Introducing Feminist Theology

by Clifford, Anne M.

• ISBN13: 9781570752384
• ISBN10: 1570752389
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2001-03-01
• Publisher: Orbis Books

Summary

Introducing Feminist Theology responds to the questions "What is feminist theology?" and "Why is it important?" by considering the perspectives of women from around the globe who have very diverse life experience and relationships to God, Church and creation. Clifford introduces the major forms of feminist theology: "radical, " "reformist, " and "reconstructionist, " and highlights some of their specific characteristics.

Author Biography

Anne M. Clifford is associate professor of theology at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments	xi
Introduction	1	(8)
The ``Why'' and ``What'' of Christian Feminist Theology	9	(37)
Why Feminism?	13	(3)
What Is Feminism?	16	(5)
Second-Wave Feminisms	21	(4)
Third-Wave Feminisms	25	(3)
Why Christian Feminist Theology?	28	(4)
Types of Feminist Theology	32	(6)
Conclusions	38	(1)
A Look Ahead	38	(1)
Notes	39	(3)
Questions for Reflection and Discussion	42	(2)
Areas for Exploration	44	(1)
Recommended Readings	44	(2)
Feminist Perspectives on the Bible	46	(46)
A Spectrum of Viewpoints on the Bible	49	(2)
What Is the Bible?	51	(1)
Biblical Translations	52	(2)
Contemporary Feminists and the Bible	54	(2)
Feminist Hermeneutics and the Bible's Formation	56	(7)
Experiences of God's Self-Disclosure	56	(2)
Oral Repetition of Communal Stories	58	(1)
Writing and Editing	59	(1)
The Biblical Canon	59	(4)
Feminist Hermeneutics Applied to Biblical Passages	63	(2)
Women and the Bible	65	(1)
Euro-American Feminist Biblical Scholarship	66	(13)
A Reconstruction of Eve's Story	66	(5)
The Patriarchal Paradigm Casts a Long Shadow	71	(1)
The Tragedy of Sonless Women	71	(1)
Women, Property of Men	72	(1)
Remembering Partnership in the Old Testament	73	(3)
New Testament, Patriarchy, and Liberation in Tension	76	(3)
The Difference Social Location Makes When Women Interpret the Bible	79	(6)
Interpreting the Bible from a Womanist Perspective	79	(2)
Hispanic Women and the Bible	81	(1)
Sub-Saharan African and Asian Women and the Bible	82	(3)
Conclusions	85	(1)
A Look Ahead	85	(1)
Notes	86	(3)
Questions for Reflection and Discussion	89	(1)
Areas for Exploration	90	(1)
Recommended Readings	91	(1)
Feminist Perspectives on God	92	(41)
Euro-American Feminist Perspectives on Biblical God-Language	97	(12)
Major Names for God	98	(4)
Functional Designations for God	102	(1)
Analogies and Metaphors for God	102	(3)
Female Personifications	105	(4)
The Christian God, a Trinitarian Community	109	(7)
African American Womanist Perspectives on God	116	(4)
Hispanic Women's Perspectives on God	120	(2)
An African Woman's Perspective on God	122	(2)
A South Korean Woman's Perspective on God	124	(1)
Conclusions	124	(2)
A Look Ahead	126	(1)
Notes	126	(4)
Questions for Reflection and Discussion	130	(1)
Areas for Exploration	131	(1)
Recommended Readings	131	(2)
Feminist Perspectives on Women and the Church	133	(45)
The Christian Church(es) Today	136	(1)
The Christian Churches and Sacraments	137	(2)
Ordination and the Christian Churches	139	(1)
Women and the Sacrament of Priestly Ordination	140	(8)
Women and Their Churches	148	(1)
Euro-American Women and the Catholic Church	148	(4)
Euro-American Women and the Protestant Churches	152	(3)
African American Women and Their Churches	155	(9)
Hispanic Women and Their Churches	164	(4)
Conclusions	168	(1)
A Look Ahead	168	(1)
Notes	169	(6)
Questions for Reflection and Discussion	175	(1)
Areas for Exploration	176	(1)
Recommended Readings	176	(2)
Feminist Spirituality, God, Mary, and Her Sister Saints	178	(41)
Christian Spirituality	179	(2)
Christian Feminist Spirituality	181	(1)
Christian Feminist Spirituality and God	182	(4)
Mary, Virgin Mother of God	186	(3)
Mary in European and Euro-American Feminist Thought	189	(5)
Mary in Latin American Feminist Spirituality	194	(5)
Women Saints in Feminist Spirituality	199	(11)
Conclusions	210	(1)
A Look Ahead	211	(1)
Notes	212	(4)
Questions for Reflection and Discussion	216	(1)
Areas for Exploration	216	(1)
Recommended Readings	217	(2)
Feminist Perspectives on Ecology	219	(42)
Ecofeminism: A Twofold Advocacy for Women and Nonhuman Nature	222	(2)
The Logic of Ecofeminist Theory	224	(2)
The Major Strategies of Ecofeminists	226	(7)
Ecofeminist Grassroots Movements	226	(3)
Hermeneutics of Suspicion and an Organic Vision of Nature	229	(3)
Affirmation of the Sacredness of Nature	232	(1)
Ecofeminism and the Divine	233	(2)
Christian Ecofeminist Theology in ``Euro-America''	235	(13)
Christian Ecofeminist Theology in the Third World	248	(5)
Conclusions	253	(1)
Notes	254	(4)
Questions for Reflection and Discussion	258	(1)
Areas for Exploration	259	(1)
Recommended Readings	260	(1)
Epilogue	261	(2)
Notes	263	(2)
Glossary	265	(10)
Index	275