Gender and society Flashcards
Mary Daley
Radical feminist theologian
what does Dayley argue
that ‘women need a new spirituality’ they need to get rid of the bible as it is sexist
‘If God is male then male is God’ - if divinity is asosiated with with masculinity/men - this suggests that men are superior to women who are not asosiated with it
Hampson in support of Daley recognises that even if you interpret the bible with a liberal attitude it can still subconsciously affect you and cause unconcious bias- it is still as sexist document - only solution is to jsut stop reading the bible
Unholy trinity - Rape, War, Genocide
Christianity has legitimised male dominance which reinforces patriarchy. If oppressive patriarchy hierarchy exists the result is the unholy trinity - it is the cause of men undermining the ability or women - christianity complicit in a sexist society - the unholy trinity is what really defines christianity
Liberal Christians
Christians who don’t view the bible as the perfect word of God - they accept that it is written by humans and contains errors - they would reject sexist parts of the bible even the description of God as male in the Bible.n
Ruether
Reformer feminist
what does Ruether say
That we need to reinvent the bible and make it more inclusive to modern society
Says we are to wound up in the idea of living in a patriarchial society to see the femal connotations in the bible
‘sofia’ is wisdom - God is called sofia in the bible therefore has female qualities
Simon Chan
Simon Chan – we cannot re write the bile to make it less or incorporate less ‘maleness’ - the apostle creed cannot be re written it is not simple male centred but incorporates different dynamic elements of multiple persons in a relationship. Men should have authority over women because we cannot simply change bible teachings or create new social expectations, they are the foundation for society.
Where in the bible does it claim that one sex is superior to another?
The bible does not claim that one sex is superior to the other - men and women equal in worth but different set of skills ‘there is no one unanimous christian view’ , God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” - text suggests that both male and female in some sense reflect the nature of God, and there is no hint that there is one sex superior to the other.
what does the church say about motherhood
church argues women have the ‘gift of self-giving,’ motherhood. Pope John Paul II – Mulieris Dignitatem wants to emphasise that a woman’s role as a Christian is a role to be respected. Pope wrote that the turning point of human history happened when God came to earth as Jesus Christ, and this was made possible because of motherhood. “Motherhood is the fruit of the marriage union of a man and woman …” It is a joining of partnership so men should not have authority of women.
What does JL makie say
Social conditioning – JL Mackie – it is through the way we have been brought up and raised that influences our moral decision making hence men should have authority over women since this has been the case for centuries. Boys given trucks girls given dolls, men provide for the family women take care of the family.
What does Freud say
Freud – Men should not have authority over women because ‘religion is comparable to childhood neurosis.’ Those who continue to believe must be unsophisticated and simple minded we must instead look toward a world or rich enlightenment and progress – a world where women are equal to men
