Feminist Biblical Criticism - 9 views

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  #1 Brenda Goodman on 17 Feb 10

   

  Feminist Biblical Criticism involves both a critical assessment of androcentric attributes of the Bible and the Bible's erudition, an opposition to the oppressive ways the texts have been used, and a liberation of such texts to recreate the feminine voice and rediscover the women in scripture.
  
  In her book, Sharing Her Word, Elizabeth Schussler Fiorenza states, "The diverse theoretical articulations of feminism, I suggest, come together in their critique of elite male supremacy and hold that gender is socially constructed rather than innate or ordained by God." The author also explains, "Feminism is best understood as a theoretical perspective and a historical movement for changing socio-cultural and religious institutions and structures of domination and exploitation."
  
  What is perhaps at the crux of this critique is noted in the feminist criticism outline provided by the Associate Professor of Biblical Studies, Dr. Hoffman of Gettysburg Seminary: "How can a woman be empowered by reading a biblical text?"
  
  Prominent Feminist Scholars: Heather A. McKay, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Tikva Frymer-Kensky, Elizabeth Schussler Fiorenza

   

  <div class="cArrow"> </div><div class="cContentInner">Feminist Biblical Criticism involves both a critical assessment of androcentric attributes of the Bible and the Bible's erudition, an opposition to the oppressive ways the texts have been used, and a liberation of such texts to recreate the feminine voice and rediscover the women in scripture. <br /> <br /> In her book, Sharing Her Word, Elizabeth Schussler Fiorenza states, "The diverse theoretical articulations of feminism, I suggest, come together in their critique of elite male supremacy and hold that gender is socially constructed rather than innate or ordained by God." The author also explains, "Feminism is best understood as a theoretical perspective and a historical movement for changing socio-cultural and religious institutions and structures of domination and exploitation." <br /> <br /> What is perhaps at the crux of this critique is noted in the feminist criticism outline provided by the Associate Professor of Biblical Studies, Dr. Hoffman of Gettysburg Seminary: "How can a woman be empowered by reading a biblical text?" <br /> <br /> Prominent Feminist Scholars: Heather A. McKay, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Tikva Frymer-Kensky, Elizabeth Schussler Fiorenza</div>

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  #2 Schawn Kellogg on 17 Feb 10

   

  This Biblical approach was new to me before I came to Iliff and I have so appreciated working with this lens. Although it relates to feminine considerations, reading again about the goals of this approach make me think of how it relates to the movement to make ourselves aware of white privilege and the related domination and exploitation of white privilege.

   

  <div class="cArrow"> </div><div class="cContentInner">This Biblical approach was new to me before I came to Iliff and I have so appreciated working with this lens. Although it relates to feminine considerations, reading again about the goals of this approach make me think of how it relates to the movement to make ourselves aware of white privilege and the related domination and exploitation of white privilege.</div>

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  #3 Aaron Pope on 17 Feb 10

   

  I too, like Schawn, had limited to no experience with Feminism and Feminist Scholarship before I came to Iliff. In fact, the only exposure I had was in an Introductory Theology Class where we were required to read Mary Daly, and that gave me a very negative view of Feminist Scholarship in general (the language of removing the divine phallus disturbed me). Although now I have a much greater respect for Feminism and its contributions to theological and biblical study (e.g. hermeneutics of suspicion) and I try to always remember how "a woman can be empowered by reading a biblical text".

   

  <div class="cArrow"> </div><div class="cContentInner">I too, like Schawn, had limited to no experience with Feminism and Feminist Scholarship before I came to Iliff. In fact, the only exposure I had was in an Introductory Theology Class where we were required to read Mary Daly, and that gave me a very negative view of Feminist Scholarship in general (the language of removing the divine phallus disturbed me). Although now I have a much greater respect for Feminism and its contributions to theological and biblical study (e.g. hermeneutics of suspicion) and I try to always remember how "a woman can be empowered by reading a biblical text".</div>

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