Feminism

• Rosemary Radford Ruether


  American feminist scholar and Catholic theologian.

  Book: 'Sexism and God-Talk' addresses concerns with androcentricity and male language for God.

  Argues human nature is androgynous - notions of masculinity and femininity come from culture and socialisation but are not a part of our inner nature.

  She hopes that a reformed theology and Church can provide a setting that will be truly liberating for women.
• Ruether uses the example of Eve and Mary as the basis of stereotypes for women.

  Mary (Deceiver) and Eve (Passive, virgin, innocent) as archetypes for women and cites such stereotyping as the reason for women being excluded from ordination.
• Mary Daly


  American radical feminist philosopher, academic, and theologian.

  Believes that the Church is irredeemably patriarchal. “If God is male, male is God.”

  Goal of human life is for all people to be free to engage in a journey of growth, becoming creative and fulfilled individuals, freely participating in liberating communities. Believes God should be considered a verb not a noun, as the noun-God is otherworldly and judgmental, and does not encourage human flourishing.
• Mary Daly


  Identifies ‘unholy trinity’ of rape, genocide and war – illustrative of female objectification.

  Encourages sisterhood’, finding relationships with other women in order to oppose the lovelessness of a sexually hierarchical society
• Reconstructive feminists


  Emphasise inequalities between men and women within the church and need for equality of opportunities.
• Reform Feminists


  Emphasise the role of the church in supporting ideology that reinforced women’s subordinate position in society as unpaid workers.
• Radical Feminists


  Argues that Christianity is intrinsically patriarchal (and therefore oppressive of women) and that women need to move beyond it
• Feminist Theology


  Examination of theology, religious history and religious communities which takes seriously the experience of women.

  Three types of feminists: Reconstructive, Reform and Radical
• Are men and women equal in Christianity?

  Galatians 3:28

  Some denominations e.g. CofE have ordained women.

  Equal but different.

  Jesus was inclusive in ministry.

  Many Biblical texts are patriarchal.

  Modern female ordination is limited and often poorly received.

  Complementarity is used to oppress.  “If God is male, male is God"
• Should women be ordained?

  All humans are made imago dei.

  Women had leadership roles in the early Church e.g. Phoebe, Junia.

  Puts gender equality into practice.

  Some denominations approve.

  Ordained ministers represent Jesus, so should therefore be male.

  Women’s leadership in the New Testament was limited. Ordained women are often unpaid so are not equal.

  Vast majority of ministers are male.