Feminist Theology Research Paper

Despite highlighting the true reality that some religions treat men and women differently, Feminist however, have been criticised based on the ground that they were being too deterministic as not all religions are patriarchal for example in most religions such as some Christianity for example protestant or evangelical treat women as equal to men and women are allowed to

Feminists see gender inequality as the fundamental division and patriarchal ideology as playing a key role in legitimising it as gender differences are a feature in all societies. Many ideologies exist to justify these gender inequalities. An example of this is the belief that women should either be virgins or whores; this is shown through Mary Magdalene. This is also reinforces the idea that women are sexual objects. This also shows that ideology can be a belief system in terms of beliefs and ideas about women and how people believe that women are inferior to men.

social, and economic equality to men.” The novel entitled, Their Eyes Were Watching God, is

Thesis: A “true women” in the 19th Century was one who was domestic, religious, and chaste. These were virtues established by men but enforced and taught by other women. Women were also told that they were inferior to men and they should accept it and be grateful that someone just loved them.

Black women often find it difficult to break the barriers in their chosen careers. However, some have made history this year alone particularly in the theological education sector. These women are already making waves in an industry where male authorities pretty much dominate the field.

Since the dawn of the Patriarchy there has been a very apparent attack on women and what it means to be a woman (Daly 44-45). This popular theory of misogyny in the Western world first surfaced in 1973 when radical feminist Mary Daly published “Beyond God and the Father: Toward a Philosophy of Women’s Liberation (Daly 44-45).” Within the pages of Daly’s book lies controversial attacks of biblical text, more specifically the story of Adam of Eve alongside a call for action for women and men to undo the brainwashing that years of conditioning has caused them (Daly 44-45).

Young women Christian association is an interest group that is dedicated to eliminating racism, empowering women, and promoting peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all. It was first established as Ladies Christian Association in 1858. YWCA is the Nation’s oldest and biggest multicultural organization. To this day, over two million people participate in YWCA programs.

Throughout history many have tenaciously challenged to dishonor the Word of God. One argument used in subjective efforts to discredit God’s word is the view that the Bible supports a misogynistic treatment of women. For example, in Genesis 4:19 men such as Lamech practice polygamy and others sell their daughters as in Exodus 21:7-8. We see Lot willing to trade his own two daughters to save the angels that appeared in Sodom. In Genesis 19:1-11 and 19:30-38 we see the women are treated horribly and as possessions. In Genesis, Deuteronomy 21 and Numbers 5 women are treated abusively.

In her book Feminism and Religion, Rita M. Gross provides readers with an introduction to the need for, and benefits of, androgynous scholarship in the field of religious studies. Gross strives to make readers aware of the dangers of androcentric, Eurocentric scholarship. Moreover, she advances the claim that, “properly pursued, the field of religious studies involves study of all major religions found in human history” and an equal representation of both men’s and women’s religious experiences (Gross 1-4). Because androcentrism has permeated both religion and scholarship for the greater part of history, Gross strives to correct and augment this perspective with illuminating examples of what she deems “proper” religious scholarship –

The Bible, because it is written by men for men, often presents a hierarchal model of relationships between genders and on many occasions, omits women from narratives

Feminism is a body of social theory and political movement primarily based on and motivated by the experiences of women. While generally providing a critique of social relations, many proponents of feminism also focus on analyzing gender inequality and the promotion of women's rights, interests, and issues.

As I thought about all the topics we have read and studied in this class there was one topic that I really did enjoy and changed the way I thought about the topic and gave me a whole new perspective on how I look at religion now. I chose the topic of feminism and Christianity and how the authority of the women gender role in religion has been a struggle for many years. I think Lynn Japinga did a very good job in writing about this topic in her book, “Feminism and Christianity: An Essential Guide”. Japinga includes in her book the use of the male dominated language in the Bible, the blame for the original sin, and the lack of women gender clerical role authority within the religion world.

Feminist theory and Christian worldview can be integrated but to what extent? Too much emphasis on the abstract, detached mind leads us astray. To be fully human does not require sex or gender but it does require God’s image. That, it seems, does not disappear with gender or sex, for both God and the angels are personal yet without sex or gender. As such, the thin essential properties of humanity, being rooted in God’s creative work, remain forever whereas the human cultural creations of gender and sex do not. In the beginning we are sexed and gendered (Genesis). In the end, we are neither (Galatians), hence the solution to the apparent contradiction of the Christian scriptures on gender.

For most of us, faith development is a process. We grow in wisdom and stature and favor with God. As a Christian woman I know that my consciousness about the feminist agenda has evolved in stages also.

Feminist theory analyzes the gender inequality that women have faced throughout the years due to a patriarchal society. Women were expected to fit the traditional female and conform to the gender norms that society has constructed. According to A Brief Introduction to Critical Theory, “Feminism embodies a way of reading that investigates the text’s investment in or reaction to the patriarchal power structures that have dominated Western culture” (227). Patriarchal power has oppressed women economically, socially, and politically. Women were associated more with domesticity than with politics and financial situations. They were not provided the same educational opportunities as men. These issues have been addressed by people, such as Mary