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Summary Theology - Gender and Theology
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Gender and theologyMark scheme H573/03 Developments in Christian Thought June 2018
https://www.philosophycat.org/gendertheology
whether or not Christianity is essentially sexist
Yes
Mary daly - Daly strongly contends that Christianity, in its current form,
perpetuates and upholds sexism. She maintains that the dominant images
and language used to describe God within Christianity reflect a male-
dominated worldview that serves the interests of patriarchy. According to Daly,
the portrayal of God as male and the association of divine qualities exclusively
with masculinity contribute to the subjugation of women.
Daly's assertion that "If God is male, then male is God" encapsulates her
argument that equating divinity solely with masculinity reinforces patriarchal
power structures. She suggests that the patriarchal view of God as a father
figure leads to the castration of women, both symbolically and metaphorically,
within societal and religious contexts.
Within the Catholic Church specifically, Daly sees the concept of a Father-like
God as particularly problematic. She asserts that this theological framework
contributes to the oppression of women, as it reinforces the patriarchal order
and restricts the full participation and agency of women within the Church.
Daly's critique extends to what she calls the "unholy trinity" of rape, genocide,
and war, which she believes are perpetuated by the celebration of
phallocentric power and patriarchal ideologies within Christianity.
Mary daly - unholy trinity
Mary Daly argued that the concept of a patriarchal, fatherly God serves as the
foundation for a sexist culture that perpetuates unfair criticism and violence
against women. She referred to this as the "unholy trinity" consisting of rape,
genocide, and war.
Daly contended that these three manifestations of violence are natural
outcomes in a society that celebrates "phallocentric power," which promotes
values like competition, aggression, and sexual dominance among men. She
believed that this male-dominated imagery is evident in the Old Testament.
Regarding rape, Daly highlighted the connection between the mentality of
rape and the phenomenon of war. She pointed to instances in the Bible, such
as Moses' command to kill certain women and spare others, as indicative of a
culture that condoned sexual violence as part of warfare. “Now kill all the
, boys. And kill every woman who has slept with a man, but save for yourselves
every girl who has never slept with a man.” (Numbers)
In terms of genocide, Daly argued that hierarchical structures in society
mirror the dynamics of genocide, with men positioned above women in the
same way that genocide sets one group over another.
She criticised the Catholic Church for limiting women's reproductive autonomy
through the prohibition of abortion, which she saw as a form of "genocide."
Daly also pointed to biblical passages, such as Timothy's instruction
prohibiting women from teaching or having authority over men, as examples of
how religious texts can reinforce gender-based hierarchies.
“I permit no woman to teach or to have authority over a man; she is to
keep silent.”- Timothy
War - she argues that the glorification of power, dominance, and violence in
patriarchal cultures is reflected in both sexual violence and warfare. She
critiques the inconsistency she sees in the Church's stance, where it
condemns actions such as abortion based on the belief in the sanctity of life
(baby imago Dei) but also advocates the use of force in the context of war. Eg
the bible promotes many instences of war
Numbers 31:1-3: These verses describe God commanding Moses to take
vengeance on the Midianites. Daly might view this as an example of divine
sanctioning of violence and the justification of war.
1 Samuel 15:1-3: In this passage, God commands Saul to wage war against
the Amalekites, leaving nothing alive. Daly might see this as an endorsement
of the violent eradication of an entire people, reflecting the glorification of
power and dominance.
Daly's argument would be that these biblical passages, among others, reflect
a pattern of violence and warfare sanctioned or commanded by God, which
she sees as consistent with her critique of patriarchal cultures that celebrate
power and dominance.
No
Ruether argues that overlooked or marginalized female perspectives in
interpreting Christ have been ignored by the Church. She challenges Daly's
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