3C- feminist theology Flashcards
(23 cards)
Give an overview of feminist theology
-Feminist theory lies on fact religion had significant part to play in historic and continued oppression of women
-FT concludes God must be interpreted as an advocate for women’s right (partisan- taking a side)
Define androcentrism
Androcentrism (male centered stories and myths)- reflected view men are more authentically human
(Ruether)
What does Aristotle call females
(Ruether)
Aristotle: women= misbegotten males- should be served by those who are dedicated by reason (males)
What does Aquinas call females
(Ruether)
Aquinas: women= ‘defect in uterus’
define androgynous
Our nature is androgynous (combination of both male and female characteristics)
(Ruether)
what does Ruether say about the brain
What we know is there’s 2 sides of the brain- tendency for males to identify ego with left- women to identify themselves with right side- however we both have right and left
Ruether- what are Mary and Eve presented as
-Eve is seen as temptress who brings sin into world (Gen 3)- androcentrism
-mary= obedient, meek, gentle- achieved immaculate conception
-These representations led to witchcraft, exclusion from ordination etc
What does Ruether say about witchcraft and state the quote
Persecution and murder of women labelled as ‘witches’ stems from religious gender stereotyping
She find from a 15th century Dominican manual that states-
‘since women are feebler in both mind and body, it is not surprising that they should come under the spell of witchcraft’
give 3 marginalised forms of christianity- ruether
montarianism - type of early Christianity placed more power on women
Gnostic- wiritngs viewed women as apostles and described nature of God as female and male principles
Rejected by church and seen as heresy by ‘church fathers’
‘Shakers’ group promoted a view of God as bisexual- God in some sense must be male and female
Ruether doesn’t believe these marginalised forms are perfect
What does Ruether say about prophetic traditions
Sees feminist theology as a part of prophetic tradition in the bible
These prophets of Israel fought against oppression- manifested principles which extended to all forms of oppression eg a critique of dominant systems of power
It’s more accurate to see Jesus as part of this tradition
Give the 3 historical solutions for Ruether
Romanticism- late 18th century-rejected power and war to embrace qualities -still makes women subjective of what they ‘should be’
Liberalism- suffragette movement (late 19th cen)- rejects traditional role models and fights for social reform -too middle class
marxism - idea we’re all equally contributing to society-viewed as equally able to contribute to society -didn’t work in practice
What does a liberating church look like for Ruether
Need to find support outside the church system in ‘base communities’- small self governing religious groups, mentioned by liberation theologians
what did Daly advise women did
leave the church
what does Daly say about God in terms of verbs and nouns
Women are treated as nouns and objects opposed to verbs- for Daly God is a verb
Static view of women is by seeing God as a static noun rather than verb
what quote does Daly use to describe God
‘white man in the sky with a beard’- this God needs to be dethroned
Give 3 versions of God nouns (Daly)
1) God as a stop gap 2) God as otherworldliness 3) God as a judge of sin
What does Daly see society having
sexual caste system (female below male)- a rigid hierarchy
What does Daly say we need to re think
Need to rethink: original sin, salvation etc (link to Bultmann- demythologise)
Salvation is not a passive acceptance of worship of a God man
Original sin is not disobedience, but turning women into objects
Define and explain the ‘unholy trinity’ giving a quote
‘Unholy trinity’ of genoside, rape, etc: is encouraged by seeing women as a noun
Rape- involves objectification of women
War itself is about masculine dominance
Link between rape and genocide- ‘kill every women who has known a man by sleeping with him’ numbers 31
What does Daly state we need to form
States we need to form a sisterhood- find relationships with other women without hierarchy
Give a bible passage that supports feminst theology
Judges 11: Jephtaah made vow to God, daughter bewailed her virginity, burnt his daughter
Summarise Ruether
-androcentrism
-aquinas and Aristotle
-androdynos nature + 2 sides of the brain
-Eve vs mary
-witchcraft
-marginalised forms
-prophetic traditions
-historical solutions
-her solution
Summarise Daly
-nouns and verbs
-sexual caste system- God with beard
-need to rethink
-unholy trinity
-her solution
