Exploring the Intersections

An Analysis of Rachel Muer’s Article on

Feminism, Gender and Theology

Ayesha Yumna
Introduction:

Rachel Muers work "Feminism, Gender, and Theology," explores the intricate connections
between feminist theology, gender studies, and wider theological discussions. By examining the
complexities and controversies within feminist theology, the article raises important inquiries
about gender dichotomies, the incorporation of diverse perspectives, and the impact of
theological terminology. This analysis aims to extract the main arguments, themes, and
contributions presented in Muers' research.

Literature Review:

“Feminism and Religion in the 21st Century: Technology, Dialogue, and Expanding Borders”
edited by Gina Messina-Dysert and Rosemary Ruether is a scholarly contribution that delves into
the evolution of feminist theology, offering a comprehensive historical context for the emergence
of feminist perspectives within theological discourse. It critically examines the challenges and
contributions of feminist theology, specifically addressing issues about gender, language, and
authority. This particular work holds significant relevance for textual analysis of Muers' article as
it explores the broader trends and debates within feminist theology, thereby providing a solid
foundation for comprehending Muers' specific contributions and the contextual framework in
which they are situated.

Another work "Gender, Ethnicity, and Religion: Views from the Other Side" edited by Rosemary
Radford Ruether and Rosemary Keller (2002). It is a compilation of essays by prominent
feminist theologians that presents a diverse range of perspectives on the intersectionality of
gender, ethnicity, and religion. Considering Muers' engagement with postcolonial feminist
discourses and the challenges posed by queer theory in her article, this scholarly work offers
valuable insights into the broader discussions surrounding these themes. The essays within this
collection contribute to a nuanced understanding of the complexities inherent in feminist
theology, which Muers addresses, and can serve as a comparative framework for analyzing and
evaluating her arguments.

Research Methodology:

The methodology involves the process of close reading and annotation, which facilitates the
identification of key arguments, themes, and supporting evidence. Additionally, it incorporates
the practices of note-taking, organizing data, and critically analyzing information to synthesize
the findings into a coherent and concise summary.

Author’s Introduction:

Rachel Muers is a Lecturer in Theology at the University of Exeter AND LEEDS. She was
educated at Cambridge and held a research fellowship at Girton College. She is the author of
Keeping God’s Silence: Towards a Theological Ethics of Communication (2004), and of several
articles and reviews in feminist theology and theological ethics.
 Summary

Key Themes:

Feminism is a wide range of political movements, ideologies and social movements that share a
common goal to define, establish, and achieve political, economic, personal and social equality
of sexes. The underlying premise of feminism is to seek women’s equality and justice in every
sphere of life and create opportunities for women to have the same access to the resources that
are otherwise freely available to men.1

Gender refers to the socially constructed roles, behaviours, expressions and identities of girls,
women, boys, men, and gender-diverse people. It influences how people perceive themselves and
each other, how they act and interact, and the distribution of power and resources in society.
Gender identity is not confined to a binary (girl/woman, boy/man) nor is it static; it exists along a
continuum and can change over time.2

1
Javeed Ahmad Raina, “Feminism: An Overview,” International Journal of Research 4, no. 13 (October 2017), 1.
2
“What Is Gender? What Is Sex?,” CIHR, 2023, https://cihr-irsc.gc.ca/e/48642.html.
Theology explores the nature of divinity and its relevance to human existence. It encompasses
diverse perspectives and traditions, influencing ethical and moral frameworks.3

Introduction:

The opening paragraph highlights the significance of the rise of women's voices, feminist
concerns, and gender analysis in theology during the twentieth century. It acknowledges that
women have always been involved in theological thought, but it was in the twentieth century that
the feminist movement explicitly recognized how earlier theology had systematically silenced
women and perpetuated their oppression.

Feminist Theology's Purpose: Feminist theology emerged to proclaim, through the diverse
voices of women, that the Christian gospel is good news for both women and men. It asserts that
the promise of liberation from sin extends to the structural sin of sexism, which feminist thought
and action identify and challenge.

