The Liberator view: The golden thread

Question 1

Q: What is the “golden thread” according to Reuther?

Answer 1

A: A theme of liberation, including support for feminist causes, in the Bible.

Question 2

Q: How does Reuther suggest we handle the patriarchal influences in the Bible?

Answer 2

A: By disentangling the golden thread of validity from the patriarchal influences.

Question 3

Q: What inconsistency does Reuther identify in the Bible?

Answer 3

A: The presence of both liberation and sexist patriarchal themes.

Question 4

Q: Why can’t both liberation and sexism be God’s authentic revelation?

Answer 4

A: Because they are inconsistent with each other.

Question 5

Q: What might make Christianity redeemable, according to Reuther?

Answer 5

A: Separating the golden thread of authentic teachings that support feminism from the patriarchal threads.

Question 6

Q: What is the “prophetic-liberating tradition” described by Reuther?

Answer 6

A: The golden thread in the Bible that includes God’s defense of the oppressed and Jesus’ treatment of marginalized people.

Question 7

Q: How does the Exodus story fit into Reuther’s golden thread?

Answer 7

A: It shows God’s defense of the oppressed by freeing the Jews.

Question 8

Q: How did Jesus treat marginalized people, according to Reuther?

Answer 8

A: Jesus showed support and care for the poor and women.

Question 9

Q: What does Reuther say about Jesus’ criticism of established religious views?

Answer 9

Q: What does Reuther say about Jesus’ criticism of established religious views?

Question 10

Q: Which of Jesus’ moral teachings is included in the golden thread?

Answer 10

A: The golden rule.

Question 11

Q: How does identifying the golden thread help us understand the Bible?

Answer 11

A: It provides a standard by which to compare and judge other parts of the Bible.

Question 12

Q: What should be done with parts of the Bible that do not fit the liberation theme?

Answer 12

A: They should be rejected.

Question 13

Q: What must the Bible reject to be feminist, according to Reuther

Answer 13

A: The use of God to justify social domination or subjugation.

Question 14

Q: How does Reuther define patriarchy in the context of the Bible?

Answer 14

A: The idolizing of the male as representing the divine.

Question 15

Q: Why must patriarchy be denounced, according to Reuther?

Answer 15

A: Because it is idolatry and blasphemy.

Question 16

Q: What is Reuther’s golden thread argument?

Reuther’s golden thread argument depends

Answer 16

A: It claims that Jesus’ actions aimed at liberating women from an unjust social order.

Question 17

Q: What does Reuther claim about Jesus’ support for feminist causes?

Reuther’s golden thread argument depends

Answer 17

A: She claims that Jesus’ support suggests Christianity can be redeemed by living up to his example.

Question 18

Q: How does Reuther’s interpretation of Jesus’ actions relate to feminist causes?

Reuther’s golden thread argument depends

Answer 18

A: She believes Jesus’ actions demonstrate support for feminist causes and liberation from unjust social orders.

Question 19

Q: Which Bible story does Reuther use to support her argument about Jesus’ actions?

Reuther’s golden thread argument depends

Answer 19

A: The story of the woman at the well.

Question 20

Q: What were the tensions between Jews and Samaritans in the story of the woman at the well?

Reuther’s golden thread argument depends

Answer 20

A: There were racial, historical, and religious tensions.

Question 21

A: There were racial, historical, and religious tensions.

Reuther’s golden thread argument depends

Answer 21

A: It was unheard of, as ancient Jewish views considered Samaritans unclean.

Question 22

Q: How did the Samaritan woman react to Jesus’ request for a drink?

Reuther’s golden thread argument depends

Answer 22

A: She asked how he could ask her such a thing, given the cultural context.

Question 23

Q: What was the reaction of the disciples when they saw Jesus speaking with the Samaritan woman?

Reuther’s golden thread argument depends

Answer 23

A: They were shocked.

Question 24

Q: How do Christian feminists interpret the story of the woman at the well?

Reuther’s golden thread argument depends

Answer 24

A: They see it as showing Jesus’ willingness to challenge the discriminatory culture of the time.

Question 25

Q: How does the story of the woman at the well support Reuther’s golden thread argument?

Reuther’s golden thread argument depends

Answer 25

A: It illustrates Jesus’ actions aimed at breaking down social and gender barriers, aligning with feminist liberation.

Question 26

Just because…

Counter

Answer 26

Jesus thought Samaritan women should not be seen as unclean however does not necessarily go any further than that and therefore doesn’t justify Christian liberal feminism.

Question 27

The adulterous woman (John 8)

Counter

Answer 27

The adulterous woman (John 8) is a biblical passage involving a woman who had committed adultery bring brought to Jesus by the Pharisees who asked Jesus if she should be stoned. Jesus said: “let whoever is without sin cast the first stone”. After the Pharisees leave, Jesus tells the woman he does not condemn her, but that she should depart and sin no more. Control of the sexual behaviour of females through violence, imprisoning her within marriage and reproduction is often thought the most significantly destructive aspect of patriarchy by feminists, and it seems Jesus was in favour of the kind of progress that feminists want.

Question 28

What does The adulterous woman (John 8) illustrate?

Counter

Answer 28

This story at most shows that Jesus was against capital punishment for adultery. He still tells the woman not to sin again and therefore Jesus is still in favour of what anti-Christian feminists regard as a patriarchally constructed conception of ‘sin’.