Title: Feminist Theology
1Feminist Theology
2Feminist Theology
- Feminist theology, as a theology of liberation,
is concerned about exposing this false
universalism the idea that the masculine
experience applies to everyone and
reinterpreting the experiences of women. - Valerie Saiving Goldstein from Jacquelyn Grant
- "Feminism is a social vision, rooted in women's
experience of sexually based discrimination and
oppression, a movement seeking the liberation of
women from all forms of sexism, and an academic
method of analysis being used in virtually every
discipline." - Anne M. Clifford
3Types of Feminist Theology
- There are three basic types of feminist
theologies - Revolutionary Feminist Theology
- Reformist Feminist Theology
- Reconstructionist Feminist Theology
4Waves of Feminists Theology
5First Wave of Feminists
- First wave of feminism developed in 19th
century. In the US the first major event was the
Womens Rights Convention in 1848 in Seneca
Falls, NY. It continued on until 1920 when women
gained the right to vote.
Firs wave of feminist in Europe
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6Second Wave of Feminists
- Second wave of feminism It is traced to the
adoption of the United Nations of the charter to
eliminate discrimination against women in 1967.
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7Third Wave of Feminists
- Third wave of feminism This movement is traced
to the International Womens Year which
launched the UN Decade of Women. It also
became clear that women in different parts of the
world experience discrimination differently
(womanist, mujerista, etc)
8Feminist Theologies Explained
- Revolutionary Feminist Theology
- Wants to totally revolutionize Christian
theology it advocates worship of Goddess and
woman centered culture among other things. A
male centered God is problematic and
Christianity is irredeemable. - Reformist Feminist Theology
- Advocates modest changes in the current church
structure, usually believes in the more
traditional aspects of Christian theology but
oppose gender bias and unequal power. - Reconstructionist Feminist Theology
- Recognizes that the church must undergo a
thorough change beyond merely sharing power with
men and at the same time maintain Christian
traditions.
9Christian Feminist Reconstructionists
10The Self
- 1. Conscientization
- This term is used especially in mujerista or
"latina." In feminist theology one validates ones
experiences. The experiences of women have been
negated or downplayed by the patriarchal
structure. To this end one is also sensitive to
the experiences of others that are different from
one's own. is. Patriarchy and androcentrism
(male centered description) are sins. When
people suffer because of their race, ethnicity,
gender, class, age, status, sexual orientation it
is sin. Therefore, social location is very
important.
11The Interpretation
- 2. Hermeneutics
- The Bible is interpreted in light of whether or
not it liberates women and men. If the text does
not liberate then "it either must not be true or
has been misinterpreted." The hermeneutics
(interpretation) of the Bible and church
practices are "detecting" patriarchal and
androgynous tendencies. Therefore, one looks at
language, depictions of women and men, parables,
etc. in light of women's liberation from
oppression and to the end of empowering women.
12The Practice
- 3. Praxis
- This theology is rooted in praxis. One needs to
work at liberating women. One must take concrete
steps to eradicate the oppressive structures.
One works in the church and in society. " . . .
Christian feminist theologies take up the love
command of Jesus, recognizing that actively
loving one's neighbors, especially those most in
need, cannot separate them from the love of God .
. . "
13Womanist Theology
14Womanist Theology Defined
- A womanist is sometimes referred to as a Black
feminist. Womanist theology is rooted in the
experience of Black women who have had triple
oppression (race, gender, class). - The term womanist was coined by Alice Walker in
her book In Search of Our Mothers Gardens
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