An unfinished reformation: The persistence of gender-exclusive language in theology and the maintenance of a patriarchal church culture

Wyk, Tanya van

doi:10.4102/ve.v39i1.1890

Cited by 3 publications

(3 citation statements)

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“…Feminist and gender studies, feminist theology and ecofeminist theology have significantly highlighted and problematised the three effects of binary gender construction in relation to a patriarchal framework: hierarchy, heteronormativity and hegemony, which together lead to discrimination and ultimately gender-based violence, because exclusion is normalised (cf. Van Wyk 2018). In this regard, the work of feminist theology is incomplete; one might speak of an "unfinished reformation".…”

Section: Ethnicity Not 'Race'mentioning

confidence: 99%

Old Ways of Being to New Ways of Seeing

Pillay,

Beyers,

Dube

et al. 2022

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Discrimination is a worldwide phenomenon that cuts across communities, cultures, religions and societies. Throughout the centuries, people in almost every context have faced discrimination based on gender, religion, ethnicity, sexuality, race and other factors. Religion, which ought to propagate and promote peace, unity and reconciliation, has unfortunately contributed to conflict, intolerance, religious violence and discrimination globally. Taking cognizance of its own checkered history of exclusion over the years, in 2017 the Faculty of Theology and Religion adopted as its centenary theme “Gateway to __ ”. The idea was to reflect on ‘open gates’ which speak to the deliberate desire to promote equity, inclusiveness and diversity. With regard to this endeavour, the Faculty has travelled far in working for justice, inclusivity and transformation. The University of Pretoria has adopted a comprehensive anti-discrimination policy. One aspect of the initiative to publicise the policy was that the Faculty of Theology and Religion spearhead a drive to examine anti-discrimination from a faith perspective. Thus, in September 2021 the Faculty hosted a webinar that addressed various themes of anti-discrimination. This publication is an outcome of that initiative, in which some Faculty staff members contributed to conversations about anti-discrimination from different angles.

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Section: Ethnicity Not 'Race'mentioning

confidence: 99%

Old Ways of Being to New Ways of Seeing

Pillay,

Beyers,

Dube

et al. 2022

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“…Open Access community of faith to replicate the prevalent patronage and patriarchy found in society at large? Answering these questions is extremely relevant for Christianity in view of prevailing patronage and patriarchy in many faith communities (Van Wyk 2018), resulting in suffering and injustice (Pillay 2015:558-567), as well as racism, sexism, colonialist imperialism and dehumanisation, as may be seen in the history of Islam, Judaism and both Roman Catholic and Protestant Christianity (Schüssler-Fiorenza 1993:1-6, 211-236). Systemic patronage (manifested in political and economic clientelism) causes governmental corruption to flourish and it can ultimately lead to state capture, which occurs in open political systems and in market economies.…”

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confidence: 99%

God’s patronage constitutes a community of compassionate equals

Malan

2020

HTS Teologiese Studies / Theological Studies

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The central themes of Jesus’ preaching, the kingdom and household of God, are root metaphors expressing the symbolic universe of God’s patronage subverting patronage and patriarchy structuring contemporary Mediterranean society, thus legitimising an anti-hierarchical community of faith. This dominant focus of Jesus’ message was discarded, as society’s prevalent patronage and patriarchy became the societal structure of the later faith communities. Today, patronage and patriarchy still forms the social structure for a large sector of Christian communities and many cultures, resulting in inequality, injustice, exploitation and suffering. This article proposes that the only remedy for the faithful is a return to Jesus’ essential message, by investigating the social dynamics suggested by these root metaphors using metaphor theory and social scientific methods. Patronage is studied within contemporary Roman and Mediterranean aristocratic patriarchal society, forming an a-typical broad-based needle-like power pyramid with multiple similarly structured power pyramids within, based on a morality of indebtedness, honour and power. Jesus accepted God as his father and declared the advent of God’s patronage as king (kingdom of God) and father of the faithful (children of God). Within the kingdom and household of God, there was no hierarchy, except for the primate of the first born son, whom Jesus symbolises as broker for God’s patronage to all his followers. Within the faith communities there should be no hierarchy or any form of clientage other than God’s patronage. Rather, the faithful are equal and should serve each other and their communities with compassion, responsibility and justice.Contribution: The contribution of this research is its focus on similarity and dissimilarity of these patronage metaphors and their application to subvert the power dynamics of patronage and patriarchy within the community of the faithful, in order to proffer God’s patronage of a society of caring, selfless equals today. This research falls within the scope of HTS Theological studies, as it is a multi-disciplinary study of key biblical metaphors investigated with accepted methodology resulting in valid conclusions which are ethically sound.

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“…1 Injustices of the past have come knocking on the door of the present: debates rage in many sectors about the effects of colonialism, racism, slavery and patriarchy and have resulted in an adamant chorus around the world of We have had enough (cf. Van Wyk 2018;Pillay 2017). Miroslav Volf (2006 described this as a summons to remember.…”

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confidence: 99%