ST582
Houts
ST582: EVANGELICAL PERSPECTIVES ON FEMINIST THEOLOGY. Margo G. Houts.
DESCRIPTION:
- This course will survey the wide variety of strands within the
rapidly expanding field of feminist theologies. Students will be introduced to
feminist, womanist, mujerista, Asian-American and Third World feminist
critiques of traditional Christianity through readings and lectures. They will
be encouraged to evaluate, wrestle and reflect personally with those critiques,
through class discussions, short response papers, journaling and other
assignments. Class format will strive to reflect feminist values of mutuality
and cooperation.
RELEVANCE FOR MINISTRY:
- Feminist theologians are challenging the traditional language,
imagery, theology and practice of the church. Convinced that androcentric
Christianity has distorted our understanding of God, ourselves and our relation
to creation, they seek to correct that distortion by reformulating theology
according to women's experiences. The potential explosiveness of that
reformulation requires pastoral sensitivity which begins with awareness of the
issues.
COURSE FORMAT:
- As a two-week intensive, class will meet daily for four-hour
sessions for lecture and discussion of readings.
REQUIRED READING:
- Isherwood, Lisa and Dorothea McEwan, eds. An A to Z of Feminist
Theology. Sheffield: Sheffield Academic Press, 1996.
- LaCugna, Catherine Mowry, ed. Freeing Theology: The Essentials of
Theology in Feminist Perspective. San Francisco: Harper/San Francisco,
1993.
- Loades, Ann, ed. Feminist Theology: A Reader. Louisville:
Westminster/John Knox Press, 1990.
- Articles on reserve in the library.
RECOMMENDED READING:
- Carr, Anne E. Transforming Grace: Christian Tradition and
Women's Experience. San Francisco: Harper & Row, 1988.
- King, Ursula, ed. Feminist Theology from the Third World: A Reader.
Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books, 1994.
- Ruether, Rosemary Radford. Sexism and God-Talk: Toward a Feminist
Theology. Boston: Beacon Press, 1983.
- Russell, Letty M., ed. Feminist Interpretation of the Bible.
Philadelphia: Westminster Press, 1985.
ASSIGNMENTS:
- Assigned readings to be completed before each class.
- Brief 2-page typed "response paper" for specified readings, due at the
start of each class.
- A 15-page research project: either (a) research and evaluate a feminist
critique of one traditional Christian doctrine, or (b) devise a curriculum for
a 4-week course in feminist theology to be taught at your home church.
PREREQUISITES:
- Systematic theology strongly recommended.
RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM:
- Elective.
FINAL EXAMINATION:
- None.