true humanity herself, and that she is clear as to what it means; otherwise, she cannot lead others to it. One can become suitable for this double duty if one has the correct personal attitude.

“The deepest feminine yearning is to achieve a loving union which, in its development, validates this maturation and simultaneously stimulates and furthers the desire for perfection in others.”

Edith Stein

Essays on Woman (1996), Spirituality of the Christian Woman (1932)

Love , Perfection

“The spiritual nature of woman is as little considered as the principles of her historical development. Not only is violence being done to the spirit by a biological misinterpretation and by today's economic trends, but also by the materialistic and fundamental point of view of opposing groups.”

Edith Stein

Essays on Woman (1996), Problems of Women's Education (1932)

Nature

“Helene Lange throughout her life insisted that the dissimiliarity of the sexes must be emphasized in order that the feminine nature be freely developed and properly formed. Only then might this nature achieve its own cultural fulfillment, an achievement indeed necessary in our time as a suitable compensation for the obvious effects of our masculine Western culture; then feminine nature might be capable of authentic human formation and an activity of helping love.”

Edith Stein

Essays on Woman (1996), Problems of Women's Education (1932)

Love , Life , Sex , Nature

“Everywhere the need exists for maternal sympathy and help, and thus we are able to recapitulate in the one word motherliness that which we have developed as the characteristic value of woman. Only, the motherliness must be that which does not remain within the narrow circle of blood relations or of personal friends; but in accordance with the model of the Mother of Mercy, it must have its root in universal divine love for all who are there, belabored and burdened.”

Edith Stein

Essays on Woman (1996), The Significance of Woman's Intrinsic Value in National Life (1928)

Love , Universe , Help , Maternity

“The intrinsic value of woman consists essentially in exceptional receptivity for God's work in the soul, and this value comes to unalloyed development if we abandon ourselves confidently and unresistingly to this work.”

Edith Stein

Essays on Woman (1996), The Significance of Woman's Intrinsic Value in National Life (1928)

God , Soul , Confidence