gender and theology Flashcards
what did daly argue about the maleness of god
because god was male power was a male thing
daly and false spirituality
christian idea of maleness of god invention of patriachal mindset to justify it having power
daly quote about male and god
if god is male then male is god
association between masculinity and divinity for daly
has a function of making male supremacy seem like a fact of the universe which cannot be challenged
dalys solution to use god as a verb
refer to god as she
-change from noun to verb so god as be-ing rather than being since verbs beyond masculine/feminine description
benefits of thinking of god as a verb
introduces flexibility required for person to see unjust state of being not fixed and can be changed
1 cornithians 14 as dalys source of biiblical misogyny
the women should keep silent in the churches for they are not permitted to speak but should be in submission as the law says
1 timothy 14 as source of misogyny for daly
i do not permit woman to teach or assume authority over man she must be quiet
-adam was formed first then eve
-but women will be saved through childbearing
ephesians 5 22-33 as source of biblical misogyny for daly
wives submit to your husbands as you do the lord for husband head of wife as christ head of church and husbands love your wives as christ loves church
eve as source of sin as biblical misogyny for daly
story of fall has been used to oppress women by portraying them as source of sin
-claimed women had internalised feelings of guilt and inferiority and had to recognise this to take first step to liberation
the unholy trinity as source of biblical misogyny for daly
rape genocide war
-result of patriarchal world
-christianity has legitimated male dominance which reinforces patriarchy
-christianity complicit in evil
moses as source of biblical misogyny for daly
kill all male children and kill women who have slept with a man
-spare the lives of young girls who have not slept with a man and take them for yourselves
liberal and symbolic view of bible as criticism of daly
take a more symbolic view of the bible because they regard it as only having literal relevance for time it was produced in and often admit human authors patriarchy had role in bible not god
-christianity redeemable if reinterpreted to fit more modern times by ignoring maleness god in bible
dalys response to liberal christianity criticism
fewer people take bible literally christians are still influenced to view women as inferior by it
daphne hampson support of daly
rejects liberal christianity divorced enough from sexism of traditional christianity
-liberal christians saddled with weight of ancient tradition because despite different approaches they read bible as scripture
-as subconscious level sexist paradigms and themes of bible will affect them so long as they continue to read it
whats the sisterhood of feminism
women liberating themselves from their divisions
example of sisterhood feminism
protestant woman and catholic woman releasing unity as sexual caste in order to live in future that we are fighting for
what does daly argue about consequences of old sexist ways
feeding on the bodies and minds of woman sapping energy at expense of female death
dalys argument about womans abilities and knowledge
superior to men
-women should therefore have power over men as society would be more peaceful and better for the environment
-patriarchal oppression of women has prevented their growth
female supermacy as argument against daily
just as sexist as male supremacy
-dangerous and anti-feminist as not about equality
-advocation for seperation between men and women seen as radical impractical and too similar to segregationism which has been associated throughout history and bigotry
argument against dalys supposed segregationism
female spirituality superior because men stuck in patriarchy
-argued females needed their own space to heal from damage done to them by patriarchy
rosemary ruthers argument about biblical interpretation
jesus and bible can be interpreted in a feminist way and christianity has potential to be compatible with feminism
whats patriarchalization
process whereby misogynistic views take over and dominate
ways bible can be interpeted in feminist ways
imago dei
-sophia- greek for wisdom personified in female form of a goddess
-in hebrew bible god = yahewh which means no name- god beyond gender but we say father
-montanists had women leaders and prophets but persecuted into non-existence
-female prophets in corinth claimed direct experience of god what caused paul to say women should be silent in church
decisive step of patriarchalization of christollogy
christian church as imperial religion of roman empire
psychological aspects to patriacharhalization
tendency to associate men with higher part of human nature- mind and reason and women lower sin causing - body and passions
-most men project onto women their rejection of their own lower selves
reuthers argument about jesus in gospels and in later doctrines of bible
jesus was not a warrior type messiah but a servant king
-messiah expected to win, not suffer and die which is a patriarchal view of spiritual leader
-jesus did suffer and die- served his people rather than ruling them