Second-Wave Feminism and Theologians' Role: The latter half of the twentieth century
witnessed the intensification of feminist campaigning and theorizing, commonly referred to as
"second-wave feminism." Theologians played a significant role in this movement by analyzing
the social, political, and sexual oppression faced by women. They aimed to develop theologies
and spiritualities that would foster the complete flourishing of women.

Global Dimension of Feminist Theology: Feminist theology was not limited to Europe and
North America; it also flourished in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. It engaged with
postcolonial, liberation, and inculturated theologies, seeking to express Christianity in the
language and context of the people who practised it. This challenged traditional missionary
perspectives.

Survey of Feminist Theology: A comprehensive examination of feminist theology must take

into account its unique content, approach, sources, and norms. Feminist theology views the act of

3
AdmissionSight, “Exploring Theology: The Study of Divine and Religious Beliefs,” AdmissionSight, March 25,
2023, https://admissionsight.com/exploring-theology-the-study-of-divine-and-religious-beliefs/.
doing theology as both an ethical and political endeavour. It emphasizes themes such as the
theological significance of difference and diversity, the reimagining of theological anthropology,
and the exploration of new ways to articulate the nature of God.

Critical Re-reading of Theological Tradition and the Bible: Feminist theology critically
examines the theological tradition, including the Bible. Modern feminist biblical scholarship
began with the Woman's Bible and subsequent interpretations have questioned the authority of
biblical texts, recognizing them as products of patriarchal cultures. This critical re-reading
extends beyond the theological tradition to challenge and reinterpret the scriptures.

Gender Analysis: Woman/body/nature:

Gender Analysis in Theology: Feminist theologians employ gender analysis as a tool to

uncover the symbolic structures that perpetuate the oppression of women within theology. By
examining theological texts, they reveal the dualisms that associate women with sinfulness,
chaos, and negative aspects of the physical body. Additionally, they critique the naming of God
as male, as it contributes to upholding oppressive structures.

Theological revaluation of the body: It is a key aspect of feminist theology, as it challenges the
gendered binaries that shape theological thinking. These binaries include man/woman,
spirit/matter, reason/emotion, and soul/body. Within Christian theology, there has been a
persistent failure to adequately consider the creation and redemption of the female body.
Therefore, a renewed theology of the body is essential in contemporary Christianity to address
the devaluation of women's bodies and emphasize the significance of embodiment.

The Focus on Jesus’ Male Body: The maleness of Jesus' body holds significant importance in
Christian thought, particularly in discussions surrounding women's priesthood and ministry.
Post-Christian feminists find the particularity of Jesus, including his maleness, to be a challenge,
leading some to reject Christianity altogether. In response to these challenges, feminist
theologians explore alternative interpretations. Some highlight associations of Jesus' body with
"female" characteristics, challenging fixed and normative interpretations.
Connection with Nature: Ecofeminist movements find support from numerous feminist
theologians who draw a parallel between the empowerment of women and the preservation of the
natural environment. Within the Christian theological sphere, some scholars actively contribute
to ecofeminist arguments, highlighting the importance of an ecologically aware theology that
acknowledges humanity's interconnectedness with nature.

What is man/ What is God:

Naming and Imagining God: Concerns regarding the idolatrous nature of naming and
envisioning God in male terms are raised by feminist theological reflection. Mary Daly critiques
the portrayal of male power supported by violence in the "Godfather" figure within Christianity.
Feminist theology engages in both critiquing idolatry and appropriating trinitarian theology to
challenge the traditional male image of God.

Critique within the Patriarchal Tradition: Feminist theologians critically analyze biblical and
traditional texts concerning the naming of God, acknowledging their position within a patriarchal
tradition. They pay attention to the exclusion or subordination of female depictions of God in
theological discourse.

