Theme 3: Significant social developments in religious thought
Feminist theology and the changing role of men and women
What is feminist theology?
Examination of theology, religious history & religious communities which takes seriously
experience of women
Recognition that religion played part in historic & continuing oppression of women,
oppression that’s pervasive & frequently violent
Rosemary Radford Ruether & Mary Daly share view sexism plays large role in Bible,
Christian theology & rituals & practices of Christian Church
Contribution of Rosemary Radford Ruether to feminist theology
Ruether believes there’s something more authentic in Christianity than sexism; examines
aspects of Christian tradition, including marginalised forms of Christianity, that don’t entail
male God, male saviour & exclusively male Church leader
Would like to see reformation of language, rituals & theology of Christianity – reformation
include greater commitment to well-being of women
Androcentricism = male centred
Sexism = prejudice, discrimination/stereotyping based on sex/gender
Contribution of Ruether to feminist theology
When God referred to as ‘she’ – Christians have negative, even hostile, reaction
Due to biblical & theologian traditions have reflected cultural view that men more
authentically human>women
Androcentricism been widespread not only in biblical myths & teachings – also intellectual
tradition of West from Greek philosophers – modern day
Story of Adam & Eve been interpreted to suggest sin entered world via Eve – women more
responsible>men for ‘fall’
Male pronouns used to describe ‘God’ – OT & NT declare women to be ‘subjects’ to men
[Genesis 3:16 & Ephesians 5:24]
Medieval theologians – inspired by Greeks, viewed women as representing emotional,
instinctive & sensual side of humanity – inferior to more rationalistic nature of men
Aristotle characterised women as ‘misbegotten males’ – naturally submissive people to
men
Augustine adopted Aristotle’s view & Aquinas believed that male-female hierarchy isn’t
just result of sin but part of natural order created by God
Association a male God created all & male God saved us – males closer to God>females
1
, Theme 3: Significant social developments in religious thought
Feminist theology and the changing role of men and women
‘sexism is gender privilege of males over females’ – Ruether
Androgynous = having combination of both male & female characteristics
What is a male? What it a female?
Ruether believes that how society defines ‘maleness’ & ‘femaleness’ has no real biological
connection
Only real difference between men & women has to do with reproductive roles
Men & women can manifest any traits that culture declares ‘male’ or ‘female’
Nature is androgynous
Ruether claims – 2 sides of brain, cultural tendency is for men to identify their ego with left-
brain characteristics & women right
o Though, everyone has right & left brain
Mary vs Eve
In Church, women been restricted to some characteristics [associated with cultural ideas of
femininity] rather than others
Women urged to follow example of Mary – exhibits qualities of passivity, gentleness,
meekness & obedience
o Depicted as virgin [though Matthew mentions she had child with Joseph]
o Implications for woman to be truly spiritual – mustn’t be ‘sexual’ – even cannot
attain rationalistic prowess of males
Eve = viewed as temptress & bringer of sin in world
Ruether says no wonder women been persecuted when manifested leadership/expressed
views at odds with men
o Suggests persecution & murder of women labelled as ‘witches’ stems from religious
gender stereotyping
Women cannot be priest because they’re considered by male clergy & theologians to be
inferior in mind & in soul to men
In other words, possessing male genitalia is essential pre-requisite for representing Christ,
who’s disclosure of male God
Gnostic = relating to ancient spiritual movement focussed on attaining spiritual knowledge
Quakers = 17th century movement promoting belief in one’s direct apprehension of God without
need for clergy, creeds/other ecclesiastical forms
Shakers = 18th century Protestant Christian movement dedicated to celibacy & belief in imminent
return of God; called ‘Shakers’ because of their ecstatic movement in worship
2
Feminist theology and the changing role of men and women
What is feminist theology?
Examination of theology, religious history & religious communities which takes seriously
experience of women
Recognition that religion played part in historic & continuing oppression of women,
oppression that’s pervasive & frequently violent
Rosemary Radford Ruether & Mary Daly share view sexism plays large role in Bible,
Christian theology & rituals & practices of Christian Church
Contribution of Rosemary Radford Ruether to feminist theology
Ruether believes there’s something more authentic in Christianity than sexism; examines
aspects of Christian tradition, including marginalised forms of Christianity, that don’t entail
male God, male saviour & exclusively male Church leader
Would like to see reformation of language, rituals & theology of Christianity – reformation
include greater commitment to well-being of women
Androcentricism = male centred
Sexism = prejudice, discrimination/stereotyping based on sex/gender
Contribution of Ruether to feminist theology
When God referred to as ‘she’ – Christians have negative, even hostile, reaction
Due to biblical & theologian traditions have reflected cultural view that men more
authentically human>women
Androcentricism been widespread not only in biblical myths & teachings – also intellectual
tradition of West from Greek philosophers – modern day
Story of Adam & Eve been interpreted to suggest sin entered world via Eve – women more
responsible>men for ‘fall’
Male pronouns used to describe ‘God’ – OT & NT declare women to be ‘subjects’ to men
[Genesis 3:16 & Ephesians 5:24]
Medieval theologians – inspired by Greeks, viewed women as representing emotional,
instinctive & sensual side of humanity – inferior to more rationalistic nature of men
Aristotle characterised women as ‘misbegotten males’ – naturally submissive people to
men
Augustine adopted Aristotle’s view & Aquinas believed that male-female hierarchy isn’t
just result of sin but part of natural order created by God
Association a male God created all & male God saved us – males closer to God>females
1
, Theme 3: Significant social developments in religious thought
Feminist theology and the changing role of men and women
‘sexism is gender privilege of males over females’ – Ruether
Androgynous = having combination of both male & female characteristics
What is a male? What it a female?
Ruether believes that how society defines ‘maleness’ & ‘femaleness’ has no real biological
connection
Only real difference between men & women has to do with reproductive roles
Men & women can manifest any traits that culture declares ‘male’ or ‘female’
Nature is androgynous
Ruether claims – 2 sides of brain, cultural tendency is for men to identify their ego with left-
brain characteristics & women right
o Though, everyone has right & left brain
Mary vs Eve
In Church, women been restricted to some characteristics [associated with cultural ideas of
femininity] rather than others
Women urged to follow example of Mary – exhibits qualities of passivity, gentleness,
meekness & obedience
o Depicted as virgin [though Matthew mentions she had child with Joseph]
o Implications for woman to be truly spiritual – mustn’t be ‘sexual’ – even cannot
attain rationalistic prowess of males
Eve = viewed as temptress & bringer of sin in world
Ruether says no wonder women been persecuted when manifested leadership/expressed
views at odds with men
o Suggests persecution & murder of women labelled as ‘witches’ stems from religious
gender stereotyping
Women cannot be priest because they’re considered by male clergy & theologians to be
inferior in mind & in soul to men
In other words, possessing male genitalia is essential pre-requisite for representing Christ,
who’s disclosure of male God
Gnostic = relating to ancient spiritual movement focussed on attaining spiritual knowledge
Quakers = 17th century movement promoting belief in one’s direct apprehension of God without
need for clergy, creeds/other ecclesiastical forms
Shakers = 18th century Protestant Christian movement dedicated to celibacy & belief in imminent
return of God; called ‘Shakers’ because of their ecstatic movement in worship
2
