Gender and theology AO1

Question 1

Feminism

Answer 1

• Feminists believe that the treatment of women in society and in the Church is unfair since women are treated as subordinate or inferior to men
• Argue societies are patriarchal, men hold most of the powerful positions
• Feminist Christians argue that Christianity continues to treat women as second class citizens by seeing them as defined for motherhood and other domestic roles, rather than public positions of power like the priesthood.

Question 2

Rosemary Radford Reuther (maleness of Jesus)

Answer 2

• challenges the idea that the maleness of Jesus is basic to how we should understand him. More directions in the interpretation of Christ which have been ignored and marginalised by the church
• normal Hebrew view of the expected Messiah was a warrior king, King David was thought to be messiah like: great leader, warrior and fighter. Associated with male roles masculinity
• Jesus not this expected type of Messiah, preached the virtues of forgiveness, non-violence, patience and humility. Brash, masculine image of the conquering martial hero is rejected and other virtues are put in place instead, Jesus’ maleness is not necessary.
• Supported poor and marginalised, contrasting stereotypical image of a male warrior.

Question 3

Rosemary Radford Reuther (wisdom)

Answer 3

• God is wise and in the OT, God’s wisdom is often personified. When this occurs the wisdom of God is treated and described as female
• Proverbs 8: “she takes her stand” “she cries aloud”, God can be seen as female alongside make
• Jesus believed to be incarnation of God. Gospel of John describes Jesus as Logos of God- Logos identified with wisdom which is personified as female in Bible. Jesus criticized rabbis who were often man

Question 4

Sexism

Answer 4

• Christian history has side-lined or ignored these kinds of ideas about the femininity of God, constant use of male images makes everyone think that Jesus’ biological maleness was a necessary, part of his identity
• believes that one of main reasons for this male bias in our talk about God is the idea that only men can be priests
• 1976 Vatican: “there must be a physical resemblance between priest and Christ”
• RRR: “posession of male genitalia cannot be the essential prerequisite for representing Christ”

Question 5

Mary Daly Christian imagery

Answer 5

• Christian images and language about God are male dominated and serve the interests of patriarchy.
• Believes we must go beyond or transcend Christianity and replace it with a religious language and set of images which can help to free women from the violence of male-domination
• We habitually use the male pronouns ‘he’ , ‘him’ and ‘his’, he is traditionally seen as ‘our father in heaven’, continual celebration of male imagery in our talk about God influences society to assume that men are superior to women.

Question 6

Mary Daly results of Christian imagery

Answer 6

• thinks that the male-dominated Christian imagery has violent results. She thinks it is responsible for what she calls the ‘unholy trinity’ of rape, genocide and war
• competition, rivalry, aggression, sexual virility and ruthlessness celebrated amongst men, women are encouraged to be meek, sacrificial, obedient and of service to others
• Numbers 31: “now therefore, kill every male among the little ones, and kill every women who has known a man by sleeping with him. But all the young girl who have not known a man by sleeping with him, keep alive for yourselves.”
• Daly argues that only a very radical revolution against Christianity can stop male violence towards women. God has to be radically changed so we can entirely avoid any kind of male bias.

Question 7

Motherhood

Answer 7

Muleris Dignatatum: motherhood is a precious and wonderful gift given to women by God

Mary’s title of Theokotos- unique privilege of nurturing in her womb, Jesus Christ who is the incarnate Lord.