The current perspective of the Church is based on a patriarchal system that oppresses women and kills men, an internationally acclaimed Benedictine sister said Wednesday night in the KU Ballroom.

Sr. Joan Chittister, in a speech entitled 'Hearts of Flesh,' told a group of UD students and residents of the Dayton area that the institution of the Church historically and currently uses a twisted version of God's message to keep a system of male dominance intact.

'The notion that God is a sexist appalls,' Chittister said.

Chittister, who was speaking as part of the Distinguished Speakers Series, said current spirituality is not complete because half the human population is not allowed to add its voice. This restriction dements spirituality to the view of males who have used this power to maintain the system that gave them control in the first place. The result is a dangerous spiral towards disaster.

'Exclusion and patriarchy is what's missing from a society headed towards disaster,' Chittister said.

Chittister cited feminism as the new view of spirituality that will bring the church into the new century. She said it challenges everyone to think differently.

'Feminism spirituality asks everyone to look at spirituality through the beatitudes,' Chittister said.

Relating feminism and religion has traditionally been a hard job, but Chittister argues that feminism is vital to the Church because it will give people a full vision of God, rather than the half vision seen today. She said that feminism would breathe new spirit into the Church because it would bring the message of Jesus closer to reality.

'I've been asked if it's possible to be Christian and be a feminist,' Chittister said. 'I say how is it possible to be a Christian and not be a feminist'?

She also gave the audience two commonly misconceived facts about feminism. The first was that being female and being feminist does not mean the same thing. A feminist is anyone who wants to replace patriarchy with universal equality. In fact, many women contribute to the survival of patriarchy.

The second point about feminism she presented was that feminists come in two genders. Not only is it possible for men to be feminists, there are already many of them, an encouraging sign for Chittister.

'Feminist males are the greatest hope for the world,' she said.

Chittister stressed that the current system is harmful to men as well as women. She said that as long as women are restricted to being less than what they can be, men have to be more than they can be to make up the difference. This constant competition for success has made emotions unnecessary for men who practice patriarchy.

'Patriarchy denies men feeling and substitute's heart attack, alcoholism, Hiroshima and the Holocaust,' Chittister said.

The idea of changing the patriarchal system is good, but Chittister said that society has to change in order for changes to happen.

'When things are wrong to begin with doing them over and over again won't change things,' she said.