-he washed feet and spent time with poor criticising those in power
how does jesus invoke female wisdom
better understood as self sacrificing non warrior messiah
-more gender inclusive understanding of jesus which could be basis for redeemed christianity
-view incorporates female concept of god masked by patriarchal interpretation that jesus only a male messiah
criticism of jesus from daly
male figure like jesus cannot provide spiritual salvation to women under conditions of patriarchy
-unique male saviour seen as one more legitimation of male superiority
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criticism of daly for jesus not bringing salvation for women
if jesus properly understood as saving spirituality to women under patriarchy
-reuther argued he did
-he is spiritually more inclusive
-jesus was gender inclusive figure corrupted by patriarchal reinterpretation
defense of dalys point of jesus limitations
doesnt matter whether jesus was pro feminist or not
-condition of patriarchy we are in makes it impossible for male saviour to save women because it reinforces damaging patriarchal stereotypes and gender roles
whats the golden thread by reuther
idea that there is theme of liberation theme in bible supporting feminist causes
how is christianity redeemable by golden thread
find separate golden thread of authentic teachings which support feminism from patriarchal threads - liberation and sexism inconsistent from each other
what does reuther describe the golden thread as
prophetic liberating tradition
what does the golden thread include
gods defence of oppressed freeing jews in exodus
-jesus treatment of marginalised people
-jesus criticism of established religious view that serve to justify and sanctify dominant unjust social order
-jesus moral teachings like the golden rule
benefits of identifying golden thread
gives us standard by which to compare and judge other parts of the bible and reject those that dont fit the liberation theme
only way the bible can be patriarchal
if it rejects the use of god to justify social domination or subjugation
-patriarchy idolizing male as representing the divine so must be denounced as idoltary and blasphemy
criticism of reuther golden thread
depends on her claim a plausible reading of jesus actions is they are aimed at liberating of women from unjust social order
-woman at well- jesus began convo with female samaritan at well by asking her for drink
the adulterous woman for jesus supporting christian liberal feminism
pharisees asked jesus if adulterous woman should be stoned
-he said let whoever is without sin cast the first stone
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criticism of jesus being for feminism with adulterous woman
jesus was against capital punishment for adultery
-he still tells women not to sin and jesus in favour of what anti christian feminists regard as patriarchally constructed conception of sin
galations from st paul as feminist
their is neither jew nor gentile neither slave not free nor is there male and female for you are all one in christ
non political readings of jesus as criticism galations verse is pro feminism
-if jesus was son of god his actions might appear to challenge social order but might be just because he treated everyone spiritually equal
-jesus bringing message equally
-genesis- male and female he made
-give unto ceasers what is ceasers- jesus saw disconnect between social injustice and religious matters
what is mulerius dignatium
dignity of women
-open letter written by john paul 2
-defend christianity from accusation against sexism
what did john paul argue in mulieris dignitatum
men and women are complementary
-while different both equal in nature
-divinely designed biological essentialism
-male saviour can save women
john pauls argument motherhood is a womens telos
women are naturally disposed to motherhood
-have womb and psychologically in that motherhood creates special openness- mom develop their self giving abilities of compassion
-based in natural law reasoning about telos
feminist responses to motherhood part of women
gender roles in telos no different to biblical patriarchy
-invented by men for dominance
-anthroprological study shows gender roles differ between culture
-made by men to encourage women
simone de beauvoir criticism of john paul
existentialist
-rejected telos
-satre- existence precedes essence
-people create telos because afraid of intensity of freedom involved in making own purpose
-feelings lead to abandonment of god, anguish of weight, despair
john pauls argument there are important and valued women in christian history
john paul pointed out there are many female european saints
-jesus coming to earth because of women mary
-christianity cant be sexist as it holds women in highest regard
simone de beauvoir criticism of john pauls second argument
christian valuing of mary shows it is only through mans docile servant she will be blessed saint
mary dalys criticism to john pauls second criticism
mary portrayed as passive void waiting to be made by male
-mary rape victim- spirit invaded
-god raped mary because no consent
-mary put on pedestal to encourage women to become passive submissive and obedient so all women be sexual property of men
