Christian feminism

Part of a series on
Feminism
Women Girls Femininity
History Social Women's history Feminist history History of feminism History of American women History of Canadian women History of German women History of women in the United Kingdom Timelines Women's suffrage Muslim-majority countries United States Other women's rights Suffrage by country Australia Canada Japan Kuwait New Zealand Sweden Switzerland United Kingdom Wales United States In states Utah Waves First Second Third Fourth
Variants Amazon Analytical Anarchist Anti-pornography Anti-prostitution feminism Atheist Conservative Cultural Cyber Democratic Confederalism Difference Eco Vegetarian Equality Fat French French post-structuralist Gender Global Hip-hop/Hip hop Individualist Labor Lesbian Liberal Equity Lipstick Marxist Material Maternal Neo New Post Postcolonial Postmodern Pro-life Pro-sex worker Post-structural Racial Black Chicana Indigenous Native American Radical Radical lesbians Religious Buddhist Christian Neopagan Dianic Wicca Reclaiming Hindu Islamic Jewish Orthodox Mormon Sikh Separatist Sex-positive Social Socialist Standpoint Third world Trans Transnational Womanism Africana
Concepts Antifeminism Bicycling Children's literature Effects on society Equality Female education Femicide Feminazi Feminism and GIS Feminism in culture Feminist stripper Gender equality Girl power International Women's Day Language reform Male gaze Matriarchal religion Media Men and feminism Meninism Movement African-American woman suffrage movement Art movement In hip hop Networked feminism Political lesbianism Lesbian separatism Pro-feminism Protofeminism Reproductive justice Sexual harassment State feminism Straw feminism Theory in composition studies Transgender and transexual Triple oppression Victim feminism Views on BDSM Views of pornography Views on prostitution War on Women Women's health Women's rights
Theory Feminist method Gender studies Gender mainstreaming Gynocentrism Kyriarchy Matriarchy Women's studies Men's studies Patriarchy Écriture féminine Feminist... anthropology archaeology architecture art art criticism literary criticism film theory biology composition studies criminology pathways perspective economics fpda geography international relations constructivism legal theory pedagogy philosophy aesthetics empiricism epistemology ethics justice ethics existentialism metaphysics Oedipus complex political ecology political theory pornography psychology revisionist mythology science fiction sexology sociology technoscience theology thealogy womanist theology
By country Albania Australia Bangladesh Brazil Canada China Republic of the Congo Denmark Egypt Ethiopia Finland France Germany Ghana Greece Hong Kong India Indonesia Iran Iraq Republic of Ireland Israel Italy Japan Latin America Argentina Chile Haiti Honduras Mexico Paraguay Trinidad and Tobago Lebanon Malaysia Mali Nepal Netherlands New Zealand Nigeria Northern Cyprus Norway Pakistan Philippines Poland Russia Syria South Africa South Korea Sweden Taiwan Thailand Turkey Vietnam Ukraine United Kingdom United States Feminist movement History of women
Lists and categories Lists Articles Feminists by nationality Literature American feminist literature Feminist comic books Conservative feminist Countries by women's average years in school Ecofeminist authors Feminist art critics Feminist economists Feminist philosophers Feminist poets Feminist rhetoricians Jewish feminists Feminist parties Suffragists and suffragettes Women's rights activists Women's studies journals Women's suffrage organizations Categories Women's rights by country Feminists by nationality
Feminism portal

Christian feminism is an aspect of feminist theology which seeks to advance and understand the equality of men and women morally, socially, spiritually, and in leadership from a Christian perspective. Christian feminists argue that contributions by women in that direction are necessary for a complete understanding of Christianity.^[1] Christian feminists believe that God does not discriminate on the basis of biologically-determined characteristics such as sex and race.^[2] Their major issues include the ordination of women, male dominance in Christian marriage, recognition of equal spiritual and moral abilities, reproductive rights, and the search for a feminine or gender-transcendent divine.^[3][4][5][6] Christian feminists often draw on the teachings of other religions and ideologies in addition to biblical evidence.^[7]

The term Christian egalitarianism is often preferred by those advocating gender equality and equity among Christians who do not wish to associate themselves with the feminist movement.^[8]

