Part I:
1.Explore notion of theology (God-talk): What do feminist theologians argue about traditional theological approaches, theological language, images, theological constructions?
2.What hermeneutical tool/approaches do they propose as part of their methodology? How do they draw from feminist theories?
3.What are the various expressions of feminist theology and how do they contribute to the development of feminist theology and challenge one another?
Part II:
Choose two feminist theological approaches/feminist theologians covered in Cliffords book, Introducing Feminist Theology and discuss how those two approaches and theologians exemplify what you have discussed in the first part (above). For instance, you could choose the material read from Elizabeth Johnson on God and exemplify how her theology of God addresses issues 1-3 in Part I above. Or you can choose the chapter on Women and Church and exemplify how feminist theologians have put to good use 1-3 above in redefining their understandings of the Church. The main point here is to find a way to give concrete examples to your discussion in Part I.
Sample solution
Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell.
In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.
God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.
Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.
To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.
References
Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.
Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.
Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.
Sample Answer
Sample Answer
Feminist Theology: Challenging Traditional Approaches and Embracing Diversity
Part I: Exploring Feminist Theology
Traditional Theological Approaches
Feminist theologians critique traditional theological approaches for their patriarchal biases, exclusion of women’s voices, and reinforcement of gender hierarchies. They argue that theological language, images, and constructions have historically privileged male experiences and perspectives, perpetuating oppressive gender norms and limiting the full expression of diverse human experiences within religious discourse.
Hermeneutical Approaches
Feminist theologians propose hermeneutical tools that prioritize inclusivity, intersectionality, and social justice in interpreting religious texts and traditions. Drawing from feminist theories such as standpoint epistemology, intersectionality, and postcolonial critiques, they advocate for a contextualized reading of scripture, a deconstruction of oppressive power structures, and a reclamation of marginalized voices within theological discourse.
Expressions of Feminist Theology
Various expressions of feminist theology, including womanist theology, mujerista theology, queer theology, and postcolonial feminist theology, contribute to the development of feminist theological discourse by offering diverse perspectives on gender, race, sexuality, class, and colonialism. These different strands challenge one another by highlighting the intersections of multiple forms of oppression, critiquing essentialist notions of womanhood, and fostering solidarity across diverse feminist movements.
Part II: Exemplifying Feminist Theological Approaches
Elizabeth Johnson on God
Elizabeth Johnson’s theological work exemplifies feminist critiques of traditional theological constructions by challenging patriarchal language and images of God. In her book “She Who Is,” Johnson reimagines the divine as inclusive of feminine attributes and challenges hierarchical notions of God’s transcendence. By drawing from feminist theories of liberation and embodiment, Johnson’s theology of God addresses issues of gender justice, ecological sustainability, and social transformation within theological discourse.
Women and Church
The chapter on Women and Church in feminist theology showcases how feminist theologians utilize inclusive hermeneutical approaches to redefine understandings of the Church. By centering women’s experiences, advocating for gender equality in ecclesial leadership, and critiquing institutionalized forms of sexism within religious institutions, feminist theologians challenge patriarchal structures within the Church. Through a lens of intersectionality and social justice, they seek to transform the Church into a space that embodies principles of inclusivity, empowerment, and solidarity with marginalized communities.
In conclusion, feminist theology stands as a vibrant and diverse field that challenges traditional theological approaches, redefines theological language and images, and fosters inclusive interpretations of religious texts. By drawing from feminist theories and advocating for social justice and equality, feminist theologians offer critical insights into the intersections of gender, race, sexuality, and power within religious traditions. Through diverse expressions and methodologies, feminist theology continues to enrich theological discourse, inspire social change, and promote ethical reflection within religious communities.
