Redeeming Gender
One Sex, One Humanity, One Christ
Published on 7. July 2016
Book
Hardback
234 pages
978-0-19-874475-7 (ISBN)
Description
Redeeming Gender argues that the problems about sexuality which continue to sap the churches' energies are really about gender. The dominant understanding of women's bodies in the Christian West has been that they are inferior versions of the superior male body. This 'one-sex model' of the human body was replaced during the Enlightenment with a model of two opposite sexes. However, both models are inadequate for a theological or a secular understanding of the sexed body. In this innovative work, Adrian Thatcher envisages relations between women and men no longer blighted by long-term patriarchy, androcentrism and sexism in church and world, but redeemed from these structural sins by the grace of Jesus Christ.
Dissected into two parts, Part One explains the legacy of both the one-sex and two-sex theories. It uncovers the one-sex theory and its assumptions, and indicates its presence in early Christian thought. It then describes what happened in our social, intellectual and theological history, which leaves us thinking that there are two sexes. In Part Two, Thatcher contributes to an emerging theology of gender in which women and men are fully and equally valued, and in which sexual difference (insofar as it exists at all), is capable of transformation into joyful communion, reflecting the very life of God the Holy Trinity. He exposes the reliance of much Church and theological teaching about sex and gender either on biblical proof texts or upon the language and nomenclature of late modernity, rather than upon considerations of Theology and Christology. Thatcher also indicates how Theology and Christology, in the area of gender, envisions the redemption of human relationships.
Dissected into two parts, Part One explains the legacy of both the one-sex and two-sex theories. It uncovers the one-sex theory and its assumptions, and indicates its presence in early Christian thought. It then describes what happened in our social, intellectual and theological history, which leaves us thinking that there are two sexes. In Part Two, Thatcher contributes to an emerging theology of gender in which women and men are fully and equally valued, and in which sexual difference (insofar as it exists at all), is capable of transformation into joyful communion, reflecting the very life of God the Holy Trinity. He exposes the reliance of much Church and theological teaching about sex and gender either on biblical proof texts or upon the language and nomenclature of late modernity, rather than upon considerations of Theology and Christology. Thatcher also indicates how Theology and Christology, in the area of gender, envisions the redemption of human relationships.
Reviews / Votes
Redeeming Gender is a highly original piece of theological scholarship. The book is timely, creative, and important. * Ashley Starr-Morris, Reading Religion * [I]f one can affirm his premise that "patriarchy is responsible for [sex and gender-based violence]," this will be a highly coveted book. If not, most readers will be able to appreciate Thatcher's initial impulse to direct theology of gender towards Christology and Trinitarianism, and his creative approach to understanding human solidarity alongside sex difference. * Katherine Apostolacus, Theology and Sexuality * This is an unusually well-written and well-structured book by an established liberal Anglican theologian ... an important corrective to the dogmatic theological claims of those who defend female subordination, reject same-sex marriage, or despite openly transgender people. * Robin Gill, Church Times * One of the strengths of this book is the clarity with which it is written...Whilst being very readable as an introduction to the subject, it is also informative...especially in its review of the context of the New Testament writings and the formation and development of such church practices as ordination....a kaleidoscope of fascinating themes and stories, and a good point of departure for further, in-depth explorations of its topics. * Lina Toth, Baptistic Theologies * Accessible and deceptively challenging account of gender theory from an Anglican theologian, which offers something fresh to the human sexuality conversation. * Beth Allison-Glenny, The Baptist Times * Thatcher's rich scholarship, from Scripture to medical science, is beyond question, and it gives some valuable ammunition against those who still interpret Christian faith in a patriarchal way. * Anthony Woollard, Theology * Thatcher advances his argument with compelling conviction. ... While the argument presented in this book is complex and challenging, and is rooted in copious scholarlship, Thatcher communicates clearly and engagingly. This book will merit close study by all those interested in how the Church got itself into such confusion over sex, and how it might begin to offer itself a way out. * Elaine Graham, Modern Believing *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Oxford
United Kingdom
Target group
College/higher education
Dimensions
Height: 223 mm
Width: 142 mm
Thickness: 19 mm
Weight
400 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-19-874475-7 (9780198744757)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Person
Professor Adrian Thatcher is Honorary Professor in the Department of Theology and Religion at the University of Exeter. He was formerly Professorial Research Fellow at the University of Exeter (2004-2011), and Professor of Applied Theology at the University of St. Mark and John, Plymouth (1995-2004). His publications include Making Sense of Sex (SPCK, 2012), God, Sex, and Gender (Wiley Blackwell, 2011), and The Savage Text: The Uses and Abuses of the Bible (Wiley Blackwell, 2008). He is also the editor of The Oxford Handbook of Theology, Sexuality, and Gender (2014).
Content
Introduction
1: Two Seeds, One Sex
2: One Seed, Two Sexes?
3: The Arrival of Two Sexes
4: The 'Modern Mix': One and Two Sexes Combined
5: Jesus and Gender
6: '. . . No Longer Male and Female . . .'
7: Against Sexual Difference: A Theology of Similarities
8: Redeeming Gender
Bibliography
1: Two Seeds, One Sex
2: One Seed, Two Sexes?
3: The Arrival of Two Sexes
4: The 'Modern Mix': One and Two Sexes Combined
5: Jesus and Gender
6: '. . . No Longer Male and Female . . .'
7: Against Sexual Difference: A Theology of Similarities
8: Redeeming Gender
Bibliography