History

Some Christian feminists believe that the principle of egalitarianism was present in the teachings of Jesus and the early Christian movements, but this is a highly contested view. These interpretations of Christian origins have been criticized for "anachronistically projecting contemporary ideals back into the first century."^[9] In the Middle Ages Julian of Norwich and Hildegard of Bingen explored the idea of a divine power with both masculine and feminine aspects.^[10][11] Feminist works from the fifteenth to seventeenth centuries addressed objections to women learning, teaching and preaching in a religious context.^[12] One such proto-feminist was Anne Hutchinson who was cast out of the Puritan colony of Massachusetts for teaching on the dignity and rights of women.^[13]

The first wave of feminism in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries included an increased interest in the place of women in religion. Women who were campaigning for their rights began to question their inferiority both within the church and in other spheres justified by church teachings.^[14] Some Christian feminists of this period were Marie Maugeret, Katharine Bushnell, Catherine Booth, Frances Willard, and Elizabeth Cady Stanton.

Christian feminists conflict with modern day feminists in the fact that Christian feminists do not believe in a general hierarchy of gender. Essentially, it is believed that God created all beings as equal; therefore, viewing males as dominant or more powerful would distract or be an obstacle of getting where God wants them to be and what he wants them to accomplish. Whereas, modern day feminists that tend to be more radical are in a state of rebellion of society's gender norms. For example, they fight for equal lingo such as saying "congressperson" instead of "congressman". Some modern feminists even fight against the gender order that God has given to humans and demand that this hierarchy be forgotten. Christian feminists choose to remain peaceful and show their feminist qualities through their spirituality. They know that they have the same rights as anyone else to follow God through their lives.^[15]

Issues

Part of a series on Christianity and gender
Theology
1 Timothy 2:12 Biblical womanhood Christian views on marriage Female disciples of Jesus Jesus' interactions with women List of women in the Bible Ordination of women (Catholic, Protestant) Paul the Apostle and women Rape in the Hebrew Bible Women as theological figures Women in the Bible Women in Christianity
Four major positions
Christian egalitarianism Christian feminism Complementarianism Biblical patriarchy
Church and society
Christianity and homosexuality Women in Church history
Organizations
Feminist Evangelical and Ecumenical Women's Caucus Egalitarian Christians for Biblical Equality Complementarian Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood Patriarchal Vision Forum (defunct)
Theologians and authors
Feminist Anne Eggebroten Grace Jantzen Virginia Ramey Mollenkott Letha Dawson Scanzoni Egalitarian Gilbert Bilezikian Gordon Fee Kevin Giles Stanley Grenz Kenneth E. Hagin Paul Jewett Roger Nicole Frank Stagg William J. Webb Complementarian Don Carson John Frame Wayne Grudem George W. Knight III Albert Mohler Douglas Moo Dorothy Patterson Paige Patterson John Piper Vern Poythress Roman Catholic Phyllis Zagano Eastern Orthodox Frederica Mathewes-Green

Women in church leadership

In both mainline and liberal branches of Protestant Christianity, women are ordained as clergy. Even some theologically conservative denominations, such as Assemblies of God,^[16] ordain women as pastors. However, the Roman Catholic Church, the Orthodox Church, the Southern Baptist Convention (the largest Protestant denomination in the U.S.),^[17] as well as The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), and many churches in the American Evangelical movement prohibit women from entering clerical positions.^[18] Some Christian feminists believe that as women have greater opportunity to receive theological training, they will have greater influence on how scriptures are interpreted by those that deny women the right to become ministers.^[19]

Women as spiritually deficient

Understanding whether women are spiritually deficient to men partly hinges on whether women are equipped spiritually with discernment to teach. The following passages also relate to whether women are inherently spiritually discerning as men:

• Galatians 3:28. "There is neither…male nor female for all are one in Christ Jesus."
• Deborah of the Old Testament was a prophetess and "judge of Israel"^[20]
• Genesis 2:20. The word translated "help" or "helper" is the same Hebrew word, "ēzer," which the Old Testament uses more than 17 times to describe the kind of help that God brings to His people in times of need; e.g., "Thou art my help (ēzer) and my deliverer," and "My help (ēzer) comes from the Lord." Never once in all these references is the word used to indicate subordination or servitude to another human being.^[21]
• Genesis 3:16. "To the woman he (God) said, 'I will greatly increase your pains in childbearing; in pain you shall bring forth children, yet your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you.'"
• Timothy 2:12. "But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence."
• 1 Corinthians 11:7-9. "For a man ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God, but woman is the glory of man. For man was not made from woman, but woman from man. Neither was man created for woman, but woman for man."
• 1 Corinthians 14:34. "The women should keep silent in the churches. For they are not permitted to speak, but should be in submission, as the Law also says."
• Colossians 3:18. "Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord."
• 1 Peter 3:1. "Likewise, wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives."

