3.10.3
Discussion Points: Ruether & Daly
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Ruether vs Daly: Sexism, Patriarchy and Christianity
Daly advocates a women-centred approach to society, but Ruether does not believe that it is right to side-line men.
Daly vs Ruether - core of sexism
- Daly accuses Christianity of being fundamentally sexist, meaning it needs to be abandoned.
- According to Ruether, change must come from within.
Daly vs Ruether on sexism
- Daly argues that much of Christianity is deeply and inherently sexist. She argues that Christian images and language about God are male-dominated and serve the interests of patriarchy.
- Ruether argues that there are female directions in the interpretation of Christ that have been ignored or marginalised by the Church. Ruether does not interpret Christianity as being as sexist as Daly does.
Ruether on presentation of Jesus
- Ruether argues that Jesus is presented in the Bible as being on the side of the marginalised and oppressed. Jesus is often with the poor and the downtrodden rather than with the rich and successful.
- This emphasis on the less fortunate and the oppressed seems far away from the stereotypical male image of the powerful warrior.
Daly on male-dominated society
- Daly thinks that male-dominated Christian imagery has violent results. She thinks it is responsible for what she calls the ‘unholy trinity’ of rape, genocide and war.
- Daly thinks that a male-dominated society promotes what she calls a phallic (penis-centred) morality, where values such as competition, rivalry, aggression, sexual virility, and ruthlessness are celebrated amongst men.
- Daly argues that this male-dominated imagery is clear in the Old Testament.
1Philosophy of Religion
1.1Ancient Philosophical Influences: Plato
1.2Ancient Philosophical Influences: Aristotle
1.3Ancient Philosophical Influences: Soul, Mind, Body
1.4The Existence of God - Arguments from Observation
1.5The Existence of God - Arguments from Reason
1.6Religious Experience
1.7The Problem of Evil
1.8The Nature & Attributes of God
1.9Religious Language: Negative, Analogical, Symbolic
2Religion & Ethics
2.1Natural Law
2.2Situation Ethics
2.3Kantian Ethics
2.4Utilitarianism
2.5Euthanasia
2.6Business Ethics
2.7Meta-Ethical Theories
2.8Conscience
3Developments in Christian Thought
3.1Saint Augustine's Teachings
3.2Death & the Afterlife
3.3Knowledge of God's Existence
3.4The Person of Jesus Christ
3.5Christian Moral Principles
3.6Christian Moral Action
3.7Development - Pluralism & Theology
3.8Development - Pluralism & Society
3.9Gender & Society
3.10Gender & Theology
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1Philosophy of Religion
1.1Ancient Philosophical Influences: Plato
1.2Ancient Philosophical Influences: Aristotle
1.3Ancient Philosophical Influences: Soul, Mind, Body
1.4The Existence of God - Arguments from Observation
1.5The Existence of God - Arguments from Reason
1.6Religious Experience
1.7The Problem of Evil
1.8The Nature & Attributes of God
1.9Religious Language: Negative, Analogical, Symbolic
2Religion & Ethics
2.1Natural Law
2.2Situation Ethics
2.3Kantian Ethics
2.4Utilitarianism
2.5Euthanasia
2.6Business Ethics
2.7Meta-Ethical Theories
2.8Conscience
3Developments in Christian Thought
3.1Saint Augustine's Teachings
3.2Death & the Afterlife
3.3Knowledge of God's Existence
3.4The Person of Jesus Christ
3.5Christian Moral Principles
3.6Christian Moral Action
3.7Development - Pluralism & Theology
3.8Development - Pluralism & Society
3.9Gender & Society
3.10Gender & Theology
Practice questions on Discussion Points: Ruether & Daly
Can you answer these? Test yourself with free interactive practice on Seneca — used by over 10 million students.
- 1What were Daly's views on male dominance? True / false
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