RELI 220 Lesson 7

The following philosophers' views on biology influenced subsequent centuries of conversation on gender: ______________ and ________________. They must be spelled correctly.

Plato and Aristotle

T/F. In the classical and late antique era, views of gender were fixed and stable.

False

According to Plato, identity came from the ____________.

soul

T/F. According to Plato, a female can transcend her 'female-ness' through education.

True

In Christian vocabulary, a righteous and/or morally upright woman could become a: _________________ _____________ of ________.

female man of God

T/F. Primary conversions to Christianity were more prevalent among women than men (according to Rodney Stark).

True

T/F. For the most part, Jesus encouraged women who sought to engage with him in the public and private realm.

True

According to Aristotle, a woman cannot transcend her gender because she is a/an ____________ male.

deformed male

T/F. A noble Roman woman could refuse a match made by her father by demonstrating that the proposed husband was of bad character.

False

T/F. In the letters that scholars know that Paul wrote, Paul wrote of women as equals, and co-authoritative in his work.

True

Tertullian writes that women have inherited the sin of: (this woman) _______________, and therefore they are the "_____________ gateway."

Eve, and are the "→ devil's gateway"

As much as we do not like what he wrote about women, nevertheless Tertullian was important as a theologian because he introduced the use of (this language) _______________ into Christian discussions.

Latin

T/F. According to Rodney Stark, Christian women had higher status in Christian communities.

True

According to Rodney Stark, bans against _____________ and ____________ meant Christian subcultures developed substantial numbers of female converts.

infanticide and abortion

The Acts of Thekla suggests that women might avoid __________ if they can present a suitable alternative to that public contract.

marriage

In The Acts of Thekla, our heroine takes it upon herself to perform this important Christian ritual: ________.

baptism

Identify three ways that Thekla subverts gender norms in the account.

Rejects marriage and family expectations

Acts independently of male authority (including Paul at times)

Baptizes herself / assumes religious authority typically reserved for men

T/F. Christians had greater choice with regards to marriage (to marry or not, when to marry, and whom to marry).

True