°1 Ephesians 5:22-33. "Wives, be subject to your husbands as you are to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife just as Christ is the head of the church, the body of which he is the Savior. 24 Just as the church is subject to Christ, so also wives ought to be, in everything, to their husbands."

Reproduction, sexuality and religion

Conservative religious groups are often at philosophical odds with many feminist and liberal religious groups over abortion and the use of birth control. Scholars like sociologist Flann Campbell have argued that conservative religious denominations tend to restrict male and female sexuality^[22][23] by prohibiting or limiting birth control use,^[24] and condemning abortion as sinful murder.^[25][26] Some Christian feminists (like Teresa Forcades) contend that a woman's "right to control her pregnancy is bounded by considerations of her own well-being" and that restricted access to birth control and abortion disrespect her God-given free will.^[27]

A number of socially progressive mainline Protestant denominations as well as certain Jewish organizations and the group Catholics for a Free Choice have formed the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice.^[28] The RCRC often works as a liberal feminist organization and in conjunction with other American feminist groups to oppose conservative religious denominations which, from their perspective, seek to suppress the natural reproductive rights of women.^[29]

Feminine or Gender-transcendent God

Some Christian feminists believe that gender equality within the church cannot be achieved without rethinking the portrayal and understanding of God as a masculine being.^[30] The theological concept of Sophia, usually seen as replacing the Holy Spirit in the Trinity, is often used to fulfill this desire for symbols which reflect women's religious experiences. How Sophia is configured is not static, but usually filled with emotions and individual expression.^[31] For some Christian feminists, the Sophia concept is found in a search for women who reflect contemporary feminist ideals in both the Old and New Testament. Some figures used for this purpose include the Virgin Mary, Mary Magdalene,^[32] Eve,^[33] and Esther.^[34] Others see God as entirely gender-transcendent.^[35] or focus on the feminine aspects of God and Jesus.^[36] Some Christian feminists use and promote gender neutral and/or feminine language and imagery to describe God and/or Christ. The United Church of Christ describes its New Century Hymnal, published in 1995, as "the only hymnal released by a Christian church that honors in equal measure both male and female images of God." ^[37]

See also

References

Further reading

• Rosemary Radford Ruether, Feminist Theologies: Legacy and Prospect (Minneapolis, MN: Fortress Press, 2007)
• Patricia M. Berliner, Ph.D., Touching Your Lifethread and Revaluing the Feminine Cloverdale Books (2007) ISBN 978-1-929569-20-5
• Mimi Haddad, Ph.D., "Egalitarian Pioneers: Betty Friedan or Catherine Booth?" Priscilla Papers, Vol. 20, No. 4 (Autumn 2006)
• Eryl W. Davies, The Dissenting Reader: Feminist Approaches to the Hebrew Bible (Burlington, VT: Ashgate, 2003)
• Pamela Sue Anderson, A feminist philosophy of religion: the rationality and myths of religious belief (Oxford; Malden, Mass.: Blackwell, 1998)
• Pamela Sue Anderson and Beverley Clack, eds., Feminist philosophy of religion: critical readings (London: Routledge, 2004)
• Letty M. Russell, Church in the Round (Westminster John Knox Press, 1993)
• John Temple Bristow, What Paul Really Said About Women: An Apostle's Liberating Views on Equality in Marriage, Leadership and Love (San Francisco: Harper & Row, 1988)
• Patricia Wilson-Kastner, Faith, Feminism, and the Christ (Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1983).

Journals

• Journal of Feminist Studies in Religion.
• The Woman's Pulpit.

External links

• Christian Feminist articles and books
• Radio Interview with Dr. Rosemary Radford Ruether on Ecofeminism and Christianity, University of Toronto, 16 February 2007.