The basic question of how theologians may go about creating systems of thought is currently being reinterpreted by feminist theologians. Feminist studies in religion books feminist studies in. The roots of feminist theology feminist theology is rooted in what is known as the second wave of feminism that arose in the 1950s and. The cambridge companion to feminist theology cambridge companions to religion 9780521663809. Jana opocenska, feminist theology, indian journal of. Jones unabashedly puts secular feminist theory to church work, using it to remap the core reformed doctrines of justification and sanctification, sin and ecclesiology. Cartographies of grace kindle edition by jones, serene. I would like to put before you what i consider essential. List of books and articles about feminist theology online. This handbook highlights the relevance of globalization and the insights of gender studies and religious studies for feminist theology. New patterns in feminist spirituality, edited by judith plaskow and carol p. Feminist theology jana opocenska feminist theology is a very broad subject.
The challenge of gianni vattimo suny series, mcgill studies in the history of religions, a series devoted to international scholarship frascatilochhead, marta on. By bringing a wide range of theologians into conversation, this book is well suited. It will be suitable for undergraduate college or university students, and presupposes no background in theology. Rethinking the christian faith from a womans perspective has been an important advancement in modern theology. The fsr forum is the networking unit of feminist studies in religion, inc. John erickson, grace yiahei kao, mary sharratt, and esther nelson. Feminist theology is a movement found in several religions, including buddhism, christianity. The new catholic feminism sets up a dramatic encounter between the orthodox catholic establishment and contemporary critical theory, including feminist theology and philosophy, queer theory, and french psycholinguistics, in order to explore fundamental questions about human identity, personhood and gender.
Feminist theology examines the meaning and implications of christian faith from the perspective of a commitment to justice for females. Feminist theology a critical theology of liberation. Professor of feminist theology at claremont graduate university and claremont school of theology. The uniqueness of feminist theology is its use of womens experience to expose the malecentered bias of classical theology and articulate a faith that incorporates full humanity. The challenge of gianni vattimo suny series, mcgill studies in the history of religions. Edwards, sara wright, katie m deaver, joyce zonana, dr. This article will, after introductory remarks on the background to feminist theology, deal briefly with its main trends. Theology has a rich tradition across the african continent, and has taken myriad directions since christianity first arrived on its shores. Feminist reflections on separation and unity in jewish theology. The debate over feminist theology christian research institute. We can take joness and greys books as two indications of the kind of sophisticated saving work under way in feminist theology. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets.
The introductory essays link the sections and are packed with useful information on resources, issues, and the current debates. Fatima mernissis book, the forgotten queens of islam, is a crucial piece in feminist theology for islam and how it relates to a non western state. Dec 10, 2011 but it is when the feminist theological analysis manages to keep in a creative tension both with feminist theory and with the many struggles of women against oppression, that it is at its most authentic. Though the books author, mary daly, later abandoned the church as hopelessly sexist. In some cases, the criticism is voiced by adamant opponents who seek to discredit feminist efforts. In this book natalie watson introduces the methods, ideas, and contributions of recent feminist theology to readers encountering the subject for the first time. This book provides the ideal introduction to ths movement, outlining feminist contributions to major areas of faith such as the bible, god, christ and salvation, the holy spirit, the church and spirituality. Feminist theology has developed from the perspective of feminist philosophy, feminist theology doesnt have any origin before the feminist philosophy has occurred.
One way of highlighting these commonalities is to trace the rise of feminist theological reflection. Feminist theologies generally take up two separate but interrelated tasks these same tasks are also major topics in christian feminist theology. Mar 14, 2016 mercy amba oduyoye, mother of african feminist theology, is one of these inspiring models. Jun 09, 2009 historically, the first widely publicized book on the role of women in the church that hinted at the formulation of a specific feminist theology was published in 1968. Feminist reflection within a religious tradition is usually first sparked by womens resentment of their secondary and peripheral status in all the worlds major religious traditions. How did a religion whose founding proponents advocated a shocking disregard of earthly. This chapter charts the history of 30 years of study, research and teaching in feminist theology in the uk. Feminist theology and islam is also used to strengthen the spiritual connection to the women of islam when they undergo severe trauma, to promote human rights especially those of women. For media inquiries or requests, please contact michael naughton in the office of communications. Feminist liberation theology a contextual option by denise ackermann from journal of theology for southern africa, 1988, no. Feminist emphasis on mutuality and connectedness 1. Feminism and feminist theology harvard divinity school. The creation of a feminist theology the new york times. Over recent decades, feminist theology has become established on a worldwide basis, with a growing literature, sophistication and confidence.
Is the christian message good tidings or bad news for women. What is feminist theology feminist theology feminist. The second edition of this highly popular introduction includes a new preface and each chapter has been revised to keep it as uptodate as possible. Mary mcclintock fulkerson is professor of theology at duke university divinity school. The latest book on the subject, a collection edited by charlene. The attitude of women towards religion as well as womens role in various religious teachings and institutions has been the focus of scholarly studies since the 1960s and the 1970s and arose with the development of gender studies and the emergence of concepts like androcentrism and gynocentrism the privileging of the human male, or female, respectively. Christian feminist theology christianitys encounter with feminism might be one of the most significant revolutions ever to happen within the christian tradition, rivaling the impact of the early councils or the reformation in its implications for the future of christian belief and practice. Feminist theology for a new generation religion online. Sheila briggs is associate professor at the school of religion at university of southern california. The mystery of god in feminist theological discourse by elizabeth a. Other pursuits of feminist theology are very similar to the range of studies in theology as a whole. The forum is a membership organization that seeks to facilitate connections and foster resource sharing among feminists in religion. Therefore, there is no such thing as a singular feminist theology in a pluralistic world.
