About
About Maria Gwyn McDowell (aka 'mariagwyn'):
A hiker, bike commuter (when it isn't raining too hard), kayaker (even when it is raining) and periodic web-designer, I am also a doctoral candidate in theological ethics at Boston College. The picture is me on a duckboat, a very fun way to see Boston. However, in order to afford to eat, live, and engage in the above activities with more regularity, I am living in my hometown of Portland, Oregon, WHICH I LOVE!!!! Except for biking in the rain, which happens less than you might think.
My dissertation is in progress, and currently entitled: "Metaphorical Virtues and enGendered Presbyters: The Ordination of Women to the Priesthood in the Eastern Orthodox Church." In case it is not clear from the postings on this site, I am making a constructive argument for the ordination of women.
In the interest of full disclosure, and for the benefit of all who like to know what box in which to put me, I am generally quite liberal in my politics with I some surprisingly traditional theological views (I am after all, Orthodox, not Unitarian). I am a feminist and a 1st-world student of liberation theology. I am also a life-long member (read: baptized as a tiny-weeny child) of the Eastern Orthodox Church (first OCA, then AOA, and currently the GOA) though I have taken a foray into evangelical Christianity (via IVCF and Fuller Seminary). If all those things seem oddly juxtaposed, well, they are and maybe one of these days I will blog my bio in more detail. I am not sure I listed compatible boxes, but best of luck in your attempts!
If you would like to read more about my academic studies and research, see web sites I have designed, or just procrastinate from your work by browsing a bit more, feel free to visit my home page at: http://www.mariagwyn.com/home.
About deiprofundis.com
This site is all about questions. Questions about God, politics, ethics, theology, and periodically just random questions. It is a place to put my current thoughts out there for thoughtful discussion and constructive critique.
About the Name "deiprofundis"
"De Profundis" is the Latin opening to Psalm 130, "Out of the depths I cry to you Oh Lord," an oft repeated Lenten refrain. "Dei" is Latin for "of God." So, "deiprofundis" is a neologism that might translate to something like "out of the depths of God" or "out of God from the depths," or whatever spin you want to give it. I thought about "Εκ Βαθεον" but we in the West don't do so well with Greek. And, "deprofundis" was taken, by the Hungarian T-Mobile. And a WOW guild. Go figure.
