3C Feminist theology and the changing role of men and women Flashcards
(32 cards)
What is feminist theology?
- The examination of r. history and r. communities which takes seriously the exp. of women
- Argues that r. has played a part in this historical and continuing oppression of women
Give an introduction to Rosemary Radford Ruether’s contribution to feminist theology.
- When ‘she’ is used to refer to G, there is a negative/hostile reaction amongst C.tians. If G = beyond gender, why is there this reaction?
- Biblical/theological trad.s have reflected the view that men = more authentically human than women (androcentrism)
- A+E = has been interpreted to suggest that sin entered world through E
- In B, w = subject to men: OT - Gen. 3:16; NT - Ephesians 5:24
- View that as a male G created us and a male G saved us, then men are closer to G = sin of idolatry
What does androcentrism mean?
• The practice, conscious or otherwise, of placing a masculine point of view at the centre of one’s world view, culture, and history, thereby culturally marginalising femininity.
What was Aristotle’s view of women?
- They are “misbegotten males” - naturally servile people ruled by those dedicated to reason (men)
- Augustine adopted this view
What was Aquinas’ view of women?
• Believed that a male-female hierarchy was part of the natural order
According to RRR, what is a male, and what is a female?
- Only real diff. = reproductive roles
- M + w can manifest any no. of traits ∴ our nature = androgynous (similar to Jung’s Anima/Animus archetypes)
- Notions of masculinity and femininity come from culture + socialisation, and are not part of our inner nature
- Tendency for men to identify their ego w/ left-brain characteristics, and women with the right; but we have both a left and right side of our brain
What is RRR’s basic idea about Mary and Eve?
• The church has given women only two female examples to follow
What is RRR’s view of Mary as a role model?
- Passivity, gentleness, meekness, obedience
- Extolled as a perpetual virgin: implication that for a woman to be truly spiritual, she must not be ‘sexual’, and even then, she cannot attain the rationalistic prowess of males
What is RRR’s view of Eve as a role model?
• Temptress + bringer of sin
• Suggests that persecution/murder of ‘witches’ stems from r. gender stereotyping
- Cites 15th C. Dominican manual: “Since women are feebler both in mind and body, it is not surprising that they should come under the spell of witchcraft.”
• As gender stereotyping has long been part of the church, women have been excluded from ordination
- Cites 1976 Vatican declaration against women’s ordination: “there must be a physical resemblance between the priest and Christ” i.e. must possess male genitalia
Explain how Mary Magdalene has been portrayed negatively. (not on spec, my own research)
- She was not actually a prostitute - no biblical evi.
- Confusion derives from Luke 8:2 - describes Mary of Megdala as having seven demons cast out of her. Originally interpreted as sexual sin, but now believed to mean mental illness
- She is confused with other women in B, e.g. unnamed sinner in Luke 7 (who was not even a prostitute)
- 591 AD: Pope Gregory I discarded textual distinctions and cultivated the myth of Mary as a prostitute engaging in “forbidden acts”
Which movements does RRR point to that have not followed the dominant tradition in the role accorded to women?
- Montanism: believed in the continuing inspiration of the HS in prophecy given to men and women; w were given equal status in some Montanist c.chs
- Some Gnostic writings viewed w as Apostles + describe nature of G as having both m+f properties
- Quakers+some Baptist movements inc. w in leadership
- Shakers promoted a view of G as androgynous ∵ m+w = created in image of G ∴ G must be both m+f
- Both Montanism and Gnosticism = viewed as heretical by C.ch Fathers
Why does RRR not believe that the movements she references are perfect?
- Gnostics advocated an unworldly asceticism
- Shakers = celibate
- They all often had a negative view of sexual activity/marriage
- None fought for w’s rights outside gatherings
- BUT, they are indications that not all C.tians have seen sexism as a necessary part of C.ty
How does RRR view the prophetic tradition as encompassing feminist theology?
- While they did not fight against sexism, they manifested principles which extended to all forms of oppression
- Prophets of Israel fought against oppression of the poor and those dispossessed by powerful individuals/groups, even when the oppression came from r. establishments
According to RRR, how can Jesus be seen to be part of the prophetic tradition?
