Feminist Theology: Women Reading the Bible in Contemporary Christianity

In this course we will begin with a survey of women's thought and spirituality in western Christianity, then examine the rise of, and resistance to, feminist theology in recent times. We will explore the theological, social, and ethical contexts of Christian feminist challenges to traditional God-language, especially ways of thinking about the Trinity in feminine or gender-neutral terms. We will also consider questions of biblical canon and translation, from Elizabeth Cady Stanton's Bible to current inclusive-language versions, and the ways in which controversial theologians such as Rosemary Ruether and Emilie Townes have reinterpreted classical biblical stories to teach liberationist principles of social justice and racial equality. 3 hrs. lect./disc.