this year i've been reading quite a lot of liberation theology, feminist theology and other kinds of contextual theologies. this has been particularly important in developing my theological thought as i seek to discover how to broaden my theological methodology. Being a feminist theologian is challenging, especially because academics tend to sneer(often quite rightly) at the types of things feminist theologians choose to grapple with. being a feminist Christian is even harder. this challenge can be social but for the most part it is an ecclesial challenge. as a member of the Free Church of Scotland i find this a particular challenge since being a feminist theologian can often be discouraged(although may i add not in a directly oppressive way) as it's not going to get one anywhere - women are not able to teach, preach, pastor, be elders(at least not to their male peers).
so why this rant? most of you who read this are my friends and know what i think. often in talking with me face to face it might seem that i'm just falling into another theological fashion and just want something to shout about. but in all seriousness by feminism is rooted in my faith in the liberating Triune God and most certainly in scripture.
i recently wrote a paper on the theological significance of the place of women in the life and ministry of Jesus. This was an challenging and inspiring project as i delved deep into the unknown abyss of literary and biblical criticism and connecting higher biblical interpretation with systematic theology.
So really, what is the theological significance(if any) of the individual women in the life and ministry of Jesus? Or a question to the gospel narrative, how were these heroines used to bring out the story of the 'Gospel', the “Gospel of freedom for life ”? How does the place that women occupy in the gospels not only give dignity to their gender but also “symbolise the radical and inclusive nature of the kingdom that Jesus’ mission inaugurates”? be keen to develop a general hermeneutic of the place that women in the canonical gospels occupy. In seeking out the place that women occupy we find that we not only see how much Jesus' life was occupied by women but also the significance of this in providing a framework that forms a more holistic theological interpretation of the New Testament. This is especially important for how we develop our Christology. The Gospels are “paradigmatic remembrances, not comprehensive accounts of the historical Jesus, but expressions of communities and individuals who attempted to say what the significance of Jesus was” , and is: The resurrection and the life, The living water, The Saviour of the world.
to be continued....