- It is more accurate to see J as part of this prophetic trad. than it is to view him as the imperialistic Davidic Messiah-King and SofG ∵ the J movement had a counter-cultural character, like the prophets: he rejected the use of r. to est. oppressive hierarchy + stood up for poor/oppressed
- J named G as Abba (a familial and emotional term for a father), which could be him distancing himself from patriarchal views of G
- Feminist theology must reclaim the view of J in which ‘maleness’ is of no importance
What does RRR say have been the three attempts in the 20th Century to liberate women from sexism?
- Romanticism
- Liberalism
- Marxism
RRR: explain Romanticism in relation to feminist theology.
• Viewed emerging industrialism + violence of wars as stemming from male traits, and that social salvation would come through embracing female qualities: intuition, emotional sensitivity, moral purity
• As w have been forbidden from entire pol. realms, less prone to sins of egoism + retain more purity/goodness
• Weaknesses:
- Leaves w trapped in romantic notions of what a female should be (cultural definitions of femininity)
- Can elevate the role of w in the home as the only wat to maintain purity
RRR: explain Liberalism in relation to feminist theology.
• Rejects trad. role models + attempts to fight for social reform • Encourages w to enter education + develop qualities needed to wield power in spheres dominated by men • Reform of c.ch structures = part of a larger fight for w in society • Weaknesses: - Does not critique function of power in said spheres - Largely middle/upper class phenomenon - Middle/upper class w, after winning freedom, may hire lower-class w, perpetuating classism
RRR: explain Marxism in relation to feminist theology.
• M+w should be viewed as equally able to contribute to society
• W should be freed from patriarchy and enter fully into work
• Weaknesses:
- Many w. in communist countries are still expected to do more work in the home than men (i.e. communism has not decreased patriarchal expectations)
- W = viewed as subservient to their productivity on behalf of the communist state rather than valued for themselves
According to RRR, what does a liberating church look like?
• Many w will have to find support outside of the c.ch in female ‘base communities’, since patriarchy + sexism continues in c.ch
• Goals:
- c.ch as a community, manifesting prophetic-liberation
- free of patriarchy
- changes to the lang. used for G
- committed to fighting female oppression
• It questions clericalism, noting that a powerful clergy that sees the laity as passive = another form of patriarchy, regardless of whether there are female priests
According to Mary Daly, what is the goal of human life?
• For all people to be free to engage in a journey of growth
- The opposite has been the case for w as they have been oppressed + trapped
What are two basic views held by Daly?
- Society has created a sexual caste system with females below males
- Biology has become a woman’s destiny, reducing them to objects of men’s desires
How does Daly explain that God is not a noun?
• Women are treated as objects - as nouns
• A static view of G (as a noun) has helped turn w into objects as it is reinforced w patriarchal images of G e.g. a white-bearded man in the sky
• There are three versions of this noun-God - God as…:
i) a stop-gap (explanation of the unknown)
ii) otherworldliness (gives rewards/punishments after death)
iii) a judge of sin (est. roles for men/w + insists on these rules)
- None do anything to inspire creativity, dynamism, and growth
• J = also a noun; w. can never hope to be as spiritual as men ∵ they are the wrong gender
How does Daly explain that God is a verb?
• We must see G as a verb, a process of becoming w/ the universe as the force that helps us to become the ppl we are meant to be
• Simply changing from male to female lang. will not address the root issue but simply perpetuates G as a female noun
• When we think of G as a transforming power, we see that:
- OS is not disobedience, but turning w into objects forbidden to develop outside of their biological destiny
- Salvation ≠ passive acceptance of doctrine or worship of a God-man, but participating in being and becoming
- Worshipping the G of patriarchy = idolatry. C.tians commit ‘Christolatry’ and ‘Bibliolatry’ when they insist that B forms of patriarchy = final truth
- To believe in the power of G = to believe in being/becoming
According to Daly, what is the ‘Unholy Trinity’?
- Rape, genocide, war
- Treating women as objects = at the heart of all human violence
- Assigning women the values of passivity + gentleness = strategy to ensure that women do not interrupt the Unholy Trinity; women w/ ‘feminine’ qualities are rarely permitted into leadership positions ∵ these are the values that most influence society
