Gender and theology

• Who argued that God being male gives people the concept of male power?

  Mary Daly
• What does Daly regard the Christian idea of the maleness of God as?

  A false spirituality
• How does Daly describe the relationship between God’s maleness and societal power structures?

  It justifies male power as universal
• What phrase did Daly use to illustrate her point about God’s maleness?

  If God is male, then the male is God
• What does Daly argue about the association between masculinity and divinity?

  It makes male supremacy seem unchallengeable
• According to Daly, what is the actual nature of male supremacy?

  It is a societal organization, not universal
• How does Daly propose to change the concept of God?

  By referring to God as a 'she' and a verb
• What effect does Daly believe changing God from a noun to a verb would have?

  It introduces flexibility in understanding oppression
• What does Daly argue about viewing God as a noun?

  It makes the nature of God seem fixed
• What does Daly point to as evidence of Christianity's sexism?

  The sexist teachings of the Bible and Church
• What does 1 Corinthians 14:34 state about women in churches?

  Women should keep silent and be in submission
• What does 1 Timothy 2:12 say about women teaching?

  Women must be quiet and not teach men
• What does Ephesians 5:22-33 instruct wives to do?

  Submit to their husbands
• How does Daly interpret the story of The Fall in relation to women?

  It portrays women as the source of sin
• What does Daly claim about the internalization of guilt by women?

  It must be recognized for liberation
• What does Daly mean by the "unholy trinity"?

  Rape, genocide, and war from patriarchy
• What does Daly argue about Christianity's role in male dominance?

  It legitimates and reinforces patriarchy
• What does Numbers 31:17-18 instruct regarding war?

  Kill male children and women who slept with men
• How do liberal Christians view the Bible?

  As having symbolic relevance, not literal
• What do liberal Christians argue about the maleness of God?

  It should be ignored in modern interpretations
• How does Daly respond to liberal Christians' views?

  They still influence views of women's inferiority
• What does Daphne Hampson argue about liberal Christianity?

  It is still influenced by ancient sexism
• What does Hampson say about reading the Bible?

  It affects outlook due to subconscious themes
• What does Daly believe about the Sisterhood of Feminism?

  It can fulfill spiritual functions without patriarchy
• What does Daly mean by Sisterhood as the 'anti-church'?

  It has no hierarchy or dogmas
• What does Daly argue men need to reject?

  The old sexist ways of thinking
• What does Daly claim about women's abilities compared to men's?

  Women's abilities are superior to men's
• What do some critics argue about Daly's views?

  They advocate female supremacy, which is sexist
• How does Daly view female spirituality?

  As superior due to patriarchal oppression
• What does Reuther argue about Jesus and the Bible?

  They can be interpreted in a feminist way
• What does Reuther mean by patriarchalization?

  The dominance of misogynistic views in Christianity
• What does Reuther say about the creation of men and women?

  Both are equally created in the imagio dei
• How was divine wisdom viewed in early Christianity?

  As female, personified in 'Sophia'
• What does the term 'Yahweh' mean in the Hebrew Bible?

  No name, beyond gender
• What happened to the Montanists in early Christianity?

  They were violently persecuted into non-existence
• What does Daly argue about the male figure of Jesus?

  He cannot provide genuine spiritual salvation to women
• How does Reuther describe Jesus in contrast to traditional views?

  As a servant King, not a warrior
• What does Reuther argue about Jesus' actions?

  He served rather than ruled over people
• What does Daly argue about male symbols in a patriarchal society?

  They reinforce prevailing hierarchies
• What does Daly claim about the idea of a male savior?

  It legitimizes male superiority in patriarchy