Gender And Theology Flashcards

1
Q

Why do w9men feel Christianity is the source of female oppression

A
  • the bible as a whole sees women as the weaker sex and promotes patriarchy
  • the human god relationship is seen as a master slave relationship which justifies male superiority over women which finishes value of women
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2
Q

Who is Rosemary Radford Reuther

A

Reuther is a Roman Catholic feminist liberation theologian who believes that feminist insight provides a ample case for reinvorgating Christian spiritualitand praxis

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3
Q

What does Reuther believe we need to do to understand how Christianity developed its oppressive patriarchy

A
  • go back to earlier times where it was not the case
  • she notes how polytheistic religions are far less sexist and patriarchal than monotheistic religions
  • this is because strict monotheism promotes the idea of a single male god who has authority over the nature and world which then justifies male patriarchy
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4
Q

What is Reuther’s argument

A
  • Judaism, which Christianity is developed form, is not strictly monotheistic and male orientated
  • Judaism has respect for nature which is maintained through the idea of the goddess as the source of life for worship and relationship with god
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5
Q

What quote from isiah shows this female aspect of god

A

“ now I cry out like a woman in labour”
- god is depicted as the goddess going through the pains of childbirth
- this is an analogy for gods suffering love for the Israelites due to their faithlessness

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6
Q

What is the female wisdom principle

A

The female wisdom principle believes that the femaleness of god is retained in the word wisdom

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7
Q

What is wisdom

A

A divine source of knowledge and life

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8
Q

In what terms is wisdom presented

A

Wisdom is presented in female terms- the Greek word for wisdom is Sophia Dan the Hebrew word is hokmah

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9
Q

Where is the idea of wisdom best developed

A

In the book of Solomons wisdom
- wisdom is described as “the power of gods breath” and a “reflection of his eternal light”

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10
Q

What does this show about Judaism

A

Judaism is not strictly monotheistic

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11
Q

Where does Reuther propose the femaleness of Christianity is retained

A

In the incarnation and the trinity

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12
Q

How does the incarnation show femaleness

A
  • early Christian’s saw a connection between reincarnated Jesus and wisdom
  • Jesus as divine wisdom explains his relationship with gods and identity on earth and teaching
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13
Q

What quote from St Paul’s shows Jesus as wisdom

A

“Christ… the wisdom of god”

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14
Q

What about johns gospel

A

Johns gospel describes Jesus as eternal wisdom

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15
Q

How is the Holy Spirit presented

A

Holy Spirit is presented in Sophia times as the relation aspect of god

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16
Q

What does this mean

A

There is no gender division in the holy trinity as Jesus is logos and holy spirit is Sophia
- the trinity is a gender inclusive spiritual experience

17
Q

What does ruehrer argue about this femaleness of god

A

Reuther argues there is encourage biblical evidence for the femaleness of god, but Christianity has ignored the female aspect and has promoted strict male monotheism
- ample evidence for reforming christian organisation

18
Q

What is Reuther’s first argument for why a male savour cannot save women

A

1) Jesus was historically a man and the word/logos of god as he is the perfect example of a human being.
This would entail being a man to be the perfect human so for a woman to be saved, she would have to deny what she is and adapt to the male mindset

19
Q

What is Reuther’s second argument

A

2) - when Christianity became the official religion of the Roman Empire, they promoted the idea of Jesus being a triumphal king who would return with this own kigndowm
- this had important implications for women
- the church used this as justficsfiom for only allowing males to become church officials to represent Christ, this means women can on,y be saved through the control of men

20
Q

What’s the Roman Catholic Churches current view on women

A

The Roman Catholic Church still reluctant to ordain women into the ministry
- Aquinas idea that women are misbegotten/distorted men is used to justify why women cannot be ordained, hid as logos would not come as a defective woman but as the perfect man

Must be a natural resemblance between Christ and the minister - deceleration inter insignores

21
Q

What does the decleration inter insigniores say about women

A
  • must be a natural resemblance between Christ and his minister
22
Q

What does Reuther conclude form the ideas that male cannot save god

A

Traditional Christianity is too sexist to save women

23
Q

Who believes that a male saviour can save women

A

Also Reuther

24
Q

What does Reuther argue about why women can saved

A

Ruehrer argues that women can also receive Christian salvation and liberation once its more ancient and radical traditions are rediscovered

25
Q

What’s the first reason (can save women)

A
  • The death and resurrection of Jesus touches on a basic human experience of nature in the annual cycle of the death of a year and the birth of the new
  • in ancient times this idea was represented as the death of the kingly god of vegetation and being raised by the goddess
  • this ancient idea doesn’t undermine Christianity but the ancient idea is so deeply rooted in our psyche that it gives the Christian story power and validity
26
Q

What’s the second reason (male can save women)

A
  • Jesus as messiah challenged the warrior king expectation if the time
    Jesus reaching fo the kingdom of god taught us to not focus on worldly power but rather in gaining justice and dignity for the marginalised
  • the kingdom of god is not just a reward after death but also heals all human relationships
27
Q

What’s the third reason (make can save women)

A
  • the Holy Spirit is continuing the work of Jesus by healing relationships and challenging institutions who are concerned with power
28
Q

What examples does ruehrer give of Christian communities who resisited the tendency to change their christologies to conform to modern day patriarchy

A
  • the story of Pentecost
  • after Jesus ascension, the spirit was poured onto men and women as a sign of a new period in history
  • some Christian communities took this story and believed the historical Jesus was of less important than the Holy Spirit which represents gods presence and works to change the world
29
Q

Who are the shakers

A

Shakers are a Christian community which believe women particularly receive the holy spirit and should play essential roles in churches to prepare for Jesus second coming

30
Q

What did Reuther conclude

A

Christian movements like shakers have done more than merely feminise god, their notions of salvation can tackle weaknesses of allhumans
- a male saviour in a spirit filled sense can save women