Gender and theology

Mary Daly - the maleness of God

• God being male pushes the idea that power was a male thing only

• This is false spirituality as the Christian idea of the maleness of God is the invention of a patriarchal mindset trying to justify its power

• ‘If God is male, then the male is God’

• The highest authority of all is male - societal reflection

• This makes people feel unable to challenge male power in society

• This is actually not a fact of the universe but is how our society has been organised

Daly’s solution to the maleness of God

• God as a verb

• The concept of God needs to be castrated by referring to God as a she and changing the meaning from a noun to a verb

• This would mean ppl thing of God as be-ing rather than a being - verbs are beyond gendered description

• Oppression only continues through choices and submission, it can be changed

Daly and the misogynistic teachings of the Bible/Church

• Corinthians - the women should keep silent in the churches

• Timothy - I do not permit a woman to teach or assume authority over a man, she must be quiet

• Timothy - women will be saved through childbearing

• Ephesians - wives, submit to your own husbands as you do the Lord

• Eve as the source of sin - has been used to oppress women by portraying them as the source of all sin

Daly’s unholy trinity

• Rape, genocide and war are the result of a patriarchal world

• Christianity has legitimised male dominance which enforces this

• If the oppressive hierarchy exists, the result is the unholy trinity

• Christianity is directly complicit in this

• Numbers 13:17-18

• Here moses is told to rape and commit genocide which he ensures happens

Liberal Christian’s symbolic view of the Bible

We should take a more symbolic view of the Bible and regard it as only having literal relevance at the time it was produced. Christianity is redeemable if it is reinterpreted to ignore the maleness of God in the Bible

Daphne Hampson

Rejects the idea that liberal Christianity is divorced enough from the sexism of traditional Christianity. They are saddled with the weight of ancient tradition because despite their different approach to the Bible, the still read it as scripture - a book with unique value. They cant actually ignore the tradition of Christianity and still be Christian.

The sisterhood of feminism

This can take the place of traditions of Christianity and fulfil many of the functions of spirituality without being patriarchal. Sisterhood is women liberating themselves from their divisions into unity - e.g. realising their unity as a sexual caste. Anything short of this has never worked - Daly. Sisterhood is anti-church. Women need a sacred space to escape from the patriarchy in order to heal.

Daly on the abilities of women

They are superior to those of men. Women should have power over society as it would be more peaceful and better for the environment. Patriarchal oppression has prevented their growth

Female supremacy

Daly advocates for female supremacy that is just as sexist as male supremacy and is ultimately just as dangerous. Segregation is impractical

Rosemary Ruether

The Bible and Jesus can be interpreted in a feminist way and so Christianity has the potential to be compatible with feminism. Currently, it is sexist as it has undergone patriarchalisation. It needs to be reformed

Ruether’s evidence for equality in the Bible/Church

• Women and men are both made imago dei so should be a basis for equality

• In the Bible, divine wisdom is mentioned in female terms (Sophia)

• In the Hebrew Bible, God is called Yahweh which means ‘no name’ so God is beyond gender - father is a Christian invention

• Early Christian sect Montanists had women leaders and prophets but were violently persecuted into non-existence

• Speculated that female prophets in Corinth who claimed direct experience of God are what caused Paul to write that they must be silent in the Church and never have authority over a man

Reuther’s Christology

Women can be saved by Christ but it requires a re-evaluation of the common view. Jesus was very different to the expected male warrior type of Messiah. He was a servant king. The patriarchal view would be that the leader wins, they shouldn’t suffer and die, but Jesus did. He served his people rather than ruling over them. Washed their feet.

Daly on salvation

A male figure like Jesus can’t provide genuine spiritual salvation to women under conditions of patriarchy. It is irrelevant that Jesus may have been gender inclusive. A woman can never be spiritually saved by a male in a patriarchal society. It legitimises and reinforces male superiority too much.

Ruether’s golden thread idea

There is a theme of liberation in the Bible. This is a valid thread that can be removed from patriarchal influence. The Bible also contains sexist patriarchal themes. These are inconsistent. If we find a way to separate the Golden Thread of authentic teachings which support feminism from the patriarchal threads, Christianity may be redeemable.

Ruether’s golden thread evidence

• God’s defence of the oppressed e.g. freeing the Jews in Exodus

• Jesus’ treatment of marginalised ppl e.g. poor, women

• Jesus’ critique of established religious views that serve to justify and sanctify the dominant, unjust social order

• Jesus’ moral teachings like the golden rule

The woman at the well - parable

There were racial, historical and religious tensions between the Jews and Samaritans, yet Jesus began a convo with a female Samaritan at the well by asking her for a drink. This was unheard of as it was an ancient Jewish view that Samaritans were unclean. She responded by asking how he could ask her such a thing. The disciples were shocked too. This can be interpreted as Jesus showing willingness to challenge the discriminatory culture of the time.

The adulterous woman parable - John

‘let whoever is without sin cast the first stone’

She doesn’t get stoned because Jesus was in favour of women’s sexual behaviour not being controlled and imprisoned by men

Jesus and Martha parable - Luke

Told Martha she shouldn’t prepare food in the kitchen but should join everyone else to listen to his sermon - traditional gender roles

• Was he just saying his sermon was more important?

Galatians

There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female for you are all one in Christ

• However, this only refers to spiritual equality, not social

Mulieres dignitatum

On the dignity of women“ - letter

Argued men and women have different but complimentary qualities and abilities

While men and women are different, they are both valuable and need each other

This suggests the Church is not sexist and that it is not wrong to say a male saviour can save women

2 main arguments:

• Women are naturally disposed to motherhood because they physically have a womb and psychologically they have a special openness to a child. It is their telos

• There are important and valued women in Christian history and theology. E.g. virgin Mary

Critiques in the gender and society set