Debate on God and Gender-Neutrality: While God is expected to be gender-neutral, feminist

theologians argue that God has predominantly been imagined as male. Valerie Saiving
Goldstein's work challenges the assumption of gender neutrality in theology, highlighting the
importance of addressing the sinfulness of women in a patriarchal society.

Theological Accounts of Masculinity: Questioning gender neutrality leads to theological

reflection on maleness, recognising the scarcity but significance of theological accounts of
masculinity. This reflection is a response to feminist critiques, aiming to avoid perpetuating the
norm of men and the marginalization of women.

Reflection on Gay, Lesbian, and "Queer" Identity: Theological reflection on gay, lesbian, and
"queer" identity is a more advanced and intricate field, demonstrating a more inclusive approach
to gender and sexuality in theological discourse.
Profiles of Influential Feminist Theologians and Thinkers:

Chung Hyun Kyung: Stresses the importance of basing theology on the real-life experiences of
East Asian women. She utilizes the image of Kwan Yin, an East Asian goddess, to envision the
Holy Spirit and a feminine representation of Christ. She aims to affirm women as fully human
and bearers of the divine image, with a theology that addresses their suffering and empowers
them. She explores the concept of Han as a means to achieve spiritual and material liberation.
Moreover, advocates for a spirituality centred on the earth and the interconnectedness of nature.

Rosemary Radford Ruether: She examines the connections between patriarchal structures,
militarism, and environmental degradation. Her Focus is on Christology within the prophetic
tradition, viewing Jesus as a figure who challenges injustice and empowers communities for
prophetic work.

Elisabeth Schüssler Fiorenza: One of the pioneers of feminist biblical criticism, uncovering the
significant presence of women in early Christian history. She prefers the term "kyriarchy" over
"patriarchy" to address broader systems of domination beyond gender.

Mercy Amba Oduyoye: She contextualizes the lives and theologies of African women within
their interactions with traditional society, colonialism, and postcolonial movements. Her main
focus is on oral narratives, storytelling, and the theology of African Christian women. She
critically appropriates African traditional religion, highlighting God as the source of life and
calling for comprehensive healing and liberation.

Luce Irigaray: Se delves into philosophical and psychoanalytic dialogues concerning the
symbolism of gender and the feminine. She advocates for the inclusion of female representations
of God, as it opens up the potential for female subjectivity. Additionally, she explores the
concept of the "sensible transcendental" and how the incarnation impacts women's embodiment
and their connection with the transcendent.

Each theologian brings their distinct viewpoints and approaches, influencing feminist theological
discussions and actively participating in broader philosophical and theological ideas.
Gay, Lesbian and Queer Theologies:

Sexism and Homophobia Connection: Sexism, or patriarchy, relies on maintaining a distinct

division between males and females. It excludes characteristics associated with femininity,
including the erotic relationship with men, from the male domain. The patriarchal culture can be
considered "hom(m)osexual" as it denies women an identity outside of male-defined norms.
Individuals who deviate from expected gender norms challenge the social order that is based on
gender.

Theological implications of non-heterosexual identities: It is closely connected to feminist

theology. Gay and lesbian theologies challenge the devaluation of erotic and sexual aspects in
traditional theology and ethics. Theological reevaluation of the body extends to critiquing the
exclusion of sexual desire, particularly women's desire, from theological texts.

The critique of heteronormativity in theology assumes that only heterosexual expressions of

erotic love are valid. Theologians like Carter Heyward challenge this assumption by using "eros"
to describe the work of God in human relationships.4 The exclusion of diverse sexual desires is
linked to the marginalization of those whose expressions defy established norms.

Queer theology, influenced by queer theory by Judith Butler and Foucault,5 questions the
stability of identities. It examines how gender binaries are used to suppress "deviant" sexual
desires that challenge fixed categorizations of individuals. It challenges the notion of the
"naturalness" of heterosexual identities, considering it potentially idolatrous. Queer theology
calls for the recognition of the diversity of desire as potentially participating in God's redemptive
purposes.

