Gender & Theology: Rosemary Ruether Flashcards
Who is she?
Challenge to the Male Warrior-Messiah Expectation
A Catholic reform feminist theologian
What does she argue?
Challenge to the Male Warrior-Messiah Expectation
Christianity has become distorted by patriarchal traditions and needs to be reformed. The focus for Christians should be God not male leaders.
What does she support?
Challenge to the Male Warrior-Messiah Expectation
Women’s ordination in the Catholic Church and campaigns for the RC Church to change its view on abortion
Who is the Messiah?
Challenge to the Male Warrior-Messiah Expectation
- Future king in a new kingdom
- Son of David
- Restorer of Israel as an autonomous power
- Deliverer from bondage through battle
- Conquering warrior
- Liberator of people from their enemies
What did ‘Sexism and God Talk’ say about the Messiah?
Challenge to the Male Warrior-Messiah Expectation
“The Messiah can only be imagined as a male.”
Ruether argues that Jesus was not the Messiah expected. How is this so?
(Challenge to the Male Warrior-Messiah Expectation)
- Was a servant king – serving his people rather than ruling over them. He warned his disciples of lording over others = washing of feet.
- Attended to the poor and dispossessed rather the highest in social order.
- Was critical of Jewish authorities (e.g Temple authorities) and the reigning powers such as the Roman ruler Pontius Pilate
What does Ruether argue Jesus as Messiah links to?
Challenge to the Male Warrior-Messiah Expectation
Although Christianity has a male symbol of the Messiah, Ruether argues that the Messiah concept is not the Davidic military messiah but a self sacrificing, redeeming, servant Messiah who is linked to the female notion of wisdom.
Ruether: ‘By becoming a servant of God…’
Challenge to the Male Warrior-Messiah Expectation
“one is freed from bondage of all human masters.”
What is the meaning behind ‘Sophia’?
God as the Female Wisdom Principle
‘Sophia’ ( Greek for ‘wisdom’) was personified (in the ancient world) in female form = a goddess.
How do the early Christians refer to ‘Sophia’ as divine wisdom?
(God as the Female Wisdom Principle)
- In Scripture, divine wisdom is referred to in female terms
- God is associated with wisdom and wisdom again is female
How has Christianity changed the idea of ‘Sophia’?
God as the Female Wisdom Principle
However, Christianity has merged the notion of divine wisdom into the notion of messianic king. In this process the idea of female wisdom has become obscured behind a patriarchal veil of the male Messiah - Jesus
The Wisdom of Solomon 7:25: “She is a breath of the power of God…”
(God as the Female Wisdom Principle)
“and a pure emanation of the glory of the Almighty.”
Who does Ruether refer to God as?
Jesus as the Incarnation of Wisdom
‘Gaia’ – ancient Greek goddess of the earth.
What is Reuther seeking to do?
Jesus as the Incarnation of Wisdom
Recover a full account of human nature and a fuller picture of the divine by balancing male and female in our understanding of human nature and God.
How does this link to imago dei?
Jesus as the Incarnation of Wisdom
She believes this produces a truer reflection of ‘imago dei’ – made in the image and likeness of God.