As a critical theology of liberation there is no discipline of traditional theology to which it does not make a contribution. Feminist theology 101 water womens alliance for theology. The feminist studies in religion book series welcomes the submission of book proposals in cutting edge research at the intersection of feminist theory and religious studies. Feminist theology is the study of how women relate to the divine and the world around them as equal creations in the image of god.
The womens movement and feminist theology have frequently been castigated for their preoccupation with the concerns of white. The book illustrates how debates about feminism within the study of religions have been impacted by broader theoretical discussions and provides evidence that feminist scholars working on religion have made their own contribution to feminist theory. The books contribution to feminist philosophy of religion is substantial and original it brings the continental and angloamerican traditions into substantive and productive conversation with each other. Feminist theology and the challenge of difference reflection and theory in the study of religion margaret d.
A companion to the journal of feminist studies in religion, the oldest feminist academic journal in religious studies, this series is likewise interreligious in its subjects, transdisciplinary in its methods, and intersectional in its analyses. While it does not restrict itself to the work of feminist theologians and thinkers in these islands, feminist theology aims to give a voice to the women of britain and ireland in matters of theology and religion. Feminist philosophy of religion bibliography philpapers. An intellectual development with profound spiritual, psychological, and political implications, it shares with christian theology in general the classic aim of faith seeking understanding, but is distinguished by two additional features. Feminist theory and christian theology guides to theological. This is a great starting place for someone who doesnt have a background in feminism andor historicalcritical analysis in religion. The series seeks to publish the work of both established and emerging feminist scholars in religion. List of books and articles about feminist theology. Within the umbrella of feminist theology there are an amazing range of conversations on a wide variety of subjects.
The experience of praying with siddur nashim the first sabbath prayer book to refer to god using female pronouns and imagery. Oxford handbook of feminist theology oxford handbooks. Feminist theology, however, presents a number of major problems. Feminist philosophy of religion stanford encyclopedia of philosophy. These two, published in the same year, offer overviews of some of the key developments in christian feminist theology in the modern period. The growth of feminism in religion is most strikingly displayed in the rising. This introductory text constructs a christian feminist theology, and lays out a view of the world indebted to both traditional christian faith and recent feminist thought critical of that faith. The routledge handbook of african theology 1st edition. Feminist theology, on the other hand, flourishes in an academic field. It is our delight to present a selection of books in the wide realm of feminism and religiontheologyethicsspirituality.
The term feminism itself is subject to many different interpretations, with varying levels of biblical support. God does not say that women are inferior than men, but says to have submission. The theory has influenced our society, politics, and social behavior by integrating sexism, gender equality, and equal opportunities. Sheila briggs is associate professor at the school of. Some of the questions feminist theologians ask are. Its a big conversation involving women and men from across christian denominations sharing their thoughts in everything from scholarly dissertations to blogs and popular books. It links developments in curriculum and pedagogy to the theoretical and political changes that occurred within feminist thought and practice during that period. To increasing numbers of women, these questions are not trivial, nor are the answers selfevident. Feminist studies in religion books feminist studies in religion. Posts about feminist theology written by gina messina, carol p.
Feminist theory and christian theology guides to theological inquiry. Meet the mother of african feminist theology sojourners. In each area, womens experience and relationship to god is brought to the forefront. Christ, trelawney grenfellmuir, guest contributor, ivy helman, elizabeth cunningham, tallessyn zawn grenfelllee, elise m. To view faculty members by area of expertise, please click on the topics in the righthand column. Discover librarianselected research resources on feminist theology from the questia online library, including fulltext online books, academic journals, magazines, newspapers and more. What were reading water womens alliance for theology. Feminisms are a grand conversation, and feminist theology is informed by feminist theory. The editors are committed to rigorous thinking and analysis in the service of feminist transformation of both the discipline of religious studies and the institutions of religion and society. Introducing feminist theology remains a lively and stimulating first read for anyone embarking on feminist theology, as well as a first rate resource for those wishing to refresh their acquiantaince with it. Written by feminist scholars over a period of nearly thirty years, the selected readings are wideranging in content, offer a multiethnic and multicultural perspective, and reflect the work of scholars working within religious studies as well as other disciplines. Journal of feminist studies in religion 2 spring 1986. Some of todays best feminist theologians are writing fiction. Feminist approaches to theology, i i 8 it possible to be both a woman and a christian at the same time.
Currently the director of the institute of women in religion and culture at trinity theological seminary. Introduction to feminist theology there are a number of introductory texts aimed at students and those coming new to the field. Feminist theology attempts to consider every aspect of religious practice and thought. List of books and articles about women and religion online. The book presents a revisioning of theological topics from a feminist.
Ellen armour to what extent has the emergence of the study of religion in western culture been gendered. I do not refer to their erudite, critical analyses of texts and concepts as novels. Please note, there are themes within feminism that the bible strongly endorses. Sex, christian feminists began to develop a sustained critique of their religion. Feminist theology essay the original idea of feminism was to eliminate inequality of women and obtain all the basic rights god gave to every human being. Kamitsuka in the early years of contesting patriarchy in the academy and religious institutions, feminist theology often presented itself as a unified front, a sisterhood.
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