1.1 Feminist theology and religious studies: Key concepts and approaches

Feminist theology challenges traditional religious interpretations, promoting gender equality in religious practices and leadership. It combines theology, gender studies, and critical theory to examine power dynamics and analyze how gender shapes religious experiences.

Key concepts include hermeneutics of suspicion, lived religion, intersectionality, thealogy, womanism, and mujerista theology. These approaches expand research focus, develop gender-sensitive methods, and reinterpret religious texts to recover women's contributions to religious history.

Feminist Theology: Foundations and Concepts

Definition of feminist theology

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  Practical theology: a current international perspective View original

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  Liberation 07 – Womanist Theology | Hacking Christianity View original

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  The Role of Patriarchy in the Roll-back of Democracy | Heinrich Böll Stiftung | Nairobi Office ... View original

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  Practical theology: a current international perspective View original

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  Liberation 07 – Womanist Theology | Hacking Christianity View original

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• Feminist theology critiques traditional religious interpretations and reinterprets religious texts from feminist perspective
• Main goals challenge patriarchal structures in religious institutions, recover women's voices in religious history
• Promotes gender equality in religious practices and leadership, develops inclusive language and imagery
• Interdisciplinary approach combines theology, gender studies, and critical theory
• Examines power dynamics in religious traditions, analyzes how gender shapes religious experiences

Key concepts in feminist approaches

• Hermeneutics of suspicion critically reads religious texts to uncover gender bias, questions traditional interpretations
• Lived religion focuses on everyday religious practices, emphasizes women's agency in shaping religious life
• Intersectionality recognizes multiple forms of oppression, analyzes gender interaction with race, class, sexuality
• Thealogy explores feminine divine imagery and goddess-centered spirituality (Gaia, Shakti)
• Womanism presents African American women's perspective on theology and religious experience
• Mujerista theology offers Latina women's approach to theology and religious activism

Feminist Theology: Impact and Approaches

Impact on women and religion studies

• Expanded research focus includes women's religious experiences and non-traditional roles (priestesses, female imams)
• Methodological innovations develop gender-sensitive research methods, incorporate women's narratives
• Reinterpretation of religious texts recovers women's contributions to religious history (Mary Magdalene, Aisha)
• Institutional changes advocate for women's ordination and leadership roles (female rabbis, Buddhist nuns)
• Interfaith dialogue promotes women's voices in inter-religious discussions, explores common feminist themes

Comparison of feminist theological approaches

• Liberal feminist theology focuses on equality within existing religious structures, advocates for women's ordination
• Radical feminist theology rejects patriarchal traditions, develops alternative women-centered spiritualities (Goddess movement)
• Post-colonial feminist theology critiques Western feminist assumptions, integrates cultural and religious diversity
• Queer theology challenges binary gender categories, explores LGBTQ+ experiences in religious contexts
• Eco-feminist theology connects environmental concerns with feminist spirituality, critiques domination in gender and nature
• Comparative approaches:
  1. Similarities: critique of patriarchy, emphasis on women's experiences
  2. Differences: varying attitudes toward traditional religious structures
  3. Contextual factors: cultural, historical, and religious backgrounds influence approaches