Notes for the WJEC Eduqas Christianity course for year 2. These are in depth notes that have enough points to get full marks. This is for the new specification, and so are hard to find elsewhere.
Feminist theology and the changing role of men and women
What is feminist theology?
Feminist theology is an examination of theology, religious history and religious communities
which takes seriously the experience of women. It is the recognition that religion has played a
part in this historic and continuing oppression of women.
Rosemary Radford Ruether and Mary Daly share the view that sexism plays a large role in the
Bible, Christian theology and in the rituals and practices of the christian church.
Reuther examines the marginalised forms of Christianity, that do not entail a male God, a male
saviour and an exclusively male Church leadership. She would like to see a reformation of the
language, rituals and theology of Christianity.
Mary Daly believes that sexism is too greatly embedded into Christianity for any sort of
reformation. She encourages women to separate from the church and to define ‘God’ in ways
that are affirming to the journey of becoming a whole person.
The contribution of Rosemary Radford Ruether to feminist theology
Reuther examines the backlash received whenever anyone refers to God as ‘she’. Reuther
believes calling God ‘she’ shouldn’t be an issue as God is beyond gender entirely.
The reason why it has occured is due to the biblical and theological traditions reflecting the
cultural view that men are more authentically human than women.
Androcentrism: Focused or centred interest on men.
The story of the fall has been interpreted to suggest that sin entered the world through Eve -
and therefore women are responsible for pain and suffering.
Male pronouns have been used in relation to the term ‘God’ and the Bible has declared in
Genesis 3:16 and Ephesians 5:24 that women are to be ‘subject’ to men.
Aquinas believed that the male-female hierarchy is not just a result of sin, but is a natural order
created by God.
What is a male? What is a female?
Ruether believes that how society defines ‘maleness’ and ‘femaleness’ has no real biological
connection. The only real difference is in reproduction, and apart from that each can manifest
any number of traits that are ‘male’ or ‘female’.
Our nature is androgynous, we have no inherent notions of masculinity or femininity they are
perceived by society.
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