Daphne Hampson and Rosemary Radford Reuther

Question 1

Key Terms:

• Feminist theology: An approach to biblical scholarship and theological thinking that aims to challenge Biblical interpretations and Christian theology from a feminist perspective.
• Patriarchal: Literally means ruled by fathers. In the context of feminist theology, patriarchy refers to the fact that the texts, practices and teachings of religion were produced and passed on by men.

Question 2

Three Strands of Feminism:

1. Liberal strand: Presents the patriarchal system as illogical, denying women the fundamental right to equality with men.
2. Biblical strand: looks at the idea of God as loving and caring; qualities that are associated with women.
3. Radical strand: moved to beyond Christianity and seeks to speak of God in ways that are more gender inclusive.

Question 3

‘Is there a place for feminists and feminist thinking in a Christian Church?’ - Debate from 1986.

FOR- There is a place for feminism (Rosemary Radford Reuther)

CONTEXT
- Reuther is a feminist, liberation theologian, and member of the Roman Catholic Church. Liberation theology holds that helping the poor should be at the heart of Christianity.

• Reuther argued that Christianity’s message is one of liberation for ALL, not just men and so is consistent with feminist interpretation and reinstatement.
• Past events, present experience and future hopes all contribute to an understanding of Christianity, but we cannot take personal truth and turn it into a universally binding logic.

Question 4

‘Is there a place for feminists and feminist thinking in a Christian Church?’ - Debate from 1986.

AGAINST- There is no place for feminism (Daphne Hampson)

CONTEXT
- Hampson is a post-Christian theologian. This means she is not Christian but her ideas come from Christian tradition. Hampson rejects Christianity on two grounds:
1. Christianity is not true- it is based on the belief that there was a uniqueness to the person of Christ as he was related to God in a different way to everyone else, other than a unique resurrection. This is a revelation in history.
Whereas, since the Enlightenment, we have come to think that there could be no such events and it is difficult to credit Jesus’ relationship to God as one of a kind. The beliefs about Jesus makes no sense.

Question 5

‘Is there a place for feminists and feminist thinking in a Christian Church?’ - Debate from 1986.

AGAINST- There is no place for feminism (Daphne Hampson)

2. The second reason that Hampson rejected Christianity was because Christians necessarily look to the past (specifically 1st Century Palestine) because Christianity is rooted in a belief that there has been a revelation in history. However, the bible contains a lot of patriarchal imagery and suppositions which are then carried into the present, which then perpetuates sexism.

• Christianity is not moral as people should take responsibility for themselves, and not keep looking to revelations in history or a transcendent God.
• Because Christians believe in a historical revelation, they must always take God’s word into consideration and will therefore obey God rather than exercise moral autonomy, and this can’t be changed.

Question 6

‘Is there a place for feminists and feminist thinking in a Christian Church?’ - Debate from 1986.

AGAINST- There is no place for feminism (Daphne Hampson)

• Hampson argued that Christianity is fascist, a right wing view that promotes one group over another. She argued this because Christianity attempts to make it look like being male is the norm for humankind, and women are the other or secondary. For example, male metaphors to describe God, e.g., Father. Father-son imagery is also dominant- there is a lack of imagery depicting men and women as equals. Moreover, Jesus did not inhibit the inbuilt sexism in his society, and perhaps perpetuated it by having 12 male disciples.
• The Christian myth has served as a vehicle to carry people’s love into the West. Now we should express awareness of God in neutral terms, appropriate for the present day and age. e.g., ‘that which is God’. God should not be seen as ‘out there’, or anthropomorphic.

Question 7

‘Is there a place for feminists and feminist thinking in a Christian Church?’ - Debate from 1986.

FOR- There is a place for feminism (Rosemary Radford Reuther)

• Reuther replaces the traditional doctrine of atonement with its masculine ideas if power with a depiction of Jesus as a radical and liberating prophetic figure.
• Feminist critique of society can be seen as parallel to Jesus’ preaching and critiques of the social injustice and religious hierarchies at the time. Jesus sided with the outcasts in society, including women, and was critical of oppressive authority, e.g., ‘The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.’ (Mark 2:27)
• Jesus understood the needs and strengths of women. Jesus exemplified female traits of healing and caring as well, as male traits of power and authority. She calls this androgynous Christology.

Question 8

‘Is there a place for feminists and feminist thinking in a Christian Church?’ - Debate from 1986.

FOR- There is a place for feminism (Rosemary Radford Reuther)

• Christian society today is beginning to recognise the value of female qualities of God, so Christianity can become a religion of emancipation from patriarchy. This is not its original context, but can become this way through a feminist interpretation of the Gospels.
• In some ways, female nature is more Christ-like than male nature, for example welcoming, inclusive, caring and healing.
• ‘The emergence of women points to a messianic future that will transform the male world of war, conflict and exploitation into the women’s world of peace and reconciliation.’
• Reuther argues that the Kingdom of God is not in heaven but can be brought to Earth when justice prevails for all.
• Reuther agrees with Hampson that traditional theology is patriarchal, and she rejects these beliefs. She replaces the term God with ‘God/ess’, to express freedom from gender.

Question 9

‘Is there a place for feminists and feminist thinking in a Christian Church?’ - Debate from 1986.

CONCLUSION:

AGREE (Reuther view): There is a measure of female thinking within the NT and elements of Christian theology, so it is possible to remain Christian and also experience the aspirations of women today, inspired by the Holy Spirit and the examples of Jesus’ ministry.