Gender And Theology / Society

Question 1

What was the image of the divine in the Palaeolithic times?

Answer 1

• Female with no male counterpart
• Depictions had enlarged reproductive features, focusing on the mysterious power of the divine rather than personhood
• Goddesses as ‘primal matrix’ - the great womb in which all things are made

Question 2

What was the image of the divine in the Near East (Ancient Egypt)?

Answer 2

• Pairs female and male deities.
• Mirror system of hierarchies, so male and female God’s hold equal power

Question 3

How does monotheism present the image of God?

Answer 3

• As a male
• Social hierarchy of patriarchal role: God > male > female
• God is modelled after the patriarchal system of the time, and addresses males directly in the Bible

Question 4

Where may the image of God in monotheism originate from?

Answer 4

Nomadic hoarding societies that lacked female leaders who imaged God as a ‘sky father’

Question 5

What does Reuther argue about the modern monotheistic image of God?

Answer 5

• The image of God changes depending on current social norms
• We should reform the Christian image of God to closer to the Near East depictions.
• God is both male and female, with the female part being focused on creation

Question 6

What is First wave feminism?

Answer 6

• Began in the second half of the 20th century
• Focused on equal rights, such as an equal vote

Question 7

What is second wave feminism?

Answer 7

• During the 1960s
• Challenged patriarchy and campaigned for women to have rights over themselves, not just to exist as homemakers.
• Lead to development in sexual health

Question 8

What is third wave feminism?

Answer 8

• Began in the 1990s
• Explores gender roles and identities.
• Women should make sure they don’t conform to stererotypes

Question 9

What is biological sex?

Answer 9

Physical attributes, chromosomes, hormones and sex organs

Question 10

What is gender identification?

Answer 10

How people perceive themselves and choose to behave

Question 11

What is the essentialist view on gender?

Answer 11

There are distinctive masculine and feminine traits intrinsic to nature or biology (not developed by society or nurture)

Question 12

What is the existentialist view on gender?

Answer 12

Biological sex is not significant.
Gender characteristics are the product of culture and upbringing

Question 13

What view does Simone De Beauvoir hold on Gender?

Answer 13

An existentialist view
There are no intrinsic gender characterises, and men and women are born without gender roles.
Women’s existence has been defined by men and women
People should be free to choose their own lifestyle.

Question 14

What is feminism?

Answer 14

A movement and philosophy with an emphasis on equal rights, but embracing theories of power and social conditioning.

Question 15

How did Simone de Beaviour describe the traits that she suggested society imposed on women?

Answer 15

As a false consciousness

Question 16

What is a false consciousness?

Answer 16

Beliefs snd behaviour induced by social attributes and values which contradict the true interest of a person

Question 17

What is the eternal feminine?

Answer 17

Simone De Beaviour’s term to describe the role of a women as some idea imposed by men

Question 18

What is a hermeneutic of suspicion and who suggested it?

Answer 18

Paul Ricour.
When reading a text such as a Bible, you should look at it critically and consider the context it was written in

Question 19

What does Fiorenza suggest about theology?

Answer 19

Theology is the product of writers experience which is determined by historical and social context

Question 20

Where does Reuther suggest the ‘feminine’ is constructed from?

Answer 20

The patriarchal values within the Bible

Question 21

What does Reuther argue for?

Answer 21

Reform of the way in which we interpret the messages on sex and gender within the Bible.
We should not apply the Bible’s values on these topics to the modern day

Question 22

How does Augustine view women?

Answer 22

• The value of women comes from their role as a mother and a lover to men.
• Women are not as rational or intelligent due to the original sin that everyone inherits

Question 23

How does Aquinas view women?

Answer 23

• Men and women were created with equal capacity to reason in the Garden of Eden.
• However, after the fall natural law changed meaning women are now less intelligent and reasonable than men, and more submissive

Question 24

Where do Aquinas’ views on women come from?

Answer 24

• From Aristotles ideas on biology
• Men are active agents in reproduction, and women are passive and submissive
• It is therefore natural that they are submissive

Question 25

What ‘evidence’ might there be in the Bible that women are weaker than men?

Answer 25

- Eve was the first to give into temptation during the fall.

Question 26

Who does Elaine Paige blame for the repression and misogyny in Christianity?

Answer 26

Augustine’s pessimistic views of sexuality. These ideas seem to dominate western culture.

Question 27

How do Aquinas ans Augustine’s views of women differ?

Answer 27

- Augustine believes women are less than men due to the inheritance of the original sin. - Aquinas believes women are less due to natural law changing after the fall

Question 28

Who may argue against Augustine’s pessimistic view of women?

Answer 28

Pelagius, as he believed the original sin did not completely destroy our reason and relationship with God

Question 29

How did Pelagius view women?

Answer 29

He emphasised their free will and their dignity as being in the image of God