Diversity within Queer Theology: Within queer theology, there is a range of perspectives.
Some theologians, such as Eugene F. Rogers, find a unity between queer theology and older
theological traditions.6 Queer theology can be seen as more "orthodox" and engaged with various

4
Rachel Muers, “Feminism, Gender and Theology,” in The Modern Theologians: An Introduction to Christian
Theology Since 1918 (John Wiley & Sons, 2013), 445.
5
Ibid.
6
Ibid.
theological thoughts compared to earlier gay and lesbian theologies. Marcella Althaus-Reid's
"queer" re-reading of Latin American liberation theology shows the potential of using queer
theory to destabilize oppressive theological orthodoxies.

Debate:

The debates within feminist theology and its interaction with broader theological discourse raise
significant questions about gender binaries, women's experiences, and the nature of theological
discourse itself.

Gender Binaries and Women's Experience: One debate centres on whether associating
femaleness with the body reinforces hierarchical gender ordering or aids in the emancipation of
both genders. The concept of "women's experience" in theology becomes problematic due to
postcolonial feminist discourses and queer theory challenging the notion of a singular women's
experience. Solidarity among feminist theologians, embracing plurality while maintaining a
common goal, becomes crucial amidst opposition and varying perspectives.

Feminist Theology vs. Gender and Theology: The distinction between "feminist theology" and
"gender and theology" represents a shift from disruptive feminist practice to a subtopic within
theology, sparking debates about gender's centrality in theological discourse.

Tradition, Canon, and Authority: Feminist theologians grapple with commitments to

androcentric origins in theological texts while facing opposition that views feminist readings as
detracting from text authority.

Queer Theology and Church Disputes: Disputes within faith communities regarding
homosexuality overshadow the broader questions raised by queer theology about Christ's
transformative impact on embodied identity. Queer theology suggests unexplored resources for
theological debate beyond the focus on "the gay issue."

Achievement and Agenda:

The Evolution of Theology: Theology has undergone a significant transformation due to the
influence of feminist movements and analytical tools.

Assessment of Achievements: According to Rebecca Chopp, the assessment of feminist

theology's achievements should not be limited to textual and conceptual aspects, but should also
consider the transformative impact it has had on people's lives.7 The interconnections between
theological thought, spirituality, and politics are explicitly highlighted.

Dual Commitment of Feminist Theologians: Feminist theologians are committed to both

advancing feminist concerns within their community and upholding the traditions of theological
contemplation about God.

Interfaith Dialogues: Feminist theology plays a crucial role in fostering interfaith conversations
that acknowledge the shortcomings of different faith traditions and emphasize the significance of
symbols and narratives. By engaging with perspectives that are radically different from their
own, feminist theology contributes to a broader framework for discussing and understanding
God.

Conclusion:

Rachel Muers' work, "Feminism, Gender, and Theology," presents the intricate connection
between feminism, gender dynamics, and theological frameworks. This article is notable for its
comprehensive analysis and skilful incorporation of diverse perspectives. However, at times, it
adopts a dense academic style that may present accessibility challenges for those less familiar
with the subject matter. She could enhance accessibility without compromising scholarly rigour.
Moreover, a more nuanced approach would enhance the exploration of queer theology and its
interaction with traditional theological paradigms.

7
Muers, “Feminism, Gender and Theology,”, 447.
 Bibliography

AdmissionSight. “Exploring Theology: The Study of Divine and Religious Beliefs.”

AdmissionSight, March 25, 2023.
https://admissionsight.com/exploring-theology-the-study-of-divine-and-religious-beliefs/.

Muers, Rachel. “Feminism, Gender and Theology.” In The Modern Theologians: An Introduction
to Christian Theology Since 1918. John Wiley & Sons, 2013.

Raina, Javeed Ahmad. “Feminism: An Overview.” International Journal of Research 4, no. 13

(October 2017).

CIHR. “What Is Gender? What Is Sex?,” 2023. https://cihr-irsc.gc.ca/e/48642.html.