Gender and theology

Question 1

Male dominated image of God

Answer 1

does the depiction of God as male oppress women

Question 2

Sin and female nature

Answer 2

have doctrines such as the fall promoted sexist views

Question 3

Liberation vs reinterpretation

Answer 3

Should women transform Christianity from within or reject it entirely

Question 4

Mary Daly

Answer 4

radical feminist theologian. argued that christianity is irredeemably patriarchal

Question 5

Mary Daly’’s quote

Answer 5

‘If God is male then male is God’

Question 6

Rosemary Radford Ruether

Answer 6

reform feminist christianity is not inherently sexist but has been distorted by patriarchy

Question 7

Elizabeth Fiorenza

Answer 7

emphasises recovering women’s voices in scripture and history Scripture needs to be read through a hermeneutic of suspicion.

Question 8

Daphne Hampson

Answer 8

Christianity is inherently anti-feminist because it is based on supernatural revelation and a male saviour.

Question 9

Simon Chan

Answer 9

Argues that calling God ‘Father’ is theologically essential, not sexist – it reflects the nature of God’s relationship with humanity.

Question 10

CS Lewis

Answer 10

Defended masculine language for God as symbolic of God’s transcendence and initiator role in the divine-human relationship.