Gender and Theology

Question 1

What does patriarchy mean?

Answer 1

A system of male centre rule where women are oppressed

Question 2

What did Phyllis Trible say?

Answer 2

’to reclaim the image of God as female is to become aware of the male idolatry that has long infested faith’ and ‘Born and bred in the land of patriarchy, the Bible abounds in male imagery and language’

Question 3

Which churches allow for female leaders?

Answer 3

the Methodist tradition has always included women in leadership, whereas for Catholicism the priesthood is limited to celibate males.

Question 4

Who is Rosemary Radford Ruether?

Answer 4

a reformist Catholic feminist theologian

Question 5

What does Ruether argue feminists should do with Christianity?

Answer 5

We need to reinterpret Christianity to make it usable for women. She aims to change Christianity and the Catholic church from within.

Question 6

What is Sophia?

Answer 6

Greek word referring to the female wisdom principle

Question 7

What is Logos?

Answer 7

Greek meaning the ‘Word’ of God (a masculine noun) associated in traditional Christian theology with Christ

Question 8

What is a Warrior-Messiah?

Answer 8

A Jewish expectation of a Savior who would defeat the Romans and begin the rule of God on earth

Question 9

What is Abba?

Answer 9

Used by Jesus to talk about God. Literally means ‘daddy’ and indicates intimacy and respect in relationship rather than authority

Question 10

What is Be-ing?

Answer 10

Daly’s term that replaces ‘God’; a spiritual process uniting women with nature

Question 11

What is Thealogy?

Answer 11

Reflection on the divine as feminine and using feminine terminology; usually associated with the goddess.

Question 12

What is the unholy trinity?

Answer 12

Daly) Rape, genocide and war

Question 13

What is Quintessence?

Answer 13

A spirituality found in nature; a spirit of being, life and love found in nature and giving life to everything

Question 14

What has changing Sophia to Logos led to?

Answer 14

A tradition of male leadership and a patriarchal image of Jesus as Logos and a warrior-Messiah (victorious, male fighter)

Question 15

In what ways can Jesus be seen as counter-cultural?

Answer 15

• The Jesus of the Gospels is more compatible with feminism – a suffering servant, who promotes justice and dignity for the marginalised
• He gives women greater respect and status.
• Eg) talking with a woman at the well (John 4), his non-judgemental approach to the woman caught in adultery, healing the woman bleeding for twelve years, women were among his disciples, Mary ‘sat at Jesus’ feet’ as a student, women were the first to witness the resurrection and were leaders in the Early Church.
• Jesus’ taught that ‘the first shall be last and the last shall be first’ Eg) Sermon on the Mount
• Jesus used ‘Abba’ to describe God, which shows a new intimate relationship where God is not ‘master’. Ruether argues that the new Jesus movement was a community of equals, brother-sister rather than a master/servant

Question 16

How can Ruether be criticised?

Answer 16

• the Jesus she portrays is too revolutionary
• she is selective about which biblical texts and movements she uses
• she includes goddess language and other religions which undermine the unity of the Christian God.

Question 17

What does Daly think about Christianity?

Answer 17

Mary Daly argues that Christianity should be abandoned in favour of a post-Christian spirituality. She rejects how the formal institutions of religion exercise control and power.

Question 18

Finish the quote: “If God ______”

Answer 18

“if God is male, then the male is God”

Question 19

What does Daly think a male God means?

Answer 19

The biblical image of God is the great patriarch who rewards, punishes and dominates, particularly seen in the crucifixion of Jesus. This has led to a patriarchal society which oppresses and abuses women.

Question 20

What is transvaluation?

Answer 20

A rejection (castration) of the old ideas, ethics and language; and a complete transformation using a new set of values.

Question 21

What is the unholy trinity?

Answer 21

(Daly) Rape, genocide and war

Question 22

How does Daly understand rape?

Answer 22

Daly understood ‘Rapism’ (a culture of rape) as a symbol of all violent oppression in society including racism, nuclear arms race, man-made poverty and ecological disasters. She criticises the Catholic view of the Virgin Mary as a symbol of purity, instead presenting Mary the ‘total rape victim’ which has legitimised rape of women.

Question 23

What does spinsters mean for Daly?

Answer 23

Women who are spinning a new spirituality

Question 24

What does Daly mean by phallic mentality?

Answer 24

The promotion of male values which use violence to gain power

Question 25

How does Daly understand genocide?

Answer 25

The extension of rape to the level of society for example not allowing women abortions, war, and gender stereotypes

Question 26

How does Daly understand war?

Answer 26

War is the result of male-dominated politics and the obsession with male virtues of ‘bravery’ and violence to gain power - phallic mentality eg) the battle of Ai

Question 27

How can Daly be criticised?

Answer 27

+ Gives a radical insight into the flaws of human relationship and society

+ helpful in revisioning humans relationship with God

• alienates those who don’t conform to her vision of spirituality
• dismissive of other spiritual movements
• Chan argues not all of God’s characteristics are male