Historical Perspectives on the Messiah
In the provided sources, no direct link is traced between the use of the term "messiah" in its historical-religious sense and the notion of the missionary position as a symbol of male dominance. The materials discuss the concept of the messiah as "the anointed," emphasizing his role in the formation of the new Israel and the Church.For example, one of the texts emphasizes that the earlier use of the word "Messiah" signifies the definition of a historical role, rather than serving as a name or theological term: "From a historian's point of view, the only obvious result of the entire life and work of Jesus is the emergence of a distinct community, the Church. ... However, in the Gospels this word is mostly used in its original sense, and we should adhere to the ancient Hebrew variant as a reminder that 'Christ' or 'Messiah' is not a name or theological term, but rather a definition of a historical role." (source: link txt)Another source considers missionary work in the context of cultural transformation, where the Church adapts its methods according to the specifics of different cultures, traditions, and customs, but it does not address any intimate or gender aspects associated with the notion of the "missionary position": "The Church's reception of culture involves aligning the means and methods of missionary work with the specifics of various cultures, traditions, and customs..." (source: link txt)Thus, the materials do not include any reference that links the term "messiah" to the concept of the missionary position in the sense of gender domination or as a symbol of cultural relations. The discussions focus on the historical and symbolic significance of the messiah, without transferring these views to the realm of intimate positions or their interpretation as gender-based domination.