Professor Laffey: Readings in Feminist Theology

Readings in Feminist Theology

Readings

Denise Lardner Carmody, Virtuous Woman
Sally Cunneen, In Search of Mary
Mary Ann Hinsdale and Phyllis Kaminski, ed. Women and Theology
David I. Kertzer, Sacrificed for Honor
Sallie MacFague, Models of God
Sally Morgan, My Place
Rosemary Radford Ruether, ed. Women Healing Earth
Judith Romney Wegner, Chattel or Person?

Seminar Objectives

1. To introduce students—both women and men—to
an understanding of patriarchy—what it is and how it functioned/functions as a principle of social organization;

2. To develop a consciousness of the patriarchal bias of
the christian Churches (and society);

3. To achieve some understanding of the origins of this
bias;

4. To introduce students to the relationship between patriarchy
and other hierarchies, including political, economic, social (including racial) and ecclesiastical ones;

5. To introduce feminism as a system of social organization which
assumes the equality of women and men and which functions as a challenge to unexamined hierarchical presuppositions;

6. To come to appreciate the call of Jesus as a call to a discipleship of equals;

7. To imagine and develop feminist/non-hierarchical alternatives
to patriarchal/hierarchical ecclesiastical and social structures;

8. To supplement traditional ways of doing theology with less
hierarchical ones, including the doing of theology out
of women’s experience

Requirements

1. A willingness to enter the seminar as an equal and responsible participant;

2. A willingness to read, to think, to speak, to listen, and to share;

3. A willingness to be open to change, if and when the evidence warrants it;

4. A willingness to lead at least one class discussion and be a prepared participant in all of them;

5. A willilngness to prepare a paper/project integrating one’s own (One’s group) interests in relation to the subject matter of the seminar

THE METHOD OF TEACHING IS THE METHOD OF LEARNING.

EVALUATION

One’s own evaluation of one’s own work in the course - 25%

The other members of the class’ evaluation of one’s work
in the course - 25%

The faculty member’s evaluation of one’s work in the course
(preparation, leader of discussion, participation, etc.) - 25%

The faculty membver’s evaluation of one’s paper/project for
the course - 25%

Course Schedule

Class 1	Introduction Readings for next class: Selections from Women and Theology, parts 1 and 2 (pp.1-174) Discussion Leaders ____________________________________________(chaps 1-5) ____________________________________________(chaps 6-11)
Class 2	Entering the Conversation Reading for next class: Women and Theology, part 3 (pp. 177-272) Discussion leaders ____________________________________________(chaps 12-14) ____________________________________________(chaps 15-17)
Class 3	Reading for next class: Virtuous Woman chaps. 3, 4, & 5 (pp. 49-147) Discussion leaders: ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________
Class 4	Changing the Terms Social, Sexual and Ecclesiastical Issues Reading for next class: Sally Morgan, My Place Discussion leaders ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________
Class 5	Women’s Autobiography/Fiction: The Outsider at Home Reading for next class: Models of God, part 1 (pp. 3-87) Discussion leaders: ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________
Class 6	Metaphors Reading for next class: Models of God, part 2 (pp. 91-187) Discussion leaders: ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________
Class 7	Models Reading for next class: Chattel or Person? The Status of Women in the Mishnah, Part 1 (pp. 3-114) Discussion leaders: ____________________________________________(chaps 1-2) ____________________________________________(chaps 3-4)
Class 8	The Daughter, the Wife, the Widow Reading for next class: Chattel or Person? The Status of Women in the Mishnah Part 2 (pp. 114-198) Discussion leaders: ____________________________________________(chaps 5-6) ____________________________________________(chaps 7-8)
Class 9	Women's Status Reading for next class: Sacrificed for Honor Discussion leaders: ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________
Class 10	The Autonomous Woman and the Mishnaic Woman Italian Infant Abandonment and the Politics of Reproductive Control Reading for next class: In Search of Mary, the Woman and the Symbol (pp. xv-181) Discussion leaders: ____________________________________________(Introduction-chap.3) ____________________________________________(chaps 4-5)
Class 11	Miriam through the 12th Century Reading for next class: In Search of Mary, the Woman and The Symbol (pp. 183-341) Discussion leaders: ____________________________________________(chaps 6-7) ____________________________________________(8-Epilogue)
Class 12	Mary, from the Reformation to the Future Reading for next class: Women Healing Earth, parts 1 and 2 (pp. 9-116),part 3 (pp. 121-184) Discussion leaders: ____________________________________________(chaps 1-5) ____________________________________________(6-10)
Class 13	Latin America and Asia [Africa] N. B. It is my hope that it will be possible to find an evening in common toward the end of the course during which we can share our project/papers.